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Home » Food. Is It Really Thy Medicine?

Food. Is It Really Thy Medicine?

February 3, 2018 by Valerie

Yes. I believe food can be thy medicine. But there’s more.

When I first started this blog, it was basically to have a place to keep all the recipes that my followers on Instagram asked for. Clearly it was a food centered website in hopes of inspiring others to lead a healthy life by way of eating real food. I thought food was the only “medicine” that was needed to help heal a body. 

Over the course of my blog writing years, I soon discovered that food wasn’t our only measure of gaining a healthy and thriving lifestyle. Yes, food plays a huge role in our bodies ability to adapt to a healthy being but clearly, it’s not the only thing! Take for example the types of lotions, shampoos or even toothpaste we use. If you’re not careful, you could very well be sabotaging your health and negating the real food you’re fueling your body with. 

Skin Cancer? From the sun ….or our products?

Toxic chemicals are found in most of our products. Chemicals wreak havoc on our hormones and can cause inflammation. When we slather on sunscreen, in hopes of steering clear of a sunburn, we subject ourselves to chemicals that travel through our skin and into our system. I don’t know about you but I’d rather wear a hat …..get some vitamin D for a bit and then get out of the sun. I’m certain skin cancer is on the rise due to all the sunscreen that’s being used vs. the sun. But I’ll leave that there for a bit. Just think about it though — sunscreen sales are at an all time high and yet, so is skin cancer! Interesting.

Let the body rest and recover ~

Another way to lend your way to a healthier lifestyle is rest. I will address sleep in a minute but let’s talk about resting your body, especially when it really needs it. I know you’ve visited my blog for recipes and meal inspiration and many of you have asked about weight loss. Well, I can lead you in all sorts of directions by way of food, that could possibly help with health/weight loss BUT if you’re not resting your body when it needs it, you’re doing it a huge disservice. Your body becomes stressed when it’s pushed too far (especially when starting to feel under the weather) and it protects itself. Resting is one of the most important things you can do for you! I know – trust me – we all have things to do or get done. The list goes on and on from day to day. We tend to push through and pretend all is well but I learned a huge lesson in the early part of January. I learned that resting ourselves takes much less time than the alternative. Let me explain …..

My niece Sara passed away on the 2nd of January. She died of pneumonia. Here’s the short version of her story. She had a cold and it progressively got worse. She kept going. She has 2 teenage children, Christmas was coming up and she started new job. She simply didn’t have time to let her body fight off the sickness. Sara pushed herself to the limit all December long. With starting a new job, she felt badly by taking a day off. When she finally did call in sick, her employer made her feel guilty as it was the holiday season and they needed her! So ….Sara went into work – sick. She never rested her body. Needless to say, it was too late when she finally got the medical attention she needed. And if she’d listened to her body from the get-go, she may have never even needed medical attention in the first place. Sadly, a tragic and heartbreaking ending of our sweet niece’s life!

Why am I telling you about this? Here’s the thing — my interest in inspiring you all to cook healthier meals is still first and foremost BUT if I truly want to inspire you to be the healthiest you can be, I have to be honest and say that I don’t think food is the only component and though my website is ‘Cocos Paleo Kitchen’ and tagline is ‘Food with a Purpose’, I would be remiss if I didn’t pepper in all of the other factors in gaining true health. 

I am a food blogger but I now look at all aspects of health

…it’s not all about food

I think when people start following me, especially in the new year, it’s in effort to get resources for healthier meals because there’s usually a goal or new years resolution. I love that and I really do hope to inspire everyone to keep their plate rounded with lots of greens/veggies, protein and healthy fats but at this point in my life and from learning so much the last couple of years, the need to remind you all that food is only one component. Our products are another …..we can’t expect to be toxic free because we eat clean, if we’re using toxic chemicals on our skin. Cleaning products in our home are culprits as well. There’s honestly so much more to go into with both of those areas but that’s for another time.

My hopes for this blog post is to highlight the importance of resting your body, especially when you’re feeling run down or under the weather! There’s no better time to slip into your comfy clothes and plop on the couch or your bed, than when you’re feeling a scratchy throat or sniffles. It does a body good to let it have the time to fight it off vs. trying to push through it and stress your body out. And sleep. Go to bed early and get a solid nights sleep when you’re fighting a cold! I mean, that should be a given ….getting a good nights sleep each and every night but especially when you’ve got cold/flu’s all around us – sleeping a good 8 hours a night is key! My husband eats what I do. My husband also works a few nights per week and averages about 4-5 hours of sleep on those nights. He also gets sick pretty much every few months. Nothing too crazy – cough, cold and/or sore throats, whereas I get my 8 hours of sleep per night and I can honestly say that I can count on one hand the times I’ve had a cold/cough in the last 6 years! Again, we eat the same things …..we just have different sleeping patterns and I’m pretty sure that’s where we differ in fighting off any bug that might be going around.

Sleep. It does a body good.

So, for what it’s worth – there’s my 2 cents. I can share all the foods that will help you be a healthier you but if you don’t listen to your body and give it the attention it needs, you are digging yourself into a hole. I care about your well-being and my hope is to not only inspire a healthier looking plate but to inspire you all to live a healthier life as a whole! 

Kick the chemicals in your home and skin care to the curb. Eat real food (Food with a Purpose). Stay hydrated and drink plenty of bone broth …..and above all, give your body the rest it deserves and craves when you’re feeling run down! You’re all you’ve got. Treat you right!

 

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Filed Under: About Me, Home Tagged With: eatrealfood, food, foodasmedicine, letfoodbethymedicine, listentothebody, restandrecover

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A bit about Valerie – aka: Coco

Living a healthy, clean & active life - using a paleo lifestyle as my template. I love to cook using real, whole foods from proper sources, as well as bake sweet treats for my never-ending sweet tooth! CrossFit is my 'drug of choice' :) And running is my meditation time. If I'm not in the kitchen, you'll find me with my hubby/family - enjoying life!

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Choose a word. Which word did you choose? I cho Choose a word. 

Which word did you choose?

I chose harmony …
Don’t you love walking in the door and dinner is Don’t you love walking in the door and dinner is basically ready?! 🤩

Crockpot Beef Short Ribs will make a weekday dinner quick, easy and delish!! 

I whipped up some green beans using @thenewprimal coconut aminos, @primalkitchenfoods avocado oil + fresh garlic & cauliflower rice! Dinner was good-to-go 😋

You can get the Beef Short Rib recipe by clicking link in bio and tap the Recipes tab and search 👇🏼 Make ‘em & tag me! Or at least, just make them & let me know what you think! 😉

http://www.cocospaleokitchen.com/crockpot-beef-short-ribs/
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#crockpot #beefshortribs #paleomeals #dinnerideas #healthyfood #quickandeasymeals #paleolifestyle #feedfeed #foodwithapurpose #healthandwellness #cocospaleokitchen
Hanging with my kids is one of my favorite things Hanging with my kids is one of my favorite things to do! 

You raise them and hope that they turn out to be decent human beings. And then they are grown ….and way beyond decent! 

It’s so fun to now be friends with my “kids” and enjoy their special qualities within each one of them! 

Mother’s Day was so fun trying to get to the Hollywood sign. I have been to the sign …so I wasn’t really caring about the destination- I was fully enjoying the journey with Kylie and Dustin! Colie stayed back with her own kids. We missed her but totally understand that she is now a momma too! 

I am truly thankful and blessed! 💛
Lots and LOTS of new faces here - so I thought I w Lots and LOTS of new faces here - so I thought I would take a sec & tell you a little about myself! 👋🏼 

First of all (for the original followers), as you can see - I am not spazicoco anymore - well, still a spaz but ….name changed to ‘a daily dose of coco’! So it IS me! Stay put 😉

New peeps here …THANK YOU for following and catching my daily doses of life! 

I’m a happy wife, momma of 3 grown adults and 2 adorable granddaughters! 

I live in So Cal and LOVE to be outdoors. Favorite weekend past times are babysitting M&M, riding bikes, walking at the beach, hikes and hanging with friends and family! 

I’m 57 going on 37 🤗 I follow a paleo lifestyle and have for about 11+ years …and have never felt better! 

I rewrite groceries lists if they are too messy (and yes, I still use pen and paper!).

I don’t wear tennis shoes unless I’m working out - it’s usually sandals, flats, booties or boots 😉

I love my coffee & piece of dark chocolate every single day! 

I like living a healthy lifestyle by way of food, safer products and daily movement! 🌟

I am called Coco because mannnnny years ago (1980ish), when my first niece was born - being the only dark one, in a sea of blondes - they gave me a special name of Coco ….and it stuck!! And since I’m a dark chocoholic, it worked!

I was hacked at my other IG of cocospaleokitchen and lost all my photos, videos and 54k+ followers 😩 I made so many wonderful connections and miss it! I decided to just remain positive and move on …so this IG migrated into a combo of both spazicoco and cpk! If you’re a cpk follower- yay!!! Glad you made it here 💛

I’m happy you’re all following along and allowing daily doses of me to trickle into your lives! Please message with any questions or comment away 🤩 I love to connect with all of you!
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Do you have a coupe of ripe bananas to use up?? Go Do you have a coupe of ripe bananas to use up?? Good! Here’s a delish & easy recipe for you! 

Paleo BANANA COFFEE CAKE Bars! 🍌 

Let me know what you think! 

✨Banana Coffee Cake Bars✨

1 cup almond flour 
1/3 cup tapioca flour
1/3 cup coconut sugar 
2 tsp cinnamon 
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt 
2 large ripe bananas 
4 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract 

Topping: 

1/3 cup chopped pecans 
2 tbsp coconut sugar 
3 tsp cinnamon 
2 tbsp softened butter or coconut oil (not melted)

Preheat oven to 350°

Smash banana and put into a medium bowl, along with the eggs, and vanilla. Combine. 

In another bowl, mix flours, coconut sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Whisk together. Then add to the banana bowl and mix til incorporated. 

Make the topping in a small bowl, using a fork to smash all ingredients together. 

Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper. Pour the banana batter into the lined baking pan 

Top with topping, randomly placing small chunks on top of batter …trying to evenly distribute. 

Bake at 350° for 30 min. Cool on cooling rack for at least 15 min (can be cut warm, carefully). Use a bread knife to cut into 16 squares. 

Enjoy with a hot cup of coffee!
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I love this! I instantly thought of our mentorshi I love this!

I instantly thought of our mentorship group - and how everyone is so supportive of one another …cheering each other on. There isn’t a detection of a competition from person to person. 

I do however, compete within myself and strive to meet goals that surpasses my last goal! 

No one else is my competitor, but me. While I silently compete within myself & strive to hit my goals …….I will also be cheering you on, celebrating your victories! 

Whether it’s in business, in school, in the gym ….whatever it may be - be your own competitor & improve on you, based on where you once were! You really are the only person you need to impress!
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#foodforthought #striveformore #beintentional #meetyourgoals #thoughtoftheday #thriveinlife #liveyourbestlife
Do you even collagen? Did you know we stop produci Do you even collagen? Did you know we stop producing collagen naturally, in our 20’s??!! 

OK! So I have been taking collagen for yeeeeaaars but in powdered form. Fast forward to a couple of months ago, I decided to checkout this liquid BioCell collagen and was AMAZED!

Not only did I not have any joint pain, I saw hair growth in areas that weren’t growing (temple area) AND my hair stopped shedding as much! I also noticed and felt my skin being more supple, as well as nail growth (too much! 😬) and strength. 

Another huge bonus by adding in the Trim BioCell collagen, was that my middle area was less bloated & I began seeing ab muscles 🙌🏼
**Trim has the same amount of collagen & hyaluronic acid as the other BioCell’s BUT has added CLA to inhibit dat storage and use fat, as well as promote lean muscle mass. 

The Trebiotics are added in to help with my gut health. Our gut is our 2nd brain and literally reacts to all the things we put in and on our bodies! We need (yes, NEED) to make sure our gut is in check to keep us healthy AND WELL! The Trebiotics has pre, post and probiotics all in one scoop! 

Do you want to thrive in life? Are you ready to feel good? Let’s thrive together as well as grow old gracefully 💛

Click link in bio and tap the ‘My Daily Dose’ tab and check out these products. You can most certainly delete anything from the cart (I added the Trim + Life bundle as it saves a few dollars buying it that way …but there are also single bottles in the cart too). Message me with any questions!

**edited as I misspoke in video - Trim has the exact same amount of type 2 collagen & hyaluronic acid as all of our BioCell collagens - but has added CLA!
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#collagen #biocellcollagen #liquidcollagen #probiotics #guthealth #feelgoodlookgood #healthandwellness #thriveinlife #livingmybestlife #foodforthought #foodwithapurpose #cocospaleokitchen
I cooked 3 eggs, 3 sausages and spinach for my hub I cooked 3 eggs, 3 sausages and spinach for my hubby and I. Why didn’t I make 4??? Well …here’s why ➡️ there were only 3 @pedersonsfarms spicy breakfast sausage left in the package & there were only 3 eggs left in my carton …so I went with it (I have unopened, of each …but ‘eh’ …let’s just divvy up what’s opened)!

Hubby got 2 eggs and one sausage and I got one egg and 2 sausages!!!! I think I WON! 😉

Scooped up the yolk that runneth into the  spinach with a @mikeys cassava tortilla! 

That’s what was for breakfast 😋 What was on your plate?
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Easy like Sunday morning ✨ I’m battling some Easy like Sunday morning ✨

I’m battling some crazy allergies & sitting here, with my head back to keep my nose from dripping, is all I need/should do right now! 

I really don’t like to give in to things - I like to be up and about but I try to tell myself, what I would tell others ….and that is, “It’s ok to give in and be still!” 

So. I’m enjoying this moment, in hopes that steering clear of the outdoors today, will help my allergies relax a bit! 

What am I doing for my allergies?? I’m diffusing frankincense, doubling up on vitamin c, rubbing ‘Breathe’ essential oil on my chest and now, just vegging with my Buttercup in lap! 

So here’s to a nice relaxing day! Enjoy yours, no matter how you spend it! 
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#easylikesundaymorning #coffeetime #relaxing #allergiesgotmelike #selfcare #foodforthought #bestill #healthandwellness
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