Easy Button
Life is hard; food doesn't have to be #179 [vol5, 7.4]
Family Update
With both brothers at camp our daughter lived her best life as an only child this week. We went to dinner and talked about high school.(!!) My husband and I reminisced the good, bad and ugly from the 1990s and spoke life into what we hope is true for her. This girl is one of a kind and we are so thankful to watch her grow into a woman who chases after godliness. It is an honor to be her parents. She is teachable and teaches us.
Schaeffer started a lawn mowing business this summer. I can’t recommend pushing boys to do manual labor enough, even if it means my van smells like gas and grass. He has learned innumerable lessons this summer as a result. Recently he read Fans First about the Savannah Bananas (like Globe Trotters but baseball) and it fueled his entrepreneurial spirit.
About summer solstice I said to my husband, “With these long days I feel energized by the sun, almost like I’m solar powered.” More than once I’ve lamented I could not live in Alaska in winter: too much darkness.
Shortly after that remark, I heard an expert recall that the mitochondria (powerhouses of the cell) are indeed energized by the sun. Needless to say I took a deep dive and have been learning a lot in recent weeks about the power of the sun and the spectrum of light at various times of day. First light and sunset are especially powerful and healing with red light being prominent in the spectrum. Guess what kind of light is primarily indoors? Yup, opposite of the spectrum = blue LED lights. As a result, I bought my first blue blocking readers this week. You’ll find me outside as much as possible.
At first light I go out to chicken coop and usually putter in the garden a few minutes. One day my oldest son called at sunrise from Colorado (see the red tint on his face, below?) He is living his best life outdoors as a camp counselor. Saturday will conclude a two-week excursion with high schoolers (they hiked 100 miles of the Colorado Trail!). He certainly has had his fill of outdoor living this summer.
Easy Button
Monday morning I made a smoothie with homemade kefir as big as my head to drink as I taxi’d my daughter to volleyball across town. For lunch I drank kombucha with my taco covered in fermented veggies.
Food can be medicine and fermented foods are teeming with probiotics and enzymes to help digestion as well as boost immunity. Maybe you buy them but forget them in the fridge.
Some reading this Substack eat similarly.
Some want to eat similarly.
Are you reading, intrigued, yet zero interest to eat anything fermented? (No shame — Just know this next part is aimed at you.)
A friend told me today, “Several times I’ve tasted kombucha and I just can’t imagine ever liking it.” Maybe you’re someone who thinks they’ll never enjoy fermented foods? Maybe you’re too busy to think about it. Have you noticed your digestive system S L O W I N G with age?
Would you consider a citrusy flavored drink mix?
I’ve found a delicious one that has probiotics similar to kombucha with prebiotics to feed those probiotics, as well as 13 enzymes to help digest food. Sip throughout the day. Or use it like a fun afternoon pick-me up. Look forward to pouring it into whatever cup or water bottle and enjoy less bloating as a result. Ever struggle with constipation? Probiotics might be helpful.
It's a yummy easy button. It isn’t gritty and has a serving of greens as well as a collagen builder. This drink mix could replace the fermented foods you can’t seem to get down the hatch.
Wanna hit the easy button? Reply to this email or leave a comment. I’ll mail a three day supply for $10 (Venmo preferred). Your tummy will thank you.
Life is hard; food doesn’t have to be.
I’m cheering for you!!!
Julie
In case you missed yesterday’s sourdough discard crackers, click here. Or maybe you missed the nerding out about beet kvass. For the love, please try the sheet pan egg tacos for breakfast or dinner sometime soon.