Did you know that you can make your own Nut Milk at home in about 5 minutes? It is so easy and cost effective! You can use any nut or seed that you like: almond, walnut, sunflower, hemp, hazelnut, sesame, pumpkin, or even pecan (which is what I used for this recipe for pumpkin spiced […]
‘Tis the season for the holiday gatherings we look forward to all year! But we know that with this season comes food – the yummy kind that doesn’t normally fit into a clean eating plan. When I first started my health journey seven years ago, committing to eat real food, these get-togethers would sometimes bring […]
Now that winter is coming, I’m looking for dishes to celebrate squash season! I love winter squashes because they are so satisfying and hearty, yet loaded with nutrition and health benefits. They are an easy way to get your carb-fix without affecting your waistline – always a good thing! The pomegranate seeds in this dish are bursting […]
This is my go-to recipe for any potluck gathering because it pairs well with most any dish served in the fall and winter. It’s also versatile and can be easily tweaked to use any combination of root veggies that are fresh and readily available. The addition of pineapple juice truly sets it apart from any […]
We’re excited to introduce Linda Wagner, who is joining the Branch Basics team this fall. Linda is a talented writer and and experienced Nutrition Coach who runs her own blog (LindaWagner.net), full of recipes and healthy living tips. We asked Linda to share a few of her favorite healthy holiday recipes here on the Branch […]
The Medicinal Properties of Chicken Soup with Bone Broth What could be more inviting on a crisp fall day than a steaming bowl of chicken soup? Studies show that humble soup is more than just a tasty meal. Treasured by traditional cultures chicken soup has been documented to help clear nasal congestion, reduce upper respiratory […]
How I Learned to Love Pancakes I’m not a pancake person – I’ve always thought they were boring and I really dread a sweet breakfast. Even as a kid, I hated the feeling I would get after eating a pancake, a plain bagel, or French toast first thing in the morning. Given my pick, I […]
Harmful to Humans, Deadly to Birds Avoid Nonstick Cookware Within a few minutes of being heated on a stove, a nonstick, Teflon pan begins offgassing harmful chemicals. An example of the hazards of Teflon and other nonstick chemicals is the sudden death of pet birds exposed to heating cookware made with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), […]
Joey and Tricia joined us this summer as interns in customer service and product development. Joey attends Baylor University and will be a sophomore Public Relations major. His enthusiasm and engaging personality have been a huge asset to the customer service team! Tricia is also studying Public Relations, and will be starting her senior year at […]
Having enough HCL (hydrochloric acid or stomach acid) is critical for good digestion and immune health. Without adequate HCL food is incompletely digested and failure of assimilation occurs so that we become vitamin and especially mineral deficient. When a person starts to eat the stomach is stimulated to start producing HCL. The HCL activates the chief cells in the middle portion of the stomach to start …
Japanese SUMMER RICE SALAD Traditional, medicinal Japanese foods like seaweed and plum paste enrich this rice salad with easy to absorb nutrients. Umeboshi paste is made from umeboshi plums. This traditional medicinal food is often used in rice and vegetable dishes in Japan. The sour and salty paste has a strong alkalizing effect on the […]
Glass technology is about 5,000 years old.(2) Despite its long history, the technology of glass manufacturing has changed very little in the past 50 centuries. Glass is the material of choice for virtually all food and drink uses. This is because glass is inert, which means it does not chemically interact with other materials. Glass […]
Lowering Fluoride Levels in US Tap Water For the first time in over 50 years, the United States has lowered fluoride levels in drinking water. A Guardian article written about this news implies that it is being lowered because too much fluoride causes white splotches on teeth in children. But according to a 500-page scientific review on […]
We’re on a mission to help people eliminate toxins from the places where people live, work, and play. We get a lot of questions from people about healthy living in general. In response to these requests, we’re starting a new series about common household chemicals to avoid. The Age of Chemistry In 1927, the president of […]
Currently Loving: Juice Society We’re so excited to introduce Danielle Sobel of Juice Society, a hand-crafted, cold-pressed, organic juice company here in Austin, Texas. The Branch Basics love for Juice Society began with Kelly and Allison displayed next to Danielle at a local health fair in the Fall. We shared a similar story of using […]
Is Dandelion Root the New Kale? Although dandelion (taraxacum officinale) is considered by many to be a pesky weed, it’s actually a super herb! In fact, dandelion root is comparable, in nutritional quality, to broccoli or kale. The whole plant is good for you, from the petals down to the roots. If you’ve ever pulled […]