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The Diva Dishes

Monthly Archives: December 2015

The Diva Dishes

paint nite cat scene picture copy

My Paint Nite creation from November 2015

  1. I’ve rediscovered my love of creating. When I was a child, I did all things creative. I would spend HOURS in my basement painting, drawing, creating. I even painted the table I worked on 4 or 5 times with different scenes. My art time was my saviour. Throughout high school (and university as well), they kind of beat the creative out of you, and I lost touch with my love. Recently I’ve just been letting myself create- including going to Paint Nite. Have you heard of this? It’s some amazing shit where you pick from (literally tons) of ‘paint nites’ in your area for a picture you like. You go to a restaurant, and drink, eat and learn to paint. It’s bloody fantastic. Even as I’m writing this I’ll be heading out in a few hours to my second one.
  2. The holidays are getting me down, to tell you the truth. I’m missing my grandmother, who passed away from cancer in the spring. While I’m excited about it, because of the great (mostly healthy) food, and time with family- grieving while celebrating is kind of a mind fuck. It is absolutely NOT stopping me from wearing my many (mostly cat-themed) Christmas T-shirts! I’m a festive cat-loving nerd. And that’s awesome.
    On my mat, at the studio. Ahhh...

    On my mat, at the studio. Ahhh…

  3. My goals for next year are getting me super excited. You’re hearing it here first- one of my big goals is to practice yoga every. damn. day. For the whole year! 365 days of yoga, 365 days of saying YES! to me. Some other goals for myself are to learn the art of Fencing (already signed up), eat more sprouts (yum) and to blog more. So look out for that.
  4. My hair is always a source of concern for me. Having PCOS, hair loss is something I face daily. While I mostly have a handle on it, when my life gets too stressful, I tend to show it in falling hair. This being a really weird, grieving holiday season for me- my hair is unhappy. For a long time I stopped colouring it, and have kept it short, thinking this is what’s best for hair. TOO fucking bad. I’m sick of living in fear, or feeling held back from my hair. So I dyed it, for the first time in over a year. It feels great! I will not allow my hair to bring me down. My hair brings me joy. I feel happy and confident in my hair.

 

What are your goals for 2016? Will you be pushing your boundaries for growth and transformation?

 

By Robyn - Check out my quiz

7 Foods That Will Make a BIG Difference With Your Belly Bloat

Are you constantly nursing a ‘food baby’ belly? That bloated, round, sticky-outy thing that just won’t go down? I’ve definitely been there, done that too many times to count. I remember eating ENTIRE tubs of ice cream in one sitting with a boyfriend in high school. Then there was the period when I would stop for an ice cream cone on the way to work every afternoon. Mmmm….now I’m thinking ice cream! Good thing I can turn that off.
 
What gives? There are many causes of bloating, including:
 
  • Hormonal Imbalance
  • Dysbiosis (improper gut bacteria)
  • Toxicity
  • Nutrient Deficiency (think B6)
  • Food Sensitivities
  • Low Stomach Acid (HCl)
  • Leaky Gut
  • Candida (Yeast) Overgrowth
  • Parasites
  • And the list goes on. . .
 
The good news is that we can transform all of the above problems into pay dirt with FOOD. Below I’ve outlined my top 7 de-bloat foods to include in your yummy-tummy nourishment. Oh, and a RECIPE! 
 

Lemon

Lemons help to liquify fat-digesting bile which assists the liver in detoxifying and providing proper digestion. Lemon is also anti-bacterial for bugs in your gut and can help the fight against parasites in your body. Lemons are fantastic because they are alkalizing to the body, and can stimulate digestive enzymes to keep everything running smoothly. 

Detox Tea | The Hormone Diva

Cucumber

Cucumbers actually have tons of nutrients in them, plus they are super hydrating and you need hydration to make enough digestive fluid to properly break down the food you eat- or else that bloat is gonna stay. Cucumbers (with the skin) have lots of fibre as well, to keep good bacteria fed and to keep that colon clean. 
 

Chia Seeds

There’s a bunk load of fibre in chia seeds, which as you know from above helps with your bowels and your belly. Because of their great ratio of fibre, protein and omega-3s fats, some people have experienced weight loss with their consumption. 
 

Apple Cider Vinegar

Make sure to get RAW apple cider vinegar. It contains live enzymes and probiotics which feed your starving gut the shiz that it wants. Enzymes and probiotics are what make our digestion happen! ACV is potently antibacterial, so great for getting rid of belly bad-guys. Preliminary studies have shown that it can also assist in moderate weight loss over time. 

Detox Tea | The Hormone Diva

Salmon

Salmon is anti-inflammatory, and could have the potential to reduce gut inflammation. Salmon is also easy to digest, unlike harsher proteins like beef. There are also tons of cognitive, bone, and heart protective benefits of this fish. Try for wild salmon whenever possible- it’s way more loaded with the good stuff.
 

Green Shit

Leafy greens, if I’m being specific. Greens like spinach, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, swiss chard, spring greens and sprouts (I’m in love with onion and broccoli sprouts- but sunflower are sweet too). These veggies are FULL of everything nutritious. Tons of B vitamins, iron and magnesium. Magnesium helps with muscle relaxation and contraction, and you’re gizzards are muscle too! These greens are also full of fibre, helping to pass food through your digestive tract in a timely manner so you don’t get bloat and gut fermentation happening. 

 

Avocados

Avocados have a good amount of protein, or more specifically building-block amino acids which can help repair your gut lining. This will decrease inflammation and allow a healthy gut to flourish. Again like most others there’s lots of fibre, making them you gut’s best friend. The fats in avocados may help you to feel full and curb hunger or cravings. 
 
Salmon with Avocado Lemon Sauce and Sautéed Greens
2015-12-03 11:04:57
Serves 4
A scrumptious and nourishing meal for excellent digestion and hormonal balance.
Write a review
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
20 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
20 min
For the salmon
  1. Four 4-oz fillets of salmon, deboned
  2. 2 tbsp olive oil
  3. Salt and pepper to taste
For the sauce
  1. 2 avocados, pitted
  2. 1 tbsp fresh dill
  3. 1 tbsp fresh parsley
  4. 2-3 green onions (scallions)
  5. juice and zest of one lemon
  6. water or broth to thin
  7. 1-2 tsp coconut aminos or gluten-free tamari
  8. 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  9. 1-2 anchovies fillets (optional)
  10. salt and pepper to taste
  11. 1/2 tsp onion powder
For the greens
  1. 4-6 cups spinach, or a few leaves of kale or collard greens per person
  2. 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
  3. 1 tbsp coconut oil
  4. lemon juice (optional) (I like to use raw apple cider vinegar with kale)
  5. salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, and place the salmon filets on the sheet. Sprinkle with olive oil and salt and pepper. Put in the oven and roast until cooked through, about 20-25 minutes (depending on your oven + fish thickness).
  2. Meanwhile, make the sauce. In a blender, place all ingredients avocados through onion powder. Blend until smooth. Add water or broth throughout to achieved desired consistency (I like mine on the thin side).
  3. During the last 5-7 minutes of the salmon cooking, make the spinach/greens. Heat a pan over medium heat with coconut oil until hot. Throw in garlic, and sauté 1-2 minutes- but don’t burn! Then add spinach or other greens and continually stir until all spinach is wilted and bright green. If it starts to take on the colour of those yucky canned green beans you’ve cooked it too long! Just before serving, add lemon juice is using and salt and pepper.
  4. Take out salmon once cooked and flaking easily. Serve on top of spinach drizzled with avocado sauce.
Notes
  1. NOTE: I used a mixture of collard greens and rapini in the picture. Use extra avocado sauce on any proteins of choice, as a salad dressing, veggies dip or sandwich spread.
By Robyn Srigley
The Hormone Diva https://thehormonediva.com/
 
Using recipes and foods like these will reduce your bloat in the moment. To truly exterminate your bloat, fixing the root cause through detoxification and lifestyle adjustments is the no-brainer choice any savvy woman like you will make. 
 
By Robyn - Check out my quiz

Ask The Diva: Why Am I Moody After Baby?

Hi, 
I just weaned my third child cold turkey at 15 months because of herpes on my nipples. Let’s say birth pains are nice compared to that stuff going on… Now i have some serious hormone fog going. I am extremely moody, irritable and easily angry. I feel tired too. I know that one can get similar symptoms like post part depression after weaning… From my experience it will all be fine once my period starts but that can take 3 months from now like my former weaning experiences… my question is do you know anything that could help my body adjust quicker…? Basically I want to help my hormones get back to normal. I suppose I need to get rid of excess prolactin and oxytocin and get higher levels of estrogen. Now that I wrote it I should probably just have lots of sex,… No serious, any ideas? – Lydia F.
 
 
Thanks for your question Lydia! You are definitely NOT alone in this, mood and energy problems are extremely common in new moms. 
 
First of all, what are you really recovering from after pregnancy and post-weaning?
  • Pelvic floor muscle damage
  • Fatigue and muscle strain
  • Rapidly shifting hormone environment
  • Stressed out adrenal glands
  • Nutrient deficiencies: possibly Folate (B9), Vitamin B12, Calcium, Iron, Selenium, Zinc, Omega-3s
  • Sex hormone drop after birth- both estrogen and progesterone
 
How can you get your hormones and LIFE back quicker?
 

Foods

The best thing you can do for yourself is to pay close attention to what you’re putting in your body. Eating foods to balance your blood sugar and increase the health of your digestive tract will balance your hormones and mood very quickly. See below for my food recommendations. 
 
  • Gut healing: bone broth, grass-fed collagen protein powder, organ meats (especially liver)
  • Vitamin C foods for tissue repair + adrenal (stress) health: citrus, strawberries, rose hips, leafy greens
  • Zinc foods for immune and mood balance: pecans, seame seeds, cashews, dates, flax, oyserts, cacao, crab, poppy seeds, beef, eggs
  • Omega 3 foods for inflammation and mood balance: fish of all kinds (especially fatty fish like salmon and sardines), GRASS-FED beef, eggs
  • Balance of protein, fat and carbs with EVERY meal- avocados, collagen protein powders, healthy meats/fish, coconut products, nuts/seeds- avoid processed grains (products using flours, even if GF), as many green vegetables as you can eat
 

Detoxification

Something important to note is that while detoxification is 100% necessary, it should not be undertaken while breastfeeding, as toxins can be dumped into breast milk, and then into your baby. Here are some steps for successful post-baby detoxing:
 
  • Primarily eat organic foods- with as much green as possible
  • Include gentle exercise- yoga, pilates, barre classes, gentle strengthening with bodyweight or exercise bands
  • Be mindful and practice stress reducing techniques like meditation or yoga
  • Herbs- milk thistle is very helpful, and even safe while breastfeeding- it helps to repair/regenerate liver cells for proper hormone metabolism + mood balance
 

Stress Reduction

Reducing stress using radical self-care practice is essential to ward off the post-baby blues. Here are some suggestions:

  • Get help/support with your baby whenever possible. Have others cook, do laundry and run errands so you can rest.
  • Meditation/deep breathing/yoga
  • LOTS of sleep- whenever you can, even if it’s short naps
  • Monitor hydration – aim for your bodyweight in ounces of water per day
  • Implement a laptop curfew (no technology 2 hours before bed), stick to a bedtime routine, sleep in complete darkness 
  • Cognitive behaviourial therapy has been shown helpful for mood issues after baby
  • Regular sex- you are absolutely right that sex is important! Have it as often as possible to restore hormonal balance, reduce stress and encourage proper vaginal tissue tone
 

Bring Back Your Period

Now that you are done breastfeeding, bringing your period back is one of the best ways to ensure your hormone levels get back to normal.

  • There is some evidence that parsley tea can be helpful in bringing on a missing period. Assuming no kidney issues or possibility of pregnancy, 3-4 cups daily can be consumed.
  • Reduce stress as much as possible with the suggestions above
  • Blood sugar balance- your ovaries have a very finicky relationship with blood sugar, and having too many dips and spikes (from poor diet) will prevent a period (and ovulation) from happening
  • Cinnamon and/or ginger daily. Both help to increase blood flow and reduce stagnation in the reproductive system. They can be consumed as tea, powder used in cooking or you can try capsules.

Supplements

  • The nutrient deficiencies mentioned at the beginning- you may want to supplement and focus on foods with these nutrients
  • Parsley tea, up to 3-4 cups daily
  • Cinnamon and ginger, as tea, used in food or capsules
  • Turmeric- for inflammation, also very helpful for mild depression (1000mg per day)

 

 

By Robyn - Check out my quiz

Ditch the Detox Myths

Detoxing and cleansing have been (and are!) very hot topics. Everyone wants to detox the gunk out of their body, often in the hopes of weight loss, glowing skin and increased energy. You may be wondering: Why doesn’t this happen when I try it?

 

I hear you- I’ve been there. Over the years I’ve tried many different types of cleanses, including:

  • Mono diet (I ate nothing but apples for a whole day)
  • 10 bottles of supplements detoxes
  • Whole foods detoxes
  • Smoothie-only cleansing
  • And others. . .

 

My problem with the majority of these programs (save the whole foods cleanses) is that they just don’t work. I feel like shit for the entire time, don’t lose any weight, feel irritable and like I want to scratch my (or someone else’s) eyes out. Not conducive to transformation. Not conducive to happiness. Being grouchy and hungry doesn’t make me happy- it makes me grouchy and hungry.

 

Did you feel these symptoms on your last detox? Or did hearing about these symptoms stop you from trying a detox? There are a whole host of symptoms people experience on improperly designed cleansing programs. There’s nothing inherently wrong with cleansing, and in fact I wouldn’t be where I am today with my health without them- BUT it shouldn’t feel like punishment. It should be a fun, reflective + transformative ride.

 

It shouldn’t feel like this:

 

  1. Aching or stiff joints and muscles
  2. Excessive skin breakouts
  3. Life-interfering fatigue
  4. Family-scaring mood swings
  5. Crying, and crying and crying (unless you need to release some shit)
  6. Libido – what’s that?
  7. I’M SO HUNGRY
  8. Body betrayal
  9. Mind feeling like a foggy night in a horror movie
  10. I wish I could eat a whole tub of ice cream right now. . .and spoon it with potato chips. . .

 

 

It should feel like this:

 

  1. Couple days of mild fatigue or headaches (especially with caffeine withdrawal)
  2. Being a ball of energy
  3. Feeling grounded, calm and content
  4. Radiant joy
  5. Dessert love no longer overcomes me (no willpower needed)
  6. Clothes fitting better
  7. Sleeping like a baby
  8. WOW I’m a sexy lady
  9. Green shit makes me feel great- and now I WANT to eat green shit
  10. It’s a fishnet, push-up bra kind of sexy time with significant other
  11. Aha. . .now I understand my body and how to nourish it
  12. Give the big round belly back to the pregnant ladies
  13. Release of weight that no longer serves you

 

So how do you know if your program is doing it right?

 

Detox Tea | The Hormone Diva

 

3 Ways To Do It Right

 

  1. Open The Doors

 

In your body, there are several emunctories, or ‘doors’ of elimination for toxins and waste to get out. They are:

  • Bowels/colon
  • Skin/sweat
  • Lymphatic system
  • Kidneys/urine
  • Menstrual blood – unique to YOU as a woman, an extra monthly release
  • Lungs/breath
  • Liver

 

For proper and complete cleansing, all of these areas must be open channels for elimination. Unfortunately, we live in a toxic world and many of us are consuming and using toxic foods and products every day. These things all add up to sluggish emunctories. They get gunked up, and you get sick. Your detox program should encompass all emunctories, like opening the kidneys with water and greens, loving the liver with cruciferous vegetables, and glowing that skin with sweaty practices.

 

  1. Set Your Intention/Big WHY

 

Why do you want to detox? Because it’s trendy? Because you feel horrible? Because your friend asked you? Any good detox program won’t just focus on the food you stuff in your gob, but also your mindset. In my opinion, mindset is 80% of what’s needed for healing.

 

You must detox your mind as well as your body. Well-rounded detox programs will guide you through this process so you understand the real reason that you want to cleanse. This will keep you 100% focused and primed for lasting transformation- not intermittent change.

 

  1. PREP

 

Whole food detox programs often involve more cooking and food preparation than you’re used to. Prepping as much food ahead of time as possible will help you sail through the process, not to mention the money you’ll save by not purchasing stuff you don’t need. Cut your veggies up, mix a salad, make some smoothie packs or a big pot of nourishing soup. Then go about your business, grabbing these items as needed for your meals. 

 

Detox Tea | The Hormone Diva

 

Remember, you DON’T have to suffer. The programs you’ve done in the past failed you– you didn’t fail them. Inhale the future, exhale the past.

 

By Robyn - Check out my quiz

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