Coffee : To Drink Or Not To Drink?

While the jury still remains out on this one, with contradictions about coffees pros and cons at every turn, I, being a fan of an occasional cup myself, will say that in this case you would do best to remember the phrase “everything in moderation”. As remember, it contains caffeine, a naturally occurring stimulant found in the leaves, seeds and fruits of dozens of plants worldwide and it is a psychoactive drug!


I wouldn’t recommend drinking coffee everyday, especially if it is something you rely on solely to wake you up in the morning. Those that say they can’t function without their morning cup of joe need to take themselves aside for a little chat as there is nothing we shouldn’t have the ability to function without than water and a balanced diet. I don’t ever remember caffeine being included in the food pyramid, do you?

Let’s take a quick look at the supposed benefits and detriments of our beloved coffee:

Pros:
• Coffee is rich in antioxidants which can help prevent aging and cell damage from free radicals.
• Drinking coffee may reduce the risk of
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Gallstones
- Kidney Stones
- Type 2 diabetes
- Memory loss due to aging and Alzheimer’s Disease
• It improves mental alertness
• It speeds up muscle recovery from fatigue and can also help in weight loss when taken before a workout.
• It smells and tastes delicious :)

Cons:
• It may elevate cholesterol levels
• It has a negative effect on blood vessel tone and function
• May raise blood pressure making it a potential health hazard to those with hypertension
• Too much coffee can inhibit the absorption of calcium which can lead to osteoporosis
• Dehydrates the body as it acts as a mild diuretic
• Makes it difficult for those with Type 2 Diabetes to control blood sugar levels
• It blocks the hypnotic effect of the hormone adenosine which is designed to promote a restful deep sleep.
• Its effect of spiking the hormone cortisol may in fact have a negative impact on weight as over consumption of caffeine will exhaust the adrenal glands which can lead to thyroid problems and weight gain.

So what is the happy medium? I would say don’t banish coffee from your life altogether if it’s something you enjoy (unless of course you feel you would be better without it completely), but rather drink in moderation. I can’t see the harm in drinking two or three cups of coffee a week.
  I recently found myself increasing my consumption of coffee as I spend alot of time at bookstores and cafes but i have broguht myself back in check and I have found alternatives like Starbuck's Passion Iced tea unsweetened, (that I then sweeten myself with Stevia..delish!) or if you're not lactose intolerant, hot milk with vanilla can be made at any good coffee shop! Totally delish too! Again, I would just try to not make coffee a daily habit as there are so mnay more options out there, and of course as with everything, I do recommend you choose organic coffee, as the plant from which it’s made is one of the most heavily sprayed with pesticides. So all in all I think coffee is something you can keep a part of a balanced diet. Go ahead and enjoy those weekend coffee shop jaunts with your friends, or treat yourself to a frothy cappucino as you share a dessert with a cute boy!! After all, life is there to be enjoyed! That’s more important than anything!



Coffee = ELAA approved (in moderation ;) ).

Sprouted Grains : The Benefits

Ezekiel 4:9-17: “Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof.


The above being a direct quote from the Bible and one of the first recipes of sprouted bread. If it’s good enough for God, hell it’s good enough for me! Sprouted grain breads and other products are only recently starting to make an appearance on our supermarket shelves despite their existence for generations. Sprouting grains is the simple process of soaking grains and allowing them to germinate, which not only neutralizes phytic acid (the annoying enzyme blocker which binds minerals, making it hard for us to absorb them), but it also increases vitamin content and digestibility. Our ancestors for centuries before us all practiced the art of soaking and sprouting their grains before making them into breads and other bread products.


Here are just a few benefits of sprouted grain products;


• Sprouted Grains contain almost all 9 essential amino acids, making them a great source of protein, especially for Vegetarians and Vegans.
• Sprouted Grains are a great source of Vitamins A, B and C.
• Grains double in bulk when sprouted making the food stretch further, which is great for those on a budget.
• Sprouted grains neutralize phytic acid which binds minerals and makes it hard for our bodies to absorb the nutrients.
• Grains are pre-digested during the soaking process, making it easier for us to digest.
• Sprouted grains have a lower Glycemic index rating than other breads, making them a good choice for people who which to keep blood sugar stable.


These are just a few examples of the benefits of sprouted grain products over traditional whole wheat and white refined breads and bread products. Ezekiel is a great brand that makes delicious sprouted grain breads, muffins and tortillas and can be purchased at most health food stores. Manna is also another bread product( just like what God sent to his people in the Bible when they were starving in the desert), though it’s taste may not appeal to everyone.

If you have the time and would like to go about sprouting your grains at home by all means go ahead. It takes little effort and is relatively easy.


1. Soak your choice of grains/legumes/seeds overnight in a bowl of water making sure the water level is quite a bit above the grains or whatever you’re sprouting, as they will absorb the water quite a bit. Usually twice as much water as chosen item to be sprouted is ideal.
2. In the morning pour everything into a kitchen strainer and rinse them with clean water really well. Sometimes the grains may have a sticky mucus type of coating that you will want to make sure is completely gone as it could inhibit the sprouting process.
3. Place the strainer over a large bowl (to catch the drips) and cover with a dry clean kitchen towel and set it off to the side somewhere on the kitchen counter.
4. Keep on eye on your sprouting foods over the course of time you have allotted to it ( usually 8-12 hours or up to 3-4 days) and make sure they are never dry. You want to keep them constantly moist. If they are any bit dry give them another quick rinse.
5. Your sprouts will be ready when you notice they have little tails a few millimeters long.


You can then use theses sprouts in various ways. Grains can be blended into a batter or dough for making bread. Chickpeas can be used to make raw hummus or if you own a dehydrator you could make falafels!! Yum! Sprouted seeds can be used wherever you like , on salads, in shakes on top of oatmeal!! The choice is yours!!

So go ahead and add some sprouted foods to your life and let your body reap the benefits! :)

Keeping up with the Carbs: From Low to Slow

When I embarked on this new healthy eating regime a few months ago I cut out all refined products from my life mostly in the forms of white flour and sugar. I also cut out breads of all kinds and everything that can be classified as a carb apart from green leafy vegetables. This is pretty much the basis of The Atkins diet, with a few differences. I for one, was a lot more conscious of the sources of my meat and dairy, only buying and consuming organic products, and I also don’t advocate the use of artificial sweeteners to satiate the sweet tooth. But, although I saw great results from eating this way, externally and internally, something about shunning fruit and grains for the rest of my life sounded well, boring. Plus, how could something like fruit, so natural and delicious and straight from mother earth be bad for you?


So I did a little research and found that the idea was not to live la vida low carb, but rather live la vida slow carb. What do I mean by slow carb? Well, slow carbs are classified as any carbohydrates that have little to no effect on blood sugar levels when consumed. This is the basis of the Glycemic Index Diet, (a measure of how fast carbs turn into glucose on the blood) which is currently at the forefront of the diet crazed world. Many nutritionists are now recommending this as the best diet to incorporate into our lives for optimum health and wellness.


Is it another fad diet or could it really be a basis for a healthful lifestyle?


I think the latter. Slow carbs means you’re not cutting out any of the nutritional sources that you were on low carb diets. Grains are an important and dense source of many nutrients and vitamins that are vital to our health. So does that mean you can happily chow down on that coffee shop doughnut?


Afraid not! Grains like everything else are not created equal. Refined carbs, like white bread, white flour, white rice, and sugar, all rapidly convert to glucose in the body causing an insulin spike, which as we now know has many disastrous health effects. So what grains are considered slow carb?


I’m not going to tell you go ahead and eat whole wheat or whole grain breads and pastas from the shelf of your supermarket, as not only do many of them contain ridiculous ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, but the grains used to make these breads were not sprouted so they still contain an enzyme blocker called phytic acid which as I mentioned in an earlier blog, inhibits the thyroid from converting T3 hormone to T4, a process which is vital to our good health. Perhaps this explains why so many people are hypothyroid?


What you can include in your diet though is sprouted grain breads like Ezekiel, and sourdough breads. These grains have all been sprouted there by removing the phytic acid and allowing for easier digestion and assimilation in the body. It’s becoming increasingly easy to find all kinds of sprouted grain products, from cereals to tortillas.


As for fruits, most are slow carb so knock yourself out, keep it organic of course. Watermelon is the only fruit which will cause an insulin spike so I’d definitely keep its consumption very moderate.

Lentils, beans, quinoa and couscous are all considered slow carbs so they will make for healthy additions to your diet. And in the rice department I would stick to wild rice, and although they say basmati rice is slow carb, it doesn’t really have any nutritional benefits.

I would recommend doing some research and becoming familiar with the glycemic index of various carbs (how they rate, either low, medium, or high when it comes to how fast they convert to glucose) so you can begin making healthful decisions when keeping carbs in your life.

And to finish up here’s my ELAA approved recipe for a morning breakfast burrito that beats any fast food nutrition-less nonsense!! Enjoy!!




Sprouted Grain Cheesy Breakfast Burrito


Ingredients
2 large organic eggs
1 Ezekiel Sprouted grain tortilla (warmed in the oven if you like)
2 tbsp of good quality organic butter
½ cup of Raw sharp cheddar (or if not raw, a good quality organic cheese will do)
¼ small onion (finely chopped)
1 slice organic turkey breast (optional)


Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Using 1 tbsp of butter, scramble your eggs over medium heat on the stove until fluffy.
Spread the other tbsp of butter on the tortilla.
Place the eggs along the middle of the tortilla and place onions on top.
Sprinkle the cheese over the eggs and onions and place on a baking tray.
Put the tortilla in the oven until cheese is melted.
Remove from oven and add the slice of turkey breast if you like.
Roll up the tortilla like a burrito and fold in one end so the yumminess inside can’t fall out.
Eat and Enjoy!

Stevia: Natures Natural Sweetener

For a dessert-loving but hot-body-wanting girl, Stevia is the light at the end of the dark sugar-free tunnel! A natural herb from Paraguay, used by the Guarani Indians for centuries, its natural sweetness comes, not from carbohydrate molecules like other natural sweeteners, but rather from non-caloric molecules called Glycosides. People, who cannot tolerate sugar or other sweeteners in the diet, can use Stevia, which is why it has so much success in helping heal illnesses like Diabetes, Hypoglycemia and Candidiasis.
Available in dry leaf or concentrate form, Stevia has a wonderful ability to regulate blood sugar. Its ability to sweeten foods and beverages, without having any effect on insulin release, means we can indulge guiltlessly in things like chocolate, pies, ice-cream regularly and still fit into our LBD’s.


Not only is Stevia beneficial in our diets but surprisingly it’s also a great addition to our beauty skin care regimen. It can be applied as a facial mask by smoothing the liquid over the face for 30-60 minutes and it helps smooth the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. It can also be applied to any blemish, acne outbreak, or lip sore for rapid healing. It is very effective in helping to cure numerous skin conditions such as eczema, seborrhea, and dermatitis. Added to soap, it helps eliminate dandruff and other scalp problems as well as improving the health and luster of the hair.


Stevia can be used in your oral hygiene too! Added to toothpaste and mouthwash, it inhibits the growth of bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Using Stevia in baking is really a matter of trial and error and it’s totally worth it when you figure out the proper ratios, (usually 1 cup of sugar can be replaced with 24 packets of Stevia but various conversions can be found on the internet. It really is trial and error!!) You can even get Stevia in different flavors, like French vanilla and Valencia Orange which can add versatility to the flavors of baking.


Do I need to convince you anymore to get down to the local health store and purchase some Stevia to start sweetening your life in a healthy and natural way?! Life doesn’t get any better than when you can chow down on a bowl of homemade ice-cream sweetened with Stevia (recipe below), while you slip into that figure hugging dress before a night out and still look perfectly body beautiful! Love it!


Guilt-free Vanilla Ice Cream

2 Organic Egg Yolks
2 Cups Organic Heavy Cream
1 Cup Organic Whole Milk
2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
2 packets of French Vanilla Stevia


In a blender or food processor whip all ingredients very thoroughly then refrigerate for 1 hour. Pour the chilled mixture into an ice-cream maker and follow directions for freezing.


To make it even more delicious, you can add berries or any fruit of your choice once the ice-cream is semi-frozen, then resume the freezing process!! Heaven!

Beauty And The Budget ; Homemade Natural Face Masks

The great thing about health and beauty is that they’re so interconnected they’re almost one and the same. You can’t have one without the other. Many of the foods that promote great internal health when eaten can also be applied topically to your skin and enhance the effects your body is receiving from them not only internally but externally as well. Beauty need not be expensive spa facials, or high end store bought moisturizers and cleansers when the majority of the ingredients that makes these beauty products effective usually comes from some source of mother nature, like avocados, bananas, eggs, lemons, coconuts, and essential oils. Everything else in most store purchased beauty items is chemicals to make them smell more appealing, and keep it on the shelf longer. Now that you are no longer putting chemicals in your body, let’s try and not put them on our bodies either! Especially when the best beauty products can be bought so cheaply from the nearest supermarket!


Here are four homemade, all natural face masks designed for your different skin type that will work just as well if not better than any packaged product;

Banana and Honey Face mask for Oily Skin types


What you’ll need;
• ½ a ripe banana
• 1 tbsp honey
• A few drops of fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp Oatmeal (I use Scottish oats as I find their ground small enough to where it meshes better in the mask, nut any oats will do)


Directions
1. Mash the banana until creamy.
2. Add the honey, lemon and oatmeal and mix together until thick. (add more oatmeal if it’s too runny)
3. Apply to your face for 10-15 minutes.
4. Wash off with a warm washcloth.


The reason this face mask is great for oily skin is because banana helps clear your skin of grease and helps refine pores, while lemon juice is a natural exfoliator and powerful cleansing agent that cleans the skin of nasty blackheads. Honey has wonderful healing properties and oatmeal is also great for removing dirt and dead skin cells.


I have oily skin so I use this mask to help keep my skin glowing! I usually have enough for three masks so it’s best to do this on a girl’s night in and share with your friends! (if they also have oily/ acne prone skin!)

Avocado and Yogurt face Mask for Dry Skin

What you’ll need
• 1 ripe avocado
• 4 tbsp of plain yogurt


Directions
1. In a blender, mix the two ingredients together.
2. Apply to you face for 10-15 minutes.
3. Wash off with a warm wash cloth.


Avocados are rich in vitamin E which is a wonderful moisturizer for dry and aging skin. While yogurt has soothing effects, it will also hydrate and soften the dry skin.

Strawberry Butter Mask for Normal Skin


What you’ll need;
• 2 large strawberries
• 1 tbsp unsalted softened butter


Directions
1. Mash the strawberries and add the softened butter.
2. Apply to you face for 10-15 minutes.
3. Wash off with a warm wash cloth.


Butter is a great source of Vitamin A which is wonderful for sensitive, damaged or sunburned skin. Strawberries are full of alpha-hydroxy acids which clean the skin and have anti-aging effects!


And here’s one of my favorite facemasks!! This uses kitty litter (as kitty litter is actually just natural bentonite clay). This may sound a little absurd at first but I assure you it’s the same facemask you will find in all top end spas where you would have to shell out over $100 to get the same benefits.

Clay and Essential Oil Face Mask for All Skin types.
• 2 Tbsp Natural “unscented” Kitty litter
• A few drops of purified water
• A few drops of an Essential Oil (rosewood or lavender for dry skin/juniper or grapefruit for oily skin and jasmine or angelica for normal skin)

Directions;
1. Mix the clay with the water until a smooth paste is formed.
2. Stir in a few drops of the essential oils.
3. Apply to face for 10-15 minutes.
4. Wash off with warm face cloth.


The clay is highly absorbant and detoxifying which helps draw out impurities from the skin. The various essential oils will enhance the effects of the mask!!


See how inexpensive it is to do a facial at home! So save that $100 you would normally spend on a trip to the spa and instead invite some friends over and have a beauty night where you can try out some of the face masks above. It’s a lot less expensive and a lot more fun, trust me!!