Upset stomach? Reach for coconut water! Not only will it help soothe a sore tummy, it will help you rehydrate as it contains essential electrolytes usually lost when you're sick.

Do you take probiotics (lactobacillus acidophilus)? Make sure you purchase the refrigerated version. You'll get more 'good' bacteria and they will last longer.

It's all the rage for product manufacturers to put probiotics into their foods for marketing purposes. But beware - most foods that are not refrigerated have little to no probiotics left in them, so in the end, it's just marketing.

For just one day, set your watch or computer to beep at you every 10 minutes, and check your posture.

If you follow through and heed the constant reminder for about 3 weeks, your posture will improve dramatically.

* Full article: Back and neck pain relief through posture correction | Trusted.MD Network

From Nava Atlas' Vegan Holiday Kitchen

A hearty dish, this is a perfect dish for a cold winter day.

Ingredients:

8 large or 10 medium potatoes
2 tablespoons nonhydrogenated margarine
1/2 cup rice milk
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 ounces cremini or baby bella mushrooms
Two 15-ounce cans lentils, lightly drained but not rinsed (or about 3 1/2 cups cooked lentils with a little of their cooking liquid)
2 tablespoons dry red wine, optional
1 to 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce or Bragg's liquid aminos
2 teaspoons seasoning blend (such as Spike or Mrs. Dash)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Freshly ground pepper to taste
3 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot
8 to 10 ounces baby spinach or arugula leaves
1 cup fresh bread crumbs or panko bread crumbs (gluten-free if needed)

Directions:

Peel and dice the potatoes. Place in a large saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a simmer, then cover and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and transfer to a small mixing bowl.

Stir the margarine into the potatoes until melted, then add the rice milk and mash until fluffy. Cover and set aside until needed. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

While the potatoes are cooking, heat the oil in a medium skillet. Add the onion and sauté over medium heat until translucent. Add the garlic and mushrooms and continue to sauté until the onion is golden.

Add the lentils and their liquid and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in the optional wine, soy sauce, seasoning blend, thyme, and pepper. Cook gently for 5 minutes. Combine the cornstarch with just enough water to dissolve in a small container. Stir into the lentil mixture.

Add the spinach, a little at a time, cooking just until it's all wilted down. Remove from the heat; taste to adjust seasonings to your liking.

Lightly oil a 2-quart (preferably round) casserole dish, or two deep-dish pie plates. Scatter the breadcrumbs evenly over the bottom. Pour in the lentil mixture, then spread the potatoes evenly over the top. If using two pie plates, divide each mixture evenly between them.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the potatoes begin to turn golden and slightly crusty. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes, then cut into wedges to serve.

Serves 8

Flax seeds, although tiny, are a powerhouse of nutrients. In addition to a high content of alpha linolenic acid (a type of omega-3 fatty acids,) flax seeds are also high in antioxidants and a great source of fiber.

Did you know? Unfortunately, our digestive systems cannot break down whole flax seeds.

For best results, ground your seeds just prior to adding them to food or cooking. You'll get more nutrients and fiber. If you prefer to go with pre-ground flaxseeds for the convenience, put them in the freezer so the oil in the seeds will not go rancid. 

Another great option is to add pure flax seed oil to your salads in place of olive oil. Yum!

 

Healing Acid Reflux

With a Standard American Diet plagued with fried,  fatty foods, caffeine, artificial flavorings and chemicals, it’s no wonder our hearts are burning.

What causes acid reflux? There are many causes of heartburn including too much or too little acid or weak stomach valves, to note just a few. Obviously, in the case that you have too little acid in your stomach, antacids and alkaline-inducing foods will not help.

Surprisingly however, low levels of stomach acid are a main source of heartburn. These low acid levels weaken the body's ability to fully digest foods, particularly heartburn-inducing proteins. By strengthening the body’s ability to produce hydrochloric acid, you may be able to thwart your heartburn pain.

A variety of natural remedies exist to ease acid reflux. If you continue to experience frequent heartburn after experimenting with natural remedies, consider taking a detailed look at your diet - highly processed foods can be a major contributor to acid reflux and should be limited. Keep a food diary for two weeks, noting exactly when your heartburn sets in. When you look back, you may notice a pattern that you may or may not have seen before.

A couple natural remedies:

Apple Cider Vinegar – This might sound counter-intuitive, but replacing some of the acid in the stomach can help create healthy levels and relieve reflux. Although hard to swallow alone, mixing 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in apple juice once a day can be a great way to keep you heartburn free.

Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice, or DGL – An extract of licorice, DGL may not cure heartburn but it may alleviate many of your symptoms. By promoting mucus release in the gastrointestinal tract, it can soothe an irritated stomach or esophagus lining. DGL comes in large tablets that you can place in your mouth and allow to disintegrate. Avoid drinking water or liquids immediately after taking the tablet. Try taking 2 tablets 3-4 times a day.

Lemon in Water – Squeeze half a fresh lemon in room-temperature water and drink first thing in the morning. 

Papaya – Digestive enzymes found in papaya contain papain which aids protein digestion. Try 500mg or more of papaya enzymes per meal, or in the summertime or tropical areas, eat fresh papaya!

  *Sources: http://www.heartspring.net/acid_reflux_symptoms.html, http://www.acidreflux-relief.info

A great recipe to warm up a cool night, and great for the week after Thanksgiving when the last thing you want to do is cook every night!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 
• 2 (16-ounce) cans stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained

Directions:

• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell peppers, and garlic; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add sugar and remaining ingredients, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.

Excerpted from Cooking Light DECEMBER 2003

* Photo credits: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke

$25 AMEX Credit on 11/26

The Saturday after Thanksgiving (11/26) is the second annual Small Business Saturday!

Barefoot Tiger is teaming up with American Express to support small business & the local economy.

Spend $25 at Barefoot Tiger and receive a one-time $25 statement credit from American Express®! You must use your registered or linked American Express® Card, which you can link here.

According to the Small Business Saturday Consumer Spend Survey 2011, 61% of consumers plan to shop at locally-owned clothing and accessories on November 26th. Are you one of them? What will you buy on Small Business Saturday?  

This time of year, immunity is top on our list. Resident acupuncturist Eliza Grimes gives us tips on 5 herbs you probably don't know about, but should!

1. Perillae Leaf: (zi su ye) This herb is used to treat food poisoning (particularly from contaminated fish) and treats nausea and vomiting due to morning sickness. I bet you have seen this herb and didn’t even know it! It is often served alongside your plate of sushi (it has a minty smell).
2. Cinnamon Bark: (rou gui) Aside from tasting nice, this herb is hot, pungent and sweet, and has an ability to warm the interior to expel cold, increases energy and activates blood circulation. 
3. Field Mint: (bo he) Mint is a wonderful herb in treating the early stages of a cold where hot signs, such as fever, headache, sore throat and inflamed eyes are present. It’s also a quick fix to some unwanted irritability! 
4. Astragalus Root: (huang qi) Great herb for tonification and supplementation when experiencing overall fatigue, poor appetite, pale complexion and digestive weakness. Also good to boost immunity during cold season.
5. Dried Ginger: (gan jiang) This hot, pungent herb is great and dispersing internal cold and warming the channels, therefore treating loose stools, chronic low back pain and cold sensations in the abdomen. It is also effective at treating nausea and vomiting due to morning sickness, so newly pregnant women should always have some on hand.

Eliza Grimes is a nationally board certified and licensed acupuncturist and is board certified in Chinese herbology through the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and the state of New York.

*Any information given in this email is intended for information purposes only and is not given to diagnose, prescribe or treat any illness. Consult your doctor before changing any regimens, medications, or therapies. Barefoot Tiger is not responsible for any negative reactions to suggestions included herein.
 

Kale chips are all the rage these days. Go to Whole Foods and you'll find packages of kale chips for $7.99 and up. That's crazy! Why? Because you can make them at home for super cheap!

If you don't have a recipe of your own, try this one from Rawmazing. You can cook them in the oven or dry them in a dehydrator. To cook in the oven, cook on 375 for about 30 minutes.

Here are a few tips to make sure your kale chips are tasty.

1. Clean and dry the kale as much as possible. Paper towels work well, as does a salad spinner if you have one.

2. Mix all spices / oils before applying. Cover the kale with the mixture after drying with a towel but before putting in the dehydrator. Use your hands to make sure the kale is completely covered.

3. A great Great combo: olive oil / grapeseed oil, nutritional yeast, crushed nuts, tahini and salt. but oil / salt / pepper is great too!

4. You can leave your dehydrator on when you leave and/or all night.

5. If you dry the kale well before dehydrating, it should only take about 3 hours to dry completely. Most of the time the kale doesn't even make it onto a plate.

 Do you have any tips for yummy kale chips?