Build your blood with molasses roasted veggies and pumpkin seeds and the importance of zinc

I have been feeling a bit run down lately and needed an energy boost. Molasses and beets are loaded with blood building minerals and I always feel better when I consume them (especially together). Beets are also a great liver detoxer so that helps with an energy boost as well. I once read somewhere that beets and molasses together are an old folk medicine cure from Russia for menstrual problems/irregularities. You are suppose to eat a large amount of the two just before and during your period.

I try to eat pumpkin seeds often also because they are loaded with zinc and really how many other foods can you say that about? Not very many!-oysters/seafood, liver, red meat etc. Zinc is an essential vitamin that is probably seriously lacking in most peoples diets. It is needed for protein/hormone synthesis (which includes insulin and thyroid production), reproductive development and immune function. Supplements can’t be relied on to provide most nutrients because their absorption is not guaranteed. Vitamins have several cofactors and other vitamins that humans don’t even know about yet that are needed for their complete absorption. I would trust mother nature before a chemist in a lab! Too many grains/beans can lead to deficiency in zinc because the phytates bind to zinc and prevent its absorption. I have also done a research project on ADHD and several studies had showed zinc as one of the lacking minerals in the subjects( along with magnesium, iron, and low protein diets.)

Molasses roasted veggies

Saute on medium heat with olive oil:

2 carrots sliced/chopped

1/2 small onion chopped

1 garlic clove minced

1/2 beet chopped

1 zucchini sliced

1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds

2 teaspoons molasses

sea salt to taste

What I ate Wednesday, raw spiced carrot and pear pudding and 4 other recipes

For breakfast today I just had some fresh juice from my juicer. I have been exercising a lot lately so I need to start taking in more iron especially since I don’t eat red meat. So today I used beets in my juice for a little extra iron boost. This is my happy liver juice, it includes ingredients that are especially good for detoxing the liver.

Happy liver juice

1″ thick slice of raw beet

4 medium carrots

1 lemon

1/2 lime

1-2″ piece of ginger

1 apple

2 stalks celery

handful cauliflower

For lunch I wasn’t hungry for a big meal so I just snacked on some black bean chips and made a smoothie. I made a Polynesian pineapple coconut smoothie that was really rich and filling. I am leaving for Hawaii for the first time (YAY!) in a week so I am going to start doing lots of Polynesian dishes in the next few days. I also made some molasses cookies to help build my iron stores. I have those recipes below.

Polynesian pineapple smoothie

1 cup crushed pineapple

2 medium carrots

1/4 cup shredded coconut

1 apple

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

1 1/2 cups of water

1″ chunk of ginger

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Handful of kale if you want a green smoothie

Molasses cookies( gluten free)

1/2 cup coconut flour( I freshly grind mine from shredded coconut)

1/2 cup ground almonds

3 tablespoons rice flour

3 tablespoons ground flaxseeds

2 tablespoons mung /lentil paste(gives them a more cooling effect-molasses is very heating)

1/2 cup coconut milk

1/4 cup water

1 tablespoon applesauce

1 teaspoon vinegar

pinch of sea salt

For dinner I had a roasted veggie(carrots, beets, kale, and onions) with pumpkin seed pesto in a black bean wrap. I thought they turned out great but the kids didn’t go for the wraps so maybe I will work on that recipe a little more to see if it will pass the kid test. I also made a spiced carrot and pear pudding topped with raisins for desert. This could easily be a breakfast porridge also. This definitely passed the kid test so I will leave the recipe for that and my pumpkin seed pesto here:

Spiced carrot and pear pudding

Blend in processor or blender:

1/2 cup pineapple

3 medium carrots

1 pear

1/4 cup shredded coconut

1 ” ginger

2 tablespoons ground chia seeds

1 cup water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

pinch turmeric

1 teaspoon cinnamon

top with raisins and cinnamon

This recipe is also seen at http://dietdessertndogs.com/2013/04/11/wellness-weekend-april-11-15-2013 check out the other great recipes as well!

Pumpkin seed pesto

1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon ground pumpkin seeds

1 large handful of fresh basil

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup water

3 teaspoons of lemon juice

1-2 cloves garlic

sea salt to taste

You can also see this recipe here along with many other yummy recipes http://dietdessertndogs.com/2013/04/25/wellness-weekend-april-25-29-2013