Move Over Hidden Valley-Arizona Ranch to the Rescue!

Ranch dressing…we all grew up on it.  It might be the only reason you consider eating a salad.  It makes all food taste better…But you know there’s some issues with it, right?  So many otherwise healthy foods get ruined by ranch dressing…UNTIL TODAY!

I have clients often tell me that they are eating great food like steamed potatoes or raw vegetables but smothering it in ranch dressing which typically is loaded with dairy, chemicals, poor quality seed oils and various preservatives.  But the ranch is what makes the meal (or snack) so delectable.  There has to be a solution besides quitting all ranch…we aren’t quitters!

I hear you.  And good news…I have a solution.

This is a super creamy and delicious, health promoting recipe that you can use as a dressing or veggie dip and you will absolutely LOVE IT!

Some key ingredients:

Hemp seeds are an excellent source of essential fats, protein and vitamin E as well as several minerals including calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron and zinc.  They’ve been found in research to be especially helpful to the cardiovascular system¹.

Garlic is a great source of many minerals including potassium, phosphorus, zinc and sulfur².  It is referred to as Russian penicillin due to it’s antibacterial properties.  Garlic is also helpful for decreasing inflammation, supporting the immune system³ as well as the cardiovascular system⁴, including healthy blood pressure⁵.  It’s been long used to support a healthy microbiome and balances cholesterol⁶.  Garlic is an incredible healing food!

Dill is a great antioxidant (helpful with inflammation).  Although it’s not something that you’d likely be consuming large amounts of, dill has some special properties too.  It has been found to be helpful for regulating blood sugar and cholesterol levels, especially in diabetics⁷.  Dill has also been used to relieve gas as well as help stimulate milk flow in nursing mamas⁸.

Hippocrates said, “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.”  This food is powerful and delicious medicine!

Arizona Ranch Dressing:

2 c. organic raw hemp seeds

2-3 garlic cloves (start with 2…but I use A LOT more:)

Juice of 1 organic lemon

1.5 Tbls. organic white onion powder

2.5 Tbls. organic dill

1/4 tsp. organic mustard powder

1 Tbls. Pink Salt

10 oz. pure water

Add all ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth.  Enjoy with cut up fresh raw vegetables of your choice.  Keep sealed in refrigerator.  I would recommend using it within a few days (but that’s never a problem in my house).

If you’d like to use this as a salad dressing instead of a vegetable dip, just add a few more ounces of water to thin it out a bit.  Like any good ranch dressing, you can drizzle this over potatoes or sweet potatoes, on salads or use it as a condiment on wraps or veggie bowls.

This is a great recipe to make for your next party or family gathering.  With that much creaminess and flavor, no one will even miss the dairy!

At New Hope Health, we believe you can have optimal radiant health AND eat the most delicious food ever!  Now that’s a win win!

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References:

1. Rodriguez-Leyva D, Pierce GN. The cardiac and haemostatic effects of dietary hempseed. Nutr Metab. 2010. doi:10.1186/1743-7075-7-32

2. Ansary J, Forbes-Hernández TY, Gil E, et al. Potential health benefit of garlic based on human intervention studies: A brief overview. Antioxidants. 2020. doi:10.3390/antiox9070619

3. Arreola R, Quintero-Fabián S, Lopez-Roa RI, et al. Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds. J Immunol Res. 2015. doi:10.1155/2015/401630

4. Banerjee SK, Maulik SK. Effect of garlic on cardiovascular disorders: A review. Nutr J. 2002. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-1-1

5. Ried K. Garlic lowers blood pressure in hypertensive subjects, improves arterial stiffness and gut microbiota: A review and meta-analysis. Exp Ther Med. 2019. doi:10.3892/etm.2019.8374

6. Chen K, Xie K, Liu Z, et al. Preventive effects and mechanisms of garlic on dyslipidemia and gut microbiome dysbiosis. Nutrients. 2019. doi:10.3390/nu11061225

7. Haidari F, Zakerkish M, Borazjani F, Ahmadi Angali K, Amoochi Foroushani G. The effects of Anethum graveolens (dill) powder supplementation on clinical and metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes. Trials. 2020. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04401-3

8. Jana S, Shekhawat G. Anethum graveolens: An Indian traditional medicinal herb and spice. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.70915

Nothing said or implied in this post is intended to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent any disease.  It does not take the place of a qualified health care practitioner and is intended for educational purposes only.