HEALTH BENEFITS OF SOME POWERFUL SEEDS

HERE ARE SOME POWERFUL SEEDS 

Sunflower

This seed has Vitamin E to help keep free radicals at bay.  They also contain magnesium to help with keeping your muscles healthy and bone health and selenium to keep your thyroid working at its best, it can help relieve symptoms of eczema and control your dandruff.


Pomegranate

This seeds are full of antioxidants, low in calories and rich in Vitamin C.  It can also help with keeping your heart healthy and reducing risk of atherosclerosis which is hardening of the arteries.  

Hemp

This seed contains all of the 20 amino acids which is great for toning and building your muscles.

Chia

This is a good seed for building strong bones and are rich in calcium.  They also contain Omega 3, fibre, protein and are high in antioxidants.  The seeds are great to add to smoothies by mixing them with some almond milk, fruits, cinnamon and anything else you want to add to a smoothie.  You can also mix them with water.  This will form a gel to use in baking as a egg replacer. 

Pumpkin

This seeds is a natural energy booster. They also contain iron which is essential for maintaining high energy levels.  They contain plant based omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium, zinc and tryptophan which converts to serotonin in the body and then to melatonin to aid sleep.  Serotonin is your happy hormone and melatonin is the hormone to help you sleep.  You could try some pumpkins seeds in the evening to help your body produce melatonin for sleep.

Why not try some roasted pumpkin seeds.   Soak 150g of pumpkin seeds in salted water overnight.  Drain the water and rinse them.  Put them into a roasting tin and add some paprika or turmeric and sea salt and roast them in the oven on a low heat for about 1/2 to 1 hour until they are dried out and crispy. This is a really delicious snack.

Sesame

The sesame seed is rich with linoleic and omega-6 fatty acid. This can help in lowering your cholesterol.  They also contain protein, magnesium, fibre and zinc.  They are very good sources of B-complex vitamins such as niacin, thiamin (vitamin B1), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), and riboflavin (vitamin B2).

Flax

Flax has lignans and omega-3 fatty acids.  Flax can be used as a cancer prevention medicine that reduces disease causing inflammation.  They also contain B vitamins, manganese, fibre, magnesium,  The best way to eat flax is to grind it up into a powder and add to smoothies or stir into yorghurt.


These seeds are nutritious and have great health benefits but like with everything you need to eat them in moderation and be careful not to over eat nuts and seeds because it can cause an imbalance with your zinc and copper.

If you are a vegetarian or vegan and eat seeds for your omega 3 fatty acids, this will only give you the ALA acids.  Your body can convert ALA to DHA and EPA but you can get the DHA and EPA from algae if you do not eat fish.  

DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY AND PAPAYA CREAM TART

 

STRAWBERRY PAPAYA CREAM TART - RAW
Here is a delicious tart from unconventionalbaker.com.  I have altered the crust ingredients from the original.

Crust Ingredients:
225g walnuts
10-12 soft pitted medjool dates

Filling Ingredients:
400g frozen papaya chunks
200g frozen strawberries
2-3 tbsp honey - or 3-5 soft pitted medjool dates}
a small handful of basil - optional

INSTRUCTIONS
Place all crust ingredients into a food processor and process into a sticky crumble. Transfer into a tart pan and press into shape to form a shell. Place into the freezer to firm up a little while working on the next step.

Place all filling ingredients into a clean food processor and process until smooth. There will be a few pieces that are not completely smooth.  You could let the fruit thaw a bit first to blend easier.  Scoop this mixture into the prepared tart crust and smooth out the top.  Place back in the freezer for at least an hour to firm up fully.  Serve immediately from the freezer.  Store in freezer and enjoy a slice when you want.

This really is a delicious tart!

RAW CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE GLUTEN FREE

RAW CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE GLUTEN FREE

I have been trying out a recipe for a chocolate cheesecake and here is the recipe.  I made these as individual ones using a muffin tin and lining with muffin liners.  When the mini cheesecakes were set in the fridge, I peeled away the paper liner.  They are really delicious and nutritious too.

BASE

75g raw and unsalted walnuts (or any nut of your choice)

35g unsweetened shredded coconut

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon melted coconut oil

pinch of sea salt

FILLING

110g soaked and rinsed raw cashew nuts (Soak 4 hours)

2 tbsp Raw Honey
30g Coconut Oil
2 tbsp cacao powder
2tsp vanilla
Pinch of sea salt

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS
Cacao nibs
Strawberry or raspberry puree


DIRECTIONS

Get a muffin tin and line with muffin liners.  Makes about 6 to 8.

For the base - In a food processor, add the walnuts, coconut, honey, coconut oil and salt and process until sticky dough forms.  Using a teaspoon gather some mixture and drop into the muffin liners, press down using your fingertips.  Put in the fridge to set while you make the filling.  

For the filling - Drain the cashew nuts and add to a food processor along with the coconut oil, honey, cacao powder, 2 tsp vanillla and salt.  Process until nice and creamy - about 5 minutes.  Get your muffin tin out of the fridge.

Using a teaspoon again, fill your muffin liners with the filling, and smooth the top.  You can top them with some cacao nibs if you want.  Put in the fridge for at least 1 hour to set.  Remove from muffin tin and store in a container in the fridge.  When you are ready to eat, just peel away the muffin liner.  You could add some strawberry or raspberry puree to your cheesecake just before serving.

If you want a different flavour cheesecake, add some fruit to the filling, instead of the cacao powder.  Just add in a handful of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries etc, any flavour you like.

WHAT IS CHLOROPHYLL AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR HEALTH?

WHAT IS CHLOROPHYLL AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR HEALTH?

Chlorophyll is found in green leafy vegetables, spirulina, wheatgrass, barley grass, wild blue-green algae, chlorella etc.  

Chlorophyll is what gives the plant its green colour and chlorophyll's structure has been found to be very similar to our blood and when we consume it, it increases the production of hemoglobin.  Hemoglobin is present in red blood cells and is responsible for carrying oxygen from our lungs to other parts of the body.   So what does this mean exactly?  It means that the more hemoglobin you have, the more oxygen rich blood you have to nourish the cells in your body.  

Also by eating chlorophyll rich foods, can also help the digestive tract by protecting from inflammation damage, cleanse and detox the body, soothe inflammation and pain, improve respiratory function, alkalises your blood, cancer protection, balance blood sugar and creates an aerobic environment where disease cannot live.  It also contains magnesium which protects our blood brain barrrier and protects the neurological system from toxins in our environment.  So it really is a superfood!

Here is an article by Dr Jockers on spinach which is also rich in chlorophyll.  The article talks about a plant based steroid in spinach called phytoecdysteroids and this can help with blood sugar levels and minimise the need for insulin and can also help with muscle tissue growth.  Spinach also contains antioxidants called zeaxanthin and lutein which are needed for brain health and vision. 

If you want to learn more information, here is the link to the article.

http://drjockers.com/2015/02/how-does-spinach-enhance-muscle-growth/

  

VALENTINES DAY CHOCOLATE BROWNIE FUDGE CUPS

VALENTINES DAY CHOCOLATE BROWNIE FUDGE CUPS

This valentines day why not make some of these delicious brownie fudge cups by Purely Twins. These brownies are raw and require no cooking, you set them in the fridge.  There is also a beet fudge to top your brownie when they are set.  

Chocolate and beetroot together are a great combination.  

Here is the recipe.

Brownie cups

3/4 cup raw cacao (3 oz)

2 tablespoons lucuma (1/2) or you can use ground almonds

3 tablespoons coconut sugar (1 oz)

2 tablespoons coconut oil (1 oz)

4 tablespoons maple syrup or honey (3 oz)

Red fudge

220g beetroot

6 tbsp coconut butter (process some coconut flakes to make butter)

1-2 tsp maple syrup or honey

Heart cookies

6 tablespoons cacao powder

1 tablespoon lucuma

1 1/2 tablespoons coconut sugar

1 tablespoons coconut oil

2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

Directions

First make the brownie cups.  Place all ingredients into a bowl.  Stir together.  Scoop brownies into a silicone mini cupcake pan.  You might need a little water to help press them to form cups.  Set in refrigerator.

Make the beet fudge

Blend all the ingredients for the beet fudge.  Pour fudge into a bowl.  Remove the brownies from the fridge.  VERY carefully remove them from the cupcake pan.

Scoop the beet fudge into the cups. 

Heart shaped cookies

Combine all the ingredients into a bowl.  Roll out and cut into hearts.  Carefully place the heart cookie on top of the fudge.

Source : http://purelytwins.com/2015/02/04/raw-chocolate-brownie-fudge-cups-valentines-day-vegan-dessert/

CAULIFLOWER FRITTERS

CAULIFLOWER FRITTERS

I love cauliflower and I made some cauliflower fritters last night and they were really delicious, here is the recipe.

These are a great way to eat cauliflower and makes a change from cauliflower cheese.

Cauliflower is not only delicious it has antioxidants and phytonutrients, B vitamins, Vitamin C, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, vitamin K, potassium and fibre. It is also a cruciferous vegetable and the indole-3-carbinol present in cauliflower can also help with inflammation. It can help with detoxification as well.

CAULIFLOWER FRITTERS - makes 6

INGREDIENTS

200g cauliflower rice
2 teaspoons of coconut flour
2 small eggs or 1 large
Spices 1 tsp each or more if you like: turmeric, cumin, paprika and oregano or basil
1 tablespoon of butter

You can add in anything you like – parmesan cheese and cheddar cheese, bacon chunks etc.

Process the cauliflower to make the cauliflower rice or use a grater to grate it. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl with a fork.

The dough is sticky so wet your hands or rub your hands with olive oil while forming it into fritters. Bake these at 170 for 25 minutes on a cookie sheet that’s greased or lined with high heat parchment paper.

LEMON AND BAKING SODA - CAN THIS HELP WITH CANCER

LEMON AND BAKING SODA - CAN THIS HELP WITH CANCER

Yes lemon has been proven to be anti carcinogenic but if you combine it with baking soda, you will normalise the Ph of your body and therefore stop the cancer in its tracks.  

Lemon is also strong against bacteria and effective to eliminate internal parasites and worms.  It can also regulate blood pressure.  


Chemotherapy has horrible side effects the worst being that it destroys healthy cells, simply put it kills you. Lemon juice and baking soda, on the other hand only kills the cancer cells. Lemon destroys carcinogenic cells in 12 types of cancers and is 10,000 times stronger to prevent the spread of carcinogenic cells than drugs like adriamycin, chemotherapy and narcotic products.

Mix 2 tsp of lemon juice (freshly squeezed from an organic lemon) with 1/2 tsp baking soda and about 240ml of water.  Mix together and drink 4 times per day.
The original article source was healthy holistic living.