Ready for some GOOD news for a change?
According to the Organic Trade Association, the United States market for organic products in the last couple of years has skyrocketed, even recently breaking the 50 billion dollar mark! This means, wisely, Americans are spending more on organic and all-natural food items than ever before. See? I told you I had good news for ya!
This insightful demand for natural ingredients and pure, unadulterated foodstuffs means that some food industry companies and their counterparts are not only taking notice but making serious positive changes in the way they get said products to our tables.
Unfortunately, there IS an ugly side to most of the food industry in our country, as many of you lovelies know all too well. Most of the food industry does still see profit as its bottom line, I’m afraid…..
Now, I promise this post isn’t going to depress you – but I do think it’s critical that you readers understand WHY it’s so important to source beyond organic and ethically-minded food items! Then, we’ll get into the super fun recipes!
So, WHY do I want to utilize organic essential oils with my cooking rather than dollar-store or big-box flavor enhancers?
Well, that’s a very good question!
Here are (just a few!) reasons you miiiiight think twice about grabbing that “lemon juice” or “naturally flavored” bottle off the shelf….
- Non-organic and bottled flavor enhancers are laboratory-made powders concocted with chemicals and carcinogens. There is nothing pure about them. There’s no “food” in these “naturally-flavored” products.
- The food industry is a political powerhouse. Big corporations have immoral relationships with the FDA and the powers that be in government. When you read a “study” that claims something is safe, chances are you are being coerced into believing it’s true. This means that every supposed “study” you come across that claims some manufactured chemicals are safe is because the people paying for said “study” are the people making the toxic products you’re ingesting. Do your OWN research to be sure.
- Why do you think “flavor enhancers” have been banned in infant food in our country??? Yup – it’s because these naturally flavored products are KNOWN to cause brain and nervous system dysfunctions, amongst many other health concerns….
- Our country’s current labeling system is completely and utterly deceiving. This truly is a case where you SHOULD NOT believe what you read.
- Flavor enhancers are amongst MOST processed food items, friends. MOST.
- Flavor enhancers are known to contain chemicals that create addiction. They are also known to create obesity. Our bodies do not know how to deal with these foreign ingredients, and the dis-ease that they cause in our bodies is – quite literally – an epidemic.
- Here is a list of (just some!) of the side effects these manufactured products can cause or exacerbate: migraines, depression, fatigue, asthma, insomnia, the ‘shakes,’ dehydration, brain fog, nausea, numbness, dizziness, skin irritations, and heart palpitations.
And that’s just the beginning, friends! So, now that I have (hopefully) convinced you to really read labels, do your own research, and only support ethically-minded companies who want to make positive change in our world today, let’s get to the FUN part of this post! 😉
When I first started using essential oils over 15 years ago, I would buy whatever brand I could find for the least amount of money. Very quickly I could tell that it either took A LOT of the product to take effect, or it wouldn’t take effect at all! Since I have always been someone who believes in researching everything – especially things that go on or in my body – very soon I realized those cheaper bottles I was buying were LOADED with fillers and sourced irresponsibly! I was horrified! Through all my research, doTERRA essential oils are not only food grade quality, but they are the ONLY essential oil company out there today (and there are LOTS of them these days!) who insists on responsible sourcing AND insists on their products being totally pure and go through unbiased multi-stage testing for said purity.
So, WHY burn your money? Only support companies who aren’t foiling you, dearies….
Not only are you doing a good service to the environment and ensuring responsibly sourced foodstuffs, but you can rest assured that your hard-earned money is actually paying you BACK in health + wellness! What’s not to like about that? It also allows you to ‘weed out’ all the companies that aren’t doing this, which really lets you streamline your process for all things food and cooking! I’ve taken it one step further in committing to this mindset for EVERYTHING in my life!
One of the VERY best aspects of cooking with essential oils is the convenience! Recipe calls for dried herbs? Simply add 1-2 drops and wallah! No need to store dried herbs that have been sitting in your cupboards for waaaayyyyy too long. No more slimy and soggy fresh herbs going bad in your fridge that you had the VERY best intentions of using up before they went bad!
Since I have started truly and regularly incorporating essential oils into my cooking, I feel SO good about not wasting food! And, you only need 1-2 drops per recipe since doTERRA essential oils are so pure and so potent!
So, just HOW do I use essential oils in the kitchen?
Here are just a few ideas that I have personally found useful and fabulous for creating healthier overall wellness:
- Add 1-2 drops Lemon oil to your morning water. It makes you drink more because it’s super yummy AND you are cleaning out your system!
- If you experience regular GI distress or tummy upset, add 1-2 Peppermint oil or DigestZen blend to water, your morning smoothie, or take these before you eat a large meal. *My mom takes these religiously every day and swears it has totally relieved her post-surgical colon issues!
- Add Thyme, Oregano, Basil, Celery Seed, or Pink Pepper to your morning eggs to add zest and flavor!
- I personally like to add one drop of Turmeric to my evening tea. It feels so good knowing I’m SO easily giving my body what it needs!
- Mid-day, add 1-2 drops of Grapefruit or the MetaPWR blend of oils to your water. It helps speed up metabolism – especially important for those of us who are getting older and experiencing an even harder time with weight management!!!
Create an easy homemade salad dressing using a combination of oils! The doTERRA Blog has LOADS of recipes!
- Remember to take your daily supplements, and while taking them add 1-2 drops of these products to truly detoxify your system! It’s SO easy!
- For that late afternoon slump, both my son and I find rubbing in either Peppermint, Rosemary, Douglas Fir, Wild Orange, Tangerine, or my son’s personal favorite, the Brave Blend, onto our skin right around the 3-4 pm mark REALLY helps us both focus and get that homework done more efficiently!
- Depending on what dinner(s) I’m making that night, I will add whatever oils pair well with my dish of choice! Italian night? Add Basil, Thyme, Oregano, Coriander, or my personal favorite Fennel to the tomato sauce I’m working on. Asian-themed dinner? Add 1-2 drops of Ginger, Lemongrass, or Green Mandarin oil to your dish! Indian curry or Middle Eastern recipe? Try incorporating just a little Cardamom, Marjoram, or Turmeric into the dish!
- For desserts, try adding just a small amount of Cassia, Cinnamon Bark, Juniper Berry, or Peppermint for not only great flavor but also to help ease digestion!
- Each night when I brush my teeth, I not only incorporate doTERRA’S all-natural toothpaste, but I also apply some Clove onto my gums to help aid in a healthy mouth!
- Lastly, diffuse 5-7 drops of either Lavender, Vetiver, Bergamot, or Serenity blend in order to get the best night’s sleep of your life! As someone who has always battled insomnia, these oils have totally changed my personal sleep patterns for the better! They have literally taken me from an average of 6-7 hours of sleep each night up to a very dependable 8-9!!!!
Can you start to see how versatile these oils are?
The other beautiful thing is that just a little goes a very long way! So, while many people complain about the initial cost of doTERRA oils, those who actually unscrew that cap off each bottle very soon always realize what a valuable and worthwhile investment they’ve made!
On that note, BUYERS BEWARE: do NOT purchase doTERRA essential oils through Amazon OR any other source than either a doTERRA Wellness Advocate like myself, or directly through the website. There’s no telling if fillers are being added or the oils are somehow being adulterated when you purchase through a third party. WHY RISK IT?
Hopefully, this post has really got you excited to start incorporating doTERRA oils into your regular cooking regimen!
It is not only incredibly easy and practical but what’s so cool is while you are also adding robust and beyond organic flavoring to your dishes, you are ALSO aiding in numerous health benefits at the same time! It is THE definition of a win-win!
Make sure to reach out to me with any comments or questions – and you MUST visit the doTERRA Blog for an absolutely countless array of yummy recipes incorporating the oils!!! I have personally tried many of them and they are ALL easy and delicious!
REMEMBER: when you sign up for a monthly Loyalty Rewards Program membership, you will automatically earn points towards FREE PRODUCT EACH MONTH! And, the longer you maintain your “LRP” membership, the more value in FREE PRODUCT you earn! For example, this month I received, literally, about $120 in FREE doTERRA PRODUCT!
Making the decision to start regularly using not just any essential oil – but beyond-organic, responsibly sourced oils – creates not only a practical vision of less food waste but also creates a more well-balanced and healthier you!
I ask you: WHAT COULD BE MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN THAT?
Always Here,
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