Raw Vegan Nanaimo Choclate Bar

It’s the new year and many set their news years resolution. This raw vegan treat will keep you on track while quenching that sweet tooth that likes to creep up on all of us. So grap one or even 2 if you can. It truly is a guilt free snack.

This recipe is vegan, gluten free, dairy free, raw, grain free, no-bake, chocolately and ofcourse delicious!

RAW VEGAN NANAIMO BARS
Makes 12-16 Raw Nanaimo Bars

Chocolate Crust Ingredients:
1 Cup Slivered Almonds
1/2 Cup Soaked Dates
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
Dash of Salt

Cream Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
1/2 Cup Soaked Cashews
3 Tbsp Agave Nectar
1/4 Cup Coconut Cream (Pre-refridgerated – thick consistency)
1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Chocolate Topping Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Soaked Cashews
1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
1/2 Cup Coconut Oil
1/4 Cup Agave Nectar

Directions:
-Place all cream layer ingredients into your food processor and blend until completely smooth.
-Place into a bowl and set aside.
-Place all chocolate topping ingredients into your food processor and blend until completely smooth.
-Place into a bowl and set aside.
-Place crust ingredients into your food processor and blend until dough-like.
Set aside.
-Place the crust mixture into an 8×8 -silicone baking pan or a loaf pan (for thicker squares).
-Press down and even out the crust.
-With a fresh spatula top crust layer with your cream layer. Spread out evenly.
-Top cream layer with your chocolate layer (you will have extra of this layer so use as much or as little as you would like).
-Cover baking dish with saran wrap and place in the freezer for 3-4 hours.
-Remove from freezer, cut into squares and serve!

*Tip – Store Raw Nanaimo Bars in the freezer.

Superfood Hot Chocolate

Not only are we using raw cacao powder not to be confused with cocoa powder which is processed. We also added ginger, cinnamon, turmeric and coconut oil, which are all immune boosting and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Which makes this hot chocolate a superfood. Drink up and enjoy. But first let’s talk about the health benefits of these raw and plant based ingredients.

Cacao: Contains high amounts of magnesium and high levels of flavonoids, an antioxidant responsible for decreasing inflammation and ridding the body of free-radicals. If possible, buy raw cacao powder instead processed cocoa powder. Cocoa powder is heated to high temperatures, which destroys some of its healing qualities.

Ginger: A reliever to GI upset, but also a potent anti-inflammatory. Gingerols, a substance found in ginger is responsible for decreasing pain and inflammation in people suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Cinnamon: Similar to ginger, cinnamon has anti-inflammatory and antioxidants properties. Some studies even suggest that cinnamon helps with insulin resistance.

Turmeric: A very potent anti-inflammatory agent due to curcurmin, the compound that gives turmeric its bright yellow color. In addition to decreasing inflammation and pain in those suffering from arthritis, turmeric protects cells from oxidative stress.

Coconut Oil: Contains lauric acid, which may fight off bacteria, fungus and viruses. Also, a good source of medium chain triglycerides that contain anti-aging properties.

Ingredients:

2 cups of milk of your choice (hemp, soy, almond, etc.)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon turmeric
2 tablespoons cacao powder (or cocoa powder if you don’t have cacao!)
2-3 tablespoons maple syrup (adjust according to your taste)
2 tablespoons coconut oil
pinch sea salt

Instructions:

-Warm all ingredients in a saucepan over low heat, whisking occasionally.
-Transfer to a blender and pulse until frothy.
-Top with coconut, soy or rice whip for fun!

Enjoy!

Our Super Tomatoe Basil Soup

Looks tasty, right?! I actually like to call this Superfood Soup because the health benefits of this soup are HUGE!! First, it is completely raw, meaning it has not been cooked. Thus preserving the enzymes.

“Enzymes are substances that make life possible. They are needed for every chemical reaction that takes place in the human body. No mineral, vitamin, or horomone can do any work without enzymes. Our bodies, all organs, tissues, and cells are run by metabolic enzymes.” – Dr. Howell, Enzyme Nutrition

Second, it is bursting with lycopene (from the tomatoes), an antioxidant highly effective in scavenging cancer causing free radicals. The lycopene in tomato fights against cancer and has been shown to be particularly effective in fighting prostate cancer, cervical cancer, cancer of the stomach and rectum as well as pharynx and oesophageal cancers. It also protects against breast cancer and cancer of mouth according to studies published by Harvard School of Public Health. Tomatoes are also excellent in supporting the health of the eyes, skin, urinary tract and supports healthy cholesterol and blood pressure.

Third, we’ve got celery which is rich in vitamin C, helps to lower cholesterol, prevent cancer, reduce high blood pressure, and promote overall health. Because of it’s high calcium content, celery can help calm the nerves. Celery is also good for people suffering from arthritis, rheumatism and gout since its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce swelling and pain around the joints.

Fourth, the Mighty Avocado! The monosaturated fats in avocados not only help in reducing LDL cholesterol but are also good for the heart, skin, eyes, weight control, anti-aging, digestion, and regulating blood sugar. Did you know avocados contain 30% more potassium than banana? The high potassium content helps in regulating blood pressure and prevents circulatory diseases. Avocados have numerous phytonutrients which not only prevent prostate cancer and breast cancer but also can help repair damaged cells. Avocados are also a powerhouse of vitamin E which protects our skin from free radicals.

With all those incredible health benefits who wouldn’t want to try this soup?! It’s delicious, PACKED with AMAZING nutrition.

GUT-HEALING VEGETABLE BROTH (AND WHY IT’S BETTER THAN BONE BROTH)

img_0213Apparently, animal products are absolutely essential for gut healing, which I find very hard to believe or understand. After searching forums, all I can find is people frustrated with the lack of choice for veggies and vegans and people encouraging them to compromise their ethics, as this is “the only way”.

One particular “superfood” related to gut-healing that I’ve seen talked about a lot, is Bone Broth. You might have seen a lot about it in the news and media, as it seems to be a health trend at the moment. I’ve read a few books and articles that INSIST this is the number one thing you need for healing your gut and that if you leave it out, you’re not going to the best results and healing will be much slower.

So I decided to look into what exactly it is about bone broth is apparently so fascinating… and was very underwhelmed.

Bone Broth is Nothing Special

Turns out, the most beneficial nutrients and electrolytes in bone broth can be found in vegan-friendly sources and the one thing that sets itself apart, the thing that is impossible for vegans to find a veggie replacement for is the collagen.

Our bodies can’t even digest collagen whole. We simply absorb the nutrients from our food which provides our bodies with the building blocks it needs to naturally create collagen, if and when it needs it.

Eating collagen does not equal having more collagen. “Just as the dietary fat you swallow doesn’t directly translate to body fat, swallowing collagen doesn’t become collagen in or between your bones.”

Kantha Shelke, a food scientist says “Eating a diet rich in leafy green vegetables is ideal. Plants offer richer sources in collagen building blocks and, in addition, provide nutrients not found in sufficient quantities in meats or broth.”

Healing the stomach lining

And as for it being healing for the stomach lining, particularly from the gelatin, there are some great plant-based sources for that too. Particularly fermented foods.

There are many other foods that have been shown to contribute towards healing the stomach lining and digestive tract, such as seaweed, aloe vera, healthy fats and turmeric.

Vitamins and minerals

Obviously, all the calcium, potassium and other minerals found in bone broth are more than easy to find in plant-based foods plus they contain much, much more goodness.

So the animal product-reliant parts are kind of useless… Or at the very least, unnecessary and over-hyped. It’s all in aid of making what our bodies already naturally produce and plant-sourced vitamins and minerals are the best option to actually help it do that.

img_0212Gut-Healing Vegetable Broth And Why It’s Better Than Bone Broth a Plant-Based Option Works The Same If Not Better

So now we’ve established that the bones in this healing broth are not only unnecessary but also not as nutritious as plant-based sources, it seems pretty clear that using a bunch of wholesome plant-based ingredients is going to be WAY more healing. And way more appealing, too.

Although, I should say that I haven’t come across any evidence of the healing benefits of slow-cooking or broth, in general. It doesn’t do much to enhance the nutrients but there is definitely something that feels healing when drinking broth. It’s warming, it’s comforting, it’s full of goodness and it tastes good.

The bottom line though is that we shouldn’t be relying on a broth to heal our gut! Because that’s silly. Also, many foods that help heal the gut need to be eaten raw (such as fermented foods and cabbage juice) so adding them to a broth is counter-productive.

But the aforementioned benefits are good enough reason to make it. Plus, it’s delicious and a great way to use up peelings, scraps and leftovers.

Vegan Bone Broth Alternative

This has lot’s of nutritional goodness that is great for overall health but particularly focuses on plenty of gut-healing properties. Feel free to switch up, leave out or add in any ingredients you like, to suit your diet and taste.

The Six main stars are:

Wakame seaweed: Great source of omega 3 – one of the best for vegans, great for intestinal health, full of vitamins and minerals (particularly good source of iron, calcium, magnesium and iodine). Not suitable for SCD diets, leave out as necessary.

Shiitake mushrooms: Gives the most amazing, comforting flavour. Full of vitamins and minerals (great source of vitamin D – especially if sun dried, zinc and B vitamins). Contains all essential amino acids. Prebiotic.

Coconut oil or olive oil: Healthy fats with a good omega ratio that help absorb nutrients.

Turmeric: Powerful anti-inflammatory plus adds delicious flavour and a beautiful colour.

Spinach or kale: Full of vitamins and minerals (particularly high in Vitamins K, A and C, magnesium and calcium). Also a good source of protein and omega 3. Prebiotic.

Coconut aminos: Mainly used for flavour but also gives the benefit of it’s amino acids. May not be suitable for some diets as it’s considered a sugar, so leave out if necessary.

img_0211A nutritious, gut-healing broth as a vegan alternative to bone broth. If you don’t like or can’t find any ingredients, don’t worry. Add what flavours you like and try to get as much variety and nutritional goodness as you can!

Serves: 8

INGREDIENTS

12 cups (2¾ litres) filtered water
1 tbsp coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
1 red onion, quartered (with skins)
1 garlic bulb, smashed
1 chilli pepper, roughly chopped (with seeds)
1 knob ginger, roughly chopped (with skin)
1 cup greens such as kale or spinach
3-4 cup mixed chopped vegetables and peelings (I used carrot peelings, red cabbage, fresh mushrooms, leeks and celery)
½ cup dried shiitake mushrooms
30g dried wakame seaweed
1 tbsp peppercorns
2 tbsp ground turmeric
1 tbsp coconut aminos*
A bunch of fresh corriander or other herb of your choice (plus extra, to serve)
(optional) ¼ cup nutritional yeast, for extra flavour and vitamins

INSTRUCTIONS

-Simply add everything to a large pot. —Bring to a boil then simmer, with the lid on, for about an hour.
-Once everything has been cooked down, strain the liquid into a large bowl.
Serve immediately with some fresh herbs, for decoration or cool for later.

It also freezes well.??

NOTES
*Coconut aminos can be very salty, depending on what brand you use so taste before adding any additional salt.

Vegan Avocado Chocolate Muffins

img_0135The healthy fats in the avocado make these cupcakes as healthy as a bowl of kale and bean soup! OK, maybe not that healthy, but healthy enough to feel good about reaching for more. Each cupcake offers almost five grams of fiber and is just 230 calories. A regulat chocolate cupcake is 600++ calories! So you can indulge and have a second one.

Ingredients:
6 tbsp cacao powder
1 &1/2 cups gluten free whole wheat flour or you can use coconut flour
1 cup coconut sugar
1 cup mashed avocado
1 & 1/2 coconut or almond milk
2 tbsp vanilla extract
4 tbsp cacao nibs
2 tsp baking powder

Instruction:

1- Preheat the oven to 180c 350f
2- scoop out the inside of the avocados and mash or puree in a blender. Add the water, vanilla extract sugar and mix.
3- sift in the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and
4- Salt then stir then add the cacao nibs and fold in.
5- fold into muffin wrappers and bake for 20 minutes. Check with a skewer and if it comes out clean they are done
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This Is How Aspartame Causes Obesity

img_0108By Dr. Mercola

The allure of artificial sweeteners — zero calories and a sweet taste — is a strong one, such that up to 180 million Americans use them routinely.1

There have been concerns from the beginning, however, that consuming synthetic compounds with hyper-sweetness (200 times that of sugar in the case of aspartame) has some serious drawbacks.

One of the most appalling, especially to those consuming artificially sweetened sugar-free and diet products in the hopes of losing weight, is their propensity to fuel weight gain. Researchers wrote in the Yale Journal of Biology & Medicine:2

“Intuitively, people choose non-caloric artificial sweeteners over sugar to lose or maintain weight…. Whether due to a successful marketing effort on the part of the diet beverage industry or not, the weight conscious public often consider artificial sweeteners “health food.” But do artificial sweeteners actually help reduce weight? Surprisingly, epidemiologic data suggest the contrary. Several large scale prospective cohort studies found positive correlation between artificial sweetener use and weight gain.”

Although their reputation as a weight-loss aid has held strong since the beginning, it’s been known for years that they seem to have the opposite effect.

Recently, a team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators even revealed a potential reason why artificial sweeteners like aspartame prevent, rather than promote, weight loss.

img_0110Aspartame May Promote Obesity by Blocking Gut Enzyme Activity.

A study on mice revealed that animals fed aspartame-laced drinking water gained weight and developed symptoms of metabolic syndrome while mice not fed the artificial sweetener did not.

Further, the researchers revealed that phenylalanine, an aspartame breakdown product, blocks the activity of a gut enzyme called alkaline phosphatase (IAP).

In a previous study, IAP was found to prevent the development of metabolic syndrome (and reduce symptoms in those with the condition) when fed to mice.4 Study author Richard Hodin, MD, of the MGH Department of Surgery, said in a press release:

“We found that aspartame blocks a gut enzyme called intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) that we previously showed can prevent obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome; so we think that aspartame might not work because, even as it is substituting for sugar, it blocks the beneficial aspects of IAP.”

Mice in the study were fed either plain water or water infused with the equivalent amount of aspartame found in two to 3 1/2 cans of soda, along with a normal diet or a high-fat diet. Mice in the high-fat group that drank aspartame-infused water gained more weight than those eating the same diet without aspartame in their water.

Further, all the mice fed aspartame had higher blood sugar levels — an indicator of glucose intolerance — and higher levels of inflammatory protein TNF-alpha, which is suggestive of systemic inflammation. Given aspartame’s inhibition of IAP, the researchers suggested its use is counterproductive.

img_0109Artificial Sweeteners Linked to Weight Gain Since the 1980s.

Artificial sweeteners are still viewed as a weight-loss aid in 2016 even though their hindrances to weight loss have been documented since at least the 1980s.

Then, the San Antonio Heart Study, which involved nearly 4,000 adults, found drinkers of artificially sweetened beverages consistently had higher BMIs (body mass index) than non-drinkers.

Again in the early 1980s, a study of nearly 78,700 women found artificial sweetener usage increased with relative weight, and users were significantly more likely to gain weight compared to those who did not use artificial sweeteners.

Such associations have only continued to grow over the passing decades. Artificially sweetened beverages, including diet soda, are among the key culprits, with intake associated with “striking” increases in waist circumference among older adults, according to one study.

Research published in PLOS One also found regularly consuming artificially sweetened soft drinks is associated with several disorders of metabolic syndrome, including:

Abdominal obesity
Insulin resistance
Impaired glucose intolerance
Abnormally elevated fats in the blood
High blood pressure

The study found drinking aspartame-sweetened diet soda daily increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 67 percent (regardless of whether they gained weight or not) and the risk of metabolic syndrome 36 percent.

One way artificial sweeteners increase your risk of weight gain, obesity and other related problems like type 2 diabetes is by inducing “metabolic derangements,” according to a report published in the journal Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism:

” accumulating evidence suggests that frequent consumers of these sugar substitutes may also be at increased risk of excessive weight gain, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.”

“consuming sweet-tasting but noncaloric or reduced-calorie food and beverages interferes with learned responses that normally contribute to glucose and energy homeostasis. Because of this interference, frequent consumption of high-intensity sweeteners may have the counterintuitive effect of inducing metabolic derangements.”

img_0107Soda Industry Pledge to Cut Calories Off to Slow Start.

The soda industry has pledged to cut the number of calories Americans consume via beverages by 20 percent over a decade, but they’re off to a slow start.11 In 2015, this caloric intake dropped by just 0.2 percent, according to a beverage industry report.

In addition to introducing smaller package sizes and reformulating products, a key strategy toward this goal is the promotion of artificially sweetened diet drinks, but the consumption of low- and no-calorie soda fell by nearly 6 percent last year.

Americans are growing increasingly wary of artificial sweeteners, and the soda industry is becoming increasingly desperate to hold on to its once-loyal customers. One of their ongoing strategies to appear like they care about your health is to promote their diet beverages as a healthy alternative.

In 2013, they rolled out an ad campaign encouraging people to unite in the fight against obesity, and then swiftly launched another campaign touting aspartame in its diet sodas.

According to the ad, aspartame is a “safe, high-quality alternative to sugar.” Clearly they’ve not reviewed the hundreds of studies on this artificial sweetener demonstrating its harmful effects or the risks of consuming diet sodas in general.

In one study, people who drank diet soda had a 70 percent greater increase in waist size in a 10-year period compared to non-diet soda drinkers. Those who drank two or more diet sodas a day had a 500 percent greater increase in waist size.

Research published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also revealed that people who drink diet beverages may end up compensating for their “saved” calories by eating more foods high in sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats.

Obese adults had the highest incremental daily calorie intake from unhealthy foods associated with diet beverages. Researcher Ruopeng An, a kinesiology and community health professor at the University of Illinois, noted:

“It may be that people who consume diet beverages feel justified in eating more, so they reach for a muffin or a bag of chips … Or perhaps, in order to feel satisfied, they feel compelled to eat more of these high-calorie foods.”

img_0106Problems With Aspartame

Aspartame is made up of aspartic acid and phenylalanine. But the phenylalanine has been synthetically modified to carry a methyl group, as that provides the majority of the sweetness. That phenylalanine methyl bond, called a methyl ester, is very weak, which allows the methyl group on the phenylalanine to easily break off and form methanol.

When aspartame is in liquid form, it breaks down into methyl alcohol, or methanol, which is then converted into formaldehyde and represents the root of the problem with aspartame.

While industry funded studies, which are notoriously biased, attempt to support aspartame safety, 92 percent of independently funded studies found aspartame may cause adverse effects, including depression and headaches.14A recent study also found the administration of aspartame to rats resulted in detectable methanol even after 24 hours, which might be responsible for inducing oxidative stress in the brain.

Ten Reasons To Eat Banana Daily

img_9903Bananas are one of the most widely eaten fruits in the planet. They are dense in potassium and pectin, a form of fiber, and are also an excellent way to get vitamins C and B6 as well as magnesium. Bananas are packed with antioxidants, which give protection against free radicals. They have several benefits for weight loss, heart health and digestion, and contain many essential nutrients. Besides being extremely nutritious, they are also a convenient snack to bring around.

1. Boost your mood

The next time you feel low, try eating a couple of bananas to boost your mood. The banana contains tryptophan, which the body uses to make niacin and serotonin. Serotonin is responsible for produce healthy sleep and a happy, stable mood. Not only this, but bananas also contain Vitamin B-6 and fiber.

2. For High Blood Pressure

Suffering from High blood pressure? Eating bananas will help you controlling it as they are a rich source of potassium. They are low in sodium but high in potassium, making them a great food for your blood pressure and heart health! Harvard Medical School has good advice on it.

3. Constipation. Promotes Regularity

Treat irregular bowel irritation and constipation problem by adding bananas to your everyday diet. They are the excellent source of fiber and minerals and help in improving the digestion.

Just one banana a day can help in keeping you regular. A typical 6-inch banana contains around 2.5 grams of total fiber, half of which are insoluble.

When insoluble fiber passes through the digestive tract, it helps push out waste and ensures that bowel movements are easy to pass.

Keeping your bowels healthy by consuming a minimum of 14 grams fiber per 1,000 calories consumed is recommended by the Colorady State University Extension. So for a standard 1,800-calorie diet, consumption of at least 25 grams of total fiber is recommended.

img_9907
4. For High Energy

Have you seen athletes, your favorite tennis players gobbling bananas before and during play? It’s because bananas are the best source of energy. They contain 3 types of sugar– Glucose, fructose, and sucrose! The first two gives a burst of energy quickly, whereas, the sucrose absorbs slowly and provide constant energy.

5. Get Help in Restless Leg Syndrome

If RLS giving you or someone you know restless leg syndrome– It’s time to eat bananas. Potassium rich food helps in RLS and bananas are a rich source of it.

6. Bananas for Weight Loss

Bananas are relatively low in calories, containing just under 90, but it is also quite filling and nutritious. Due to their rich fiber content, consumption of more fruits and vegetables has been associated with weight loss as well as a lower body weight.

It is also such an ideal snack due to the convenience at which you can eat them.

A popular myth on the Internet is that bananas improve mood because of their serotonin content. Logically, it makes sense that the dopamine found in bananas was believed to have a positive effect on mood and disposition, but since it does not cross the blood-brain barrier, it simply functions as an antioxidant.

7. Bananas are Good for Heart

Take a high fiber diet that is rich in potassium and low in sodium and it’ll help you in maintaining blood pressure, prevent stroke and heart attack. Bananas contain all that. Also, they are a great source of potassium, and Vitamin B6 and it’s proven that B vitamins help break down homocysteine, an amino acid that at high levels is related to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

8. Bananas support cardiovascular health

Potassium, an essential mineral for cardiovascular health and blood pressure control, is abundant in bananas, making it an ideal dietary source. Potassium-rich diets can help decrease blood pressure, and individuals who consume lots of potassium may lower their risk of developing heart disease.
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9. Bananas Enhance Immunity and Combat Cancerous Cell Changes

In an experiment that looked into different ripe fruit such as persimmon, pear, pineapple, watermelon, apple, grape and banana and their effects on immunity on the body, results showed that banana increased showed the best results in increasing the number of white blood cells and producing Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), which is an anti-cancer substance.

TNF is a cytokine, or a substance secreted by cells of the ummune system which helps in fighting abnormal tumor cells. In another study, fuctose-binding lectin was isolated from Del Monte bananas which inhibited the proliferation of leukemia cells and hepatoma cells. It is possible that the lectin isolated from banana in this particular study can be developed into a useful antitumor agent, among other things.

10. Bananas Contain Nutrients That Control Blood Sugar Levels

Bananas are contain fiber known as pectin. Young bananas have resistant starch, which functions akin to soluble fiber and evades digestion. Resistant starch and pectin may control blood sugar levels after meal consumption, and lessen cravings by delaying gastric emptying. Bananas also figure moderately on the glycemic index. The glycemix index is a measure of how swiftly foods raise blood sugar levels (0-100). Bananas therefore should not trigger spikes in blood sugar levels in normal individuals.

img_9904

Cashew Mylk Heaven

cashewDelicately sweet yet healthy and delicious cashew nut is packed with energy, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins that are essential for robust health.
Not only are cashews one of the best-tasting and most versatile nuts there is, but they also come loaded with health benefits. Cashews nutrition benefits include the ability to improve heart health, support healthy brain functioning, and improve digestion and nutrient absorption. Plus, they even be able to help you lose weight.

7 Habits Affecting Your Gut Health

imageThe gut, our second brain. Now recognized by many health practitioners to be the root cause of disease, and where healing starts.

Science has now recognized why gut health is so important, and it’s called the microbiome. The microbiome is filled with beneficial bacteria that have a vital link to health and disease, and can be influenced by your diet and lifestyle. We are 10 times more microorganisms than we are human cells, and the majority of them are found in the microbiome. Here are 7 habits that might be affecting the health of your microbiome and harmful to your gut.

1. Poor Diet
What and how you eat influences your microbiome’s health. If you eat a diet that is rich in nutrition and easily digestible, you will feel energetic and alive because your microbiome is thriving. If you eat a processed diet containing bad fats and high in sugar, and you eat it in 2 minutes while rushing out the door, you will most likely have poor absorption of the little nutrition in the foods, be acidic, feel tired and sick, and your microbiome will flourish with bad bugs.

Follow a few of these tips in your diet to improve your gut health:
• Remove processed foods
• Eat an alkalized diet full of greens
• Eat live foods such as sprouts, as they contain live enzymes and beneficial bacteria
• Limit sugar, as sugar fuels the bad bacteria.
• Increase your fiber from whole food sources such as beans, vegetables, and gluten-free
grains
• Remove foods that aggravate the gut e.g. dairy, gluten, MSG)
• Chew your food to improve digestion

2. Antibiotics and Medications
With our first line of help when we are sick being the local doctor, we are prescribed antibiotics for common illness such as earaches and even viruses without knowing the repercussions. Antibiotics kill good and bad bacteria, as do most pharmaceutical medications. If you take daily medication, or antibiotics more than once a year, you will need to replenish your good bacteria through fermented foods and probiotic supplements.

3. The Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP)
A daily dose is needed to have the effect. However, over time it wreaks havoc on your gut. The OCP depletes your B12, folate and zinc levels, and kills off beneficial bacteria. Now think of 10 years of taking the pill, and how good your gut might be thereafter! A break from the pill, or focusing on a gut-healthy diet will help support long-term use if you must remain on the pill.

4. Alcohol
Alcohol kills off the good bacteria in our gut, changes the ecosystem of our digestion, and also increases acidity. Alcohol furthermore increases intestinal permeability, meaning foreign agents and partially digested food enter through the gut and create an immune response that leads to inflammation. Intestinal permeability also means less nutrient absorption, thus causing a lack of vital nourishment to the cells in your body.

5. Obsession with Cleanliness
Have you got a hand sanitizer in your handbag or an antimicrobial hand wash at every sink in the house? Well, the overuse of antibacterial and antimicrobial agents might not actually be doing you good. Over-sanitization causes a lack of exposure to the bugs that help create immunity.

6. A Diet Low in Fermented Foods
Where do we get our good bacteria? Well, at birth we are exposed to them when we come through the vaginal birth canal, and then again from breast milk. After this time, we need to eat our bacteria in the form of fermented foods. If your diet is lacking yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, or miso, you could be missing some of the most important foods for your microbiome to thrive well and most likely need to increase these foods to make sure you are replenishing your vital beneficial bacterial.

7. Stress
When we stress, blood rushes away from our digestive tract and goes to our vital organs to help fuel us if we need to fight or flee. The digestive response is not needed if we are to fight a tiger, so it partially shuts down. Long term stress means a lack of blood supply to your digestive tract and also a lack of gastric secretions, leading to poor gut health. To combat the effects of stress, try taking a few deep breaths, deep in your belly, to reverse the stress response.

Health Benefits of Aloe Vera

aloeOur Fresh weekly delivery of aloe Vera.

Benefits of Aloe Vera
1. Aloe Vera Is High in Vitamins & Minerals:
Aloe Vera is also one of the few plants that contains vitamin B12.

2. Aloe Vera is High in Amino Acids & Fatty Acids.
Aloe has 20 amino acids, with all 8 essential amino acids. Aloe vera also includes quite an impressive range of fatty acids. Aloe contains three plant sterols, which are important fatty acids – HCL cholesterol , campesterol, and B-sitosterol.

3. Aloe Vera is an Adaptogen.
Aloes power as an adaptogen balances the body’s system, stimulating the defence and adaptive mechanisms of the body. This allows you an increased ability to cope with stresses of environment.

4. Aloe Helps with Digestion.
Aloe soothes & cleanses digestive tract & improves digestion. because aloe is an adaptogen, it helps with constipation or diarrhea, helping to regulate elimination cycles. It’s great for people irritable bowel syndrome & acid reflux. Aloe also helps to decrease the amount of unfriendly bacteria in our gut keeping intestinal flora in balance.

5. Aloe Helps in Detoxification
Aloe Vera is a gelatinous plant food, just like chia seeds. The main benefit to consuming gelatinous plant foods in your diet is that these gels move through the intestinal tract absorbing toxins along the way and get eliminated through the colon.

6. Aloe Alkalizes the Body.

7. Cardiovascular Health.

8. Aloe Helps Boost the Immune System. The polysaccharides in aloe vera juice stimulate macrophages, which are the white blood cells of your immune system that fight against viruses.
9. “Don’t put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t eat!” Aloe increases the elasticity of the skin making it more flexible through collagen and elastin repair. It helps supply oxygen to the skin cells, increasing the strength & synthesis of skin tissue & induces improved blood flow to the skin through capillary dilation.
10. Aloe vera is a: Disinfectant, Anti-biotic, Anti-microbial, Germicidal, Anti-bacterial, Anti-septic, Anti-fungal & Anti-viral.

11. Aloe Helps Reduce Inflammation.
Aloe Vera contains 12 substances, including B-sisterole, which slows down inflammation.

Are You Juicing Yet? You should?

11224148_856103724496775_1887734345445985447_n1800 831 9028
Info@rawjuiceguru.com

Juicing offers many life-enhancing health benefits including a faster, more efficient way to absorb immune boosting nutrients naturally found in fruits and vegetables. It provides a way to access digestive enzymes typically locked away in the fiber matrix of whole fruits and vegetables. Most commercial juices are processed and lacking in nutrition while freshly juiced fruits and vegetables are loaded with an abundance of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

Drinking fresh juice can help us adopt healthier eating patterns. For those of us who do not traditionally consume many fruits and vegetables, incorporating fresh juice can be a fun and different approach to increasing consumption of these important plant foods for improved health and wellness and reaching your weight loss goals.

When to Juice Cleanse?

Every day is the perfect time for a detox! Start fresh, cleansed, and ready to take on 2016 with a tailored and formulated juice cleanse from @Rawjuiceguru, which is unlike any typical juice cleanse because we formulate juices to each client from over 900 raw juices. Our 900 juices have bio-available nutrients, live enzymes, boosters, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and the healing powers of earth, water and sun.

Your cleanse is not about going into starvation mode, but rebuilding your body and. digestive system to get you on track.
Don’t miss the holiday promo going on now too…

Promo ends December 31st, you have 6 months to book your cleanse once you buy it.

email cleanse info@rawjuiceguru.com or call 1800 831 9028 to order.
cleanse

Cookie Cutter Cleanse Is NOT for You

11224148_856103724496775_1887734345445985447_nDaily weekly monthly and yearly we ignore our bodies signals and warning signs.
Headaches, acne, foggy, dryness, depression, mood swings, menstrual pains, weight gain, bloating , lower back pain, migraines, skin rashes and so on and so on.

All these is your body telling you “pay attention something is not right in here”.

Let us help tailor and formulate a juice feasting cleanse to help your body. We have over 900 kinds of juices that we use to put your juice cleanse together. No matter the amount of days you choose, we ensure that your juices change daily and that you receive all the nutrients your body needs.

Your not a cookie cutter person and your cleanse should not be either.

1800 831 9028

Raw Pumpkin Pie Recipe

imagesThe BEST Raw Pumpkin Pie Recipe

This pumpkin pie, is FOR SURE, the BEST pumpkin pie I have ever had the chance of experiencing. The crust is incredibly tasty, and the filling is to die for! So much better than a plain dough crust and refined-sugar infused filling (with who knows what other chemicals are hidden in there!). It is 100% raw, gluten-free, nut & seed free, low-fat and AMAZING!

Pumpkin is one of my favorite fall treats because it is loaded with so many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients (especially when eaten raw, such as in this recipe!). Pumpkins are packed with muscle-building protein, contain lutein for eye health, help support a healthy prostate, bladder and kidneys, help lower cholesterol, rich in B-complex group of vitamins, and they contain vitamin C, E, iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, & alpha and beta carotenoids, which help prevent cellular damage!

Ingredients:
Crust:
– 1 mature coconut
– 1-1.5 cups raisins
– pinch of cinnamon

1. Take the coconut and cut open – take out meat and shred it into flakes (I used my juicer, and just processed the coconut – the pulp that comes out resembles fresh coconut flakes!)
2. Put coconut flakes & 1 cup of raisins into food processor. Blend for awhile, until it starts to clump and turn into “dough” – you can add more raisins if you like, just make sure the mixture is not too sticky, so somewhat dry.
3. Form this into a pie dish to resemble the crust.

Filling:
– 1 sugar pumpkin
– 7-10 dates, pitted
– 1/2 tsp. cloves
– 1 tsp. cinnamon
– 1 inch piece fresh ginger root (or 1-2 tsp. dried ginger powder)

1. Peel sugar pumpkin, and take out seeds.
2. Cut into little pieces and put into a high-speed blender like the Vitamix.
3. Put in dates, and spices and ginger.
4. Put in a little bit of water to get the mixture started.
5. Blend until smooth (the Vitamix is a great blender for blending pumpkin!)

Put filling into pie crust, and voila! You can put it in the freezer to set it a bit if you please, but I just put mine in the fridge and kept it overnight. Enjoy! Leave a comment below and tell me how it went!

Who is Raw Juice Guru?

IMG_4755Who is Raw Juice Guru?

Raw food eatery & Juice bar 7am-3pm.
We have been Delivering Tailored juice feast cleanses, raw food cleanses and raw food meal delivery packages Since 2012 to all of southern ontario cities and towns.

We bottle 900 Organic coldpressed nohpp Gmofree Juices.

We craft the most organic and healthy raw food, desert & smoothies.

We created a line of raw juice and treats just for children called “little Juice Guru” in 2013.

We are more than just a juice cleanse company. We want to show you how easy and healthy it is to incorporating more raw food can be. And how half your plate needs to contain raw food. How amazing you will feel including one or two raw juices a day. How detoxifying a wheatgrass elixir can be.

It all starts at the root. Let us help.

Www.rawjuiceguru.com
1800 831 9028

What is Chlorophyll?

chlorophyll2 Giving plants their green color is a natural compound known as chlorophyll. Utilizing light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide to glucose, chlorophyll plays a vital role in plant energy production. Research has found that this substance not only sustains plant life but has profoundly beneficial effects on human health as well.
The molecular structure of chlorophyll is very similar to that of hemoglobin, the substance that transports oxygen in the bloodstream. Consuming chlorophyll rich fruits and vegetables improves the efficiency of oxygen transport in the body, which works to thin the blood and, in turn, helps prevent clotting and heart disease. Taking chlorophyll enhances any exercise program because the body requires oxygen to develop muscles and burn fat.
Chlorophyll exhibits strong anti-inflammatory and anti0viral activity and serves as an effective chelation agent, removing toxic heavy metals such as mercury from the body. Studies have observes the ability of this substance to aid in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Due to its antibacterial properties, many individuals with bad breath and body odor use chlorophyll mouthwashes or baths for relief.
As with other beneficial nutrients found in whole foods, juicing maximizes the absorption of chlorophyll. Some of the best sources of this rejuvenating substance including asparagus, romain, collard, swiss chard, arugula, bok choy, barley grass, chlorella, collard greens, kale, leeks, parsley, spirulina and wheatgrass.chlorophyll1