tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9712561342905798572024-03-12T23:16:17.611-07:00Food and Health Adventures of a Peruvian ChickAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-27280604446193055802013-06-30T23:16:00.002-07:002013-06-30T23:16:41.417-07:00NEW BLOG UPDATEHey guys!<br />
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There is the echo....<br />
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Things have been pretty quiet around here. Tonight, I come with news. <br />
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I have been working on a new blog ever since I graduated. I wanted to start fresh, have a simpler and cleaner looking lay out, and post very frequently with more recipes and personal thoughts. I am hoping to post at least twice a week. <br />
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Please come visit my new page, say hello :) and don't forget to subscribe!<br />
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I am also happy to have a short name for my blog haha.<br />
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<em>Vibrante</em> sounded perfect. <br />
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<a href="http://viibrante.wordpress.com/">http://viibrante.wordpress.com/</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-56611448663266509482013-04-30T09:20:00.002-07:002013-04-30T09:24:17.615-07:00Chaga-Caramel Iced Tonic<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpzymj3FY8GTKosu5lLG9GA-LtBjVA3Q5276TB9ZNo7hqY2H2aI5RA_EDYd-d1H21rwjvi_7RC7HiGTtqwUdjdJpbQ9XwVLlvyJXCiAktrPPkN5mV2N27Y9-uzMsi90xTR11a1CcaBPA/s1600/wk18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpzymj3FY8GTKosu5lLG9GA-LtBjVA3Q5276TB9ZNo7hqY2H2aI5RA_EDYd-d1H21rwjvi_7RC7HiGTtqwUdjdJpbQ9XwVLlvyJXCiAktrPPkN5mV2N27Y9-uzMsi90xTR11a1CcaBPA/s640/wk18.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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I was gifted this dried Chaga from a friend who lives in an area up north where wild Chaga grows. After a long day at school, I came home to find at the doorstep....Chaga mushroom! I get more excited over Chaga mushroom than an iPhone (true story). I received this mushroom as a wonderful unforgettable gift at the perfect time too. Being so busy with school lately has made me spend little time in nature, so holding these Chaga nuggets, even SEEING them in person, felt so amazing and grounding to be connected to the energy of this completely wild food. </div>
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I've seen videos of it and pictures but it's been hard getting a hold of it. I actually bought a bag of Chaga in Berkeley a few months ago but I may have bought something that they confused Chaga with. When I made the tea with my friend it reeked her kitchen and it was offensively bitter, almost toxic bitter. Of course I managed to get down half of my brewed cup because I wanted some Chaga darn it! haha. An online friend from Keystone Herbs was so kind to have sent me some of their wild harvested Chaga to make up for my first time trying "Chaga" that went bad. I will never forget this thoughtful gift.</div>
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Well this Chaga that was gifted to me came from <a href="http://keystoneherbs.com/">Keystoneherbs.com</a>. It tasted wonderful. It has a very mild aroma of Vanilla and the Vanilla was also detectable in the tea. I needed no sweetener. It was perfect. </div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Chaga-Caramel Iced Tonic</span></strong></div>
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<strong>This drink has a nice hint of Caramel flavor thanks to the Maca powder, is very refreshing, energizing yet calming at the same time, & grounding. Besides being enjoyable, both the Maca powder & Chaga tea have incredible immune boosting properties & they are stress relieving. The synergy of these two ingredients make this drink a powerhouse for healing joints, relieving inflammation, prevention of cancer, & nourishing the body with anti-oxidants. </strong></div>
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-1 cup cooled Chaga tea (Boil on medium high about a teaspoon of small pieces of dried Chaga in 4 cups in a pot for 30-40 minutes. Then strain the pieces of Chaga.)<br />
-1/2 teaspoon raw Maca powder<br />
-2 drops Stevia Extract (or use raw honey, or maple syrup to your preferred taste)<br />
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Blend in a blender or mix by hand thoroughly. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitB-U9olOtL92dRH9ZuC8P_IhZBG78RvzBgRJ5p9kk4dE39Qdu5QPBS_JLmcMgtfoza6qZCbhWyIeP5lnToU6EGuuT7KQ2p8tjuXl6kFdA4q1Uj5Gn2A78UzYaFKoUlWHMXANdQyVAkTk/s1600/chaga4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitB-U9olOtL92dRH9ZuC8P_IhZBG78RvzBgRJ5p9kk4dE39Qdu5QPBS_JLmcMgtfoza6qZCbhWyIeP5lnToU6EGuuT7KQ2p8tjuXl6kFdA4q1Uj5Gn2A78UzYaFKoUlWHMXANdQyVAkTk/s400/chaga4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-82861892514727695092013-04-27T10:19:00.002-07:002013-04-27T10:27:41.778-07:00Chocolate Macadamia Bites (Decadently Healthy)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Chocolate <em>Dates</em> Macadamia</span> </div>
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Get it?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeuUsdQT9k61PM_0zA6i0VSjbo79iieIYm96na7NsUXc5z8r4rPpLVqKB7NPgW3jnxydaJYQpF2pbRqVVawOnBFlwNtgMyLTg8DM5CIBAtaEwksjStNQj-h2A2A-pkDmweaI__hOv6Kg/s1600/lulu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeuUsdQT9k61PM_0zA6i0VSjbo79iieIYm96na7NsUXc5z8r4rPpLVqKB7NPgW3jnxydaJYQpF2pbRqVVawOnBFlwNtgMyLTg8DM5CIBAtaEwksjStNQj-h2A2A-pkDmweaI__hOv6Kg/s400/lulu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Three of my favorite foods in one recipe. These past few weeks I have been going crazy over Medjool Dates. I could eat a plate filled of only Macadamias and be the happiest person! Cacao just sits deep in my heart. I've been enjoying pure chocolate pretty often throughout the week lately. </div>
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The picture speaks for itself. This recipe is as simple as it looks.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recipe: Serves 2</span></strong></div>
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<strong>-2 soft Medjool Dates</strong></div>
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<strong>-8 Macadamia nuts</strong></div>
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<strong>-Your favorite healthy chocolate bar (or homemade).</strong> Another great way I've been enjoying these with less sugar from the chocolate bar is to simply use Cacao Nibs. The Medjool Dates are sweet enough! Cacao Nibs are a little hard to the bite & would add a great crunchy texture. </div>
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<strong>-Sea Salt</strong></div>
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To create, remove the pits from your Medjool Dates. Now open your Medjool Date all the way to create halves. Chop in half or in smaller pieces your Macadamia nuts. Two Macadamias for each Medjool Date half is a good base. Slice off small chunks or pieces of your chocolate bar. Add the pieces of your Macadamias & chocolate to each half of the Medjool Dates. If you are using Cacao Nibs then sprinkle about a teaspoon on each half. Lightly sprinkle a touch of Sea Salt. Enjoy! You can double the recipe and store these in the refrigerator covered for a couple of weeks. </div>
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These are enjoyable as a snack, pre-workout, & dessert.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugOVrWihvy1jtA_BQZJoj0zvJFvkYDtyLDBY2UHtghL1nl90SbMRBlezPzp-RdKk8tHHCt9A4ois48dwf99YoEbdZTmlpIKORf4l-FmYCEAf_B9HpIGxI7Y1IERTfQfvaiZI4N0Uvi4g/s1600/lulus3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugOVrWihvy1jtA_BQZJoj0zvJFvkYDtyLDBY2UHtghL1nl90SbMRBlezPzp-RdKk8tHHCt9A4ois48dwf99YoEbdZTmlpIKORf4l-FmYCEAf_B9HpIGxI7Y1IERTfQfvaiZI4N0Uvi4g/s400/lulus3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used my favorite chocolate bar at the moment :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnORbkj0uOFO2vWLmMsU-bZZgTAm0aBz8udveN-hbeVYZUBjfKN1oKQ_Mr8VnOkQwv9ORkDmPPbvNGc-6B2x0UKdc5UVG3p9aaVqa1WHOuTdW7D8oreiCT3DIRiQS3VlqIZwvuR6VXsO4/s1600/wk6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnORbkj0uOFO2vWLmMsU-bZZgTAm0aBz8udveN-hbeVYZUBjfKN1oKQ_Mr8VnOkQwv9ORkDmPPbvNGc-6B2x0UKdc5UVG3p9aaVqa1WHOuTdW7D8oreiCT3DIRiQS3VlqIZwvuR6VXsO4/s320/wk6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I like my sandwiches closed.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-13632881939577195922013-04-25T09:37:00.002-07:002013-04-25T15:39:13.680-07:00Chocolate is a Bite of Health: Pure vs. Industrialized <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPLEzZ68w-EtKXUjDe-yKqeGpCVIANTVWyCtrlwBRZrbyoMPf00SlDy8kHE-1PkV8jkatenAgkSBmMtSvO01k6QNueEdsxeoQBsOzDwLwg3HsHHERwBAW4y8u0D126JlopV79LAHdf5M/s1600/cacao55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPLEzZ68w-EtKXUjDe-yKqeGpCVIANTVWyCtrlwBRZrbyoMPf00SlDy8kHE-1PkV8jkatenAgkSBmMtSvO01k6QNueEdsxeoQBsOzDwLwg3HsHHERwBAW4y8u0D126JlopV79LAHdf5M/s400/cacao55.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Love yourself & feed yourself chocolate</span></i> </div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Many of us are re-discovering the health values that cacao possesses. This nutrient dense exotic bean that grows from the cacao tree has been used medicinally by our ancient ancestors. It has been used to treat diarrhea, intestinal infections, asthma, bronchitis, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, & many, many other health ailments. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In past years, we have come to belief that chocolate is chocolate. It drowned in the reputation of being fattening, high in sugar, raises LDL cholesterol, is high in caffeine, has minimal nutritional value (we have come far), & wreaks havoc on your skin. These claims are true, however, you can be rest assured that it is only cheap & heavily processed industrialized chocolate with hard to pronounce ingredients that holds accountable for these claims.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Chocolate is indeed one of nature's treasured foods. The Mayan and Aztec culture used cacao beans as high value coins and to make a bitter frothy drink. From my learnings I'd like to share some interesting facts about cacao and it's health benefits. What I have found is that not all chocolate is created equal as we tend to think. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The compounds & health benefits of chocolate are affected by the way the chocolate is harvested & processed. </span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dO2yas72C4GTX_BowToeRFc5D5XlIhn5yxriTlOBqi8OzbNYxWfYvHPduWYwsBgnS7ArWk_d8GFbCjlQMpcc8jQSYR1wn7v-TA_L2tZBfiuAaWmUihRthcFouTRo7vsqURuZmZ_33lI/s1600/547846_335360536558406_724801036_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dO2yas72C4GTX_BowToeRFc5D5XlIhn5yxriTlOBqi8OzbNYxWfYvHPduWYwsBgnS7ArWk_d8GFbCjlQMpcc8jQSYR1wn7v-TA_L2tZBfiuAaWmUihRthcFouTRo7vsqURuZmZ_33lI/s400/547846_335360536558406_724801036_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(Holding a cacao bean at a raw cacao workshop. It was so neat to hold a cacao bean in its whole form after learning so much about it and falling in love with it. Next time I hope to be holding a cacao pod! )</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Hybrid vs. Heirloom Cacao Beans:</span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><u>Hybrid cacao beans</u> have become popular among industrial farmers who wish to produce a higher yield of chocolate for less labor work. These are favored for mass production of candy bars, baking products, & cheap chocolate bars. Hybrid cacao beans are easier to produce because they don't require as much shade to grow under, farmers don't need to deal with the inconveniences of the environment when there is a high demand to be met for chocolate sales, & the beans can be made disease resistant. Hybrid cacao beans also result in the ease of mono-cropping for farmers, however, this results in environmental problems as well as less nutrient-density & quality of the cacao bean. <u>Heirloom cacao beans </u>are the all around natural & pure cacao beans containing all of their compounds created by nature and have been cross-pollinating as nature intended, not the farmer intentionally breeding it. </span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Raw Cacao vs. Heated Cacao:</span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There is a significant difference when it comes to eating cacao in its raw state or heating it at high temperatures. The vitamin C in cacao becomes diminished when it is exposed to high temperatures, as well as the flavanol contents which are the antioxidants. Flavanols are great for healthy skin and detoxification. <b><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18710243" target="_blank">A study</a></b> reported the concentrations of flavanols in different types of cacao processing. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Natural~ 34.6 mg/g</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Lightly processed~ 13.8 mg/g</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Medium processed~ 7.8 mg/g</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Heavily processed~ 3.9 mg/g</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Why would we want to eat heavily processed chocolate anyway? You deserve the best chocolate!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Heavily processed means that it has been treated in a way to remove the bitter parts of the cacao, change its appearance & texture, & was exposed to high temperatures when melting it.</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Removing the bitterness means sacrificing the medicinal qualities & antioxidants. But don't worry! There are natural ways that I will share at the end of this post to hide a little of the bitterness of chocolate to make it taste good to your desired pleasure. </span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Pure Cacao:</span></i></b> </div>
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<em>PEA is found in cacao, which is a chemical produced by the brain when we fall in love.</em> </div>
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<em>Native Americans in Panama and the Amazon River drank 7-8 cups daily of bitter chocolate.</em></div>
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<li><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">It contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B9, C, & E.</span></i></li>
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<li><i>The Polyphenols (antioxidants) in cacao help to treat against depression. </i></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><u>High in magnesium:</u> magnesium is said to be the most deficient
mineral in our diet today. Magnesium relieves PMS cramps, relaxes the muscles, builds strong
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<i>Theobroma Cacao stands for "Food of the Gods".</i></div>
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<i>Hot Chocolate beverage lowers your LDL (bad) cholesterol and increases HDL (good) cholesterol.</i></div>
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<i>It is high in sulfur which beautifies skin and hair.</i></div>
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<i>It contains the bliss chemical Anandamide. </i></div>
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<i>White chocolate does not provide the abundance of nutrients of dark chocolate.</i></div>
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<i>Cacao scores minimally on caffeine content. 2 ounces of chocolate has 10-60mg of caffeine, whereas a 5 oz cup of coffee has up to 180 mg.<u> </u></i></div>
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<i><u>Healthy Fats:</u> Cacaco is made up mostly of Monounsaturated fats which is the good kind, and has little Polyunsaturated fats which go rancid quickly in the body and cause damage. </i></div>
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<i>Most of the Saturated fat in cacao is Stearic Acid, which studies have shown it lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol. </i></div>
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<i>Saturated fat enhances calcium absorption & immune function. Remember, half of your cell membrane is made up of saturated fat. Fat soluble vitamins are also present in saturated fat.</i></div>
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<i>A study showed it imroves arterial flow in smokers. </i></div>
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<i>It has more anti-oxidants than green tea, fruits, vegetables, & even wine.</i></div>
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<i>Prevents atherosclerotic plaque.</i></div>
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<i>It is protective against Cardiovascular Disease. </i></div>
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<i>In a study, people were fed high levels of dark chocolate and it showed that it protected them against UV damage. </i></div>
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<i>The soluble fiber in cacao helps prevent weight gain because it takes away hunger & attracts water. It also improves arterial blood flow.</i></div>
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<i>Studies have shown that even small amounts eaten of dark chocolate improved cholesterol and blood pressure. Consuming it regularly showed to improve heart health & overall vein & artery function.</i></div>
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<i>It provides the body with Dopamine & Serotonin, which give you that feel good mood.</i></div>
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<i>Cacao improves the functioning of our neurotransmitters, which transmit messages for bodily functions from neuron to neuron. </i><i> </i></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tasty Home-Made Chocolate:</span></em></strong><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">To make pure good tasting chocolate at home, you can use natural sources of sugar such as Coconut Sugar/syrup, raw Honey, Rapadura, Date sugar, Maple Syrup, Whole Organic Unrefined Cane Sugar, Molasses, & Stevia. Add spices if you'd like such as Cinnamon & Cayenne. My favorite being Tumeric. </span></em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSeflDeSbuKunvQNauoFpMgmViJoXzNhkVjeMU-LfB7xxOIzYFFxxhJQg5QtLLx4wnEuyMlpLaDVuWfe5Bc1wOhpFV1OlAXH-Q6udz1aOf1wd8CbJqXurVyC3D8bgW8_wVulZa6BWfPY/s1600/april.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSeflDeSbuKunvQNauoFpMgmViJoXzNhkVjeMU-LfB7xxOIzYFFxxhJQg5QtLLx4wnEuyMlpLaDVuWfe5Bc1wOhpFV1OlAXH-Q6udz1aOf1wd8CbJqXurVyC3D8bgW8_wVulZa6BWfPY/s320/april.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(home-made shiny dark chocolate)</div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Because of all these health benefits packed in the cacao bean is why we experience a euphoric feeling upon consumption. Cacao soothes the body and nourishes it. Let your body get carried away in the deliciousness of chocolate and all those natural potent compounds this exotic bean has to offer.</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> You might not be able to get away with a Hershey's chocolate bar though :p</i></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Opt for a chocolate bar of 50% cacao or more. Even 50% cacao has been shown to have beneficial effects on lowering blood pressure. A good chocolate bar should only have about 4 ingredients in it and you should be able to pronounce them :) The first ingredient, which makes up the bulk of the product, should say cacao/chocolate. Not sugar. Buy from a company who does give a crap about the cacao they use and where they source it from :) Fair Trade Chocolate bars are great for you and the farmers. </i></span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My favorite chocolate companies:</span></em></strong><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The following can be found at your health grocery store or online.</span></em><br />
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<span class="fbPhotoTagList hidden_elem" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><u><strong>Lulu's Raw Chocolate:</strong> </u>This company pops into my head first when I step into the grocery store in search for a chocolate bar. I've been eating a lot of their raw & dairy-free, fair trade chocolate bars lately and I love eating them as a pre breakfast! They taste amazing and I love the texture. They are a perfect size too. <a href="http://www.luluschocolate.com/" target="_blank">Click here to visit their page.</a> </span></em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong><u>Edible Goddess:</u> </strong>I love the woman who created this company. I know her personally and she is an inspiring & warm-hearted being. Her products are hands-down a trusted source for pure organic natural herbal infused chocolates & other products. She uses heirloom cacao in her chocolates. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ediblegoddess?section_id=12406398" target="_blank">Visit her chocolates here.</a></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong><u>Fearless Chocolate:</u></strong> This is another favorite of mine for raw chocolate on the market. Their ingredients are only raw fair-trade cacao & whole unrefined organic cane sugar. <a href="http://www.fearlesschocolate.com/about-us/" target="_blank">Visit their website here.</a> </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These are just three of my top favorites that range in a medium price. There are many other great chocolate bars & raw chocolate bars on the market. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Sacred Chocolate (</strong><a href="http://www.sacredchocolate.com/home.php" target="_blank"><strong>click here</strong></a><strong>) & Chocolatl (</strong><a href="http://www.flowfoodschocolatl.com/" target="_blank"><strong>click here</strong></a><strong>) </strong>are my other favorites but I've had friends say they are a bit expensive & I also consider these a treat for me. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>A square a day may keep the doctors away</em></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19735732"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19735732</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/top-11-chocolate-myths"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/top-11-chocolate-myths</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21807659"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21807659</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20050664"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20050664</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/022610_cacao_chocolate_raw.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.naturalnews.com/022610_cacao_chocolate_raw.html</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18710243"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18710243</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.seedguides.info/cacao/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.seedguides.info/cacao/</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.survivalmonkey.com/threads/health-benefits-of-raw-cacao.19585/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.survivalmonkey.com/threads/health-benefits-of-raw-cacao.19585/</span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-17086701830519768912013-04-19T08:07:00.001-07:002013-04-19T08:07:20.935-07:00Food-Picture Journal #2 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>On my first post sharing what I eat, I took pictures of what I ate that day. I've decided it is easier and gives a better idea of what I eat to take a collection of pictures throughout a few weeks of what I've been enjoying for snacks, afternoon meals, & dinner. I tend to be a creature of habit by nature most times, so over a certain period of time I usually stick to the same foods, just in different orders :)</em></div>
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<em>I do have my share of alcoholic drinks when I go out with friends, I tend to stick to one or two drinks, unless it's a once in a while crazy special event. The purpose of this blog is to help others achieve their health goal so I will not post tempting pictures. I'm just being straight up & honest that I do enjoy a drink every now and then and that when I'm out socializing I don't freak out anymore over a few bites of "food" I wouldn't want to eat. Sometimes, it's being part of the social experience that I find to be more worth it :)</em></div>
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<em>I do live with housemates at the moment (we share the kitchen) and I'm a busy college student, & getting in enough food for my weight-training can be a challenge for me sometimes. This is why I usually stick to the same foods that are easy for me to make or grab and go from the grocery stores. </em></div>
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<strong><em></em></strong> </div>
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<em>Every morning upon waking, I drink about 20 oz of water. I'm very fortunate to live near by a Spring Water, but when I don't have Spring Water with me I drink bottled water or filtered water. </em></div>
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<em>Most mornings before a decent meal for breakfast, I'll drink Kombucha, or Fair Trade Organic black Coffee, or a superfood drink with Coconut Water + Maca + algae + reishi medicinal mushroom extract + green powders. Sometimes I'll only eat a big chunk of raw chocolate. </em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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<em>Everyone is a unique individual. We all have our own machines running inside of us. Find your fuel, find your desired tastes, find what gives YOU vitality & energy. </em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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<em>This is what I've been enjoying lately:</em></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></strong> </div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Snacks</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></strong> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliV1aqWKvjdUfQvvSjRzJAvYCDf6LpOX5I2lF4kQmbkwDQEsYX6wpePTgvzSEs6wzcxT3BrykqEs63MkNPD9iSVaf2o8GjWsWbjEqr0AK2tbWvP44mYUoXSGr3DX1AUjqlK-YxnnFxxk/s1600/blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliV1aqWKvjdUfQvvSjRzJAvYCDf6LpOX5I2lF4kQmbkwDQEsYX6wpePTgvzSEs6wzcxT3BrykqEs63MkNPD9iSVaf2o8GjWsWbjEqr0AK2tbWvP44mYUoXSGr3DX1AUjqlK-YxnnFxxk/s320/blog.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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(bananas, raw local eggs, spirulina, Maca, Mesquite Powder)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfgJh68ANZMDsHGSNqwnA-Q8LZKP1uWOLAwwhOKBrOBUcqWkdbTAsTuVbOgqsG_imSRwwLe3J-EqtIaNx2jM65CXoCcgGHg0mu0J_XL1hbpisXqFFytOfgZZ5hsJHo_ZK81lwUVWgAgg/s1600/blog34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfgJh68ANZMDsHGSNqwnA-Q8LZKP1uWOLAwwhOKBrOBUcqWkdbTAsTuVbOgqsG_imSRwwLe3J-EqtIaNx2jM65CXoCcgGHg0mu0J_XL1hbpisXqFFytOfgZZ5hsJHo_ZK81lwUVWgAgg/s320/blog34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(What I bring to school when I'm there from 11am-8pm)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoeRB0qrDELmfUn7DHsCkOg9exPhXB1xpGrp7YTMyK59YV7sEnlAiSGCpRV5iAvcdjkAY-r29AsteMZQGIboq6MdJiFled5fn08RmUGL9nH7lKokog4iLOlLvoUMB4ecrAVRhLDiFZDY/s1600/blog35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoeRB0qrDELmfUn7DHsCkOg9exPhXB1xpGrp7YTMyK59YV7sEnlAiSGCpRV5iAvcdjkAY-r29AsteMZQGIboq6MdJiFled5fn08RmUGL9nH7lKokog4iLOlLvoUMB4ecrAVRhLDiFZDY/s320/blog35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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(Green Juice at Café Gratitude)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsk-9e9TpWocHQKfjd0UXS8xE3jq3muvUuDEyDUpBdUaKcvDy8ReeXdOzgGlHzJ9ybTBbo-oX4Jflpd369bi_WO-cx7gquVQ3QZsXAM_acfO4lf1ohdNWvXaO8ubLpoyrVHqZzkSo-Q1E/s1600/blog37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsk-9e9TpWocHQKfjd0UXS8xE3jq3muvUuDEyDUpBdUaKcvDy8ReeXdOzgGlHzJ9ybTBbo-oX4Jflpd369bi_WO-cx7gquVQ3QZsXAM_acfO4lf1ohdNWvXaO8ubLpoyrVHqZzkSo-Q1E/s320/blog37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Core Warrior Bar during Biology class)</div>
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(Math class, Almonds)</div>
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(at school)</div>
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(Working at the clinic, Berries, Macadamias, 3 Medjool Dates, Chia Seeds with Spirulina) </div>
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(Coconut Water, Maca, Spirulina, raw egg, & Ataulfo Mango)</div>
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(3 mandarins, 1 orange, blackberries)</div>
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(Strawberries, Medjool Dates rolled in Carob Powder & shredded Coconut)</div>
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(Fruit bought at school)</div>
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(Lulu's raw Cacao bar, Medjool Dates, Macadamias)</div>
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(My raw Lemon Poppy Seed ice cream)</div>
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(My raw Chaga Vanilla Bean superfood Ice Cream)</div>
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(Trying healthy food products I find at the markets)</div>
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(In Bio class)</div>
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(Coconut Water, mandarin, raw Lulu's Cacao bar)</div>
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(raw Almond cookie from a raw food restaurant, Café Gratitude) </div>
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<em><strong>(</strong></em>Mango, Berries, Cacao Nibs, Shredded Coconut)</div>
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(homemade shiny raw chocolate with herbs, superfoods like Maca & algae, & spices)</div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></strong> </div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></strong> </div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast & Lunch</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>(I eat the same food types for breakfast & lunch. During the day I like to keep most of my food intake raw such as fruits, nuts, seeds, superfoods, raw local egg smoothies, & raw wild fish.) Sometimes I eat 1 breakfast and 1 lunch, other times I just eat a lot of snacks during the day until dinner).</em></strong></div>
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(Raw Cacao smoothie with a lot of Chia Seeds, nut milk, Maca powder, Chlorella, Cinnamon, & Coconut Oil sometimes)</div>
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(Salmon, raw beets, guacamole, lettuce, carrots)</div>
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(Pumpkin seed milk with Chia Seeds)</div>
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Like I don't eat enough Chia Seeds...</div>
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(The kitchen cups are too small for my food intake lol) Green Machine smoothie.</div>
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(breakfast at school)</div>
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(Veggie raw burrito with a creamy nut spread)</div>
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(Raw wild salmon with lime juice & Tamari sauce)</div>
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(Raspberry Coconut Cream Smoothie with Spirulina)</div>
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(Chia Seed with nut milk, Cacao, Banana, frozen blueberries, Maca, Coconut Water)</div>
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(Ready to blend! Mango, Banana, Hemp Seeds, Vitamineral Green powder)</div>
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(Hemp Seed milk, banana, vitamineral green, Coconut Oil, Cacao Nibs, Maca) </div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Dinner</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong>(<em>For dinner lately I've been really enjoying ending the day with grass-fed animal protein/fats, and local as much as I can. I find that I like to have more cooked foods at the end of the day. Most times for dinner I have two-three different kinds of plates (I do eat plenty! hehe) My usual is always a salad included because I looove them) I also have hard boiled eggs with my salads when I don't feel like eating a lot of carbohydrates. I find that red meat makes me feel better than when eating white meat.</em></strong><br />
<em><strong>Most of my dinners are foods that I grab and go from the grocery store at the salad bar. I glance over at the ingredient labels to make sure there isn't anything I don't want to eat. Here is what I find :)</strong> </em></div>
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(Sweet Potato Millet cakes, raw nut spread wrapped in Nori seaweed with saukraut, & beet salad)</div>
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(Homemade raw Pasta made of thinly sliced cucumber, with avocado mash, olives, tomatoes, green peas, & onions.)</div>
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Homemade baked Japanese Sweet Potato</div>
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(Home baked Salmon with cayenne)</div>
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(Yams with Macadamias, cinnamon, and sea salt)</div>
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(Home pan-fried local Goat with Japanese Sweet Potato and Macadamias)</div>
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(Turkey)</div>
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(Homemade baked Halibut wild fish with cayenne and sea salt, it's expensive so this is a treat)</div>
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<em><strong>Posting all these pictures of what I've eaten has helped me see I could use a little more variety! If I had my own kitchen I would be making more of my own recipes than relying on the grocery stores. Because of this I am so thankful to live in an area that is health & environment conscious.</strong></em></div>
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<strong><em>Find foods that nourish you & that take your health & well-being to the next level. </em></strong> </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-13328215502153455232013-04-14T22:24:00.000-07:002013-04-14T22:24:11.077-07:00The Thingy With Evaporated Cane Sugar (A big thingy) <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"It's in everything!" </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmsLDWeX677Zx6A1Gssthj06hi4unkJfk4w3EKsSQuXbftVXaBKp7MjwE8hnLMW4QUTf2BkvsdtfgM7ovMj4XibhBj76ZHaltiTJHfcVc4JwfsGp4eOVdRKBrIAL2HXr3GCeif9T-msc/s1600/april4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmsLDWeX677Zx6A1Gssthj06hi4unkJfk4w3EKsSQuXbftVXaBKp7MjwE8hnLMW4QUTf2BkvsdtfgM7ovMj4XibhBj76ZHaltiTJHfcVc4JwfsGp4eOVdRKBrIAL2HXr3GCeif9T-msc/s400/april4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Left: Whole Natural Cane Sugar (looks like dirt almost, but it's the good kind).</div>
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Right: Refined Cane Sugar)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The Real & the Fake</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>Through a lot of articles and documents I read today about the low-down on this very sneaky cane sugar ingredient, I found some very interesting facts I did not know about. </em></span></div>
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<em>I don't buy the commercialized healthy food products anymore so that's a reason why I haven't come across it so much. A few friends recently brought up how they find that cane sugar is in everything they want to buy. After my younger sis asked me what is cane sugar and if it's good, I decided to give it deeper thought. I remembered that evaporated cane juice/sugar was an ingredient I saw listed on many of those healthy food products I was tempted to buy. </em><br />
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<em>People are becoming aware that cane sugar is the natural kind of sugar with health benefits found in those sweet crystals. That's right, real sugar contains many nutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B1, B2, & B6. It contains fiber & is alive</em> <em>with digestive enzymes, making whole cane sugar a low glycemic food. Check it out. Refined sugar rates 64 which is mid-high on the glycemic index. Whole cane sugar rates 30-40. I could go into everything I read about the history and traditional uses of cane sugar, but I'll keep this info short & sweet for the readers. </em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>Sugar cane grows like a tall grass similar looking to a bamboo, made of sugar, nutrients, & water. It originated in New Guinea and is now massively produced in South America and the Caribbean Islands. There are studies on cane sugar having possibilities to aid with weight loss, healing fevers and colds, balancing blood sugar levels with diabetics, preventing tooth decay, supporting the immune system, improving kidney function, & fighting certain types of cancer because of its alkalinity. It is known to strengthen organs such as the stomach, kidneys, heart, eyes, brain, & sex organs. Ancient Indians saw this food as a great source for energy. In India it is used to treat and heal infections and ulcers. Some studies say that cane sugar may be ranking high on the list as a first-aid. </em><br />
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<em>As you have learned, cane sugar is health promoting and is being added to these so called healthy food snacks and beverages.</em> But hold up... <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>there is a catch.</strong> </span><br />
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<em>(Oh, I hear you all sighing. Yes I know it's a bummer that the industry can't leave our food aloooone.)</em><br />
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<em>Evaporated Cane Juice, of this modern day, listed on the back of food labels, is not the REAL traditional flowing with nutrients evaporated cane juice. The way manufacturers process it leaves it just a tinsy tiny tad better than refined white sugar. The evaporated cane juice in today's food products is so highly processed & devoid of nutrients that it acts just like refined white sugar digested by in the body. </em><br />
<em><br />
<span class="userContent"> </span></em><em>The traditional real way of making evaporated cane juice is by extracting the juice from the sugar cane and then heating it at a <u>low </u>temperature while stirring it to dehydrate it. It is then formed into a hard brick and then grinded by modern machines.</em> <em>Where modern techniques go wrong with the processing, is that the cane juice is <u>boiled at high temperatures</u> and looses its enzymes and nutrients. The nutrients get left in the Molasses syrup that is one of the two end results of boiling cane sugar. The crystalized sugar, the other end result, is devoid of nutrients and enzymes. In the traditional way, the molasses is still incorporated into the sugar. As the final touch, producers add Sulphur Dioxide & other harmful additives.</em><br />
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<em>The end result of the traditional processing of cane sugar is called <strong>Rapadura, or Sucanat, </strong>which can be found at your natural health grocery store or if you shop online. </em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>Rapadura, which later was changed to the name of Organic Whole Cane Sugar, is owned by a German company. Sucanat (<strong>Su</strong>gar <strong>Ca</strong>ne <strong>Na</strong>tural) , is owned by a U.S company. Both names are the same good kind of cane sugar. </em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oSKhVAZVozxiwjlw8NB1dAGByW7Lu6mceoZC9r5-40r90eZgCJ4wduwws2NMDu8ybo6z0fOiF0Qz-97LbT9wltK0iXny6x_BINn0fvkT6MGeo4gv7Gofa0uVWyD9HSWv9ZVy8HLmmSs/s1600/cane1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oSKhVAZVozxiwjlw8NB1dAGByW7Lu6mceoZC9r5-40r90eZgCJ4wduwws2NMDu8ybo6z0fOiF0Qz-97LbT9wltK0iXny6x_BINn0fvkT6MGeo4gv7Gofa0uVWyD9HSWv9ZVy8HLmmSs/s320/cane1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately, those "healthy" food snacks and beverages on the market are using the refined unhealthy evaporated cane sugar/juice. It would not be a good idea to consume this type of sugar thinking since it is not white sugar that it is better. You will see many ingredient labels with "Cane Sugar", "organic cane sugar" , "evaporated cane juice", & "organic evaporated cane juice". For the product to have the healthy kind of evaporated cane sugar, it should say Organic Whole Cane Sugar, or Rapadura Cane Sugar, or Unrefined Whole Cane Sugar. <br />
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To share a thought of mine: many of these products containing evaporated cane sugar also have other sneaky and unhealthy ingredients in them. Keep an eye out for some Kombucha brands, "Natural" Lemonade/Juice beverages (on the shelf & refrigerated section), and energy bars. Another great reason to ditch the commercialized heavily processed food products. <br />
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I'm not sure if I'd be allowed to post on here pictures of these "healthy" snacks and beverages on my blog, so I won't. But read your labels and don't let companies fool you. <br />
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<strong><em>A nourishing & hydrating drink is a blend of pure Sugar Cane juice, Ginger juice, Lime juice, & Coconut Water. This drink has been well known traditionally to aid in the treatment of gonorrhea, cystitis, nephritis, & enlarged prostate. </em></strong><br />
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For more benefits of pure cane sugar juice, <u><a href="http://nutrition.indobase.com/articles/sugarcane-juice-nutrition.php" target="_blank">click here to visit this article.</a></u> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://hmtjournals.com/vol4_1/002.pdf"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://hmtjournals.com/vol4_1/002.pdf</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.processedfreeamerica.org/resources/health-news/405-the-truth-about-evaporated-cane-juice"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.processedfreeamerica.org/resources/health-news/405-the-truth-about-evaporated-cane-juice</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://nutrition.indobase.com/articles/sugarcane-juice-nutrition.php"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://nutrition.indobase.com/articles/sugarcane-juice-nutrition.php</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.oohoi.com/natural%20remedy/everyday_food/sugar-cane-benefits.htm"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.oohoi.com/natural%20remedy/everyday_food/sugar-cane-benefits.htm</span></a><br />
<a href="http://doctorschar.com/archives/sugarcane-sacharum-officinarum/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://doctorschar.com/archives/sugarcane-sacharum-officinarum/</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.kew.org/plant-cultures/plants/sugar_cane_western_medicine.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.kew.org/plant-cultures/plants/sugar_cane_western_medicine.html</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.ehow.com/about_5422758_nutrition-sugar-cane.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.ehow.com/about_5422758_nutrition-sugar-cane.html</span></a><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">practicalaction.org/docs/.../<b>sugar</b>_<b>production_from_cane</b>.<b>pdf</b></span></em><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-17708251230458031332013-04-09T22:48:00.000-07:002013-04-09T22:48:11.031-07:00Raw Lemon-Poppy Seed Ice Cream (dairy free)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRXt4eboS14PUdNqrcPDkX4rdY4Axze0Qpk2rZoMW7KA043l-p6XSoKhS9foCRzBZYyND6XwuSmlhWTwWj9SpUnK30ax_EInv6fO1YaUer5mHdWVWrJ86KBUk0067BdMh3QJspWOms1g/s1600/pop3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRXt4eboS14PUdNqrcPDkX4rdY4Axze0Qpk2rZoMW7KA043l-p6XSoKhS9foCRzBZYyND6XwuSmlhWTwWj9SpUnK30ax_EInv6fO1YaUer5mHdWVWrJ86KBUk0067BdMh3QJspWOms1g/s640/pop3.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<em>This recipe was inspired from the Lemon-Poppy Seed Ice Cream I tried at the Penny Ice Creamery in downtown Santa Cruz. If you are visiting downtown Santa Cruz definitely make a stop at the Penny Creamery to try some of their delicious ice creams. They focus on using local ingredients from the farmers markets. The line gets pretty long at night time! So I had my first bite of a Lemon-Poppy Seed Ice Cream and thought...hello new fav! I decided to re-create it with healthier sugars and get creative with a dairy-free version of it.</em></div>
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<em>For the yellow coloring I used Tumeric, for the creaminess I used raw extra virgin Coconut Oil, & I garnished it with dried Candelula herb.</em></div>
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Spice up your life with Tumeric! It is one of the leading healthy foods one can consume. It is very potent in healing. In ancient Chinese and Indian cultures Tumeric was used as an anti-inflammatory food to treat many illnesses such as menstrual pain, flatulence, & chest pain. It has been shown in studies that it treats Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), brings relief for patients who have Rheumatoid Arthritis, aids in cancer prevention, protects the colon, strengthens the liver, protects against Alzheimer's disease, & the curcumin found in Tumeric helps to lower LDL (bad) Cholesterol. To get the medicinal benefits of Tumeric, make sure to buy Tumeric instead of "Curry Powder" which has less Curcumin concentration. Curcumin is responsible for the anti-oxidants & anti-inflammatory properties found in Tumeric. </div>
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<em>I might make this again next week. I've fallen in love with this one! The flavors of every ingredient used seep out and all the natural ingredients make it taste so fresh. </em></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Eat this ice cream</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>because Coconut Oil:</em></strong></div>
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-is anti-inflammatory</div>
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-Has anti-oxidants</div>
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-is Fat-Burning</div>
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-Energizing</div>
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-has healthy Saturated Fats</div>
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-Its Medium-Chain Fatty Acids (MCFTs) help the body absorb nutrients </div>
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-Improves skin and maintains healthy skin</div>
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-Improves metabolism</div>
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<strong><em>because Cashews: (If you are not allergic to nuts)</em></strong></div>
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-have anti-oxidants</div>
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-have been shown to reduce coronary heart disease</div>
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-Good source of Copper: improves nutrient absorption, removes free-radicals in body, strengthens bone & joints.</div>
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-Good source of Magnesium for bone strength</div>
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-aid in healthy body weight</div>
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<strong><em>because Raw Honey:</em></strong></div>
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-is rich in Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, Vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, sodium, zinc, & copper. </div>
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-Is made up of glucose & fructose, providing the body with energy & reduce muscle fatigue for endurance athletes.</div>
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-Is packed with anti-oxidants.</div>
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-supports the immune system & fights bad bacteria.</div>
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-aids in digestion by providing healthy bacteria in your gut (it has pre & pro-biotics).</div>
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-It heals inflammation</div>
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-Slows aging because of the enzymes it contains that rejuvenates the skin.</div>
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-Helps treat acne.</div>
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-increases Calcium absorption</div>
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-Treats constipation.</div>
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-Is great for hangovers because it increases the oxidation of alcohol. </div>
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-Keeps life sweet. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64i4m-E9sOQJEVCZbAVC76IYANQEFsPkX03S8BZMaWWXWOIpQKiZvYj-5EoKpqwyVsU3nrvW2QIPAbWoQByFOjejt2gaptTG6KosTnfMjH5Vl1aKd5qd_JaD5LxyBCkY6FTWDg7VtKaE/s1600/wk21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64i4m-E9sOQJEVCZbAVC76IYANQEFsPkX03S8BZMaWWXWOIpQKiZvYj-5EoKpqwyVsU3nrvW2QIPAbWoQByFOjejt2gaptTG6KosTnfMjH5Vl1aKd5qd_JaD5LxyBCkY6FTWDg7VtKaE/s400/wk21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Recipe:</span></em></strong><br />
-1 cup cashews, soaked for 2 hours.<br />
-1/2 cup water<br />
-1 tablespoon raw honey<br />
-15 drops Stevia extract<br />
-3 tablespoons raw extra virgin coconut oil, melted.<br />
-1/2 teaspoon Tumeric powder<br />
-1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds<br />
-2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract<br />
-3 tablespoons lemon juice<br />
-1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt<br />
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In a high speed blender, add all the ingredients except for the Poppy Seeds and melted Coconut Oil. Blend well to get a smooth thick consistency. Then as the blender is running on slow speed, add slowly your warm Coconut Oil. Finally, add your Poppy Seeds and pulse them a couple of times, & then use a spoon to finish mixing them well into the mixture. <br />
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If you have an ice cream maker, I'm jealous. Okay, so add your mixture to your ice cream maker by following the manufacture's instructions. If you are like me and don't have an ice cream maker, you can freeze it for a couple of hours, take it out of the freezer, and let thaw to be able to scoop it out. For better texture resembling the ice cream maker, every half hour or so of being in the freezer you can give it a few stirs until you have achieved your desired consistency.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71AU2TmbwYRWF4fcpOFM9aqvBxwJPIIiG33NHEmbauIcuo630Yno9CAeMVo4wo8sIg2r88tb-ki8BAaMCGngXF4vn_A7q6BrFPV2yKof0yYGV9HqE6UmXHYvRpAeeNqqzJ7jC6d7q9X8/s1600/pop4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71AU2TmbwYRWF4fcpOFM9aqvBxwJPIIiG33NHEmbauIcuo630Yno9CAeMVo4wo8sIg2r88tb-ki8BAaMCGngXF4vn_A7q6BrFPV2yKof0yYGV9HqE6UmXHYvRpAeeNqqzJ7jC6d7q9X8/s400/pop4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=78"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=78</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/27/coconut-oil-benefits_n_1625631.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/27/coconut-oil-benefits_n_1625631.html</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=98"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=98</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/honey-nutrition.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/honey-nutrition.html</span></a><br />
<a href="http://wakeup-world.com/2012/07/23/the-health-benefits-of-raw-honey/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://wakeup-world.com/2012/07/23/the-health-benefits-of-raw-honey/</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-31746534440907841262013-04-04T21:15:00.000-07:002013-04-04T21:15:24.667-07:00Power Bites (raw snacks)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbPtms-2-nPbz-pdykYzhG7apAFtXrIW0aQTRC0mTsns_MkEdKty8SalXD8CgaMPzOFp_bXGH1-hbOvhnjc7L4x17nrH_uYmUh7Mned-WzvuXbxi16_f01rtF4tpLoMnWOpPm9orP-ng/s1600/datebites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbPtms-2-nPbz-pdykYzhG7apAFtXrIW0aQTRC0mTsns_MkEdKty8SalXD8CgaMPzOFp_bXGH1-hbOvhnjc7L4x17nrH_uYmUh7Mned-WzvuXbxi16_f01rtF4tpLoMnWOpPm9orP-ng/s400/datebites.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>A way to win someone's heart is by being a little bit sweet...</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76UqDrj0BK5YFS_Du3dFL46zRKnuHeAj9vRxiBdXKZPaVHz-_pS3HCQ6Q45lkoDJiVxd8UgwfjUQhLOFW_1vJ_87GuY6fxee3E2TmhvfuitQYHjAV0RIC-WqmX6gwvNFQHxbsEOY_WrI/s1600/dates2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76UqDrj0BK5YFS_Du3dFL46zRKnuHeAj9vRxiBdXKZPaVHz-_pS3HCQ6Q45lkoDJiVxd8UgwfjUQhLOFW_1vJ_87GuY6fxee3E2TmhvfuitQYHjAV0RIC-WqmX6gwvNFQHxbsEOY_WrI/s400/dates2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>I made these for the Medical Assistants and Doctors I've been practicing my externship with. I thought this would be a perfect recipe for them because:</em></div>
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<em>-The healthy carbs from the Medjool Dates & healthy fats from the Hemp Seeds & Almonds will help sustain all the energy they are burning from all the thinking they do & walking on their feet for long hours. </em></div>
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<em>-Sharing food with others breaks ice barriers and draws a community closer. </em></div>
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<em>They devoured these. </em></div>
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<em>I spent about 20-30 minutes forming these by hand. I put on my ipod and began to get creative with my hands. </em></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Recipe:</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></strong> </div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">-Medjool Dates</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">-Plain raw Almonds</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">-Cinnamon</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">-Hemp Seeds</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">-Sea Salt</span> </em></strong></div>
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<em>Shape them up however you like. I cut the medjool dates halves in half and sprinkled a tad of Cinnamon on them. Then I topped them off with half an almond, hemp seeds, & sea salt.</em></div>
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Medjool Dates are great for instant energy. They digest quickly, aid digestion for good bowel movements (great against constipation), & are known as Nature's Candy.</div>
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Since ancient times Medjool Dates have been eaten to break the fast during Ramadan months. </div>
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They are great for the skin, they have Vitamin A to strengthen vision, & contain anti-oxidants.</div>
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They are a good source of potassium, iron, calcium, manganese, & B-vitamins.</div>
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They are great for bone health since they contain good levels of magnesium and vitamin K. </div>
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<strong><em>Find out about the amazing benefits of Hemp Seeds on my post by clicking</em></strong><a href="http://alevergara22.blogspot.com/2013/01/going-high-with-hemp-seeds.html" target="_blank"><strong><em> here</em></strong></a><strong><em>.</em></strong> </div>
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One of my favorite spices is Cinnamon. It regulates blood sugar levels, it provides anti-clotting benefits, it is anti-microbial, it stimulates the brain, & are a great source for calcium & fiber. </div>
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<strong><em>Stay sweet & keep it real.</em></strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/dates.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/dates.html</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=68"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=68</span></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-6234027769787876602013-03-31T22:13:00.001-07:002013-04-06T09:18:01.947-07:00Chaga-Vanilla Bean Mesquite Ice Cream with hand-made raw crust<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDYmAJzE_p4VO-SLQfyH5bAfTmwuE3lggyKzfRALbmN35v17EQx8KokXqtwTlGanDFzrEC2bkTNW6IH94d8LpjKZP9FPH2KQXxAgOhyQrMfeeiHUX3_an3xPaD_4v-sr1bAn9fmULjY4/s1600/wk144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDYmAJzE_p4VO-SLQfyH5bAfTmwuE3lggyKzfRALbmN35v17EQx8KokXqtwTlGanDFzrEC2bkTNW6IH94d8LpjKZP9FPH2KQXxAgOhyQrMfeeiHUX3_an3xPaD_4v-sr1bAn9fmULjY4/s640/wk144.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<em>Topped</em> <em>with Cacao & Maca powder</em></div>
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<em>My first ever created Chaga dessert recipe. Then I got thinking...is this even dessert?! haha. Here is a nourishing recipe with filling natural fats, immunity boosting properties, balances blood sugar levels thanks to the Stevia & Mesquite powder, promotes healthy skin, & protects against infection. </em><br />
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<em>I've come across various awesome creative looking Chaga recipes and have always wanted to try using Chaga myself for a delicious recipe. </em><br />
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<em>Ok, ok, what in the world is Chaga? Chaga is a fungus found growing on birch trees. It is rich in a substance that destroys cancer cells. There are studies on Chaga showing that it protects our DNA & has protective antioxidants. It is one of the most potent medicinal mushrooms. It is loaded with flavonoids, vitamins, polyphenols, and polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are long carbohydrate molecules of monosaccharaides. These are health promoting sugars that strengthen the immune system. This fungus resembles charcoal. It is hard and dry. It has a black rough coating on the outside. </em><br />
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<em>If you get your hands on some, please don't give it mean ugly looks and poke at it. Get curious, take it in your hands, and let your eyes wonder all over this crazy amazing wild food. If you smell it very carefully you may detect a very mild vanilla aroma to it. </em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfsdYOPLr8gos_BBI-7sitE29Qs4kyJ0wbl_aehTBefCPivEgJvgv8sp4UKczpbizBXDAnVIpDHKv97vWjB71ZYMmfsu7LcIaG-pJVmDWuE-1cb2IEy3bcoVeIN96gHInXf2Mw-DxxWQ/s1600/chaga3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfsdYOPLr8gos_BBI-7sitE29Qs4kyJ0wbl_aehTBefCPivEgJvgv8sp4UKczpbizBXDAnVIpDHKv97vWjB71ZYMmfsu7LcIaG-pJVmDWuE-1cb2IEy3bcoVeIN96gHInXf2Mw-DxxWQ/s400/chaga3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Chaga Chunks</div>
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<em>This ice cream recipe has a delicious flavor and is mildly sweet. I really love the combination of Coconut, Mesquite, & Vanilla. </em></div>
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<em>I did not have my food processor in the kitchen so I made the crust by hand and it came out so lovely! I was a little bummed out of not having my food processor with me at first but it felt really good getting down and dirty with my hands and creating it all by use of my hands. Check it out!</em></div>
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<strong>Recipe: </strong><br />
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<strong><em>Filling: (makes about 3 small ice cream balls)</em></strong><br />
-1 cup cashews, soaked for 2 hours.<br />
-1/2 cup + 3 Tablespoons Chaga tea at room temperature.<br />
-2 1/2 teaspoons Mesquite powder (if you don't have Mesquite you could try using Chocolate powder, Cacao is best for pure medicinal chocolate)<br />
-8 drops Stevia extract<br />
-3/4 Vanilla Bean scraped<br />
-1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract<br />
--1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt<br />
-2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, melted & set aside.<br />
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Blend all the ingredients on high speed except for the melted Coconut Oil. Once your mixture is well blended, slowly pour in the warm Coconut Oil as the blender runs on low speed. Freeze.<br />
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<em>Melting the coconut oil in the small green bowl in med-low heat</em></div>
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<strong><em>Hand-made crust:</em></strong><br />
<em>-6 soft Medjool Dates</em><br />
<em>-1 oz plain almonds (unpasteurized would be better)</em><br />
<em>-3 teaspoons Hemp Seeds</em><br />
<em>-Light sprinkles of Sea Salt</em><br />
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This crust had an amazing flavor and thick chewy texture</div>
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<em>Chop your almonds into small pieces. Remove the pit of the Medjool Dates and rough chop them. Over a plate, combine all the ingredients together by hand to create like a dough. Once you have a thick dough mixture, flatten it out and cut it into thirds to shape up the mini crusts so your small scoops of ice cream can fit in them. This dough keeps in the refrigerator for a week. You can double the recipe and eat it as a snack. Or you can freeze it. </em><br />
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The ice cream takes about a half hour to thaw. Use an ice cream scooper and place inside your mini crusts. Enjoy!<br />
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Eating it as an afternoon snack throughout the week </div>
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<a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/036974_chaga_mushroom_anti-cancer_tonic.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.naturalnews.com/036974_chaga_mushroom_anti-cancer_tonic.html</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polysaccharide#Bacterial_capsular_polysaccharides"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polysaccharide#Bacterial_capsular_polysaccharides</span></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-42980791143520301202013-03-31T10:03:00.003-07:002013-03-31T10:03:58.390-07:00Raw Cacao Bar Review: Rawmio<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rawmio</span></div>
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A week ago I saw this new cacao bar on the market. The words on the package caught my attention: raw, active superfood. I got excited about a new superfood cacao bar out on the market. I checked the ingredients to make sure it was all natural because companies are good at tricking you to buy their product! I loved all the ingredients and bought it. This is a 2 oz chocolate bar that was a little under $6. </div>
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<strong><em>Texture & Flavor: It was a little hard to bite. The flavor was very nice and deep. Perfect amount of sweetness too.</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ingredients: Organic raw cacao nibs, organic coconut sugar, organic raw maca powder, organic raw mulberries, organic raw chia seeds, organic raw mushroom blend (Chaga, reishi, cordyceps, lion’s mane), organic raw sprouted red clover, organic raw coconut sweetened cacao nibs. </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Calories: 150 calories for half the bar. </em></strong><br />
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They have various flavors such as:</div>
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Trail Mix ingredients:</strong> Organic raw cacao nibs, organic coconut sugar, organic raw currants, organic raw pumpkin seeds, organic raw mulberries, organic raw almonds, organic raw goji berries, organic raw pistachio nuts, organic raw golden berries, organic raw coconut sugar sweetened cacao nibs<br /><br /><strong>Sprouted Cereal ingredients:</strong> Organic raw cacao nibs, organic coconut sugar, organic raw sprouted buckwheat, organic raw sprouted quinoa, organic raw coconut sugar sweetened cacao nibs</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Sprouted Hazelnut & Fig ingredients:</strong> Organic raw stone ground dark chocolate (cacao nibs, coconut sugar), organic raw sprouted hazelnuts, organic raw sun dried black mission figs, Rawtella Silk (organic raw coconut, organic raw hazelnuts, organic coconut sugar, organic raw cacao butter, organic raw vanilla bean powder, raw Himalayan pink salt), organic raw coconut sweetened cacao nibs</span></em></div>
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<em>Hehe now that I read the ingredients again I want to buy another one! Love all those blends. </em>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-53940263800920990532013-03-30T23:03:00.002-07:002013-03-31T09:22:51.837-07:00Energy/Meal Replacement Bar Review: Core Defender Bar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Core Bars</span><br />
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<em>Organic Raw Almond Raisin Oatmeal <strike>Bowl </strike>Bar.</em></div>
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(vegan)</div>
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(whey protein)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRr0b-s17niUPdI1F8lDACcP5KYqyS9xhUyynsxeuBDVzRlZb_KdeITMukuRpr7Kpd3pGkXYsYp5RbiTUDC4W_hauhZoyD9Dqh9KVfl7BBsdrsojYhkiF-ceDTWnTh5Sehi3CDL6W920/s1600/core4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRr0b-s17niUPdI1F8lDACcP5KYqyS9xhUyynsxeuBDVzRlZb_KdeITMukuRpr7Kpd3pGkXYsYp5RbiTUDC4W_hauhZoyD9Dqh9KVfl7BBsdrsojYhkiF-ceDTWnTh5Sehi3CDL6W920/s400/core4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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(whey protein)</div>
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This bar comes in handy when I don't have time to cook or soak raw oatmeal and pack it and keep it fresh in the car when I'm out and about all day. I eat one bar almost daily during the week in between classes. I've heard from others that this bar keeps them full and energized for hours. Agreed! </div>
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You don't have to consider these a meal replacement if you don't want that. I eat these as a snack and I rather eat something more fresh for a decent meal. However, these are great when you are on the go and need something satisfying and these will sure give you good lasting energy. </div>
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After about 3 weeks of having started eating these bars, I ran into Dave Eckel, who is one of the team members of Core bars. He was outside Aptos Natural Foods in Santa Cruz giving out samples to people with a big smile in his face. I approached him and of course bombarded him with questions about his products. (I eat a lot of these so hey, I wanted to know what they are all about!) He was so nice and very outgoing. He answered all of my questions with a lot of information and he seemed so excited talking about his product. I have come to appreciate this bar so much. The group of guys behind this bar really care about the environment and what goes into our bodies. They are fit guys who search for ways to properly fuel themselves. They have a raw vegan bar and a whey protein bar. They take good care of the quality of their core bars and keep it down to all natural ingredients consisting of oats, dried fruit, nuts and seeds, spices, and a good source of whey protein. I picked at him about the whey protein they used and he reassured me that their whey protein comes from pasture-raised cows with no hormones and antibiotics and all that good deal. Ooo another thing that was really great to hear was that they soak their oats. I thought they used plain dry oats, but Dave told me they actually soak their oats! That is so great because this bar is mostly made of oats. It is good to soak them in order to reduce the phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors found in oats in order to make them easy on digestion. </div>
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My favorite one is the Almond Raisin Defender Bar. </div>
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I've tried all of them. I sampled the Cashew Cacao bar with Dave and I didn't like that one at all. I thought it was too dry, bland tasting, and a little bitter. Some people do like it though. </div>
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<strong><em>Texture & Flavor : Delicious, mildly sweet, and chewy. It is like eating a big healthy oatmeal cookie. </em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Calories: Each bar ranges from 300-400 calories with good carbohydrates, good fats, and good protein. </em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Ingredients: Ingredients vary depending on the flavor you buy and whether its vegan or not: Oats, Almonds, Raisins, Flax, Whey Protein, Cacao, Cashews, Banana, and Spices.</em></strong></div>
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Here is a fun recipe. I sometimes eat it for breakfast, lunch, or after a workout. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rkW7c-olbSPx61siYRaK2Bf-cpEARHrsuDnR9iJAq_XRlQJCMMen99tAwnC5RA7PGMe4nXzMxyJ1YvOKgBKyULre2JMwVQVkCqOrlEvRy9bucsQWnFDiClAp1Or9eVrEhK2uPNeGqhI/s1600/core2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rkW7c-olbSPx61siYRaK2Bf-cpEARHrsuDnR9iJAq_XRlQJCMMen99tAwnC5RA7PGMe4nXzMxyJ1YvOKgBKyULre2JMwVQVkCqOrlEvRy9bucsQWnFDiClAp1Or9eVrEhK2uPNeGqhI/s400/core2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeiLd7zlltHNre7Stg32eHGtsWmjHdkk7Yysid6kBlkyLPjdJGkXjr-q_pNDepGFIW5i_rXYlfS90FtbEgmbr7ws-nsY6HxSqXPfp13S73UTw9Rpp_8Y-FYLDUFCooymK-3CWVUgQFm8/s1600/core.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeiLd7zlltHNre7Stg32eHGtsWmjHdkk7Yysid6kBlkyLPjdJGkXjr-q_pNDepGFIW5i_rXYlfS90FtbEgmbr7ws-nsY6HxSqXPfp13S73UTw9Rpp_8Y-FYLDUFCooymK-3CWVUgQFm8/s400/core.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Topped with Goji Berries, Hemp seeds, & Macadamias</div>
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<strong><em>Recipe:</em></strong></div>
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-1 cup plain yogurt (I like St. Benoit Creamy Yogurt, they have Jersey Cows, they semi-pasturize their dairy, and the taste and texture is amazing.)<br />
-2 teaspoons Mesquite powder (You can also use Cacao powder, Carob powder, Acai Powder, a flavored protein powder, or any flavorings that come to your mind.)<br />
-1 Core Defender Bar crumbled into small pieces.<br />
-Sweetner is optional. For me it tasted sweet enough. <br />
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Toppings: Add some nuts of your choice, fresh or thawed berries, chopped banana, etc. <br />
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Mix yogurt with Mesquite powder, or your choice of powder. The Goji berries and the Core bar give enough sweetness for my taste buds. You can add some stevia, honey, or maple syrup for extra sweetness. Mix everything in a bowl. Then add the Core Bar pieces and your toppings. Enjoyy :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhTZ5lx4to58Cl6qkC_PiZ-zjiOT5Vy5t_krCuB-LaJwwzZXd8XrPrVn79bZORqiXq5GbBvtYddUgMiQw-aiuWdWWRu0fBnIQn9WCjN5hkW8xzZXJdQVb6FtlgnNwY5XJZy9kUJuGRxY/s1600/core6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhTZ5lx4to58Cl6qkC_PiZ-zjiOT5Vy5t_krCuB-LaJwwzZXd8XrPrVn79bZORqiXq5GbBvtYddUgMiQw-aiuWdWWRu0fBnIQn9WCjN5hkW8xzZXJdQVb6FtlgnNwY5XJZy9kUJuGRxY/s400/core6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Almond Raisin Core Bar crumbled into chunks with Hemp Milk.</div>
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You can buy hemp milk from the store with no added sugar or make raw homemade fresh hemp milk.</div>
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For Hemp Milk:</div>
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-1 cup water</div>
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-3 tablespoons hemp seeds</div>
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-sweetener to taste: raw honey, maple syrup, stevia. </div>
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-optional: 3/4 vanilla bean scraped.</div>
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Blend in a highspeed blender until it turns milky.</div>
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<strong><em>Check them out here:</em></strong><br />
<a href="http://www.corefoods.com/pages/about-us">http://www.corefoods.com/pages/about-us</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/COREfoods">https://www.facebook.com/COREfoods</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-60076882140216023712013-03-23T10:06:00.003-07:002013-03-23T10:06:52.487-07:00Raw Cacao Bar Review: Chocolatl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Chocolatl Review</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZDgwLTpHcRZ7E5wsYkX4SkJItLLNi67LG1pQysyAI_R9aoXyJ-HdmfYcihCunuoOnTjreOSFGoPJp66KJYuvMthzI8MtXqabKovpp6LxfZJwmV0fM-LAypOvbgLjiwd3QlgKBrJ_oLY/s1600/cacao4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZDgwLTpHcRZ7E5wsYkX4SkJItLLNi67LG1pQysyAI_R9aoXyJ-HdmfYcihCunuoOnTjreOSFGoPJp66KJYuvMthzI8MtXqabKovpp6LxfZJwmV0fM-LAypOvbgLjiwd3QlgKBrJ_oLY/s400/cacao4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidioLZn1GQ2JgUpJL6zF3PRL2jf4nPhoDSFXGGyJWWnyZ3O1Xm_eK73SY39u0yubqFv5f05_ERld4XzjkwMb1JnJJ8Qa3EFpbOsPGyx5BatsnRcLxE2AnsVQpHCIceNTUgQN6mwEmaV9A/s1600/cacao3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidioLZn1GQ2JgUpJL6zF3PRL2jf4nPhoDSFXGGyJWWnyZ3O1Xm_eK73SY39u0yubqFv5f05_ERld4XzjkwMb1JnJJ8Qa3EFpbOsPGyx5BatsnRcLxE2AnsVQpHCIceNTUgQN6mwEmaV9A/s640/cacao3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Sell me something with foreign food products and I'm all over it! I love trying food with exotic ingredients. <u>Especially Cacao bars. </u>I'm a sucker for <u>raw pure cacao infused with herbs, medicinal earthy mushroom</u> <u>extracts (mushroom extracts have a coffee/chocolate flavor so it goes perfect when making chocolate), exotic fruit</u> <u>powders, and superfoods.</u> Chocolatl is a bit expensive compared to other raw cacao bars you find on the shelf, so this one I consider a treat for me. I buy it once in a while, and always look forward to it. The way the company consciously processes their cacao bars, the exotic an potent blend of ingredients infused with the cacao, and all the amazing health benefits that tie up this bar, makes for the $7 dollars it costs for a 3 oz box of decadently healthy cacao. Grocery stores in Santa Cruz (my area) sell them for about $7 and are on sale at times for around $6. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Texture: </strong>There is something very unique about the texture of Chocolatl. It is very rich and I love the way it melts in my mouth. They create a very flavorful experience because of the way how they melt slowly in the mouth. It's almost like it's impossible to focus on what you are doing while eating this cacao bar. Everything stops, and you seriously get seduced by this bar. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Flavor: </strong>So there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Ingredients: </strong>Chocolatl has different varieties of cacao products. They are all made of cacao beans, cacao butter, coconut sugar (low-glycemic), raw cacao powder, vanilla bean, and Himalayan salt. I believe they all have a dose of Maca powder in them too. Each flavor depends if they added earthy mushroom extracts, superfoods like Mesquite powder or blue-green algae accompanied with mint oil, and Lucuma, which is an exotic low-glycemic fruit powder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chocolatl makes products that you can indulgence in and feel happy and nourished. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love keeping a box next to my bed drawer and eat a piece in the morning to start the day....and</span> maybe another one at night too. </div>
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I don't work for the company, I'm just a big fan and writing this review from myself. </div>
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You can visit Chocolatl: <a href="http://www.flowfoodschocolatl.com/products/">http://www.flowfoodschocolatl.com/products/</a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-71680581496031319182013-03-17T10:46:00.002-07:002013-03-17T10:48:35.303-07:00Blueberry-Banana Blendy and its amazing benefits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdABBlhxeDT1R0MjkbjG8hGeLu_sAgbIm7jyI2t27Pvl_zIRCrejS34xzdgBkreznrh_gUQ1bi-fCn2N-rMf8OmhHrI85QnGzqhRSsmxZxwJbzjRxM71NIEOskeG8y6HObu6S5Ug4WjKU/s1600/breaky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdABBlhxeDT1R0MjkbjG8hGeLu_sAgbIm7jyI2t27Pvl_zIRCrejS34xzdgBkreznrh_gUQ1bi-fCn2N-rMf8OmhHrI85QnGzqhRSsmxZxwJbzjRxM71NIEOskeG8y6HObu6S5Ug4WjKU/s640/breaky.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-1 ripe banana</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-1 cup fresh blueberries or frozen blueberries</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-3/4 cup water, or less or more for desired creaminess.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Blend.</span></em></div>
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Packed with antioxidants, B-Vitamins, and Potassium, this blueberry-banana smoothie makes for an incredibly flavorful, creamy smoothie, and a great way to start the day with healthy energy. </div>
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Blueberries are low-glycemic and burst with flavor. They are great for memory improvement, youthfulness, regulating blood sugar levels, protection from oxidative stress, muscle recovery, protects digestive tract (especially from risk of colon cancer), increases good cholesterol levels (HDL), consistent intake of blueberries maintains healthy blood pressure, and they keep our nerve cells functioning and communicating properly. These amazing gems are great for people with Type II diabetes to enjoy and benefit from. </div>
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Oh wait....there's more! The research on blueberries shows that they may promote anti-cancer properties for breast cancer, colon cancer, esophageal cancer, and cancers of the small intestine. </div>
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<strong>They are high in Vitamin K, manganese, Vitamin C, and fiber. Resveratrol is found in blueberries, one of the many anti-oxidants in them.</strong> </div>
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Blueberries were cultivated by Native Americans. They rank second place, right behind strawberries, in the most popular consumed berry. Buy them when they are in season in the early summer for a cheaper price. Freezing them has shown to have no damage on their nutrients. Buying frozen blueberries is cheaper than fresh ones. </div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blueberry's scientific name: Vaccinium (rhymes with vaccine!)</span></em></div>
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Blueberries are my favorite fruit, next to the tropical Cherimoya. </div>
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A big bowl of ripe sweet blueberries is one of my comfort foods!</div>
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They are also great for a pop-corn replacement for movie night ;)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibwlIfl2eYQFAXnykwddKfrOn9SKyV1Xu0I_LdtBHc8ZnvTS9TZcvMGpkhIvsphNVGL_44dXzqpLVwmS7oMBG-ANybQ1xByAMctiNCHr6OpH-L_rh7NSmBUdmCia61rElW8gmLpsmDmw/s1600/blue11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibwlIfl2eYQFAXnykwddKfrOn9SKyV1Xu0I_LdtBHc8ZnvTS9TZcvMGpkhIvsphNVGL_44dXzqpLVwmS7oMBG-ANybQ1xByAMctiNCHr6OpH-L_rh7NSmBUdmCia61rElW8gmLpsmDmw/s400/blue11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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What would I do without a banana? This I consider a superfood for me. Bananas stabilize my energy immediately while at the same time they relax me (thanks to their high content of B Vitamins). They are found year-round at the market, and are very inexpensive. Bananas help prevent bone decay from high-salt diets, anemia, constipation, depression, high blood pressure thanks to their high potassium content, soothes heartburn, and strokes.</div>
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Fiber rich foods has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. </div>
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Bananas protect against stomach ulcers. They activate cells in the stomach that make the stomach lining thicker. The stomach lining is a protective mucus against stomach acids. </div>
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They aid constipation.</div>
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Prevent kidney disease. </div>
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<strong>They are a good source of Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, manganese, fiber, and Potassium.</strong> </div>
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Fun benefits: mashed banana applied on the skin helps relief it of dryness. Bananas mashed with almond oil makes a good hair conditioner. They relief us from hangovers. They improve eyesight. Rubbing the inside of the peel onto our skin relieves warts. "Banan" in Arabic stands for finger. Makes sense. We tend to think bananas grow from trees, but really, they grow from an herb, the world's largest herb called Musa Sapientium. </div>
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When bananas have brown spots on them, it means they are <u>ripe</u>, their nutrients are better absorbed, and guess what! When bananas have the spots on them, they contain <strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor)</span></strong> which has been shown to fight off cancer cells.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_rM3e7KW01UdMuU0rioH7HK4CHOuK1xspso4oIQK131bGOnfM2mk0OEwhdxgVuOkdEtfltwvVAi3VOAwtT1AmLSfI6Ju78pCaGoLYDyZSUBZlN3j_Ub4bBC6KZ4oPx_UVpx53jzUUt0/s1600/nana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_rM3e7KW01UdMuU0rioH7HK4CHOuK1xspso4oIQK131bGOnfM2mk0OEwhdxgVuOkdEtfltwvVAi3VOAwtT1AmLSfI6Ju78pCaGoLYDyZSUBZlN3j_Ub4bBC6KZ4oPx_UVpx53jzUUt0/s400/nana.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><em>Enjoy blueberries & bananas:</em></strong></div>
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<em>after a workout (also great for athletes to be used as a strong replenisher)</em></div>
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<em>as an awesome pick-me-up snack</em></div>
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<em>to start the morning blend a banana with a cup of blueberries. Add some water or Coconut Water for your desired consistency. I love using plain water. The flavors of the blueberries and bananas go great together.</em></div>
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<em>add to a bowl of granola or yogurt.</em></div>
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<em>add to desserts </em></div>
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<em>top off pancakces instead of using syrup.</em></div>
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<em>A bowl of chopped banana with blueberries and toppings such as nuts, goji berries, other berries, shredded coconut.</em></div>
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<em>Add to salads. </em></div>
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<a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=7"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=7</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=7"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=7</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mrbreakfast.com/article.asp?articleid=15"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.mrbreakfast.com/article.asp?articleid=15</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.hoaxorfact.com/Health/full-ripe-banana-with-dark-patches-combats-abnormal-cells-and-cancer.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.hoaxorfact.com/Health/full-ripe-banana-with-dark-patches-combats-abnormal-cells-and-cancer.html</span></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-70398926586099410572013-03-10T23:32:00.002-07:002013-03-10T23:32:38.012-07:00Raw Caramel Maca drink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmleOGlwitnZ0Jgcef0CKEJkOEmMxwSC-ayegAI5vmNkgBFsA3mXjOsKy6yuhHK6h9KefNp0kJ-g4H0A-XEeD6i0hzSuimUbko9Q7KC57JTo4gW_3WXKrH_l8vXYix2fx9GSpPFE_7Q8/s1600/cocomaca2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmleOGlwitnZ0Jgcef0CKEJkOEmMxwSC-ayegAI5vmNkgBFsA3mXjOsKy6yuhHK6h9KefNp0kJ-g4H0A-XEeD6i0hzSuimUbko9Q7KC57JTo4gW_3WXKrH_l8vXYix2fx9GSpPFE_7Q8/s640/cocomaca2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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This has become one of my favorite go-to drinks. A blend of Coconut water.....and Maca. </div>
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<em>Hello simplicity. So easy and delicious.</em></div>
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<em>Super refreshing and energizing</em></div>
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This was actually my Dad's idea. I have not come across a recipe of just Coconut water and Maca blended together. There are usually more ingredients that get added. But when I tried this simple drink, I was in caramel heaven! I can't belief this had a caramel flavor and it is only made from Coconut water and Maca. My dad is awesome! hehe</div>
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<strong><em>Recipe:</em></strong></div>
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<em><strong>-1 cup Coconut Water</strong> (raw is best for better sweetness from the Coconut. I use a whole Coconut, or if I buy bottled coconut water I like to get <a href="http://www.harmlessharvest.com/" target="_blank">Harmless Harvest</a> 100% Raw Coconut Water. Some health grocery stores carry it)</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOqE60vr9JN71rZdMVLvySJd7rkwd8ETg9J-lR4Q9gRRGHEJrw3w162Nm_Zkzmgd_QIeuGUVUIs2jpHYhtxtLwnwQIvbSeJhfKCE7R9sKvnsVBqa-puXnJj9y-4zCbCzFaK_dmMZ1x7A/s1600/cocomaca1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOqE60vr9JN71rZdMVLvySJd7rkwd8ETg9J-lR4Q9gRRGHEJrw3w162Nm_Zkzmgd_QIeuGUVUIs2jpHYhtxtLwnwQIvbSeJhfKCE7R9sKvnsVBqa-puXnJj9y-4zCbCzFaK_dmMZ1x7A/s400/cocomaca1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<strong><em>-1/2 Tablespoon Maca Powder</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Blend in your blender, or use a shake bottle. You could try mixing it in a cup but I'm not sure if it will blend good. You could add some ice as well. </em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Sip and enjoy!</em></strong><br />
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At times I'll add Spirulina, or Vitamineral Green powder, or Cinnamon. <br />
For more sweetness you can add a ripe banana and turn it into a filling smoothie. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-51258606935734543112013-03-10T11:32:00.002-07:002013-03-10T11:32:23.430-07:00High Vibe Coconut Water Wheatgrass drink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1q5i6AIm0uOP2l3YGjH0uZLJqP3_5LZYleRv5CyvrXRW3QnnrLluHS93M76vQuHVxE-skX74MTaDLY8VqvqUBPOPw_EpyyvUB-A_0VkhnPh_S-kDeG0F6TyeOP5RLGrmI2sAm1LOmQ4c/s1600/cocowater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1q5i6AIm0uOP2l3YGjH0uZLJqP3_5LZYleRv5CyvrXRW3QnnrLluHS93M76vQuHVxE-skX74MTaDLY8VqvqUBPOPw_EpyyvUB-A_0VkhnPh_S-kDeG0F6TyeOP5RLGrmI2sAm1LOmQ4c/s400/cocowater.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">( easy recipe below)</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Harmless Harvest 100% Raw Coconut Water</span></strong></div>
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<em>Thank you, thank you for being on the market!</em></div>
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Whenever I feel like drinking a sweet juice, specially after a workout if I want something light and refreshing, my go-to is Coconut water. </div>
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Sometimes I buy the whole young Coconut and scrape off the coconut meat to save for later (which is a little time consuming.)</div>
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I used to drink Coconut water from the store bought brands, which are all pasturized and honestly, they don't have a fuller taste as <u>raw, unpasteurized</u> Coconut water. The fresh Coconut Water from the young Coconut is so much sweeter and more coconuty tasting. When I was tight on time and couldn't find a worker at the store to cut open the coconut, I would buy the store bought coconut water that comes in a bottle or those little packaged bottles. </div>
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<em>But finally, I could not belief what I saw sitting on the refrigerated section with big words...100% Raw Coconut Water. I shoved that bottle out of the shelf and brought it up close to me to find out if this is TRULY what I think it is! Some of you know that I like to get the inside scoop on what I consume. I first looked for the way they process their product. They use a heatless high pressure process to keep the product stable for a short while and to avoid denaturing it. Ingredients: Coconut Water. Loved it! I liked their personal message too printed on the bottle. (I save the philosophical message for the last part of the investigation :p ) </em></div>
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It tastes just like the water found in the fresh coconut. The store-bought pasturized coconut waters always tasted watered down to me. As if the pasteurization killed all the natural sugar in it. </div>
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Whenever I want Coconut water, I reach for Harmless Harvest Coconut Water, or the whole coconut. <em>Seriously.</em> Buy both of them, and compare them for yourself :) </div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"> Easy High Vibe Coconut Water Wheat Grass Drink</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong> </div>
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<strong><em> Coconut water meets Wheat grass</em></strong></div>
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<strong>At the store the other day I walked by the café bar and thought of drinking a shot of wheat grass (</strong>my parents must feel so relieved). <strong>As I waited for my shot, I reached for Harmless Harvest raw Coconut water. I poured the coconut water in a cup at the bar, poured the wheat grass in there, and mixed it well. It was so delish. The wheat grass flavor didn't come out too strong, and I mostly tasted the sweet coconut water. I'm thinking of doing round 2 today!</strong></div>
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<strong>-1 bottle of Harmless Harvest raw Coconut Water (the small or big size you find on the shelf)</strong></div>
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<strong>-1 shot (an ounce) of fresh wheat grass juice (order at the drink bar of your health grocery store)</strong></div>
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<em>Mix well and enjoy!</em> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Wheat grass Benefits:</u></span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Wheat Grass juice has a high concentration of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll uses energy from the sunlight to make carbohydrates from Carbon Dioxide and water. This is what brings life to plants and it is said that we benefit from this by eating the plants.</li>
<li>In ancient Egypt, the pharaohs knew about the healing benefits of wheatgrass.</li>
<li>Cows fed wheatgrass produced more milk</li>
<li>Increases red blood-cell count and lowers blood pressure. </li>
<li>The enzymes in wheatgrass stimulate our metabolism </li>
<li>It is abundant in alkaline minerals to alkalinize our blood.</li>
<li>Strong detoxer</li>
<li>Protects the liver</li>
<li>Helps the body fight off toxins</li>
<li>Soothes skin if applied on it. </li>
<li>Slows down aging</li>
<li>Protects us from radiation</li>
<li>It closely resembles hemoglobin (carries oxygen to our blood)</li>
<li>Natural source of antioxidants</li>
<li>It has vitamin K, antioxidants, Calcium, vitamin E, vitamin B12, beta-carotene, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, Vitamin C, Iron, folic acid, and 20 amino acids making it a complete protein source. </li>
<li>GLUTEN: Gluten would be found in the endosperm of the wheat grass, and wheat grass juice comes from the grass itself.<u> It is gluten-free</u>. However, Jamba Juice does have a note on their wheatgrass that it contains gluten. This depends on how the wheat grass is harvested and how manufacturers process it. </li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://www.hippocratesinst.org/wheatgrass/benefits-of-wheatgrass"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.hippocratesinst.org/wheatgrass/benefits-of-wheatgrass</span></a><br />
<a href="http://food-nutrition.knoji.com/facts-about-wheatgrass/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://food-nutrition.knoji.com/facts-about-wheatgrass/</span></a><br />
<a href="http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/everydaymedicalissues/f/Are-Wheat-Grass-And-Barley-Grass-Gluten-Free.htm"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/everydaymedicalissues/f/Are-Wheat-Grass-And-Barley-Grass-Gluten-Free.htm</span></a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-90536383874059916922013-03-05T08:51:00.000-08:002013-03-09T09:25:41.224-08:00Monday's Eats, Dorky Gym Outfit, and Self-Awakening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hey guys! So I've finally decided to post a few blogs here and there of my daily eats and fitness training. On facebook I post a lot of pictures of some of the things I eat but I haven't really done a post on what I have in a day. For some reason I've always felt it would be a little weird to take a picture of everything I eat in a day and show it to everyone. However, I've had a few people recently ask me to post something that would show a good lunch or a healthy good post work-out meal. Then yesterday my younger sister told me that one of her friends was curious as to what my <strike>diet </strike>way of eating is like because she isn't sure what healthy foods to choose for a decent meal. So this brought me to making a post or two a week of my daily eats...maybe during a busy school day? a day eating outside and what to choose from the salad bar? and a workout day as well? and of course those party weekends :) </span></div>
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<em>A thought that just came through my mind~ Don't you find it weird that...we <u>don't </u>know what to feed ourselves? We have drifted so far away from our traditional nourishment and natural living that we find ourselves searching the internet of what is healthy for us humans to consume. There are scientists "discovering" the health benefits of this fruit, that plant, this protein, that fat, and publishing the articles. In ancient times, our ancestors new about these foods and the proper way to process them and consume them. They didn't turn on their iPhones or pop their lap top open to search how many grams of fat they should be eating a day, which herbs are good for healing (they knew this), and what is edible and not. With the introduction of industrialization, our connection to the natural wild life has been lost. Our society is so fast paced and we lead very busy lives. It is soo soo convenient to drive up to the store, walk to the frozen isle, grab a frozen meal, and heat it up in the microwave in 5 minutes. Minimal preparation and clean-up. Very little personal connection to the food we are eating. </em></div>
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<em>Thankfully we have many resources today to become <u>re-informed</u> of what is healthy for us. Don't forget though, to listen to your body! Your digestion plays a huge role in your health. If you get bloated, pay attention to that. If you get gassy, pay attention to that. The food you digest will impact your mood and health. Your second brain is in your gut. </em></div>
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<em>Lets awaken ourselves by becoming well-informed and being in tune with our body.</em></div>
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I may need to use a better camera next time :)</div>
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A few things about the way I eat:</div>
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<em>Some days I eat 2 or 3 BIG meals,</em></div>
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<em>other days I snack a lot and have smaller meals,</em></div>
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<em>some days I have breakfast early, other days I<strike> have breakfast </strike>break my fast later in the day like around noon, I try to eat dehydrated packaged foods as little as possible like power bars even if they are totally natural but I've been eating outside a lot and going to classes so every day now I've been having at least 1 snack bar, I eat when I'm hungry, and I eat till I am satisfied. Most of my meals are kept pretty simple because I eat a lot of food and want to make it easy to digest and look good haha. </em></div>
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<em>Today was a lot of snacks. I had a heavy work out so I made sure I ate enough. </em></div>
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<em>Breakfast : Breakfast around 10 at home of Blackberries that were on sale for 2 bux each box, and this bar that I absolutely love at the moment! It is so delicious and energizing. I usually eat this right before my Biology class and lab class to get me through the serious brain torture. (Lots of info thrown in that class) I'm going to do a review of this bar soon. </em></div>
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It's green and brown from all the herbs in it, but its delish and chewy.</div>
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Me and my super dorky gym outfit. I was about to go powerlift, not walk a run way. </div>
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(I always wear shorts over jeggings when I'm going to do squats for coverage purposes ha)</div>
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I do like to wear pretty colors to the gym because I'm always the only girl in the weight room lifting heavy weights with all the macho guys. Don't want to send the wrong message! lol. Gotta keep it girly ;)</div>
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I'm doing the program 5x5 Strong Lifts<br />
Warm-Up<br />
Back Squats 125lbs: 5 sets of 5 reps<br />
Overhead barbell shoulder press (weakness, 55lbs): 5x5<br />
Deadlifts: 145lbs 5x5<br />
Did deadlifts again for fun 115 lbs of 1 set and 15 reps<br />
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Body weight about 115 lbs and I'm 5'2; a total shorty. <br />
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<em>Came back home for a Post Work-Out Smoothie: bananas, Coconut Water, a spoonful of Maca powder, Spirulina powder, Cinnamon, and dashes of Sea Salt. Don't be afraid of salt! </em><br />
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<em>This was super sweet and delicious...there is no green taste :)</em></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">After getting some things done I went over to the Whole Foods nearby and made myself ceviche. I bought raw salmon and a lime. I added some Sesame seeds and a little bit of Tamari sauce. I went to a coffee shop and ate it with the leftovers from last night's dinner with my younger sis at Café Gratitude. This is raw pesto pasta. The pasta is made of Kelp noodles and doesn't taste like anything at all. The raw pesto was yummy. It's made out of sprouted nuts instead of cheese.</span></span></td></tr>
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I did a lot of studying for my Bio exam coming up and started a little bit of Math homework. </div>
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I ate this raw snack bar created of soaked seeds and dried fruit with Spirulina. It's pretty good and crunchy. Lydia's Organics sells these. Lydia is so sweet and I love what her business stands for :)</div>
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I had this a long with some sprouted almonds I had in my backpack that I bought from a local grocery store. </div>
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For dinner I had lemon garlic herbed chicken from Whole Foods, a fat sweet potato, and a crunchy salad. </div>
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I like to finish eating for the day before 8pm, and I don't get hungry after that. </div>
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<em><strong>Choose your health by choosing your foods :)</strong></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPXqzYPIK0EyknAl-lX_kwrH1b-D9f7oaXT9CohxyqZ4kuu_4h9ck_JEX2WA_uLif2JIvWE5aqi2YVsqhfrMo6jSuYSJFVvdAex2uOlF6-3DafUQbkcKmFq_RbYV_T6M99-yx1eNt0nE/s1600/blog4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-12991958306775763852013-03-03T21:56:00.000-08:002013-03-05T23:41:36.785-08:00Decadent Maca Cacao Muffin Shells ( Maca used as flour)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em>Maca Cacao Muffin Shells with a Maca-Mesquite candy coating</em></div>
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<em>One of the main reasons why I love this recipe so much is because I came up with a crazy idea of using Maca powder as the flour substitute for these baked muffins. The recipe originally calls for Almond flour, but I didn't have any at home! For a few minutes I got to thinking what is in the house that is a powder, edible, and healthy? I saw the bag of Maca powder in the closet! I got so excited at this point haha. Why not try it out?! Powder vs. flour? Hm. Close, I thought. I realized the muffins would have a strong Maca flavor, which sounded good to me because I love the earthy flavor of Maca. But what about for other people? I decided to try it out and see how it comes out and make changes from there. </em></div>
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<i>These were incredible! Soft and dense in texture. The Maca was not strong. You can taste the Chocolate and the Maca, and had a perfect hint of sweetness. </i></div>
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<em>My family and I are big fans of this one! </em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>UPDATE*</strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Make sure to buy regular Maca Powder. <u>Maca Extract Powder </u>should not be used for this recipe because the Maca Extract Powder is very concentrated for medicinal doses. </strong></span></div>
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<i>I used a basic healthy recipe to make the muffins with my own little changes (<a href="http://www.runningtothekitchen.com/2012/12/chocolate-donuts-with-coconut-vanilla-bean-icing/" target="_blank">from Runningtothekitchen.com</a>)</i></div>
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<b>Recipe for the muffin:</b></div>
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-3/4 cups Maca Powder (used as flour) *<i>see note below</i></div>
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-1/4 cup blend of Carob Powder and Cacao Powder</div>
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-1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda</div>
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-1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt</div>
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-3 eggs</div>
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-3 tablespoons melted Coconut Oil (I used Refined Coconut Oil to avoid the Coconut flavor, but this is more processed and less healthy)</div>
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-1 tablespoon raw Honey</div>
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-2 tablespoons Maple Syrup</div>
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-1/4 teaspoon Vanilla Extract</div>
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*Using Maca powder instead of regular flour will be more $. However, keep in mind your gut will not have to suffer digestion issues or irritation from gluten. Maca is considered a superfood, an adaptogenic (helps your body handle stress), helps improve libido, balances hormones, it is rich in B-Vitamins, and has a vast array of nutrients. </div>
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<i>You can eat your muffin, and really love it. </i></div>
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<b>Directions: </b>Visit the following link to view the directions: <b> </b><a href="http://www.runningtothekitchen.com/2012/12/chocolate-donuts-with-coconut-vanilla-bean-icing/"><b>http://www.runningtothekitchen.com/2012/12/chocolate-donuts-with-coconut-vanilla-bean-icing/</b></a></div>
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You need strong arms! Mixing gets a little tough :)</div>
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<u>Here are my changes:</u> </div>
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-I used Maca powder instead of Almond flour</div>
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-I placed the mixture into small cooking bowls to shape it into a muffin instead of a donut.</div>
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-When you fold in the beat egg whites it makes it easier to finish mixing everything. </div>
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-Lightly grease your baking molds. I used Coconut Oil. </div>
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<i>Once the muffins were ready and cooled, I came up with a Maca-Mesquite Candy coating. It was not what I originally had in mind. I wanted to create a white coating with chocolate designs through it to make it really pretty and elegant, but I haven't yet figured out a white silky smooth coating yet that would be dairy-free. Still working on that.</i></div>
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<i>I thought of settling for a cream colored coating by using Maca and Mesquite powder. It turned out gorgeous I think! Both powders have a slight natural sweetness so you don't need to add a lot of sweetner to it.</i></div>
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<b>Recipe for Maca Mesquite Candy Coating:</b></div>
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The muffins will need to be very cold and almost firm for the coating to harden around the muffins. After the muffins were cooled down after the baking, I put the muffins in the freezer for about a half hour</div>
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-6 tablespoons melted Refined Coconut Oil</div>
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-2 1/2 teaspoons Maca powder<br />
-2 teaspoons Mesquite powder<br />
-3 drops liquid Stevia extract<br />
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In a bowl, mix everything well with a spoon . Let it cool down so it thickens a little bit. Proceed to gently immerse the semi-frozen muffins into the candy coating turning them a few times so they get nicely coated. Or use the candy coating any creative way you'd like to. </div>
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You can drizzle a little bit of the candy coating on the muffins to make them lighter in calories :) </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-50699807730797737402013-03-02T23:19:00.000-08:002013-03-02T23:45:48.362-08:00Medical Assistant Intern: 1st day! Grateful. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It finally has begun! I must admit, I felt as if this day would be too good for it to happen to me. I really thought it was going to be one of those really good things that just never come through. Once I finished up my paper work to begin my externship and I was ready, it took me about 3 weeks to finally set foot in the clinic and begin my volunteer work. During those 3 weeks my supervisor got sick for a few days and then was really busy in the clinic so it was hard to get a hold of him for me to begin working. This is when I thought I might end up doing my externship next school semester. Before going in I also made sure I reviewed all my notes I saved from my past medical classes at my college and I looked up videos on youtube to refresh my memory on how to do certain medical procedures, routines, clean-up, etc. <em>Yesterday was my first day working as an intern at a small clinic near Santa Cruz!</em><br />
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<em>I still can't really belief I was behind the counter at a clinic doing work. During my semesters at Cabrillo it was hard to picture myself really working professionally at a clinic. I felt I would not be able to do it, or I felt too young to be working in such a professional medical setting. But honestly, time grows on you. My most recent classes of medical assistant have helped me shape up more my attitude</em> <em>and feel more mature. As I grew older I focused more on my classes, payed more attention, aimed for the best grades I could get, and began to really enjoy feeling responsible. </em><br />
<em></em><br />
When I walked in for the first time at the clinic to begin learning in action, I did not feel very nervous...(but waiiitt). I felt completely alert and ready to have tons of information thrown at me. I felt eager to learn it. My first couple of hours I shadowed a Medical Assistant who worked for one of the doctors at the site. As I watched her do work on the computer I began feeling a little nervous. I was thinking to myself how am I going to remember all of this? She clicked on things so fast, opened up files really fast, knew who to call and where to search. I asked her how long it took her to learn this? She said the obvious of course, "<u>with time and practice here you'll learn</u>." She was very nice and very kindly answered all the questions I had. I watched her assist a few patients in the room, take their weight, height, blood pressure, temperature, questions, and gather information. So after a couple of hours she threw me right into action! She asked if I wanted to bring in the next patient. (I was already thinking I would like to try this, but I was just not expecting her to say it!) I felt a little bit excited when she said this and I told her "yeah, okay!" But this is when my palms began to sweat a little. I began asking her quickly about taking blood pressure and other small questions to refresh my memory but I thought to myself "okay stop, take a breath, walk out there, bring the patient, remain calm and do it step by step. If I have questions she said she'll be watching me." So as I assisted my first patient I asked her small questions throughout my procedure and she then helped me to put all the information on the computer. Having her there guiding me helped tremendously. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I became better with the next patients I assisted. Of course if I did something wrong I told the patient it was my first day and I'm sorry for having her/him do repetitive things haha. They were all very nice. Later on I began assisting patients on my own! I took them to the room, closed the door, my short little young self was in their with the patient, then I told them the doctor would come see them shortly and I walked over to the computer to record their data. I feel I've got the basics down and have a good idea of how their electronic system works. I will keep learning more with the days to come. I felt very alert, clear headed, energized, and remembered information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I really liked all my co-workers I met that day. There is such good energy flowing at the site, and everyone has a great sense of humour. They laugh with one another, help each other, they bring food and candy to share, and are playful with each other :) I was very attentive too to others working around me. It's a very intense job. There is a ton of remembering, researching, keeping up with patient appointments, backtracking different people's history, figuring out possible causes of illness, etc. It's a lot on the mind and body. It's fast paced, and you are on your feet most of the time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">I found myself a little reserved with the workers at the clinic. I look forward to the day were I feel comfortable to join in their conversations and joke around with them too. My supervisor, manager, and the MA's have all been very nice to me so far. They have all given me advice, shared some stories with me, and given me smiles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">I really liked working with patients and letting them feel we are there to help them. All the patients we saw that were ill made me feel bad inside, but thankfully I didn't have an emotional break down at the clinic. When I came home last night, I was writing up my daily journal and all of a sudden I felt overwhelmed with sadness. I began to cry fast. These are times when I wish I didn't care so much about people. I saw patients that day who looked tired, overwhelmed, and their facial expressions stayed in my heart. I witnessed two severe health problems. One lady had an opened abscess from drug abuse (a wide and deep whole on her thigh...unbelievable), and a man had to get his toe amputated that afternoon after his visit with us. These are people of less fortune, but it is just not fair they should go through this. These people should have access to proper nutrition, NATURAL foods, proper hygiene, less economic stress. <em>Money should not rule.</em> <em>Their health should not suffer because they don't have the access or affordability.</em> I'm sending positive energy to them. This really showed me just how strong my passion is to help others, and to keep myself healthy, self-aware, and informed in this modern society. I'm going to keep bugging the waiters with questions about their food (sorry guys), feed my body the best I can and nourish my soul, and find balance. <em>I give a DAMN about my body and my well-being.</em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I know I will b seeing many more people suffering during my intern days, and I will have to find ways to cope with this. I am feeling positivity on other aspects though. Being in a working environment feels great! I love feeling productive, love helping others, meeting new personalities, and putting my body and brain to use. I'm really looking forward to going back to work :D</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">At some point doing your day, take a few minutes to be grateful about something in your life. Or better yet, every day think of 1 different thing each day that you are grateful for. Something positive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Now for some yumminess...</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em>I was glad to know there is a fridge for us in the snack room for our lunches and dinners. Next time I'll bring solid food.</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I had breakfast early. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I drank my usual amount of water upon waking.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then I made a yummy refreshing quick drink of 1 cup water in a glass jar, 1 tablespoon raw Maca powder, and a good splash of organic Cinnamon. </span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>The at </em><em>8:30 am I ate 2 ripe sweet bananas on the drive to the clinic. </em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For lunch at 12:30 I ate a whole bag of raw </span><a href="http://navitasnaturals.com/product/442/Snack-Cacao-Goji.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cacao-Goji Power Snack</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> (great source for a lot of good calories.)</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One of</span> the MA's brought homemade apple slices coated in caramel and chocolate so I took a small slice when they offered me some :) No biggie. Sharing of food brings people together. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">I drank some water throughout the day. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">I was supposed to leave at 6pm but I ended up leaving at 6:30pm. When I left I drove to Whole Foods and I enjoyed a satisfying meal of sweet potato, salmon, warm chicken, and salad with dressing. The chicken never tasted so good! I definitely worked up an appetite and in general I was just feeling thankful for this opportunity, a productive day, and healthy food. </span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<a href="http://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/2011/02/24/maximize-your-medical-expense-deductions/">http://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/2011/02/24/maximize-your-medical-expense-deductions/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-10832597981453167482013-02-24T16:05:00.000-08:002013-02-24T16:21:18.089-08:00Raw Chocolate Ice-Cream Cake (Dairy free & low glycemic)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em>This dessert, based on all natural ingredients, is deliciously rich and reminds me of the same old desserts of "milk chocolate" I used to enjoy in my childhood. My favorite part is the crust! The honey definitely comes through and I love the texture of the shredded dried coconut in there.</em></div>
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<strong><em>Note: You will need to have cashews ready that have been soaked in water for 2 hours. </em></strong></div>
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<em></em> </div>
<strong>Honey Crust: (Make this first)</strong><br />
-1/2 cup shredded dry Coconut<br />
-1/2 cup soaked and peeled almonds (soak for about 2 hours, the skins of the almonds should peel off easily), or to avoid the peeling process you can use the almonds with the skin, but it will make the crust a brown color. Or you can use Macadamias, Pine nuts, or Walnuts but this will have a different flavor. <br />
-2 tablespoons raw honey (for the best honey you can find it at your local farmers market)<br />
-1 tablespoon melted Refined Coconut Oil (you can use extra virgin coconut oil if you want the coconut flavor. Refined is tasteless, which is why I prefer to use it, but it is less healthy.)<br />
-sprinkles of Sea Salt<br />
<br />
In your food processor, process everything together until you get a nice crumbly mixture. You must be very strong and refrain from eating the whole mixture at this point! <em>(at least for me this was a problem.) </em>Put mixture on a molding pan and freeze for at least 30 minutes, covered. You don't have to wait 30 minutes to get started making the filling, <em>so lets get on with that.</em><br />
<br />
<strong>Raw "Milk" Chocolate filling: </strong><br />
-1 cup raw cashews, soaked for a couple of hours<br />
-1 1/2 tablespoons of raw Cacao powder (or whatever chocolate powder you have)<br />
-1/2 tablespoon Carob Powder<br />
-3 teaspoons Coconut Sugar<br />
-1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons of water<br />
-2 drops liquid Stevia<br />
-1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract<br />
-1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt<br />
-1 tablespoon melted Cacao butter<br />
<br />
Blend everything in your blender. It may take some work, so at times you may need to stop the blender and use a spoon or spatula to scrape the mixture down and blend again. Once the mixture is smooth, you are ready to get your crust out of the freezer and pour the mixture over it. Freeze for a few hours, then take it out to thaw and enjoy!<br />
<br />
<em>I brushed the cake with Molasses Syrup to give it a chocolate "burnt" look and decorated the cake with my simple raw cacao sauce. </em><br />
<em></em><br />
<strong><em>Cacao Sauce:</em></strong><br />
<em>-1/2 cup melted Cacao Butter<br />-1/2cup raw Cacao
powder<br />-11 drops liquid Stevia Extract</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>Once the cacao butter is melted, remove it from the heat and add the cacao powder and stevia drops and whisk to fully incorporate. Then return mixture to the heat, and with a baking thermometer bring the temperature of the mixture up to 90 degrees or a little bit less. Remove it away from the heat again and its ready to pour over the chocolate ice cream cake. </em><br />
<br />
You can also use this "milk" chocolate filling for some other recipe of yours. It will keep fresh in the refrigerator for about 4 days, or you can freeze it. <br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Indulge and be happy!</span></em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-79826708026148283332013-02-17T20:14:00.000-08:002013-02-17T20:14:18.485-08:00Grass- Fed meat vs Grain-Fed and Why I Stopped Eating Vegan<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The two main reasons why I decided to stop eating meat
and dairy was because I believed that all animal products were harmful to human
health and I did not want to feel guilty of taking the life of another living
creature for my own pleasure. If you are curious about how my vegan experience
went, I will say in short that I did really good. I did not feel lethargic, I
loved everything I was eating, I stopped taking my Iron pills I was prescribed
for being low, my daily headaches went away, I never craved meat and cheese, it
opened me up to new foods and new flavors, I began to be more aware of how my
body feels and how foods give me energy, I learned a lot about nutrition, my
skin cleared up tremendously, my hair got a strong shine to it, I woke up
feeling great, and I did not find it a challenge to eat vegan and feel good. I
love fresh food and I’m a big foodie, so I had no problems trying out new foods
and getting creative with my meals. I seem to have adapted well to veganism and raw vegan. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Towards my last phase of eating high raw and meatless, I
slowly became exposed to an ancestral way of eating that included plenty of
animal products, especially animal fats, and how people were regaining their
health back or getting healthier with this way of eating. Before this, I was never exposed to "grass-fed" beef and raw (unpasturized) organic dairy. Sure, I knew about pasture-raised chicken and free-range chicken, but I still held to the belief that animal products are not meant for human consumption. When I learned about Paleo, Primal Blue-Print diet, Weston A. Price, the ancestral way of eating,and many in depth studies of historic cultures who led healthy lives with an animal-based diet, I began to realize that our ancient food that helped us stay alive, perform, fight, and develop our brain was indeed red meat and good animal fats from animals that have spent their whole lives living a natural lifestyle out in the open field under a lot of sunshine. The problem with meat, really, is <strong>how the animals were being treated before slaughter, what the animals were fed, the environment of the animals, how the flesh is cooked (high heat), the type of oils the meat is cooked with, and the chemicals and preservatives added to raw packaged meat. </strong>Animal foods are healthy if prepared and consumed in its traditional way. You eat bad quality meat, you will get sick. <br />
<br />
When I refer to "grass-fed" meat, I am writing about "grass-<u>finished"</u> meat. All cattle are raised on grass, but towards the end of their living phase, the farmer either keeps feeding the cattle pasture, or it finishes off the cattle with corn/grain and a supplementation diet. It comes down to the bulk diet of the cattle, if it was mainly corn/grain fed or mainly grass fed. 100% grass-Fed animals are animals that have been fed their <u>natural</u> diet of pasture. Grain-Fed animals are animals that have been fed their <u>unnatural</u> diet of corn, soy, and other starchy foods to fatten them up quick, spend less money on animal feed, and make the meat taste better.<br />
<br />
Ever since adding back in plenty of animal protein and fats, my energy and moods have remained good just like how I was doing with raw veganism, but, I've been able to put on muscle faster and loose the belly fat (or water retention?) that high fruitarianism (calories mainly from high sugar fruits and little fat) gave me. My skin cleared up a lot with raw fruitarian and had a glow to it, but also, ever since adding in raw grass-fed milk and other dairy, my skin has remained the same, if not better. So far, with eating plenty of animals fats and proteins, I have experienced no mucus, no dandruff, no acne, no headaches, no constipation, and no fatigue. The meats I buy are grass-fed and most of the time local, I eat raw dairy, pasture-raised eggs, and raw grass-fed cheese.<br />
<br />
More and more people are becoming aware of the dangers associated with foods being cooked at high temperatures. I have also experienced this myself. Whenever I eat something that's been fried, or cooked heavily (such as well-done dried out meat, overcooked root vegetables) I feel dehydrated and sluggish right after I'm done eating. Charred meat is not even meat anymore. The invention of the pasteurization of foods has also brought a decline on the health of our population. Pasturization was introduced in order to kill bacteria and to make the product have a longer shelf life. With animals being crammed in together in a dirty industrialized feedlot and suffering health problems, no wonder there is harmful bacteria in the meat and dairy. Therefore, pasteurization was introduced in order to kill the bacteria. However, pasteurization (high heat "cooking") also damages the structure of the food and reduces the nutrient content. High heat cooking results in the formation of <strong>HCAs</strong> (Heterocyclic Amines, a known carcinogen) and <strong>PAHS</strong> (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, another known carcinogen that is a byproduct of fuel burning and high temperature cooking of meat). Cooking with high heat also exposes us to AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products) that cause advanced aging in humans and inflammation. The best dairy you can consume will be from a small local dairy farm, or you might be able to find it at the Farmers Market. Thankfully in Santa Cruz, I can find raw milk at the health grocery store that comes from Central California. The brand is Organic Pastures. Not really local, but close enough for me :) <br />
<br />
<em>High heat cooking, pasteurization of food, sick animals, is what makes animal food products harmful for human consumption such as raising our bad cholesterol levels (LDL), raising our triglycerides, irritating our digestive system, and causing inflammation. </em></div>
<br />
Here are some notes on how grass-fed meat compares with grain-fed meat.<br />
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<b> <u><i>Corn-Feed Makes Big $ at the Expense of Health:</i></u></b><br />
Digestion plays a huge role in ones health. When cows are fed corn, wheat, oats, barley, sorghum, and soy, they suffer from acidosis and other internal problems which is why they need to be pumped with anti-biotics and other preventative substances to counteract the side effects of a grain based diet. The stomach of a cow stays at a neutral pH naturally, but when fed corn, this turns the cow's stomach into a harsh acidic environment that gives the cow bloating, ulcers, digestion issues, and weakens their immune system. (Side Note: this is also common to find in people who eat a heavy grain/corn diet.) So rather than fixing the root cause of this problem, farmers will give these sick cows anti-biotics in order to combat the health problems. Because of the over use of antibiotics, the animals build an intolerance making the antibiotics less effective. Antibiotics are also being used as growth promoters.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"...antibiotic growth promoters are used to 'help growing animals digest
their food more efficiently, get maximum benefit from it and allow them
to develop into strong and healthy individuals'. Although the mechanism
underpinning their action is unclear, it is believed that the
antibiotics suppress sensitive populations of bacteria in the
intestines." (<a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/ARTICLE/AGRIPPA/555_EN.HTM" target="_blank">info here</a>)</blockquote>
<br />
European Nations have already banned the use of antibiotics for livestock after realizing the harm antibiotics are doing. Another thing is, people who eat meat from cows with antibiotics, they are consuming antibiotics themselves from eating the meat, making them also build an intolerance to anti-biotics.<br />
Anti-biotic use is also known for harming our healthy gut flora (killing our good bacteria) and having a negative impact on our immune system<a href="http://./">.</a> (You can find more information about anti-biotics harmful effects online like <a href="http://blogs.christianpost.com/health/antibiotics-harmful-to-your-digestion-2399/" target="_blank">this article</a> or click on this <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22989504" target="_blank">study</a>)<br />
<br />
Cows thrive on grass and herbaceous plants. This is what makes cows healthy, and what makes their flesh nutritious for humans. <br />
<br />
<br />
<u><i><b>Treatment of Cows:</b></i></u><br />
One of the major concerns with animal consumption is how the animal you are about to eat was treated by farmers during its life-time. Was the animal raised properly in open fields free to roam on plentiful grass and get enough sunshine? Or was the animal "surviving" in a factory crammed in with thousands of other animals in a closed shed with little to no sunlight, no ventilation, beaten up, mutilated such as cutting off the beaks of the chickens so they fit into the farm factory environment and don't pick at each other, are electrocuted through their anus, are defeathered, cows are dragged on pavement to be moved by big trucks, and the place reeks of cow poo and blood. True! Research this online.<br />
<br />
Grass Fed organic cows spend most of their lives out on pasture lands roaming around, chowing down grass, and getting their tan (Vitamin-D) on. <br />
<br />
What is even better are cows that come from small local family farms. Go to your farmers market and get to know your farmer who sells local meat. They even show pictures of their farmland and their animals being raised there. <br />
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<u><i><b>Grass or Corn for the Future of Our Environment?</b></i></u><br />
The people and articles stating that meat production harms our environment is because they are only focused on animals that are being fed corn, soy, and other grains. They are not looking at the grass-fed side of farming. The harvesting of corn and transporting it has a great negative impact on the environment. About 248 gallons of oil is needed to produce enough corn for the cows to eat. A cow eats about 2,800 pounds of corn. For the intensive production of corn there is a need for a high use of fertilizers and pesticides. Corn feed uses up a lot of fossil fuel, whereas grass is more low maintenance and is solar-powered.<br />
<br />
Transporting corn for livestock feed takes up a lot of energy whereas the grass feed is just right there, on land.<br />
<br />
About 40% of corn goes to feed livestock. Corn has become the most energy intensive production. The downfall of corn is that it requires a lot of nitrogen, and nitrogen fertilizer has negative impacts for our environment. <br />
<br />
Factory farms pollute our waters. (<a href="http://grist.org/article/cafo-waste/" target="_blank">link</a>) </div>
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Now time for everyone's favorite part....<br />
<u><i><b>Nutrition: Which is Healthier?</b></i></u></div>
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<ul>
<li><u>Fats:</u> Too much Omega 6 in ones diet causes inflammation. We need a good balance of Omega 6 to Omega 3. A good ratio to go by is a 2:1 or 4:1 of Omega 6 to Omega 3. The amount of Omega 6 is the same in grain fed cows and grass fed cows. However, eating meat from mostly grain fed cows you will be getting a small amount of Omega 3 as there is only small amounts of Omega 3 found in grain fed cows. With grass fed meat, you will be consuming a higher delicious dose of Omega 3 fats, because of the fat found in grass which the cows are eating. The fat in grass is 60% of a type of Omega 3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic or LNA. Omega 3 fats are essential fatty acids, meaning we need to get them from outside sources because our bodies don't produce it. They are good for our cardiovascular health, our moods, to reduce internal inflammation, helps with our ability to concentrate, regulates our hormones, plus many more benefits that helps our body keep functioning and building. The best sources for Omega 3 are from fatty fish and a good quality fish oil supplement. EPA and DHA are the important sources of Omega 3. You can get Omega 3 from Flax seeds, but Flax only contains ALA, which is <u>partially</u> converted to EPA and DHA in the body. Another great sources besides fatty fish and fish oils are Algeas. </li>
<li><u>CLA A newly discovered healthy fatty acid that may have anti-cancer properties and may help burn body fat</u>: We are aware that to benefit the most to protect ourselves from cancer is too eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. What makes CLA <i>(Conjugated linoleic acid)</i> very unique is that it is an anticarcinogen present in animal foods. Researchers are discovering that CLA supports a healthy heart (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20463040" target="_blank">link</a>)may protect against breast cancer (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11525591" target="_blank">link</a>), prostate cancer, and colon cancer (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20043266" target="_blank">link</a>) Cows that have been grass fed have three to five times more CLA than cows that have been grain fed. CLA is a health promoting natural occurring trans-fatty acid. Kate Clancy, Ph.D., a senior fellow at the Minnesota
Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, has stated that early research in rats has linked
higher CLA levels with easier weight loss. A great source for CLA intake is from grass fed dairy (grass-fed butter, milk, cheese)</li>
<li>All variaties of beef that are grass-fed will have lower amounts of total fat content compared to conventional fed animal. A grass-fed steak has about 1/3 less fat than a grain-fed steak of equal portions of steak. The fat from grain-fed animals harm our health, cholesterol level, and is inflammatory. </li>
<li>Grass-fed beef has higher concentrations of Vitamin E, antioxidants, B-Vitamins, Vitamin A, calcium, selenium, and magnesium. </li>
<li> Research shows that grass-fed beef has 10 times more beta-carotene (anti-oxidant), 3 times more Vitamin E, and 3 times more Omega 3 fatty acids. </li>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">"Historically, <b>mad cow</b> has never been reported
in cattle which are totally grass fed. The outbreak in Britain and
Europe which occurred 15 years ago has been linked to the practice of
using animal by-products in feeding."</span></span> <a href="http://www.americangrassfedbeef.com/mad-cow-disease.asp" target="_blank">(link</a>) </li>
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<ul>
<li> Gut problems affect health: Cattle that are fed grain (food not designed for their stomach to handle) have a high chance of getting E. Coli in their gut and spreading it.</li>
<li>The main saturated fat in meat is called Stearic Acid, and has been proven to have a neutral effect on cholesterol levels, or even reduce cholesterol. Good quality fats are essential for the body, and are not linked to Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Fat from grain-fed cattle is inflammatory because it gives us a higher ratio of Omega 6 fatty acids</li>
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<b><i><u>Reason for being more expensive:</u></i></b><br />
To harvest grain/corn fed cattle it takes about 14 months, whereas for grass fed cattle it can take up to 24-28 months. Corn is cheap and is a good source to fatten up cattle, quickly.It takes more time to raise grass-fed cattle than grain/corn fed cattle. <br />
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Retailers are aware that some people are willing to pay more money for grass-fed and are responding to this. A long time ago it used to be that the consumer would buy grass-fed meat<u> directly</u> from the producer and make an arrangement to buy a big portion of the grass fed animal. Grass-fed meat has become big business now. <br />
<br />
I prefer to go to the Farmers Market and buy my beef from the Grass-Fed Ranch. Eventhough it is not much cheaper from the grocery store, sometimes the farmer gives me a good deal on the meat that I bought from them<i>. </i>Also, I buy from them because it is local meat, I get to know about their practice in raising the cattle, and the quality of their meat.<br />
<br />
Grass-fed meat is healthier for us to consume, but the question still lies on whether a grass-based system for cattle is really sustainable and possible to feed an entire nation.With the growing of our population, we have to find balance between health and sustainability. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiLoOctuayA3ra4f88C9AzJ-fLhfMfYAPFEZkRkgTESSbstMrkl4IP0S231dVEWlegkeq-UY5Q_HPfAzZ77lnVpVfa_Byo4GZI_IADHSW0ljk6NHEe4WEFXaVkKw-8IP_VUaaKzhZVeI/s1600/grassfed-beef-vs-grainfed-beef_50291a4b0a31b_w594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiLoOctuayA3ra4f88C9AzJ-fLhfMfYAPFEZkRkgTESSbstMrkl4IP0S231dVEWlegkeq-UY5Q_HPfAzZ77lnVpVfa_Byo4GZI_IADHSW0ljk6NHEe4WEFXaVkKw-8IP_VUaaKzhZVeI/s1600/grassfed-beef-vs-grainfed-beef_50291a4b0a31b_w594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiLoOctuayA3ra4f88C9AzJ-fLhfMfYAPFEZkRkgTESSbstMrkl4IP0S231dVEWlegkeq-UY5Q_HPfAzZ77lnVpVfa_Byo4GZI_IADHSW0ljk6NHEe4WEFXaVkKw-8IP_VUaaKzhZVeI/s1600/grassfed-beef-vs-grainfed-beef_50291a4b0a31b_w594.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span><a href="http://visual.ly/grass-fed-beef-vs-grain-fed-beef"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://visual.ly/grass-fed-beef-vs-grain-fed-beef</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.healthytheory.com/corn-fed-vs-grass-fed-beef">http://www.healthytheory.com/corn-fed-vs-grass-fed-beef</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2846864/ </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/omega-3-fatty-acids-fact-sheet?page=2</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/grass-fed-beef-benefits-072704 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.csuchico.edu/grassfedbeef/research/Review%20Grassfed%20Beef%202010.pdf</span><br />
<a href="http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/grass-fed-beef-in-more-pastures-and-on-more-plates/article_8ebd5252-41d1-59d0-b5aa-def3bbc99698.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/grass-fed-beef-in-more-pastures-and-on-more-plates/article_8ebd5252-41d1-59d0-b5aa-def3bbc99698.html</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cooked-meats"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cooked-meats</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20497781"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20497781</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (AGEs)</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-77079821101270382282013-01-31T23:22:00.001-08:002013-02-06T22:46:37.629-08:00Group Outing: Mt. Tam Wild Walk and Grounding Chocolate Drink recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgOaB6YZ-Ir9ZGiJ3no9ADua9PK1CWIDPWdwFUAzfIcNOuwvVquRhAMLCwTqVwXfPbW_IfrqO5ytyuhiBi8S_YCEd6mznDuHMUJGLZsionqIBmCMYcvJl1gAtMozYVFbC0Lf1DxkGcnQ/s1600/trail6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgOaB6YZ-Ir9ZGiJ3no9ADua9PK1CWIDPWdwFUAzfIcNOuwvVquRhAMLCwTqVwXfPbW_IfrqO5ytyuhiBi8S_YCEd6mznDuHMUJGLZsionqIBmCMYcvJl1gAtMozYVFbC0Lf1DxkGcnQ/s640/trail6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I'd like to share some pictures that bring back memories of a great experience I had in the summer of 2012. Christian Bates a long with his partner Bethanne Wanamaker as his co-hostess, both Marin County locals and experts in wild foods, led a group of us on a journey through the trails of Mt. Tam giving us insightful information about the plants that grow wild. We also visited two Spring Water sources and some of us filled up our small water jugs. For me it felt like we were tiny people walking on the edge of this huge mountain, but with all of Christian's knowledge that he poured out to us it really made me feel so empowered and connected to where I was. There is so much to learn about our environment and how humans and nature can be ONE. </div>
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We learned about the benefits of each plant and how to consume it, such as using Pine Needles, high in Vitamin A & C, for making tea or as a garnish for a superfood dessert. We each got a taste of the lemony Pine Needles. As we hiked up the trail I spotted some dark purple looking berries and asked if those are edible. We discovered some Huckleberries! They were so sweet and tiny. Further up the trail Christian introduced us to a wild Avocado tree. I found myself to be so amazed by standing infront of a wild Avocado tree. I love a good Avocado so seeing the wild species was a very neat experience. They are so small compared to the commercial variaties!<br />
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<b>UPDATE: </b>Unfortunately.....there was no wild avocado tree :(<br />
I must have heard him wrong through all the commotion of the group infront of me. The tree Christian introduced to us was the Bay Laurel, which is in the same Lauraceae family as the avocado, but they are different genus from one another. Kind of a bummer....but still pretty neat!</div>
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Christian Bates' Wild Walk and Spring Water Gathering was an experience I'll never forget. He is a great public speaker, so warm-hearted, and you can just feel his passion for helping others to find wellness and happiness within themselves. We learned a lot about superfoods, wild foods, and herbs. </div>
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This was my first time meeting Christian Bates and his partner Bethanne Wanamaker in person. They are both beautiful and inspirational people. Bethanne is so sweet and has a fire within her when she speaks infront of an audience. She is passionate about helping others become the healthiest version of themselves, finding vitality, and take care of our environment. I've stayed connected with her after our meet and she has been a mentor for me and so inspirational. You should definitly check out her health classes and raw food workshops such as superfood chocolate classes, natural beauty care classes, and raw superfood smoothie classes. </div>
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You can learn more about Christian Bates by visiting his blog <a href="http://christianbates.com/" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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and Bethanne Wanamaker <a href="http://ediblegoddess.com/about/" target="_blank">here </a></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42JkFd0pA2awIw_JgdsG888BcTT2DcpwhteEV8mzO655gwYGBbs1ibt7_BMQTWNFeFHZfUiAGgAI1u0I6-MQif_hJpThLxKueQQwAL22wRdnHjmhwMp9Ai20RAaHNqEwukzujPAMkfJw/s400/wild3.jpg" width="266" /> My good friend and I drinking a superfood <br />
drink before the start of the hike. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjVKDudh6iYQUtPPpBb5Wz5DNrUwyMtU7l2yPYcsOzChwRmODwtiYaa_ftHySHfPGyjknzH8yMOGDlAcyQ7xb4mnTQ4nfrWmfLjFRj20SrLqronCR86nQJ8dhaJPrexvNxCXZjIrzPt0/s1600/074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjVKDudh6iYQUtPPpBb5Wz5DNrUwyMtU7l2yPYcsOzChwRmODwtiYaa_ftHySHfPGyjknzH8yMOGDlAcyQ7xb4mnTQ4nfrWmfLjFRj20SrLqronCR86nQJ8dhaJPrexvNxCXZjIrzPt0/s320/074.jpg" width="214" /></a><br />
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<i>We decided to share a </i><i>cup</i><br />
<i>of this homemade superfood Cacao </i><br />
<i>drink brought for our group by Bethanne </i><br />
<i>and Christian. It was very tasty and </i><br />
<i>chocolatey :) Great light fuel for our hike. </i><br />
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Christian teaching us about wild plants</div>
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<u><span style="color: #0066cc;"></span></u> <u><span style="color: #0066cc;"></span></u> <u><span style="color: #0066cc;"></span></u><br />
Looks like our DNA structure,<br />
doesn't it?<br />
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Little man gathering his very own Spring Water</div>
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Bethanne Wanamaker on the left meeting everyone</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm7JfHfTgLVDamE24fYgTAMKxWBpMlt5HkHzfNRtwQlPVBPwSFu0vynR0wiBTxlp6HH5ggrUwA6PJUwVsmPfSzildxugjFcn7TeupKYoeVPBFdeA3z4JcvdktOJloQOY3kQCWnXzMQWU/s1600/wild37lemonbalmplant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm7JfHfTgLVDamE24fYgTAMKxWBpMlt5HkHzfNRtwQlPVBPwSFu0vynR0wiBTxlp6HH5ggrUwA6PJUwVsmPfSzildxugjFcn7TeupKYoeVPBFdeA3z4JcvdktOJloQOY3kQCWnXzMQWU/s320/wild37lemonbalmplant.jpg" width="320" /></a>(lemon balm)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMx3D1UySUp7kLvJ0RTXRZrIWcD7P_ITfrqe-RQwFI15JVyb6SgXTzK1MfPOlikGePtq2Y7ZAA4GmSXL3bRBZKU9Yh5qToRf40AZVQHFEKoM2fOW5jT2Nn7d3bz0RY5kHgXfFKBtvos7c/s1600/wild38oldman's+beard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMx3D1UySUp7kLvJ0RTXRZrIWcD7P_ITfrqe-RQwFI15JVyb6SgXTzK1MfPOlikGePtq2Y7ZAA4GmSXL3bRBZKU9Yh5qToRf40AZVQHFEKoM2fOW5jT2Nn7d3bz0RY5kHgXfFKBtvos7c/s320/wild38oldman's+beard.jpg" width="320" /></a>(old man's beard)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvi3XXi-zeDVNmTfdGPLZH0xBtmW1qeouYDdkylBy0RTdEJVmtLXbrYUzlhdqm6jgbkzKh_1_VVhBcmAym-XLpCbEcATsvHmn2Y3_8U8kV_wvn4u6_XqRGJoer1_wE0KvOkHcbQXR0wjs/s1600/wild39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvi3XXi-zeDVNmTfdGPLZH0xBtmW1qeouYDdkylBy0RTdEJVmtLXbrYUzlhdqm6jgbkzKh_1_VVhBcmAym-XLpCbEcATsvHmn2Y3_8U8kV_wvn4u6_XqRGJoer1_wE0KvOkHcbQXR0wjs/s320/wild39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Good times with one of my besties! She had a great time and learned a lot too.</div>
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<b><i>Time for a nourishing and grounding pure chocolate recipe...</i></b></div>
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<img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3OkKo3btOEvLAYvahSGETMrKZGsmDH2Ur2shNUsrDMsiiu9MWFOJp4_o5MJVS0i2RyTmYgKO38mkyAzgriSPVlmWOhHdzLlOzZisCrRKyPIeSAgxe0d9etClk-3HUwkA5cUsOvR7Z5c/s320/cacao7.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<br />
So simple and easy....<br />
<br />
-Brew a cup of your favorite herbal tea (my favorite being sweet chammomile)<br />
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-Wait for your cup of tea to cool down to a warm-hot temperature and add a tablespoon<br />
of raw Cacao Powder. I find that the raw Cacao powder gives such a grounding and<br />
comforting feeling as you sip this drink warm. If you'd like sweetner some good ones are<br />
Honey, Maple Syrup, Stevia, etc. <br />
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<br />
We are small people in this world, but capable of many things if we go after it and make it happen. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-30690765088460786842013-01-25T22:46:00.001-08:002013-01-26T09:38:48.269-08:00Mini Donuts-Paleo & Au Naturel <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-KQh9H2VwXGUgEPCf41vDzl96va6qy6zqexP08xCWKT6KHVWe6FnaYeSLRh_7cHJVTY4QQHAJHAYuk7waT5y58LZQw80TWulSb5mmMD7GnEtuIFSeOCAM7sMr5ZHwtT8RC1GfP-d7QA/s1600/donuts1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-KQh9H2VwXGUgEPCf41vDzl96va6qy6zqexP08xCWKT6KHVWe6FnaYeSLRh_7cHJVTY4QQHAJHAYuk7waT5y58LZQw80TWulSb5mmMD7GnEtuIFSeOCAM7sMr5ZHwtT8RC1GfP-d7QA/s640/donuts1.jpg" width="477" /></a></div>
<em>They say the only healthy part of a donut is... the whole in the middle. Not for these donuts! The ingredients used...and the ONLY ingredients used, were- Coconut Flour, grass-fed Butter, pasture-raised local eggs, Honey, Maple Syrup, Vanilla Extract, Baking Soda, and Sea Salt. They were then baked in the oven. They did come out a little too moist for a donut. </em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>I decided to make mini Donuts as a birthday surprise for my Dad. I remembered a couple weeks ago he said how much he used to like Entenmann's donuts (these donuts are commercial donuts that are heavily processed flour with sugar and has a longer shelf-life than a human!) When my Dad said how much he liked those, my eyes widened at the thought of surprising him with a healthy version of a donut. Trust me...taste is SO not sacrificed. These taste absolutely delicious on their own, but the Cacao sauce tops it off. </em><br />
<em></em><br />
<strong>Happy Birthday, Dad :) The greatest person in my life, with my momma. He inspires me in many ways. </strong><br />
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<em>I went over to <a href="http://marksdailyapple.com/">Marksdailyapple.com</a> (Paleo community) to ask around for a good tasting healthy version of a donut. I didn't want to do a raw donut because so far the only recipes I have found for raw donuts contain nuts and dried fruit, which does not give the texture of a typical donut. I was looking for something on the cakey-side. So I decided to give these Coconut Flour Donuts a try! </em></div>
<br />
Recipe used from <a href="http://comfybelly.com/2010/05/coconut-flour-donuts/" target="_blank">Comfy <em>Belly</em></a><em> </em><br />
<em></em><br />
<strong>My home-made pure Cacao Sauce:</strong><br />
-1/2 cup melted Cacao Butter<br />
-1/4 cup Carob powder<br />
-1/4 cup raw Cacao powder<br />
-11 drops liquid Stevia Extract<br />
<br />
Gently melt the Cacao butter in a double broiler. Once melted, turn the heat off, and slowly incorporate the powders into the melted cacao and mix well. Once it is smooth, remove from heat and stir. <br />
<br />
Tip: to have the cacao sauce harden fast for decoration, have your plate be cold so once the cacao sauce touches the plate it becomes hard fast. For a smooth sauce make sure the serving plate is at room temperature and the cacao sauce is a little warm. <br />
<br />
<br />
<em>I don't know why, but I decided to flip them over. After I turned these babies upside down they remind me of a fried Peruvian dessert called "Picarones" ....hmm stay tuned for Part II of these donuts :p</em><br />
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<em>I ran out of mini donut molds, so I used the leftover batter to make small cakes.</em></div>
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<em>These would be delicious for breakfast! I may warm up one of these tomorrow morning ...</em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-4996476447416485362013-01-23T21:35:00.000-08:002013-01-23T21:36:57.372-08:00Mountain Biking day + 2 complimentary fun recipes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Beautiful Marin County, CA lays on an abundance of nature and is surrounded by so much wild life... </div>
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(Checking out Pine Mountain!)</div>
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(me @ Kent Lake)</div>
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(Stinson Beach- home! )</div>
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This place is heaven for photographers. It has plenty of breath-taking views and landscapes. There are many trails that take you far into the mountains to ground yourself, listen to the chirping of birds you haven't heard before, nourish yourself with fresh air, and to get lost in paradise to treat your mind to some silence. </div>
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My Dad and I look forward to the days we plan for a mountain bike ride. I see this as a great way to get out and play. We ride around these steep, beautiful, challenging, and living mountains. When we take a break and stop riding, we find ourselves quiet for a couple of minutes because the silence is just so captivating. It is unbelievable. Being in nature is so empowering and healing. My Dad loves mountain biking because he loves being surrounded by nature, it helps relax him, and take a break from interacting with the many customers at his grocery store. He is one of the most social people I know, but dealing with busy crazy days at the grocery store takes a good toll on him at times. This is his escape :) This is where he finds peace. </div>
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When we go on rides together it makes for daughter-father time. We talk, push each other to keep pedaling hard up those hills, and share the amazing views when we reach the top of the mountains. </div>
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My Dad mountain bikes. I have one of the coolest Dads! </div>
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So lately, after our sweaty bike rides, I come home and whip up some refreshing recipes for recovery and as a way to top off our amazing day. </div>
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I added some pasture-raised Chicken </div>
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<i>yums!</i></div>
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<b>Recipe: Coconut Goji Malt Blend (inspired by Jason Wrobel's Maca Coconut Milkshake)</b><br />
-1 whole Young Coconut flesh <br />
-1 cup water of the coconut<br />
-1 oz Goji Berries<br />
-1 Tablespoon Maca powder<br />
-A small dash of Cinnamon<br />
-1/2 teaspoon Mesquite powder<br />
-1 oz unpasturized Almonds, soaked and peeled.<br />
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Blend.<br />
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<b>Recipe: Sunset Crunch Salad</b><br />
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<b>For the salad: </b><br />
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-Mesclun Salad or use any kind of lettuce<br />
-shredded raw carrots<br />
-shredded raw beets<br />
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Add the Cashew-Dill Cream on top, mix the salad gently, and garnish with Hemp Seeds. <br />
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<b>For the Cashew Cream/dressing:</b><br />
-3/4 cup Cashew nuts that have been soaked for a couple of hours<br />
-1/4 cup water<br />
-1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Lemon juice<br />
-1 teaspoon Olive Oil<br />
-1 garlic clove crushed<br />
-1 teaspoon Onion Powder<br />
-1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt<br />
-Fresh herbs (I used fresh Dill)<br />
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Blend everything in the blender, except for the fresh herbs. Transfer the creamy mixture to a bowl and fold in your fresh herbs. Keeps covered in the fridge for about 5 days. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-48598099757835345032013-01-12T18:38:00.001-08:002013-01-13T13:53:47.947-08:00Going High with Hemp Seeds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(At the end of this post you will find a short video demonstration of how I made fresh home-made Hemp milk in 2 minutes).<br />
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I love working with Hemp seeds! They are tiny, versatile, nutty flavored gems packed with nutrients. I love to sprinkle them on salads, add to dressings, make milk out of them, make a seed butter out of them, and incorporate them into my snack bars. Sprinkling them on top of your finished salad recipe will take your salad to the next level. It will make it look so vibrant and beautiful. <i>Move aside Parmesan cheese! </i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lately Hemp Seeds have been my go-to fat source for smoothies besides raw eggs. <br />
I also love making Hemp Seed drinks when I make milk out of them. It
really is very easy to just dump 2 tablespoons of hemp seeds into a cup
of water and you have instant fresh "milk"! <br />
I did some research on hemp seeds to learn more about it since I'm consuming it daily now. <br />
I also realized it is perfect to make a post about these nutrient dense
seeds at this time of year since it is flu season and a lot of people
are coming down with colds. This is a great food for easy absorption and
to keep your immune system up<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. </span></span></span></span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i><br />
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Hemp seeds have been around for so long in history, since about 10,000 years ago, and modern society has overlooked its amazing nutritional benefits. We are now discovering just how important this seed is for humans and for the environment as well. It used to be the most important crop produced because of its resistance to harsh weather and its strong fibers for textile production such as cloth, ropes, and paper. Another cool fact is that Hemp was used for non-toxic paints, but ever since its ban it has been replaced with toxic-chemical based paints. Hemp can be grown almost anywhere in the world and is very low maintenance to grow. The ancient Chinese learned to use every part of the plant. The root of Hemp was used for medicinal purposes, the stem was used for material production, and the leaves and flowers were used for medicine as well as for lets just say, getting appropriately high.<br />
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It's array of balanced nutrients make it a superfood, that many people can enjoy. Ancient cultures enjoyed Hemp as a medicinal food. Hemp seeds are highly absorbable for the body and unlike peanuts, soy, brown rice, corn, beans, and other seeds, they don't contain phytic acid, which inhibits the absorption of minerals and enzymes found in the food making it hard for digestion.<br />
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Hemp seeds are about 30% complete protein per 100grams that are easy to absorb. They provide us with all the essential amino acids. They are high in fiber, minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids as well. Good fats we need! They have an ideal ratio of 3:1 of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids which is important to maintain a healthy human. Good fats defend against depression, osteoporosis, hunger, and are good for our hormones, cell membranes, proper thyroid functioning, aids inflammation, lowers blood pressure, and supports healthy skin and nails. This is a great food for athletes to get fueled on. <br />
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<i>" Almost 60% of the protein in <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/hemp.html">hemp</a>
is made up of a globulin source called edestin. Most of the rest is in
the form of albumin. Albumin and Edestin have a very similar molecular
makeup as the protein found in the human body. Because of this common
link, hemp protein is very easily absorbed into human blood and used for
roles as critical as DNA repair." (naturalnews.com) </i><br />
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<i> </i>Hemp seeds will take you higher on life! but no, <i>you will not get high</i> from the THC content because the separate plantation for hemp products such as the seeds, oils, and fiber are strictly regulated to be less than 0.03% of THC. However, they provide a fatty dose of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, Vitamin E, phytonutrients, B Vitamins, Folic acid (which is important for pregnancy), antioxidants, and regulates cholesterol levels. This is a great food for men to consume because the EFAS (essential fatty acids) produce prostaglandins, which high amounts are found in semen. <br />
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Nowadays it is pretty easy to find Hemp seeds at the health grocery
store. For a cheaper price, buy them in the bulk section instead of
their packaged kind. There are various products of Hemp that are sold at the markets. You can find Hemp Oil, Hemp Protein Powder, Hemp Seeds, Hemp power bars, Hemp clothing, Hemp soaps, Hemp accessories, and many more products. <i>Are you down with Hemp? </i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/L-LygvjSTYs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b>Simple easy home-made Hemp "Milk":</b><br />
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-1 cup water<br />
-2 Tablespoons Hemp seeds<br />
-Add sweetner of your choice if you'd like. (Ex: maple syrup, 1 soft Medjool Date, Vanilla Extract, Lucuma powder, Stevia, raw honey, Mesquite powder, Coconut Sugar Crystals, Yacon Syrup, Organic Brown Sugar, etc) <br />
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Blend on high for about 20 seconds. Pour in a glass, and enjoy.<br />
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<b>Superfood Hemp drink:</b><br />
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<b>-</b>1 cup home-made Hemp milk (recipe above) or store bought Hemp Milk.<br />
-1 Tablespoon Cacao powder<br />
-1/2 Tablespoon Maca Powder<br />
-3 drops liquid Stevia Extract (or your own preferred sweetner)<br />
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Blend and enjoy!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/the-nutrition-of-hemp-seeds.html</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/living-with-phytic-acid </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.naturalnews.com/030981_hemp_superfood.html</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.walnet.org/rosebud/ancienthistory.html</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.hemptons.co.za/FAQ.htm</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://manitobaharvest.com/articles_studies/3802/Hemp%3A-Nature%27s-Forgotten-Superfood.html</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11462173362312313449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971256134290579857.post-49387377860516631992013-01-05T21:58:00.001-08:002013-01-05T22:10:44.572-08:00LA New Years Trip! and Travel Foods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I can't believe it is already the 5th...of 2013! Is it just me, or does it seem like 2013 is going to go by very fast?! I did a little bit of reflection these past few days after my 23rd birthday, and it seems that the older I get, the faster the years seem to go by. I'm taking this as a reminder to live in the moment, accept new experiences that come my way, put myself more out there to meet new people, and keep taking care of myself to have all the energy to <b>live more</b>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I didn't seem to have cared much about my 22nd birthday, it came and it was fun, but no big deal. However, my new year of being 23 has hit me! And I'm feeling all sorts of positive vibrational energy. I am excited for this new year! Plus, we are still alive!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>So my good friend decided for us to leave the Bay Area and head down to Los Angeles to spend New Years. It was a neat and crazy trip. Taking trips are a great way to reflect on life, gain new experiences, see what is out there, meet new people, and learn about your own self. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>We decided to have someone drive for us, so we took the train and then the bus. We spent about 11 hours total together on the transportation and 95% of the time we talked and laughed our butts off. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Before heading out to meet up with my friend for the departure, I stopped at Whole Foods grocery store to buy a snack for the road. I knew I would not be around much food, so I looked for something nutrient dense and satisfying. I bought these Superfood Balls! </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPN2aUQ1t0PLbBFaS6IzKqsJs9FyTUwX9AIX8K0cau8ah2miU8wrX_MeaoObpKRl3L-ZSbXJ77N3hDtwo2eWtqDVbeSoMznM2_8WSPfBN7bDKeECQ8so1v10dBfjnjLSPdOkL1EWmJQ6s/s1600/trip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPN2aUQ1t0PLbBFaS6IzKqsJs9FyTUwX9AIX8K0cau8ah2miU8wrX_MeaoObpKRl3L-ZSbXJ77N3hDtwo2eWtqDVbeSoMznM2_8WSPfBN7bDKeECQ8so1v10dBfjnjLSPdOkL1EWmJQ6s/s400/trip.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>These are made by Lydia's Organics and the ingredients are: Sprouted almonds, sprouted sunflower seeds, dates, raisins, toasted carob powder, coconut, Lydia's Green Powder (alfalfa, wheatgrass, spirulina, nettle, rosehips, licorice, fennel, dandelion, kelp, beet, ginger, burdock, stevia, peppermint powder), vanilla, and LOVE! All organic ingredients. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>I arrived to my friend's house and the next day it was time for our train ride. We bought some snacks for the train ride. I bought this bag of goodies, which I seemed to never run out of even though I was eating so many of them. </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFPD3l8Xa6EeGRg0O5FiKxD2kf8kf8leM34tkLZq1MhVgno_ts0phwVm1Vu5HU9grtguZcg-rnlucWnL3Ft52CIPzTkv3uRhahMSK_KGRfhPVcygqb6VexFwUpNKWmgf1rZ9lCTgt1S8/s1600/trip4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFPD3l8Xa6EeGRg0O5FiKxD2kf8kf8leM34tkLZq1MhVgno_ts0phwVm1Vu5HU9grtguZcg-rnlucWnL3Ft52CIPzTkv3uRhahMSK_KGRfhPVcygqb6VexFwUpNKWmgf1rZ9lCTgt1S8/s400/trip4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The ingredients are: <br />Organic date paste, organic cacao powder, organic chia seed, organic
sesame seed, organic raisin, organic sunflower seed, organic goji
powder, organic maca powder, organic lucuma powder, organic camu-camu
powder, natural chocolate flavor. Lovvviinnn' itt! The flavor was okay. Very mild, but still good. My friend loved it and said just a few pieces of it took her hunger away. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hehe I invited some to the train driver who enjoyed talking to us. He was a little skeptical at first to try them, but once he did, he said they were allright. He told me he likes to bring bananas and oranges to snack on while he drives the train. He was very nice to give us one of his bottles of water for each of us :) It's a nice feeling when people look out for one another. </span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivP1FBM1wKl-PHXuXXuYjrPr1d45Ab9WNLaMXiJNrpfK_3j5UoaLAPhiUgRvJ7Ld4rmy_icw1NC5X5RmJsa0OcWhOrG-1YNV6EFDuNqX9tzXFOChj-w5K7a2cn6pIuhqhGeLOMlLn49vE/s1600/trip1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivP1FBM1wKl-PHXuXXuYjrPr1d45Ab9WNLaMXiJNrpfK_3j5UoaLAPhiUgRvJ7Ld4rmy_icw1NC5X5RmJsa0OcWhOrG-1YNV6EFDuNqX9tzXFOChj-w5K7a2cn6pIuhqhGeLOMlLn49vE/s400/trip1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Here are the rest of the snacks I took with me on the trip. Maca Root Powder on the left, and Cacao powder on the right, then some bananas and an avocado. These are easy to travel with. I ate these throughout our days in Los Angeles when I wasn't around good food. Good thing I brought these with me because the people we were with wanted to just snack a little on food before the New Years party. These foods kept my energy up, specially the Cacao and Maca! I mixed the powders with warm/hot water and drank it just like that. The Maca gives a little sweetness to the drink, and the Cacao of course, is very chocolatey :) On the trip I noticed how the Cacao gave me fuel and kept me from feeling hungry when I ate very small amounts of food during the day. It was cool to experience that. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>We arrived to LA!</i> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ndvxlc276q0XirFiSXPAdXNkESAZ8UfPIX69EvtqzRhPAqP6PdXH059hGQO-bidjXpqcoj9MP4L4aquzuUJyp8k6gTqKsJCAH0uWtjGOajIzNBJTmo5wuIqWwUxP5xAYddEjsw-1y3c/s1600/trip7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ndvxlc276q0XirFiSXPAdXNkESAZ8UfPIX69EvtqzRhPAqP6PdXH059hGQO-bidjXpqcoj9MP4L4aquzuUJyp8k6gTqKsJCAH0uWtjGOajIzNBJTmo5wuIqWwUxP5xAYddEjsw-1y3c/s400/trip7.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>For dinner that night my friend's family took us out to dinner and they wanted to show me this Vegetarian restaurant in downtown Hermosa Beach. It was beautiful inside! Loved the energy in there and for dinner we had appetizers, which were very flavorful. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>My favorite drink of the trip! My friend's uncle ordered it for us and I can't exactly remember what he ordered. I definitely had more drinks than I planned on having during the trip, but they all made for good times. </i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> In LA we also went shopping at The Grove. Really nice shopping area with very expensive clothing stores. We went into a candy store and since everyone was having fun buying candy I decided to be a part of their fun moment so I went for the DARKEST chocolate I could find haha. I got a coconut chocolate treat, almonds covered in dark chocolate, and a small piece of dark chocolate. I can't believe how cheap that was to pay for chocolate, which definitely says something about the ingredients. Remember, you pay for quality. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>My LA trip was fun. I am really hoping to go back soon! </i></span></div>
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