Veg Vivaciously: Raw Organic Honey

9/08/2011

DID YOU KNOW: Raw Vegan Brownies Are Good For You

That’s right! Those Raw Vegan Brownies we made a few days ago, and devoured…are actually good for us! You can eat these little chocolatey delights with no guilt. Listed below are the 10 ingredients used to make them and how they are good for you.

PECANS are rich sources of many phyto-chemical substances that may contribute to their overall antioxidant activity, including polyphenolic antioxidant ellagic acid, vitamin E, beta-carotenes, lutein and zeaxanthin. Research studies have been suggestive that these compounds help the body remove toxic oxygen, free radicals; thus, protecting the body from diseases (i.e., cancers) as well as infections. Pecans are an excellent source of vitamin-E. Vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant, required for maintaining the integrity of cell membrane of mucus membranes and skin by protecting it from harmful oxygen free radicals. These nuts are packed with many important B-complex group of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates. These vitamins functions as co-factors for enzymes during cellular substrate metabolism.

WALNUTS are an excellent form of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Many seem to think you can only get these fatty acids from fish, but you can get it from nuts too. Walnuts contain no cholesterol and are an important source of dietary fiber and protein and are considered to be the “meat” nut. They are also a good source of many vitamins and minerals including potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, vitamin B1, B6, folate, and vitamin E. Research has found that eating regular amounts of walnuts reduces bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood. With a 7:1 ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat, walnuts are one of the highest naturally occurring sources of polyunsaturated fats.

RAW HONEY contains essential vitamins and minerals including riboflavin pantothenic acid, niacin, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium and zinc. Some of the minerals make up to 1-2% of the recommended daily value by USDA guidelines. (To learn more about Raw Honey...CLICK HERE.)

RAW CACAO POWDER comes right from the cacao bean. So you get all of the raw minerals, antioxidants, and neurotransmitter rejuvenating properties of this raw cacao bean! They are full of Magnesium, Iron, Chromium, Anadamide, Theobromine and the antioxidants it has is through the roof! It has polyphenols, catechins, and epicatechins! Raw cacao powder has more 540% more antioxidants than in blueberries! (To learn more about Raw Cacao, please read my previous post on 8 Ancient Superfoods That Promote Good Health.)

DATES are rich in dietary fiber, which prevents LDL cholesterol absorption. It’s a great form of a natural laxative. The fiber content helps to protect the colon mucous membrane exposure time as well as binding to cancer causing chemicals in the colon. They are a great source of Vitamin A and have great antioxidant properties that are known to help great vision. A few other nutrients dates have are: iron, potassium, copper, beta-carotene, and last but certainly not least…this little fun packed fruit is rich in B-complex vitamins and Vitamin K!

RAISINS are a top source of antioxidants. They are full of potassium and dietary fiber, including inulin to promote digestive health. They help fight dental plaque and gum disease, are low in sodium and naturally fat and cholesterol free. It’s even said that eating raisins help reduce risk of heart disease and cancer. These dried grapes contain natural fruit sugars, a good source of energy.

MESQUITE POWDER has a low glycemic index of 25. So it actually balances out any sweetness and sugars that are in foods to prevent that sugar “spiked” high that one typically gets from sugars. It has a high protein content is a good source of lysine, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc. And its natural caramel taste is used as a flavor enhancer.

COCONUT OIL is filled with over 90% saturated fats…but wait! Don’t freak out on me…hear me out. Not all fats are bad, some are good fats that our body needs. These fats simply go in…and then come right out. They don’t sit and accumulate more fat. Coconut Oil is full of medium-chain triglycerides, which are supposed to assimilate well. Its loaded with Vitamin E, Vitamin K and minerals, namely iron. Not to mention, many often use coconut oil as a method for losing weight, as it carries the fat out of our body with it, while filling our body with healthy fats. While this is naturally fat, its cholesterol free! (To learn more about Raw Cacao, please read my previous post on 8 Ancient Superfoods That Promote Good Health.)

COCONUT MANNA is a great replacement for cream, butter, milk or yogurt. It’s healthier for you too. It has 50-55% Lauric Acid, 16% fiber, 7% protein and filled with nourishing medium-chain fats that are cholesterol free. These fats will do your body more good than harm.

HIMALAYAN SALT is a pink beautiful salt that, unlike iodized salt, contains 84 minerals and trace elements. The major nutrients in this salt are: potassium, calcium, magnesium sulfates and iodine. The advantage of using this salt is that the essential minerals and nutrients aren’t taken out. So you get these minerals and nutrients in its natural form.

By the way, if you're reading this and wondering, "What brownies, is she talking about?"...well the recipe was in last week's Recipe of the Week, Raw Vegan Turtle Brownies. (Click Here for the Recipe)

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8/26/2011

DID YOU KNOW: BEE MOVIE...A MOMENT OF CLARITY

It’s early Friday afternoon and I’m home alone watching “Bee Movie.” While watching this animated children’s movie, at first I thought it was just a cute little movie to teach children about Bee’s. And it totally was! What I didn’t expect was for it to be as morally conscientious as it was. It moved me in such an unexpected way.

Moment of Clarity: It’s funny how some mainstream pop-culture tools are used in an innovative way to teach our children simple moral values.

If you haven’t seen this movie, you absolutely must! Here’s a trailer clip for you to preview before renting it:

It was brought to our attention in 2006 that there is a rapid loss of Bee’s. Bees are an endangered species. Now we all know by the time such epidemics get on the nationally syndicated news programs, it’s usually already a bit too late. The harsh reality is, Bee’s have slowly been dying off for quite sometime before 2006. And why…

I may not have all the answers to this question, but I do know of one answer. Pesticides. Since farmers shifted to using pesticides, a crop duster spray that is used to poison and kill bugs and pests that would nibble on various crops, there has been a slow increased rate of Bee loss; which has recently escalated to the rapid Bee loss. Aside of the many dangers of Pesticides, they are also contributing to killing our Bee’s.

Now I’m sure some of you are wondering why does this matter? And some of you probably could care less because, at the end of the day, it’s an insect, and with so many other seemingly bigger things going on in the world, why should you waste your time with this issue? In short, here’s why…

Bees are very important for various reasons. Aside from the fact that they create honey, 1/3 of the food we eat and put into our mouths is because of what bee’s do. Did you know that of the 100 most used crops, Bee’s pollenate 70 of them? Therefore, by these calculations if Bee’s die off, well…what are we going to eat?

“If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man!”~Albert Einstein

I know some of you do agree that this is terrible, but just don't know what you can do about it. Sometimes these things can seem so much bigger than us and it can get so overly cumbersome that we feel helpless, like there’s nothing we can do. After giving it some thought, here are five simple things we all can do:

Purchase raw organic honey. (The raw organic commercial beekeepers will not use pesticides. Thus, every item you buy from them to keep them in business helps to regenerate the life of a bee. Besides, it’s healthier for you anyway.)
Buy organic fruits and vegetables, as much as you can afford to, and from local farmers if possible. (Again, as stated above, pesticides won’t be used and you’ll help keep these earth friendly farmers in business.)
Create natural habitat gardens, or get involved in a community garden. (Invite the Bee’s into your community; by doing this, you’re really doing a greater good not just for Bee’s, but the air and your overall health.)
Plant “Bee friendly” plants. (Invite the Bee’s over for a little snack.)
Don’t use insecticides. (I think this one’s self explanatory.)