Ingredients – it goes without saying – please use organic where possible

• 1 cup rolled oats
• ½(half) cup unflavoured protein powder
  • if you prefer not to use protein powder, just add another ¼ cup of rolled oats
• ½ tsp maca powder
  • optional – helps to balance hormones (available at health food stores)
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• 1/3 cup chocolate chunks
  • If you’re steering clear of chocolate replace with sultanas/rains
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp turmericsee my previous post about the huge health benefits of turmeric
• 1/3 cup tahini
• ¼ cup rice syrup
• 1 tbsp coconut oi

Method

• Preheat oven to 150 degree C and line a baking sheet with baking paper
• Mix in a large bowel oats, protein power, maca powder, walnuts, chocolate chunks, cinnamon, turmeric
• In a separate smaller bowel whisk together tahini, rice syrup and coconut oil
• Pour liquid over dry ingredients and stir/process until completely coated
• Wet hands between making each cookie and form into thick cookies
• Bake for 15 – 20 minutes
  • They’ll still be a pretty soft but harden as they cool
• Allow to cool and then enjoy.

 Do you experience

• Aversion to cold
• Cold extremities (hands and feet)
• Oedema (lower body)
• Weak knees
• Lower back pain
• Mental lethargy
• Frequent urination especially at night
• Morning diarrhoea (5am)
• Asthma
• Pale, swollen tongue
• Premenstrual lower back pain
• Fertility associated issues including:-
  • Profuse cervical fluid
  • Low basal body temperature
  • Shortened luteal phase (phase between ovulation and your period)
  • Lack of Sexual desire / low libido

According to Chinese medicine you may have a Kidney Yang deficiency.

As well as these “Yummy warming healthy happy kidney cookies” here are some further general guidelines for nourishing a Kidney Yang deficiency:-

• Treatment Aim – To gently warm the inner body for the purpose of boosting Yang and ultimately bring back balance to Yin & Yang.
  • Meals should consist largely of easily digested complex carbohydrates like grains and starchy root vegetables:-
    • 30 – 40% of the diet should be comprised of cooked vegetables; and
    • 10 – 20% only of the diet should be comprised of protein
  • Warming foods and spices like animal meats and cinnamon are recommended.
  • Cold natured foods such as raw vegetables need to be avoided to avoid further damaging the Yang.
  • Cook with warming methods i.e. cook on low heat with only a little water
  • Avoid cold drinks including cold-water, rather drink caffeine free herbal teas or warm water with lemon.
  • Eat 2-3 cooked meals per day
  • Avoid hot spices as they easily damage the Kidney’s life force

Specific Foods suggestions to nourish a Kidney Yang deficiency (eat more of these types of foods not only):-

• Eat Cooked
  • Grains:- Buckwheat, sweet rice (roasted), oats, barley (roasted), spelt, millet & quinoa
  • Vegetable soups
  • Vegetables:- Root vegetables (parsnips, sweet potatoes, leeks, pumpkin, yams, carrots, squash, turnip), onions, peas & garlic
  • Stewed fruits rather than raw fruits
  • Legumes:- Chick peas, black beans, aduki beans, black soy beans, lentils (especially French)
  • Nuts:– Walnuts (roasted), black sesame seeds (roasted), chestnuts, pistachios
  • Meats:- Lamb, beef, chicken, lamb, veal, goat, venison and beef kidneys
  • Fish:– mackerel, tuna, anchovy, prawns, salmon & mussels
  • Herbs – black pepper, fresh ginger, dry ginger, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom & rosemary, turmeric, star anise, nutmeg, fenugreek, chives, spring onions, fennel, garlic, peppermint, horseradish & cayenne
  • Sugar alternatives – molasses, rice syrup, barley malt & dates
  • Tea – Chai tea & jasmine tea
    • Siberian Ginseng could be an alternative to coffee in the morning.

Specific foods to restrict or avoid

• Raw fruits, Raw vegetables, sprouts, spinach, salads
• Soybeans, tofu, soy milk, glutinous rice, seaweeds
• Dairy (cheese, milk, yogurt, etc.)
• Cold foods like ice cream or smoothies
• Iced drinks including ice water
• Excessive salt, vinegar and refined sugars

You can see a lot of these restricted/avoid foods are considered ‘healthy’ and there is nothing wrong with them for most people but if you have a Kidney Yang deficiency – listen to your body and try a week or two adhering to the above guidelines – I’d love to hear how it works for you?

As always – have a beautiful day.

WellWithNature xxx