One trick for healthier 🍕, 🌮, and 🍔

Tim, I woke up this morning looking like Id been crying for hours.

My eyes (and face) were so puffy.

But I hadnt been crying I actually just ate a few slices of really salty (but delicious!) pizza last night.

If youve ever overdone it on salty food you probably know what Im talking about.

So I guzzled a TON of water, then headed to a workout class to get my blood flowing.

And now a few hours later the puffiness is finally starting to go down.

See, the problem with salt is it makes your body hang onto extra water...

Which causes your cells to swell up and leads to unwanted puff and bloat.

Now, dont worry Im not going to tell you to eat a bland diet, or give up your favorite salty foods.

But I started wondering

How can we eat LESS salt, so we can feel LESS puffy

While still enjoying delicious meals?

Well, when I went out to my garden to grab a few veggies for lunch

The answer dawned on me:

You probably already eat a few unsuspecting plants

Which are super easy to grow and can replace a TON of salt in your meals.

That way, you can still eat really tasty food, without the bloating and puffiness you get from salt.¹

In fact, these plants can maximize the YUM in every meal so you wont miss out on any flavor or spice.

Im talking about HERBS.

Yep, herbs can replace salt without sacrificing flavor

And theyre full of good stuff to help ward off bloating and puffiness.

Herbs grow easily, are packed with vitamins and minerals, and add a punch of flavor to ANY meal

Like dressings, roasted veggies, even store-bought soups and salads.

Plus, when you harvest them right at home, youre more likely to eat more of them...

Which makes it so easy to replace excess salt in your meals with nutritious, savory flavor.

That way, you can wake up feeling refreshed and revitalized not bloated and swollen.

Now, I understand not everyone has the time or space to grow big outdoor gardens

And you might think you dont have a green thumb...

But thats okay!

Growing your own fresh, aromatic, flavor-packed herbs doesnt have to be difficult, expensive, or time-consuming.

All you need is a windowsill, small pot or jar, and a little soil

And before you know it, you can add a pop of nutrients to all your meals and REALLY cut down on your salt intake.

To start growing your own fortifying herb garden, you can plant seeds or buy herb plants from a greenhouse or grocery store.

Then, transfer the herb plants into your own pots or jars, or keep them in the ones theyre sold in.

Simply set them on a sunny windowsill and water about once a week to keep them happy couldnt be easier.

A few of my favorite tasty, easy-to-grow, nutrient-packed herbs include:

Now, these are just a few of my favorites.

But feel free to experiment with other herbs the options (and benefits) are endless.

Honestly, every herb is packed with nutrients your body needs to stay healthy, so grow whichever ones you like.

And, to help you get started on your herb garden, Ive created a simple herb-filled recipe to inspire you:

Tim, I hope Ive inspired you to try your hand at growing an herb garden.

Its a simple way to help you eat fresher, healthier meals which taste delicious

Without so much salt you wake up with puffy eyes like I did this morning.

With your own herb garden, youll be well on your way to a more vibrant, healthy, thriving you.

And if you start growing today, youll have fresh herbs to use all summer long.

To a healthy, balanced life,

Maggie Q
ActivatedYou Founder


P.S. If your herbs grow faster than you can eat them

You can easily freeze them for later use, and keep them for up to 6 months.

I like to wash and dry my herbs, then store them in baggies in the freezer. (Just make sure to get as much air out of the bag as you can.)

You can also fill ice cube trays with chopped herbs and drizzle olive oil over the top to cover the herbs.

Simply pull your frozen herbs out of the freezer and add directly to soups, salads, dressings, or roasted vegetables for a burst of flavor and nutrition.

Your body (and wallet) will thank you!

Sources:
1. Peng AW, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, Miller ER 3rd, Mueller NT. Effects of the DASH Diet and Sodium Intake on Bloating: Results From the DASH-Sodium Trial. Am J Gastroenterol. 2019 Jul;114(7):1109-1115. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000283. PMID: 31206400; PMCID: PMC7122060.
2. Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar M, Hosseinzadeh H. Therapeutic effects of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and its active constituents on nervous system disorders. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2020 Sep;23(9):1100-1112. doi: 10.22038/ijbms.2020.45269.10541. PMID: 32963731; PMCID: PMC7491497.
3. Li Pomi F, Papa V, Borgia F, Vaccaro M, Allegra A, Cicero N, Gangemi S. Rosmarinus officinalis and Skin: Antioxidant Activity and Possible Therapeutical Role in Cutaneous Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Mar 9;12(3):680. doi: 10.3390/antiox12030680. PMID: 36978928; PMCID: PMC10045493.
4. FoodData Central. (n.d.). https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/746771/nutrients
5. FoodData Central. (n.d.-b). https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170416/nutrients
6. Shamloul, Norhan, et al. "The role of vitamins and supplements on skin appearance." Cutis 104.4 (2019): 220-224.
7. Tardy AL, Pouteau E, Marquez D, Yilmaz C, Scholey A. Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence. Nutrients. 2020 Jan 16;12(1):228. doi: 10.3390/nu12010228. PMID: 31963141; PMCID: PMC7019700.
8. Hammoudi Halat D, Krayem M, Khaled S, Younes S. A Focused Insight into Thyme: Biological, Chemical, and Therapeutic Properties of an Indigenous Mediterranean Herb. Nutrients. 2022 May 18;14(10):2104. doi: 10.3390/nu14102104. PMID: 35631245; PMCID: PMC9147557.
9. VanBuren CA, Everts HB. Vitamin A in Skin and Hair: An Update. Nutrients. 2022 Jul 19;14(14):2952. doi: 10.3390/nu14142952. PMID: 35889909; PMCID: PMC9324272.