Léré's Barn: Celebrate Your Health and AIM to Stay Well

As Living Real Magazine celebrates its 16th anniversary,I couldn’t think of a more fitting theme than celebrating our health. Too often, we take for granted the simple gifts that greet us each morning: the ability to spend time with the Lord, take a walk, exercise, prepare nourishing meals, and enjoy another day of life.

I know so many people who struggle with their health; while some even face life-threatening illnesses. Watching friends and loved ones walk through difficult times reminds me how precious good health truly is.

If God has blessed us with good health, it is worth celebrating every day. We often reserve celebrations for birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones, yet every new sunrise is a gift from the Lord. Every breath, every step, and every opportunity to serve others is a reason to live!

Why not pause for a moment amid the busyness of life and ask yourself, What do I have to celebrate today? Make a list. You’ll probably discover that your greatest blessings have been there all along.

I celebrate life because where there’s life, there’s hope. I celebrate my health, the incredible friends God has placed in my life, my beautiful children, my precious grandchild, the freedom we enjoy in this wonderful country, and my husband of 32 years, whom I adore and who still adores me. I celebrate that God miraculously provided a beautiful fixer-upper property we never imagined we could afford. We have so much to be grateful for. Don’t let the busyness of life distract you from the countless blessings that come straight from the hand of God.

Celebrating our health also means being good stewards of it. The choices we make each day matter. Small, consistent habits will have a profound impact on our well-being and enable us to continue fulfilling the purposes God has for our lives.

Here are some simple ways to help you AIM to stay well:

• Know your numbers. Stay informed about your blood work and key health markers. Understanding what’s happening inside your body is one of the best places to begin.

• Eat more green foods. Leafy greens are rich in folate, chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support healthy blood and overall wellness.

• Enjoy healthy fats. Your brain, hormones, and every cell in your body depend on good fats, especially omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish, walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and pumpkin seeds.

• Small changes, if practiced consistently, add up over time.. Every healthy choice matters. 

• Choose foods as close to nature as possible. Real food nourishes your body in ways processed foods cannot.

• Hydrate. Staying hydrated is about more than drinking water; eating water-rich fruits and vegetables while maintaining healthy electrolyte balance is also key.

• Move your body more. Regular movement strengthens your heart, muscles, bones, and mind.

• Prioritize quality sleep. Your body repairs and restores itself while you sleep. 

• Manage stress intentionally. Find ways to activate your parasympathetic nervous system.
  Healing takes place in our “rest and digest” state.

• Support your digestive health. A healthy gut is foundational to overall wellness.

I personally have used FloraFood®, a quality probiotic, for more than 25 years. Be sure to eat
plenty of fiber from fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. On days when I know I’m
falling short, one of my favorite whole-food fiber supplements is Fit ’n Fiber®. Both products
are available through my website: www.aliveagainonline.com.

I love what Dr. Lucia Aronica says: “Food isn’t just fuel; it’s the pencil that rewrites your genetic instructions.”
What a powerful reminder that the choices we make today influence our tomorrow.

As we celebrate another wonderful year of Living Real Magazine, my prayer is that you’ll also celebrate one of God’s greatest gifts, your health.

Homemade Rosemary Salt

You don’t have to spend a fortune on gifts to make your loved ones happy. Simply see what you already have in your garden and pantry and get creative. For example, this rosemary salt is a perfect homemade gift for your foodie friends. You can use it to flavor chicken, lamb, turkey, oven roasted root vegetables, salads, and potatoes. Experiment with lemon zest and chili too.

•   1 cup fresh rosemary leaves

•   3 cups coarse sea salt (my favorite is the coarse Celtic Sea Salt)

Harvest fresh rosemary early in the morning when the oils are most aromatic. Thoroughly rinse the sprigs under cold water, then use a salad spinner to remove excess moisture. Lay the sprigs on a paper towel or clean dishcloth and gently press another paper towel on top to absorb any remaining water. Ensure the rosemary is completely dry. Strip the leaves from the rosemary sprigs and finely chop them with a sharp knife. The finer you chop, the more evenly the flavor will distribute throughout the salt. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and spread the coarse sea salt evenly over the entire surface.

Sprinkle the chopped rosemary evenly over the salt. Gently stir the mixture with your fingers or a spatula to distribute the rosemary throughout the salt. To dry the mixture, leave the tray of rosemary salt uncovered overnight in a cool, dry place to allow the rosemary fully to dry and infuse its flavor into the salt. Once the salt is completely dry, transfer it to small glass jars for storage. Seal tightly to maintain freshness.  

Delicious Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

•   4 eggs

• 1 cup organic brown sugar

• 1 cup applesauce or ½ cup avocado oil and ½ cup apple sauce

• 2 cups unbleached self-raising flour

• 2 teaspoons baking soda/bicarbonate of soda

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 Tablespoon mixed spice or cinnamon

• 1 Tablespoon grated lemon rind

• 3 cups grated carrots

• 1 cup pecan or walnuts, roughly chopped

• ½ cup finely chopped fresh pineapple

Instructions:

1. Set oven at 350F or 180C. 

2. Spray and line 2 cake pans with parchment paper and set aside. 

3. Beat together eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat for at least 5 minutes. Beat in the apple sauce little by little.

4. Sift the dry ingredients together three times and gradually beat into the egg mixture.

5. Then add lemon rind, carrots, pineapple, and nuts and gradually mix, being careful not to overmix. 

6. Divide the batter evenly between the 2 cake pans. 

7. Bake at 350F for approximately 30-40 minutes.
   

Cream Cheese Icing Ingredients:

•   8oz (227g) dairy free cream cheese or regular cream cheese

• ½ cup soft butter of choice

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 4 cups powdered sugar / icing sugar

Instructions:

1. Cream butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until well mixed.

2. Add the icing sugar little by little until well combined and ice the cake to your liking.