chocolate

Are you Listening to your Skin?

by
skin doctor

The skin is your body’s largest organ and it plays so many roles when it comes to function and health. Obviously the skin’s primary job is to cover the body and contain the organs, bones and muscles of the body.

It also acts as a protective layer from ultraviolet radiation from the sun, prevents dehydration, and aids in temperature regulation of the body.

The skin also plays an important role in detoxification and excretion of wastes created by the body or toxins that have been ingested.

Taking a good look at the health of your skin can provide insight as to how your body is functioning on the inside.

dark under eye circles

Dark Under Eye Circles

Do you have dark lines under your eyes that make you look like you haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep in months?

As we age, our skin naturally becomes slightly thinner and more fragile, allowing for the dark circles to appear more predominantly.

But if you are a young, “healthy” woman, chances are those dark circles are trying to tell you something.

Dark circles could be caused by lack of hydration (it’s not just about how much water you are drinking. Remember that caffeine and alcohol work to reverse the benefits of drinking water. For every coffee or alcoholic beverage, you need to increase your water intake by at least 8 ounces).

Dark under eye circles could also be indicating that your diet is in need of some help. Focus on eating a diet that is high in nutrient dense fruits and vegetables and work on eliminating processed foods.

Finally, those dark circles could just be telling you to get to bed early and get a good night’s rest. Adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night to give the body a chance to rest and rejuvenate.

Click here to read, Ten Tricks To Get The Best Sleep EVER !

dry, cracked lips

Dry, Cracked Lips

During the winter months, most commonly, dry lips are caused by harsh weather conditions. However, if you find that your lips are dry year round it could be caused by a reaction to the lipgloss, lipstick or toothpaste you are using.

Conventional products contain harsh chemicals and toxins that can wreak havoc on your delicate lips. Instead, only purchase products from your local health food store that are free of chemicals and that are not drying to the lips.

Click here to read, Natural DIY Self Care Product Recipes .

skin irritation

Skin Irritation

The skin is also a very good indicator of food intolerances.

Skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, rashes, acne, and chronically itchy skin may all be indicators that your body is not tolerating something in your diet.

With the increase in food additives, pesticide use, genetically modified organisms, and processing, food is not what it used to be.

The most common foods that are linked to skin irritation and intolerance are;

  • Dairy
  • Gluten-containing foods
  • Eggs
  • Soy
  • Alcohol
  • Sugar and artificial sweeteners
  • Caffeine
  • Chocolate

The best way to identify if one of these foods is the culprit of your skin irritation is to remove the items that you believe to be an issue from your diet for a period of three weeks. Then re-introduce the foods one at a time and watch for reactions. If a reaction occurs, eliminate that food from your diet permanently.

Click here to read, Do I Always Have to Buy Organic ?  Here’s What You NEED to Know !

Chocolate Chip & Banana Muffin Recipe

by

Looking for the perfect on the go snack that can satisfy the whole family?  This chocolate chip and banana muffin recipe certainly delivers!  Put your own spin on this recipe by adding additional ingredients such as shredded coconut, walnuts, cinnamon or perhaps all three.

Ingredients For Chocolate Chip & Banana Muffins:

  • 1 1/2 cups of flour OR rolled oat flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tbsp almond milk
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 mashed bananas
  • 3/4 cup organic real maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup of sugar free chocolate chips

Chocolate Chip & Banana Muffin Recipe Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 325 and prep muffin pans
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together your flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set this bowl aside.
  3. In a smaller bowl, mix together your eggs and almond milk.
  4. Now, in a large mixing bowl, cream together the bananas, maple syrup, and coconut oil.
  5. Mix in the egg alternative from the small bowl from the 4th step above.
  6. Slowly fold in the flour mixture from the first bowl and the sugar free chocolate chips
  7. You can top your muffins with anything you like!  I added Cinnamon, chocolate chips and coconut shreds to add some extra zing to my banana muffin recipe.
  8. Cook time: 12-15 minutes

If you enjoyed this recipe, click here to try my Dessert Recipe for Paleo Friendly Chocolate Coconut Bars.  What is Paleo?  Click here to read Paleo diet: What is it and why is it so popular?

Chocolate Bread/Cake Recipe

by

Tired of banana bread?  Try this delicious and easy chocolate bread/cake recipe made with almond flour, cocoa and raw honey.  It will satisfy your sweet tooth but won’t last long!

If you want a vegan version, replace the eggs with “flax or chia eggs”  What exactly is flax or chai eggs?  Click here to find out!

Ingredients – What You Will Need:

  • 185g almond flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup tapioca flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil
  • 3 Tbsp raw honey
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 organic eggs
  • 2 Tbsp unsweetened almond milk (or dairy-free milk)
  • 2 handfuls dark chocolate chunks + 1 handful for topping

Instructions – How To Get Started:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
2. In a bowl add almond flour, cocoa powder, tapioca flour and baking soda
3. In an another bowl whisk together eggs, oil, raw honey and vanilla extract. Pour dry ingredients into the bowl with wet ingredients, using spatula to stir and add the 2 tablespoons of milk to fully combined.
4. Add the dark chocolate chunks and stir. The batter should be thick and wet. Pour batter into a loaf pan.
5. Add some chunks for topping.
6. Bake chocolate bread for 30 min.
7. Let it cool in pan for 15 minutes.
8. Enjoy!

If you liked my chocolate bread/cake recipe, click her for my Homemade Chocolate Clusters or click here for my Healthy Chocolate Truffles!

Homemade Chocolate Clusters

by

These healthy homemade Chocolate clusters are the perfect tasty treat for any chocolate lover.  Plus they’re packed with protein!  They can last 1 week in the fridge but lasted 2 days at home because of my son and husband.  Here is the recipe ⤵️

Ingredients:

– 1 can of chickpeas
– 1 bag (225g) dark chocolate chips 71% (I used @caminoamigos)

Want to learn why using dark chocolate is the way to go?  Click here to read 11 Amazing Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate!

Instructions:

1️⃣  Preheat oven to 365 F
2️⃣  Line a baking tray with parchment paper
3️⃣  Add chickpeas to tray
4️⃣  Roast in oven for 50-60 minutes or until crunchy
5️⃣  Stir twice to make sure undersides are also toasted.
6️⃣  In a large bowl, combine roasted chickpeas and dark chocolate chips and stir using the residual heat to melt.
7️⃣  Spoon the chocolate chickpeas candy onto grease proof paper using a dessert or tablespoon and chill in refrigerator for one hour.
8️⃣  Enjoy your very own homemade chocolate clusters without any guilt!

Looking for more easy at home recipes to satisfy the chocolate lover in your life?  Click here for my recipe for Healthy Chocolate Truffles.  You can Surprise your guests by making these healthy chocolate truffles using my secret ingredient, avocado!  Your guests will never know that these are a healthy alternative to the traditional truffle, only that they taste great.

Chocolate Peppermint Fat Bombs

by
chocolate peppermint

Now that Halloween is over, it seems like everywhere you look people are already getting into the festive spirit!  And nothing screams Christmas like the cool taste of peppermint.  These delicious SUGAR FREE Chocolate Peppermint Fat Bombs are a great way to welcome in the holidays and steer clear from other high calorie, loaded in sugar desserts.

Ingredients:

PEPPERMINT FILLING:

– 1/2 cup coconut butter melted
– 1/2 cup coconut oil melted
– 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
– 12 drops of stevia

CHOCOLATE COATING:

– 1/2 cup cacao powder
– 1/2 cup coconut oil melted
– 20 drops of stevia
– 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

How to make:

1. Peppermint Filling: Combine melted coconut butter, coconut oil, peppermint extract, and stevia.  Melt the coconut butter in a jar and place the jar in a boiling pot of water (1-2 inches of water) and melt coconut oil separately in another pot.  After mix all ingredients thoroughly.  With a tablespoon, fill mini cupcake liners or silicon molds with the mixture (2tbsp of mixture per cupcake hold).  Freeze until solid.

2. Chocolate Coating: Mix all the coating ingredients.  Remove peppermint fat bombs from whichever kitchen tool you froze them in.  With a fork, place each peppermint fat bomb into the chocolate coating thoroughly, place on parchment paper and freeze.  If you have extra chocolate, coat again after the first freeze.

NUTRITION FACTS PER FAT BOMB:

– 167 Calories
– 17 grams fat
– 1.6 net carbs
– 1.1 grams of protein

People who visited this page also enjoyed:

Chocolate Reese Peanut Butter Cups

Gluten free Vegan Fat Bombs

Sugar – Are you singing the sugar blues?

Chocolate Reese Peanut Butter Cups

by
pbcups

Reece peanut butter cups are a favorite among many!  The sweet combination of peanut butter and chocolate are enough for anyone to cheat on their diets and indulge.  But do yourself a favor, next time you find yourself drooling for that tasty treat, try this recipe instead.  They still have all the chocolaty peanut butter goodness but without any of the unnecessary calories or guilt AND they’re Keto friendly!!

Recipe: (I doubled this recipe to make 20 cups)

 

CHOCOLATE LAYER – Step 1

  • 2 tbsp coconut oil melted
  • 4 tbsp peanut butter
  • 4 tbsp unsweetened cacao
  • 1/4 tbsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tbsp stevia

PEANUT BUTTER LAYER – Step 2

  • 2 tbsp coconut oil melted
  • 4 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1/4 tbsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tbsp stevia

 

REPEAT Step 1

 

Combine all ingredients from step 1 until smooth, then freeze.
Repeat with peanut butter layer (step 2), then freeze.
Repeat again with step 1 layer, freeze until firm, then Enjoy!!

People who visited this page also viewed:

Chocolate Peppermint Fat Bombs

Keto Brownies

Chocolate And Weight Loss

The Most Decadent and Healthy Dessert You Can Make for Mom this Weekend

by
Decadent Healthy Dessert Mothers Day

It is common to end the meal with a rich, chocolatey dessert, or fudge, cookies or brownies.

This decadent and healthy raw vegan cheesecake will absolutely change the way you think about healthy desserts.

You don’t need to have processed sugar, gluten, flour, milk, eggs or fake frosting to make a dessert taste spectacular. Actually, quite the opposite!! When you create a recipe with real food, real ingredients and keep it as raw, organic and natural as possible, the flavours combine to create a magical, decadent dessert that will knock your socks off! And Mom’s too!

Jo’s Raw Vegan Cheesecake Recipe

Ahead of time:

  1. Take frozen blueberries, cherries and strawberries out of the freezer and let thaw separately in small bowls. You can use fresh berries, but when the frozen option thaws, it creates a nice juice that adds to the flavour of the cheesecakes.
  2. Begin soaking 1.5 cups of raw cashews in water

For the Crust:

1 cup packed pitted dates
1 cup raw walnuts

Decadent DessertAdd dates and walnuts to a food processor and chop until small bits remain and it forms into a ball. Pour into a bowl. If too wet, add a few more walnuts, or if too dry, add a few more dates.

Put 12-15 muffin cups into a muffin tin and press the mixture almost 2cm deep into each muffin cup. Set in freezer while creating the next steps.

For the Cheesecake:

1.5 cups raw, soaked cashews (for a few minutes while making the crust)
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup of coconut milk (if you can separate the solidified cream from the milk in the can, the thicker consistency is much better) or use coconut cream
1/2 cup real maple syrup (or less to taste)

Decadent DessertAdd all ingredients to high speed blender and blend on high until creamy and smooth. Adjust to taste with a bit more or less maple syrup. Pour into bowl and then spoon on top of the walnut-date crust (that was hardened in the freezer).

For the Topping:

Spoon the defrosted fruit onto the cashew cheesecake and press some of the berries into the cheesecake so they don’t roll off. Add a little juice on top. Use your favourite fruits for the topping – I used blueberries, strawberries and black cherries.

Freeze the muffin trays for an hour or so until the cheesecake is firm. Move to the fridge until you serve. They soften quickly and this is the best time to serve them to your special guests.

Decadent Dessert

Enjoy!