Healthy Hueman Glossary (E)

E

Exercise: This deserves such a broad and universal definition and that is what we huemans shall give it. What is structured movement to you? Is it your evening walk with your spouse? Is it the 5am chest bump with the iron? CrossFit with the Community? Hiking or hooping? When you set aside time to get your body in motion you are exercising. You don’t need to be sweating for your metabolism to shift. You do not need to pump the weights for 3 hours in order to get some quality exercise in. To exercise is to eliminate bodily stagnation for any prolonged period of time. No, getting off the couch and walking to the fridge methodically for those sweet vegan energy bites is not exercise. But walking to the market up the street to retrieve the ingredients is. Now go get moving, Tribe.

Estrogen: The predominantly female sex reproductive hormone (though present in males but in a fractional amount) produced by the ovaries, kidneys, the adrenal glands and the breasts. Estrogen is transported through the body via blood in the circulatory system. Its main purpose is reproductive by preparing the female body for gestation internally and externally. Developing and maturing smooth tissue and stimulating ovarian processes beginning at the pubescent stage and continuing through to the end of menstruation. In men the role of estrogen is a component of sperm production but unhealthy levels of it can lead to feminine characteristics. Healthy levels of estrogen in women will correlate with healthy cholesterol levels and bone density. Foods that optimize digestion, stabilize glucose levels and assist the liver are going to balance this hormone. So, aim for citrus like grapefruit and lime; flaxseed and avocado.

Vitamin E: Alpha-Tocopherol is not only a vitamin that benefits our blood consistency but it is a powerful antioxidant that boosts our cellular health. With big city living comes heavy air pollution and we do not escape that. It lays on our skin and we inhale it constantly. Water alone cannot flush these toxins from our body. Vitamin E strengthens the cell in such harsh oxidizing conditions.

Rich sources can be found in good organic olives, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and broccoli.

Lesser sources (9-13%) good organic red peppers, beet greens and pumpkin squash.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble source of antioxidants so by having a diet rich in it we can store a proper amount for times of need.

A Passion for Pour Over

Top Tier Greetings Fellow Huemans,

               We enjoy today, an incredibly warming cup of ebony elixir full of adaptogens and packed with natural antioxidants. I am here to share with you one of my greatest creations and enjoyments: Infused pour over coffee. Coffee and espresso in its own right when sourced properly is enough for me when on the go hither and to, but when I am afforded that 15 minutes of my morning process of rinsing and mixing there exists no rival.

               As always what I offer here is inspiration through innovation. My experiences revealed in a manner that I pray will give you confidence and awareness of the endless opportunities available to you. We often overlook the process of getting that morning jolt. I can attest to this with no shame. But as I have elevated further and higher along my path, my awareness of this thing so intertwined in my life increased. I went from drinking the brand that was highly marketed and then ventured into espresso when I found myself in public. Finding the difference in flavor profile intriguing catalyzed my deep dive.

               Keeping it all the way genuine; 100; real. All of that, I must admit I had the most basic view of this ancient piece of produce that held a rich history. As my eating practices synced with my mindset and beliefs, I made a seriously impactful decision and that was to switch from conventional coffee to organic and carefully sourced beans. Not from sources that use all manner of practices in order to yield a larger crop that will remain on a shelf longer; exploiting farmers who look like me and my friends for service and sales; taking that money and reinvesting it in the prison industrial complex. All of these facts and more caused me to take a leap and two steps back to get a clearer view of this world of consumption. I chose to hone in and research the practices and providers of fair trade and organic beans sourced directly from regions that directly receive my patronage.

               I express all of that to state to you how Hueman I am and that my current state came by way of a constant state of progress. Consistent awareness of what matters to me and what works. How it works and why it works. For you it may not be coffee. For you it may be eliminating processed foods and cooking more of your own meals at home or walking in the evening after supper. For me coffee has been something I can see a clear connection to my holistic health transition.

               As of late my goal through nutrition has been to focus on brain function, recovery and energy. Understanding the power of adaptogens, fasting, lipid mobilization and utilization I have centered my morning mug around these aspects. When making my coffee I simply grind my chosen spices in my mortar and pestle and add them to the top of my prepared coffee grounds. As of late my go to coffee is a Lion’s Mane and Chaga blend from https://us.foursigmatic.com/products/mushroom-coffee-with-lions-mane-ground and the studies on Lion’s Mane and neurogenerative effects are extensive (https://www.mindlabpro.com/blog/nootropics/grow-brain-cells-nootropics-neurogenesis/#Lions_Mane_Mushroom). To this I love to add some organic ground ginger or cardamom depending on the direction I intend to take my palette, ground turmeric and fresh ground black pepper. Over this I begin my pour as normal.

               To my cup I have begun to place a fileted rind of a lemon. When the brew is poured down over the citrus rinds the oils and terpenes will release and we have a compound effect of alertness and mental acuity. Though without this elegant pairing the sip is pure and fulfilling. This is just one of many infusions I will be sharing over the next weeks. I hope you enjoy it and make it your own and share that back with me. I eagerly await your creativity Tribe.

Pine & Ginger

A superb sip for you my Tribe! This enzyme rich, antioxidant packed drink from the Caribbean is perfect for digestion. Fit for a hot summer day when served cold over ice or in the colder months steamed up with a little turmeric to ward off that cold, yah? Not only is it delicious and nutritious but it allows us to utilize nearly 100% of your pineapple which means reducing our footprint and increasing our health-span. That is a ratio adjustment I can get onboard with.

Whether you get up early or go to bed late you will be able to have this properly prepared for enjoyment. It needs to steep like tea so that there is full extraction of the ingredients. Let’s get into what we need for this island concoction.

  • Organic whole pineapple
  • ginger
  • Filtered/spring water
  • Limes and Orange/tangerine
  • Large stock pot
  • Strainer and cheese cloth or coffee filter
  • Larg mixing bowl
  • Honey/coconut sugar

We want to get the skins and the core from this pineapple, so prepare the pineapple in your usual manner. Top palm and bottom section cut off first and those will be all that we toss in the bin. We will now filet those skins off the sides and separate the core from the juicy edible pieces.

Rinse your skins and add them to the mixing bowl. Cover them with water, add a couple tbs of apple cider vinegar and allow them to soak for one hour. We must remember that these skins were protecting the inner flesh of the fruit from debris, soil, bugs and the like. We must take care to ensure they are clean before beginning our infusion.

 Drain and rinse them and add them to the stock pot with the core. Fill with two liters of water per pineapple for a nice strong sip. Bring to a boil and allow to roll for 30 minutes. Keep the lid on and remove from the heat to allow the brew to steep for two or three hours.

Strain it and add the juice of a lime and tangerine and give it a good stir.

Run it through the strainer and the cheese cloth/coffee filter setup to ensure a clean beverage.

Place it in a glass container and put it in the fridge for later enjoyment.

Serve with ice and stir in your choice of natural sweetener.

Stay peaceful. Love your skin and what goes in!