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Study Says Chocolate is Better for Your Brain Than Exercise

by April 9, 2016

As if people need more of an excuse to indulge in chocolate, but if you need one then this might be the best news you have heard in a while. Recent studies have found that chocolate could even be better for your brain than exercise.

A group of scientists from Columbia University and NYU conducted a study showing that chocolate can potentially have more benefits for your brain than exercise. The study, published in the Journal Nature Neuroscience, involved giving a range of daily doses of flavanols extracted from cocoa powder to a group of subjects. Those who received large doses reported improved memory and enhanced blood flow in a key part of the brain.

Of the group of people, half were given flavonol in small amounts while the other half were given a larger dose for a continuously for three months. As a result, the half that were given higher doses were found to have a better memory function score than the ones who were served a lower dose. The same people seemed to gain nothing from the exercise.

Sadly, the downside is the amount of chocolate you would have to consume to replicate the study would be a whole kilogram of unrefined cocoa powder! Sure, you might improve your memory function, but I highly doubt that would be very good for one’s waistline.

But, luckily there is plenty of scientific proof that eating a little bit of dark chocolate is good for you, one ounce a day will help reduce the risk of heart disease. Everything is good in moderation!

Source:

http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v17/n12/full/nn.3850.html

How to Make the Perfect Green Smoothie

by April 8, 2016

Green Juices and smoothies are all the rage in the health world, but if you are looking to buy one every day you will be spending a pretty penny. These options will give you the perfect green smoothie for half the cost.

Eating a huge variety of fresh produce, especially green vegetables are important for your health. But, when you cook the vegetables sometimes important nutrients are reduced. Making green juice or smoothies can offer a concentrated source of nutrition, and by blending the vegetables into a drink, they maintain their natural fiber in a deliciously hydrating form.

Use the guideline below for a unique and deliciously healthy combination!

1 Cup Leafy green vegetable

  • Kale
  • Spinach
  • Swiss chard
  • Romaine
  • Broccoli Rabe
  • Dandelion

1 Cup Liquid Base

  • Almond Milk
  • Coconut Milk
  • Coconut water
  • 100% Fruit juice ORGANIC!
  • Water

1 ½ Cups Ripe Fruit

  • Apple
  • Avocado
  • Banana
  • Berries
  • Grapes
  • Mango
  • Pineapple
  • Orange

Add a Boost

  • Cinnamon
  • Chia
  • Acai Powder
  • Hemp Protein
  • Coconut Oil
  • Ginger

Blend in Stages to Avoid Leafy Chunks

That is something that always turns me off of green juices! To get the perfect smooth green smoothie, blend your leafy green vegetables and liquid-base first! Then add the remaining fruits and blend again.

Freeze

In order to get more of a smoothie, base freeze your fruits first.

 

Now get into the kitchen and get blending!

Easy Carnivore Approved Vegan Nacho Cheeze

by April 6, 2016

Vegans and cheese lovers alike will marvel at this amazing nacho ‘CHEEZE’. After you make it once, you will be obsessed forever, all the flavor you love without all the fat and cholesterol.

This will be your new food addiction, and it is so much better than the real thing. It has all the cheese flavor that you love, without all the pus, cholesterol, and additives that normal cheese sauces have. It is an indulgent food, that you will never feel guilty about having. Enjoy!

Vegan Nacho Cheese

  • 1 Cup peeled, cubed, cooked organic white potato
  • ½ Cup Peeled, cubed, cooked carrot
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • 3 tbsp organic sunflower oil
  • ¼ Cup non-dairy milk, I prefer Almond, you can also substitute water
  • 2 tsp organic lemon juice
  • 4 Pickled jalapeno slices
  • 4 Tbsp pickling liquid
  • 1 ½ tsp arrowroot flour
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast

Method:

Peel, cube and boil the potatoes and carrots; make sure the water is boiling before you add in the potatoes. If you overcook the potatoes they will become starchy and your sauce will not be smooth. Drain the water, and add them to a high-speed blender immediately (I use a Ninja but use whatever you have on hand.)

Add all of the remaining ingredients to the blender and combine until smooth. Your sauce will be hot enough to serve immediately, if you want to make it thicker you may also add it into a small pot to thicken.

Enjoy!

13 Common Foods That Should Never Be Refrigerated

by April 6, 2016

Refrigerators are an amazing tool, but I think people get a little too used to the idea of having one sometimes. There are a lot of things you have probably been refrigerating your whole life that you should not be.

Certain foods will maintain flavor and freshness best if not subjected to cold, condensed air. So, when you bring in a pile of groceries and realize your fridge is overflowing there is no need to panic. Refrigeration goes a long way towards preserving food but for some foods refrigeration can actually lessen the flavor, change the texture, and occasionally even cause the food to spoil at a faster rate.

Here some of the items you should never refrigerate!

Bread

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There are some people who hold strong to the belief that you should always refrigerate bread because they believe it will keep longer in the fridge. These people are also eating some very dried out bread.

Coffee

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The problem with keeping coffee in the refrigerator is that it tends to be a sponge for everything left around it. The moist air of a refrigerator is also not very good for the flavor of the coffee either. Keep it sealed and stored in a dry place.

Hot Sauce

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Over time, the consistency and flavor of hot sauce will change when stored in the refrigerator, which is why it is best not to store it in there. They are preserved with salt and will stay good for a long time outside of the refrigerator

Soy Sauce

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While it may seem like a good idea to store the salty sauce in the refrigerator, it is actually best when stored at room temperature.

Avocado

avocado

Avocados need to be ripe before they are refrigerated. Once, ripe, they will last for up to a week in the fridge.

Tomatoes

tomatoes

Sure, you can refrigerate them if you want to obliterate them of all their flavor and texture. Ever made a salad with a tomato that had a mushy consistency and practically had ice on the inside? Chances are they have been needlessly stored in the refrigerator.

Honey

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Luscious honey will turn into crystallized gunk if it is stored in the fridge. Store it at room temperature and out of direct sunlight for happy honey.

Potatoes

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When too cold, the starches found in potatoes turn into sugar, yielding an off flavor. Keep potatoes stored in a paper bag in a cool, dark place. Same goes for sweet potatoes.

Bananas

bananas

Whether or not you refrigerate bananas actually comes down to what sort of ripeness you like with bananas, since the cold temperature within the fridge tends to slow down the ripening process.

Garlic

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Never put garlic in the fridge! Garlic tends to go off pretty quickly, it will grow mold and rubbery soft when you put it into the fridge. What makes it worse is that the look on the outside rarely changes, so you will never be able to tell until you decide to slice come up to fry up with your chili and prawns.

Melon

melons

It is mostly advised to store any melon fruit in the fridge once it is already cut open; however until then, you should leave the fruit outside the fridge. There has been research to show that keeping melon out in room temperature will actually help with keeping antioxidant levels intact.

Stone Fruit

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Fruits like apricot, peaches, nectarines and plums should be left at room temperature. If you are unable to gobble them up fast enough, only then should they be put in the fridge.

Apples

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Storing apples in the refrigerator will cause them to lose their crisp fresh flavor.

Easy 5-Ingredient Vegan Sweet Potato Brownies

by April 5, 2016

Baking foods and sweet treats are two of my favorite things, but let’s face it sweet treats are not always great for the waist line. With these sweet potato brownies that is not something you have to worry about, they are a great healthy alternative to an originally fatty treat.

The great part about these brownies is that they use sweet potatoes as a base, they are gluten free and there is no need for expensive ingredients for a delicious product.  The great thing about sweet potatoes is that they provide kind carbohydrates that do not induce a sugar crash. Sweet potatoes are low on the glycemic index which is better for avoiding sugar crashes, and great for diabetes control. They are filled with vitamins and minerals, and they hold wonderful anti-inflammatory benefits.

Now, what are you waiting for? Get into the kitchen and make this incredibly moist brownie!

Sweet Potato Brownies

  • 2 Cups Mashed Sweet Potato
  • 1 Cup Nut Butter of Choice
  • 4 Tbsp Organic Pure Maple Syrup
  • ½ Cup Cocoa Powder
  • Carob Chips(Optional)

Method:

Preheat your oven to 350F, and grease cake pan of choice.

In a medium sized pan over medium-high heat, melt the nut butter and maple syrup.

In a large bowl add the mashed sweet potato, melted nut butter and maple syrup, and cocoa powder. Mix well.

Fold in the carob chips, if desired. And pour the mixture into a greased pan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Allow to cool completely before slicing.

 

Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Coconut Macadamia Energy Balls

by April 4, 2016

My sweet tooth is unbearable sometimes, but I don’t like to keep preservative and chemical filled treats in my cabinet. I do like to keep little guilt free homemade treats around, though, and lately, these coconut energy balls have been what I am craving!

If you love coconut and macadamia nuts then you are going to love these! Give this simple and delicious recipe a try. It is loaded with lots of nourishing ingredients to help you and your sweet tooth reach you maximum potential. Enjoy!

Coconut Macadamia Balls

  • 3 Cups Organic Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
  • ½ Cup Macadamia Nuts
  • 1 ½ Bananas
  • 1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
  • 1 ¼ Tbsp Organic Maple Syrup
  • 1 ¼ Tbsp Organic Melted Coconut Oil

Method:

In a food processor or blender, process 2 Cups of the coconut and all of the macadamia nuts. It is okay if the mixture is a little chunky. Add the coconut oil and process for around three seconds. In a medium sized bowl, peel and mash the banana. Add the vanilla extract and maple syrup. Transfer the mixture in the food processor to the bowl and mix well. Using your hands, roll the mixture into one or two inch balls. Scoop up the remaining coconut and pat onto each ball, coating it thoroughly. Keep the balls refrigerated in an air tight container.

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