Unsure what turmeric is? Don’t want to mispronounce “quinoa” when you ask for it at a store? Since some of the ingredients and terms in this book may be unfamiliar, we’ve provided this glossary.
You might want to start your new eating style by going to a health food store once a month, or buying items online. But don’t overlook your own grocery store: You might find things like coconut oil that’s been there all along.
Acai: A nutrient-dense berry (pronounced “ah-sigh-ee”) from the Amazon. Its flavor can best be described as a mixture of red wine and chocolate. The acai berry is packed with easy-to-absorb antioxidants.
Adzuki bean: A small, red bean (pronounced “a-dooki”) with a white ridge that runs along its side. Cultivated in Japan and China, it is the easiest bean to digest. Adzuki beans are high in dietary fiber, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins and are rich in protein.
Cardamom: The aromatic seeds of a plant of the ginger family, used as a spice and also medicinally. Cardamom hails from Southeast Asia and India.
Coconut butter: Freshly made from whole coconut flesh, not just the oil. Coconut butter is pureed into a densely nutritious spread. It is rich and creamy and melts in your mouth.
Coconut sugar: Also known as coco sugar or coconut palm sugar, this is a sugar produced from the sap of cut flower buds of the coconut palm. It looks and tastes exactly like brown sugar—but it won’t contribute to fluctuating blood sugar levels.
Grass-fed/grass-finished: Terms used for truly grass-fed animals that are fed a diet of grass or other forage throughout their lives and have constant access to pasture or range. They are not given any grain feed, animal by-products, synthetic hormones, or antibiotics.
Hemp seeds: Little white seeds, just bigger than sesame seeds. They are an incredible vegan source of protein that is easily digested and far superior to soy.
Himalayan pink salt: A pure, hand-mined salt derived from ancient sea salt deposits. It matches the exact mineral profile of human blood so it helps re-mineralize the body. It is believed to be the purest form of salt available today.
Pasture-raised eggs: From hens raised on pastureland, as opposed to being kept in confinement and fed primarily grains. Eggs from pastured hens contain up to 20 times more healthy omega-3 fatty acids than those from their antibiotic-injected counterparts, factory hens.
Quinoa: A grain-like seed (pronounced “keen-wa”) from South America. It has more protein than grains and contains both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Seaweed or sea veggies: The most alkalizing foods available. Varieties include kelp, dulse, nori (this is what sushi is wrapped in), arame, and wakame (in miso soup). Sea veggies neutralize acid poisons in the body and decrease inflammation as a result. All ocean seaweeds contain essential trace minerals, which improve digestive and thyroid health. They can be found in the Asian section of your health food store, with the condiments.
Stevia: A natural herb from South America that is 100 times sweeter than sugar (a little goes a long way), with no effect on blood sugar. Therefore, it is completely safe for diabetics, and supports an anti-inflammatory lifestyle.
Tamari: A gluten-free soy sauce found in the Asian section of the health food store, and in some conventional grocery stores.
Tempeh: A form of fermented soy (the only kind we like) that is cultured and fermented in a way that binds the soybeans together in a bar or patty-like substance. Tempeh is packed with protein—just one serving has 22 grams!
Turmeric: A powerful dietary spice for auto-immune-related inflammation and pain. Turmeric is also a fantastic source of indirect antioxidants (it stimulates the body’s own production of antioxidants for hours after consumption).
Wild-caught: A term applied to fish, simply meaning that the fish were not farm-raised, but lived out their natural life in the ocean. A wild-caught fish ate what it was intended to in nature versus being fed something else if raised on a “farm,” which often diminishes the nutrients.
Xylitol: A sugar alcohol from the birch tree. Xylitol is a 7 on the glycemic index, where table sugar, or sucrose, is a 100. You can use xylitol cup-for-cup in place of sugar in any recipe.