Brain health is something that is near and dear to my heart. You see, both my mother and grandmother lived through the slow cognitive decline that eventually robbed them of their memories, their words and eventually their ability to care for themselves. Those of you with loved ones who have dementia or Alzheimer's know what this looks like and feels like. It can be heart wrenching to witness and experience, and it can leave you feeling hopeless and helpless. Looking back at those stressful days, I can see that it was also a very sweet time. Although there were times when their souls seemed to momentarily vacate their physical bodies, there were also many moments where their spirits shone brighter than ever through their loving eyes. It was a time when I was forced to slow down and be present in the moment. That's probably why some of my happiest memories of both my mom and my grandmother were during these times. My mom was an artist and seamstress. She spoke, read and wrote three languages fluently. She knitted and crocheted. She was an amazing cook and baker. She gardened, canned and preserved fruits and vegetables that she grew in our garden. In her later years, she "lost interest" in many of those things that she loved so much. The truth is, she was slowly forgetting how to do them, but was also skilled in covering up and compensating. Today, I often think about the knowledge I've gained about nutrition and brain health and wonder, if I only knew then what I know now, would I have been able to have a greater impact on Mom's health and quality of life? That's why I'm sharing information about an upcoming, free on-line Alzheimer's and Dementia Summit that will take place from July 25th until August 1st. There will be 32 amazing experts sharing information on how to potentially prevent, slow down and even reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's and dementia while increasing quality of life through the use of integrative medicine and natural remedies. That picture above is my Mom enjoying her 75th birthday, five years before she passed on to another realm. I'm no longer caring for my mom, but I still have my own brain to care for. I'm determined to have a different outcome than my mom and grandmother had, so I'll definitely be attending the summit. Genetics is only one small piece of our health. There is so much that we can do daily to keep our bodies and minds at their best. It is my goal to maintain the happiest, healthiest brain possible for a long, full, enriched life. I hope you'll join me, and if you really want to tune in, but you're not available to attend the free summit, you can purchase your own copy at the pre-summit price of $59. You'll own all of the expert talks, and you can listen to the audios on your computer or mobile device, read the complete transcripts, have access to additional e-courses and e-books and be able share this important information with family and friends. My mom was a wonderful cook, and made the most delicious crepes. Over the years I've experimented with making gluten free crepes similar to the ones my mom used to make. This recipe below is full of brain healthy ingredients like buckwheat and sorghum flour. Both of which are higher in protein than wheat flour and tend to cause less inflammation. In fact, buckwheat has anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains anti-oxidants, minerals and brain healthy amino acids like lysine and tryptophan. The amino acid tryptophan can help to decrease stress and anxiety. The crepes also contain brain healthy coconut oil, and eggs which are rich in protein and choline. Choline is another brain healthy nutrient that is housed in the beautiful sun shiny yolk. It is important to the production of acetylcholine which is essential to nerve communication and motor control. Years ago, we were told not to eat those beautiful yolks and I now have such a hard convincing many of you that they really are healthy. To make the crepes decadent, I've filled them with a delicious cashew cream and strawberries which are rich in brain healthy anti-oxidants. You can also fill them with any kind of nutbutter, fruit or make them savory and fill with meat and vegetables. Mom used to fill them with fruit and cottage cheese. It is fun to experiment with different fillings until you find your favorites. I hope you enjoy this delicious, brain supporting, gluten free crepe recipe. Gluten Free Crepes
Ingredients: 1/4 cup sweet sorghum flour 1/4 cup buckwheat flour 3 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon flax meal or ground flax seeds 3 tablespoons of milk (almond, rice, coconut, dairy) Coconut oil or organic butter for greasing the pan Combine ingredients and whisk until all of the lumps are worked out. Melt a pat of coconut oil or butter in a pan over medium heat. It should be enough to cover the full surface of the pan. Next, add a ladle full of crepe batter. Tilt and Turn the pan so that the batter spreads thinly over the surface. When the edge begins to crisp and the liquid has become solid, give the crepe a flip to brown the second side. This is the fun part. It is all in the wrist. Give that crepe a toss in the air and catch it back in the pan! My mom was a master at this. The trick to making beautiful looking crepes is to wipe the pan with a paper towel after each crepe is cooked and removed from the pan, and then melt a new pat of coconut oil or butter before adding new batter. This keeps the oil from getting too brown and burning. Makes about 4 medium sized crepes. Fill the crepes with cashew cream and strawberries and roll them up and top with more berries and/or cream. Cashew Cream Ingredients: 1 cup raw, unsalted cashews (soaked in water over night) 1 1/2 tablespoons pure organic maple syrup or coconut nectar 1 1/2 tablespoons almond or coconut milk 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla Dash of cinnamon Dash of cardamom Soak a cup of raw, unsalted cashews over night in a bowl of water and drain off the water before preparing the cashew cream. Put all of the ingredients in a food processor or vitamix and blend until it becomes a creamy consistency. The consistency will be similar to almond butter but a little looser. Are some of these ingredients allergens for you? If they are, and you want information on swapping out ingredients to meet your needs, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]. I'd be happy to help you figure out alternatives.
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AuthorI'm a nature loving, garden growing, foodie who loves to eat sweet treats, walk barefoot, snuggle with my dog, discover waterfalls, gaze at the stars,explore my dreams and co-create my own reality. Archives
March 2022
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