Medicinal Holiday Treats!

Photo: Our grateful thanks to Jakob Owens on Unsplash!


by
Connie Hernandez, ND

Regardless of our spiritual orientation, our hopes and dreams are all the same.  We all seek peace, happiness, inner fulfillment, and liberation from suffering.

Dr. Connie Hernandez, ND
Dr. Connie Hernandez, ND

Putting sectarian differences and commercialism aside, the holidays are a perfect time to attune to the yearnings of our hearts and souls and dive ever more deeply into the specific manifestation of Truth that we resonate with most strongly.

The Christ consciousness is universal, and not specific to a particular spiritual path.  From this perspective, your health care team at Pacific Naturopathic extend joyful blessings and hopes for the fulfillment of your dreams.

Medicinal Holiday Treats

Because the holidays are a time of feasting and celebration, we can be on the lookout for healthy indulgences. Here at Pacific Naturopathic we have our own particular favorites that are good for you – and make great stocking stuffers.

Pili Nuts. Suddenly in the news, and new to Pacific Naturopathic, Pili nuts, also called Pacific almonds or kenari nuts, are grown primarily in Southeast Asia and Australia.

Free of the aflatoxins found in peanuts, the pili nut’s nutritional profile compares favorably with macadamia nuts, making them a super keto-treat.

Pili nuts are high in magnesium and a good source of manganese, thiamine, and other B vitamins. Check out our one- and three-ounce snack packs, as well as our pili nut butter blends with turmeric and ashwaganda or matcha and chlorella.

 

Nuts Calories Fat (g) Protein (g) Total Carbs (g)
Pili 719 79.55 10.8 3.98
Macadamia 718 76 8 14
Almond 576 49 21 22
Pecans 691 72 9.2 14
Walnut 654 65 15 14

*Nutrition facts per 100g serving – source: USDA

Fruit Anthocyanins. Formulated by Dr. Bill Mitchell, this refrigerated product offers organic concentrates of red grape, blueberry, pomegranate, marionberry, elderberry, and red raspberry. Just one tablespoon per day will support your immune system and strengthen your blood vessels.

Delicious straight off the spoon or as a yogurt topping, we also enjoy it in carbonated water with a twist of lemon or lime as a celebratory holiday drink.

Curcumin (from turmeric) is cherished for its anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. We, of course, carry several curcumin supplements, and we also offer organic turmeric from Hawaii in packets with the Golden Milk recipe written on the label.

Golden Milk is a nourishing anti-inflammatory hot drink. (An alternative to hot chocolate?) Another fun addition is Curcum-Evail Chewables, with 95 mg curcuminoids per chew. A tasty caramel-like experience.

Ashwaganda is an Ayurvedic herb renowned for promoting physical and mental health, relieving stress, improving energy, and supporting adrenal function.

Our Ashwaganda paste comes from the same Hawaiian supplier who makes our wildly popular turmeric paste (available in ghee or coconut oil, sweetened with raw organic honey).

When you hanker for a sweet treat after dinner, these provide you with a fudge-like experience. And, hey, a spoonful of sweetness makes the medicine go down!

Let’s talk about raw organic honey. For starters, it’s rich in enzyms, bacteriostatic, and packed with nutrients. Not appropriate for those on sugar-free regimens, nevertheless a teaspoon now and then will be a treat. We have honeys infused with herbs, including specific herbs for libido enhancement, energization, immune defense, and cognition.

A big holiday honorable shout-out goes to the many delicious medicinal teas available at your nearby health food store. Spearmint, licorice, and chamomile come to mind, among a host of others: spearmint for digestion, hormonal balancing, and possibly mental clarity; licorice as an anti-viral and for adrenal support; and chamomile for calming the holiday frenzies. (As with most things, moderation is key.)

Another honorable holiday mention goes to saffron, the spice, for the beauty it adds to holiday dishes, and for its recently researched medicinal properties. Saffron has rivaled the efficacy of SSRI anti-depressant drugs in several studies! – so when the holidays are getting you down, try spicing your dishes with this brightly colored wonder-spice

It’s time to bring out the special healthful holiday treats that give you joy – and celebrate!

To learn about Dr. Connie’s work, follow the link to her Naturopathic Health Consultations website.

For information about the services we offer at Pacific Naturopathic, please give us a call at 650-961-1660, or use the convenient Contact Form to get in touch. Thank you!