Some other great ideas:

• cold noodle salad made with carrot noodles
• broccoli slaw
• sweet potato curly fries!
• apple dessert made with apple spirals
• pretty spiralized beets on top of a salad or roasted (wash spiralizer right away or will stain)

There are a few different kinds out there but this is the one that I love and use regularly.  It is inexpensive, comes with three blades and washes very easily!

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• 1 bag or bunch of brussel sprouts. If little you don’t need to cut, if larger trim ends and cut in half
• a good drizzle of olive oil to cover brussel sprouts, I’d say about 2 Tbsp’s
• a good drizzle of pure maple syrup equal to the oil (please don’t use Aunt Jemimah!)
• sea salt to taste

Roast in the oven at 350-450 approx 15-20 minutes or until the outside leaves starts to brown and get crispy (the best part!) stir once or twice during cooking.  I put this range because sometimes I cook in the oven while cooking something else and they still turn out awesome!

Benefits of Brussel sprouts:  Did you know Brussels are closely related to kale, collard greens and broccoli?  They provide the same phytonutrients that produce the enzymes involved in detoxification of our bodies.  These cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates which have powerful protective effects against many cancers.  Have you ever heard not to eat these vegetables because they effect thyroid function?  I find this rumor to be unfounded and based on my research not something to worry about unless you are eating 2-3 lbs of raw cruciferous vegetables everyday.  If you are nervous about thyroid function make sure to get enough iodine by eating seaweed products and/or iodized salt products see here for more information on iodine.

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• We don’t eat enough eggs, fish and sea vegetables
• We have reduced our consumption of iodized salt
• Bromine exposure; this is found in baked goods, plastics, soda, medications and pesticides.
• Fluoridated drinking water
• soil depletion

Other things low iodine can effect are dry mouth, dry skin, fibromyalgia, depression, weight gain and reduced alertness.

I love the Sea Seasonings Sea Salt with Sea Veges and use in place of regular sea salt at least once per day.  1/4 tsp = 370 mcg of  iodine.  There are some brown pieces in the salt but does not alter the taste of your food.  As with any food or supplement too much of a good thing can apply. The RDA for iodine is 150-290 micrograms per day (very low in my opinion, set only for the prevention of goiters).  1000 mcg’s = 1 mg.  The average daily Japanese consumption of iodine is 5-13,000 micrograms or 5-13 mg per day!  I can’t recommend the right level for you, I would work with your naturopathic Dr. and get tested if you suffer from low thyroid or have any of the symptoms above.

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• Coconut Yogurt – use in place of dairy yogurt or sour cream, good with yogurt toppings, in smoothies or as sour cream on tacos or potatoes.  Look for the unsweetened variety and one with out carrageenan
• Coconut flour – can be used in baked goods, for frying or thickening sauces
• Coconut oil – use for pan frying, baking or as a substitute for cream in your coffee
• Coconut milk – Use in place of cow milk.  I like it better than nut milks!  Look for sweetened kinds made with stevia for chocolate or vanilla, or unsweetened for cooking or cereal, no carrageenans
• Coconut aminos-great substitute for soy sauce.  It is a little sweeter but subs out nicely in most recipes!

See here or here for some yummy recipes using coconut products!

But Michelle coconut products contain so much saturated fat!  For the last 60 years saturated fat has been eschewed and a low-fat craze has taken over our country.  Low-fat and fat-free products are full of additives, chemicals and more sugar to make up for the removed fat.  They are never a good idea in my opinion!  Saturated fat is making a comeback, especially the kind in coconut products.  Dr. Mark Hyman states the following:

Interestingly, researchers find when folks consume more saturated fat—especially from healthy sources like coconut oil—their “good” LDL cholesterol increases and their “bad” LDL decreases. Saturated fat in foods like extra virgin coconut butter fuels your mitochondria, provides anti-inflammatory benefits, and could even improve your cholesterol numbers. 

See the full article here

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