Ingredients:
Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Organic Coconut Oil (I like Dr. Bronner's)
Dark chocolate chips or dark chocolate bar broken into pieces
Hemp seeds
Combine ingredients for a super healthy-fat snack!! Tastes like an Almond Joy candy bar!
Health Benefits:
Coconut Oil- hundreds of uses and benefits!
Dark Chocolate- Helps prevent heart disease: Like tea, dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which are compounds that act as antioxidants. Flavonoids protect cells from harmful molecules—called free radicals—that are produced when the body breaks down food or is exposed to sunlight or smoke. Free radicals can cause cell damage that leads to heart disease. Flavonoids can also lower blood pressure and reduce LDL cholesterol (i.e., the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.
Improve your mood: Stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that bring on feelings of pleasure. It also contains the chemical serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant.
Protect your skin: German researchers found that the flavonoids in dark chocolate absorb UV light, help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, and improve skin’s hydration and complexion.
Hemp seeds-Hemp seeds are a high quality complete protein and rich in the vitamin E and essential fatty acids: Omega 3, 6, and 9!!! They are very versitile and can be used on salads, in smoothies, as a crust for fish, in yogurt, and are one of the most nutrient dense of all other nuts and seeds!!
www.naturalnews.com
Copyright, 2013, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness MN, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.
www.optimumwellnessmn.com
Low-Fat Diets vs. Vital Fat Your Body Needs
The fear of weight gain has caused most of us to think that all fat is bad. Oil is a fat – so many of us avoid it. However, while it’s true that some fats and oils are dangerous for your health. Not all fats are bad; some are actually very beneficial!
Healthy Oils include olive oil, avocado oil, raw walnut oil, coconut oil, hemp oil, flax oil, and grape seed oil. They provide your body with the nutrients it needs to build cell membranes, absorb vitamins, cushion vital organs, protect you from extreme temperatures, build hormones, lower inflammation, and make up some of your brain tissue.
Dangerous Oils are those which have become altered in the manufacturing process as in the case of hydrogenated oils (trans fats). These oils have no place in your diet! Since your body can not recognize or metabolize these fats, they naturally contribute to weight gain by clinging to cells and prevent detoxification. These damaged fats also cause inflammation, damage and contribute to heart attacks and stroke. Dangerous oils include hydrogenated oils (trans fats) and vegetable oils, specifically canola oil.
Canola oil- there is no such thing as a wild canola plant growing anywhere on our planet. Canola oil is a genetic manipulation of rapeseed oil and is man-made. Avoid canola oil in your diet at all costs.
Hydrogenated oils – the world is waking up to the realization that altering foods is harmful to consumers. Hydrogen, forced into otherwise non-hydrogenated oils, causes these fats to become more stable at room temperature, thereby extending the shelf life of candy bars and packaged foods. Never purchase any product that reads “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” on the ingredients label. Beware of labels that read “trans fat free,” because manufacturers can modify serving sizes to meet “trans fat free” standards, while still loading their products with hydrogenated oils.
Vegetable oil is cheap and is found in nearly every packaged food and salad dressing in the grocery store. They include soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, canola oil, and others simply labeled as “vegetable oil.”
Margarine – whether your margarine is made from trans fats or vegetable oils, it falls into the category of damaged fats and should be avoided. It is one molecule away from being plastic!! Ants will not even eat margarine if left outside!! Butter is much closer to its natural source and state – making it a superior choice over margarine. Try ghee, which is a clarified butter.
Other sources of healthy fats include: grass-fed meat, omega-3 eggs, walnuts, avocado, fish, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and etc.
Copyright, 2012, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness MN, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or
jackieamart@hotmail.com.
As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.
http://www.optimumwellnessmn.com/
I have been consuming alot more hemp products lately so wanted to share the wonders of this nut with you!! I purchased some hemp seed butter at the Wedge today. It looks rather unappealing (bright green in color) but tastes phenomenal!
I have been using hemp protein in my smoothies for a few years now. I buy a 3 pound bag online and keep a little in a canister in the refrigerator and store the rest in my freezer until I need to refill. I also buy shelled hemp seeds and put them on salads, veggies, in my homemade granola bars, energy bars and etc!
Hemp nut is the most nutritious and easily digestible food on the planet, the only complete source of all the following: protein, essential amino acids and essential fatty acids.
The Good Fats
While hemp seed is an excellent source of protein that also contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, its most important feature is that it provides both essential fatty acids (EFAs) needed in the human diet-Omega 6 and Omega 3. These fats are "essential" because they cannot be manufactured in the body and so must be consumed as food. Hemp has an omega-6/omega-3 ratio of 3:1 which is closest to the optimum 4.0 average recommended by the World Health Organization for the human diet. They are 10-15% fiber and contain a rich array of minerals, particularly phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, and calcium.
Hemp Compared to Other Foods
•Contains more required amino acids (proteins) than milk, meat or eggs.
•Is a complete protein source--much more balanced & digestible than Soy products.
•Contains about 47% oil, 78% of which is omega 3 & 6--the essential fats.
•Contains all the essential or omega fats required for human health.
•Contains several times more omega 3 essential fat than any fish.
•Provides more energy than energy bars--without their sugar and with less saturated fat.
•Is suitable for those unable to eat gluten, sugar, milk, nuts & meat. Is perfect for those troubled with constipation and for those avoiding carbohydrates.
Benefits of Consuming Hemp
•Lower blood LDL cholesterol levels
•Lower blood pressure
•Improve cardiovascular circulation & function
•Improve organ function
•Improve immunity levels
•Increased energy levels & metabolic rate
•Reduce symptoms of PMS & menstrual cramps
•Reduce inflammation and the symptoms of arthritis
•Improve recovery of muscles after exercise
•Reduce & treat dry skin and hair conditions
•Reduction of many degenerative diseases through preventative measures
Like any other oil, hemp oil products can go rancid so be sure to store them in a dark, sealed container in the refrigerator!
