Homemade Hot Chocolate: With Dairy-Free Options

1. There is nothing more relaxing than snuggling up on the couch on a cold winter evening, with a good book and a warm cup of homemade hot chocolate. This recipe makes for a decadent, creamy and satisfying homemade hot chocolate treat for 2-3 people.
   
   

   Homemade Hot Chocolate: With Dairy-Free Options

   Homemade Hot Chocolate: The Players
   
   • 2 cups raw milk (substitute coconut milk for dairy-free; where to find BPA-free coconut milk)
   • 1 cup raw heavy cream (substitute coconut cream for dairy-free
   • 2 tablespoons cacao powder (where to find GMO-free, raw, organic cacao powder)
   • 3 tablespoons coconut palm sugar (where to find coconut sugar)or Pure Maple Syrup (to taste).
   • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (where to find organic vanilla)
   • pinch of sea salt (where to find REAL U.S. sea salt)
   • pinch of cayenne
   This recipe does call for quite a bit of coconut sugar. This is because coconut sugar doesn’t taste as sweet as cane sugar, so you need a little bit more to get the right flavor. Although data is limited, coconut sugar is also thought to be rich in nutrients, most notably the minerals, iron, zinc, calcium and potassium. You can top with Whipped Cream or for a dairy-free (i.e. Paleo) version, you can try my Coconut Whipped Cream. Both of these recipes only take 30 seconds to whip up!
   
   
   Homemade Hot Chocolate: The How-To
   
   1. Heat the milk and cream in a saucepan over medium-low heat. I like to heat the milk up slowly to avoid scorching it.
   2. Then add the cacao powder, your favorite sweetener and vanilla. Whisk vigorously.
   3. Once all the cacao has blended in with your milk mixture, add the pinch of sea salt and cayenne. Keep whisking. 
   4. Continue to heat the mixture until it is warm, but not too hot to drink.
   5. Top with whipped cream and enjoy!~
   6. Provided by Food Renegade

What are the Health Benefits of Green Tea?

Green tea is especially healthy. With more than 30 polyphenols it affects the human system in the most positive of ways. One catechin in particular, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), is found only in green tea.

I especially like Shaklee 180 Energizing Green Tea because it is a safe and natural way to head off the slumps when you need a quick pick-me-up. It has an exclusive blend of antioxidant-rich matcha green, white and red teas.

The 180 Energizing Tea also contains taurine, which has been widely studies for enhanced alertness and energy!

I love having a hot cup with my afternoon snack or protein bar. Some people prefer it chilled for a antioxidant-packed iced tea.

Good for the spirit, good for the body.

Healthy New Year

6 Things You Can Do to Be Healthier in 2014 In order to develop new patterns that will make a true difference in your health, try following these small lifestyle changes that you can actually stick to! Here is what I am committing to for 2014. Why don’t you join me and make this year your healthiest: Go green: Eat something green with every meal. (Yes, this includes breakfast.) Try spinach, kale, broccoli, or any dark-green leafy vegetable. These vegetables are packed full of nutrition and are low calorie. Eating more greens is not only good for you, but good for the environment too! I am good at getting green veggies at lunch and dinner—so I am committing to green Energizing  Smoothees or spinach scrambled egg whites in the morning. Stop the sugar madness: When people ask me what they should drink, I always say “just water,” that is because the largest single source of unneeded calories in your diet comes from both soda and fruit juices. See how close you can get to just drinking water. Clean up your water: Since you are now only drinking water, you need the best. This means your water must be filtered. Bottled water is not a healthy choice. It is full of chemicals you don’t want in your body and plastic bottles are an environmental disaster. So avoid them if possible. If you want to get the whole scoop on water, check out our clean drinking water post. Count your steps: Buy a pedometer and commit to 10,000 steps every day. A good pedometer you can get online is called a Fitbit® Zip.™ Focus on 10,000 steps or more per day and you will feel good energy. Prioritize sleep: Modern life makes a good night’s sleep very difficult. (There is just too much to do!) The problem is that losing sleep makes you less smart and more forgetful, reduces your sex drive, depresses your mood, makes you crave carbohydrates, and leads to weight gain. Commit to at least seven hours of sleep every night (eight would be better) and you will see dramatic improvements in your health. I find that I feel so much better when I get at least 7 ½ hours. Check vitamin D levels: Research on how valuable vitamin D is to our health is exploding. Vitamin D helps support bone health, maintains the immune system, is associated with maintaining brain function, and may be a factor in reducing development of chronic diseases such as arthritis. Have your doctor check your vitamin D blood level (25-hydroxy-vitamin D), and supplement (or get enough sun) until your levels are between 50-80 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml). For personalized nutrition consulting or special discounts on nutrition products e-mail me at lifequesthealth@aol.com Enjoy life to the fullest! ~Michele

Boost Your Immunity with Probiotics

Since your gut contains hundreds (if not thousands) of different types of bacteria, it’s best to find a probiotic that contains a wide variety of bacterial strains. Most probiotics will include the 2 major strains Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria bifidum. 

These two strains are important because different bacteria adhere to different areas of the digestive and intestinal tract.

For instance, lactobacilli bacteria have an affinity for the upper GI tract, namely the alkaline medium in the small intestine. Bifidobacteria tend to favour the slightly more acidic environment of the large intestine. Thus, it’s important to get the best of both of these bacteria and numerous species and strains that they encompass.

Normal, healthy colonies of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria can help maintain a healthy balance of intestinal microflora. Many probiotics may disintegrate prematurely when exposed to stomach acid so they never reach the lower intestine. I have found Shaklee's  Optiflora has a state-of-the-art, triple encapsulated, seamless capsule that is guaranteed to withstand the acidic environment of the stomach to deliver live beneficial bacteria to the intestine.

You can find Optiflora Probiotic on my site:

 www.healthysteps.myshaklee.com

For further reading on this topic see the below article:

Probiotics

The body's immune booster and regulator

By Brooke Holmgren

The body is an amazing thing; every system, organ, muscle, bone, and cell functions to sustain life. No one system is more valuable than the other; all need to function at ideal capacity for overall optimum health. If one system is compromised, others may begin to falter; it’s a chain reaction within your body. One of these vital components of the human body is the gut.

As you may know, the human digestive tract is filled with bacteria. In fact, the whole human body contains more individual bacterium than actual human cells. Most of the bacteria in the digestive tract are beneficial and promote a symbiotic relationship within the body. The exception to the rule is foreign, illness-causing bacteria. Essentially, gut microflora (bacteria) is what allows the digestive system to function as it does. Among its many tasks, these live microorganisms aid in fermenting (and utilizing) carbohydrates, aid the body in absorbing nutrients from food, and boost immunity within the body.

Where to Find Them

Probiotics aren’t as elusive as they sound; they’re attainable in fermented foods such as yogurt, soy yogurt, pickled vegetables, kefir, buttermilk, tempeh, miso soup, and even sauerkraut. Since these foods make up only a small portion of the average person’s diet, supplements have taken center stage as a means to boost the number of probiotic bacteria within the gut.

You may ask yourself why humans need to ingest probiotics if they already exist within our intestinal tract. The body does not make probiotics on its own; they must be consumed through diet. However, a modern diet consisting of heavily processed, preserved, and nutrient-deficient foods does not provide plentiful probiotics for consumption. In addition, antibiotics, frequently prescribed for common ailments, and pesticide-laden GMOs, are notoriously known to kill probiotics and create an imbalance of bacteria in the gut.

What Probiotics Are

Probiotics are bacteria present in the intestinal tract that are defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) as “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.” This is a broad definition, but in terms of probiotics, there are a wide variety of “good” bacteria to include in your diet.

Different Types

Probiotics is an umbrella term that covers several strains. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are the two principal genuses of probiotic bacteria. Lactobacilli reside in the small intestine, while bifidobactiria are active in the colon. Probiotics are identified by genus, species, and strain. Here are some common probiotic species and strains (of the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genus) that may be found in food or supplements and what their role is within your gut:

Lactobacillus:

Most probiotic strains belong to the genus Lactobacillus. Probiotics have been evaluated in research studies in animals and humans with respect to antibiotic-associated diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is possible that, in the future, probiotics will be used for different gastrointestinal diseases, or as delivery systems for vaccines.

>> L. acidophilus CL1285 (a strain of Lactobacillus) is used in the production of yogurt—it’s one of the “live and active cultures” you may see printed on the side of the yogurt container. Its purpose in yogurt is to decrease pH of the milk used to create yogurt. Since L. acidophilus can survive pH levels of four to five or below, it can pass through the acidic environment of the stomach into the small intestine and work its magic in keeping intestines clean and boosting the immune system.

>> L. reuteri DSM 17938 is often used as a dietary supplement as it boosts the immune system and simultaneously attacks foreign pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract.

>> L. rhamnosus GG is also used in the production of yogurt and some other dairy products. It inhibits pathogen growth in the urogenital tract, inhibits diarrhea from the rotavirus, and oddly enough, has been shown to reduce anxiety in lab mice.

>> Lactobacillus casei produces a carbohydrate-digesting enzyme known as amylase, which is essentially the beginning process of digestion for all foods. Without amylase, food could literally pass right through you.

Bifidobacteria:

>> Bifidobacterium lactis is known to prevent diarrhea, reduce colon inflammation, and provide relief from constipation.

>> Bifidobacterium animalis shortens colonic transit time, that is, how long it takes for a meal to be digested and eliminated by the body through a bowel movement. Bifidobacterium animalis also plays a role in processing B-complex vitamins.

Health Benefits

Probiotics tout numerous health benefits—even for a relatively healthy individual or a person in excellent health, probiotics maintain health. Yet the use of probiotics for those who suffer from various ailments is becoming more widely recognized as more research is done.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a painful condition caused by inflammatory changes in the colon and intestines. It has been noted that people with IBD have a different composition of gut microflora than healthy individuals; they lack the probiotics bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.

Individuals who are lactose intolerant may drink sweet acidophilus milk (also made from L. acidophilus) as it allows the stomach to easily digest the enzymes present in dairy. L. acidophilus has also been shown to boost the immune system by increasing cytokine, phagocytic activity, and antibody production. Another important aspect of L. acidophilus is that it is present in normal vaginal flora. There are various causes for an alteration in vaginal flora such as antibiotics, other medications, stress, or even chemicals from laundry detergent that lead to a proliferation of Candida albicans (more commonly known as a yeast infection).

According to a 2011 study published by the Public Library of Science, L. ccasei DN-144 001 improves symptoms of colitis by strengthening the gut barrier function. This is also true of L. ccasei DN-144 001 for cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.

Probiotics and calcium work together—probiotics boost calcium absorption, and calcium aids the effectiveness of probiotics. You may see why yogurt is an ideal food for probiotic delivery. In addition to increasing bioavailability of minerals, probiotics break down fats from food (known as lipolysis) and convert lactose to lactic acid.

How Much Vitamin D?-Watch This Video Clip

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Seven Super Brain Supplements

By Dr. Perlmutter

A brain-healthy, Alzheimer’s-fighting diet has properties that extend far beyond just decreasing your daily carb load. To truly provide your body  with  brain-boosting nutrients and vitamins that help stave off brain disease and other illnesses, you should consider a regular regimen of supplements. These seven supplements will go a long way towards helping you with prevention:

1. DHA: An omega-3 fatty acid that represents more than 50% of the omega-3 fatty acids in the brain. Numerous studies link high levels of DHA with a decreased risk for dementia, Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases (view some of these studies here on my site). Look to take in about 1,000mgs/day.
2. Resveratrol: If you like that red wine is permissible in the Grain Brain lifestyle, then you can thank this natural compound which slows down the aging process, boosts blood flow to the brain, and promotes heart health. In addition to the role it plays in stimulating brain function, resveratrol is also a key ally of our body’s immune system. Target 100 mg twice daily.
3. Turmeric: If you follow me on social media (Facebook, Twitter), then you’ve heard me talk about turmeric before. Turmeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We can thank turmeric protecting our mitochondria (thanks to its role in stimulating antioxidant properties), but it also improves glucose metabolism —both of which are essential for reducing one’s risk for brain disease. Try to get 350 mg twice daily.
4. Probiotics: Research conducted in just the last few years has started to conclude that eating food rich in probiotics can influence brain behavior, and may modulate the effects of stress, anxiety, and depression. In Grain Brain, I dive deeper into the relationship between probiotics and brain health, and sow today’s researchers are further exploring the role gut bacteria may play in maladies ranging from chronic pain to autism. Ideally, get your probiotics through a supplement that contains at least 10 billion active cultures format least ten different strains, including lactobaccilus acidophilus and bifidobacterium.
5. Coconut Oil: If you follow this blog, you know I am a big fan of coconut oil and probably know why it’s an important part of our diet. It’s even a part of my anti-Alzheimer’s trio! Go for at least 2 teaspoons of an organic variety daily.
6. Alpha-lipoic Acid: Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that works to protect brain and nerve tissue. Look to get 600 mg/day.
7. Vitamin D: I can’t say enough about the importance of Vitamin D, and that’s why I devote five pages to it in Grain Brain. To learn more, watch my video on the subject. It’s ideal to start with 5,000 units of Vitamin D3 daily, get tested after three months, and adjust accordingly.

As with any dietary/health changes, these are suggested guidelines only, and you should consult with your physician before making any changes to, or beginning, a supplement plan.

BEWARE OF THIS INGREDIENT FOUND IN SPORTS DRINKS: BROMINATED VEGETABLE OIL (AKA BVO)

Image Credit: Getty Images

Brominated Vegetable Oil (aka BVO)'s main ingredient, bromine, is a poisonous chemical that is considered both corrosive and toxic. It's been linked to major organ system damage, birth defects, growth problems, schizophrenia, and hearing loss, which explains why it's been nixed in more than 100 countries.
Health Hazards: “Because it competes with iodine for receptor sites in the body, elevated levels of the stuff may lead to thyroid issues, such as hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease & cancer,”
Why the U.S. Allows It: BVO acts as an emulsifier, preventing the flavoring from separating and floating to the surface of beverages, Calton says.Also found in: Citrus-flavored sodas

I have always opted for a natural safer alternative whenever any of our family members play sports or are sick with conditions that deplete electrolytes such as fever, vomiting or diarrhea.

Compare For Yourself Can You Be At Optimal Performance While Hydrating  with Vegetable Oil & Corn Syrup? Did you know????

Gatorade™ is made by Quaker Oats, PepsiCo (not exactly a health oriented company) and does not utilize natural ingredients to restore the body back to its normal electrolyte balance. Gatorade adds corn syrup, brominated oil and artificial colors and flavors.        

Gatorade Ingredient List

• 110 mg sodium

• 30 potassium

• 14 g carbs

• 14 g sugar (from corn syrup)

• Costs more per ounce

Gatorade™ Contains undesirable

ingredients such as:

• High Fructose Corn Syrup

• Glycol Ester of Wood Rosin

• Vegetable Oil

• Artificial Red # 40 and Yellow #6

• Artificial Flavors

VS A Natural Alternative called Performance 

Performance™ is a natural electrolyte replacement beverage developed by Shaklee Health Corporation (the # 1 natural nutrition company in the U.S.) designed to mimic and restore the body’s natural electrolyte balance. 

Clinical test with high-level athletes show Shaklee Performance: 1) Minimized fluid loss for enhanced hydration 2) Increased Performance for better athletic performance

Peroformance Ingredient List

• 130 mg sodium

• 50 mg potassium                                                               

• 25 g carbs                                              

• 11 g sugar (from fruit)

• Costs less money per ounce

Performance™ Sports Drinks are

All Natural and contain:

• NO High Fructose Corn Syrup

• NO Artificial Flavors

• NO Vegetable Oils

• NO Refined Sugars

• NO Artificial Colors  

           Cost is about $12 for 19 servings. Or Ask about theTeam Size for an additional discount. 

To Order with the 15% discount call me (Michele) at LifeQuest Health 714-536-6555 

or e-mail orders to: Lifequesthealth@aol.com.
 Alternatively you can pay retail and order from http://healthysteps.myshaklee.com.

Tested by The Shaklee Pure Performance Team 
An elite squad of Shaklee-fueled, world-class athletes specially chosen from a variety of highly competitive sports by 2008 Beijing Games pentathlete, Eli Bremer. The team has won more than 110 Olympic Medals...and counting! Learn more about how Shaklee nutrition has helped achieve stunning performances visit the Pure Performance Team Website below:

http://www.Athletes.Shaklee.com

Alkaline Foods To Keep You Healthier

Almost all foods that we eat, after being digested, absorbed, and metabolised, release either an acid or an alkaline base (bicarbonate) into blood. 

Grains, fish, meat, poultry, shellfish, cheese, milk, and salt all produce acid. The mass consumption of these foods have caused our bodies to become overly acidic, which strips it of minerals. 

Over the long haul, those who do not balance their diet with alkaline foods (vegetables and fruits, primarily) become prone to weak bones, joints and muscles, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and a host of other health problems. In other words, long-term health and longevity have everything to do with acid-alkaline balance.

Consider the Inuit (a.k.a., Eskimos), who do not have access to many fruits and vegetables. Their diets consist largely of seal meat, fish and whale blubber. While they eat few grains, their diet is nevertheless highly acidic. Though a sturdy bunch, with healthy hearts, their bones start breaking down prematurely. Indeed, the Inuit people have the worst longevity statistics in North America.

In contrast is Okinawa, where more people live to 100 years of age, longer than anywhere in the world. While meat, rice, soy and seafood (highly acidic foods) are squarely in the diet, so are a vast range of different vegetables and fruits, rich in anti-oxidants, as well as minerals that counteract acidity. A wealth of fascinating anthropologic and scientific evidence exists that supports the acid-alkaline theory of health and longevity; there is much information to research this further.

The typical American diet is similar to that of the Inuit in that there is entirely too much meat and not enough alkaline vegetables to balance it. Factory farms in the US manufacture meat and animal products in unhealthy ways, leaving them loaded with toxins and inflammatory compounds. Furthermore, charring meat adds flavor, as well as cancer-causing substances.

To make matters worse, the acidity of the American diet is compounded by all the starches and sweets consumed. Many of these processed foods can be as acidic as meat, chicken, fish and seafood (colas are even more acidic), but are not nearly as full of nutrients. Acidic foods are also generally lacking in fiber, which helps control blood sugar and improves bowel health. The friendly bacteria in the gut need fiber to function. Without them, not only does the digestive system suffer, but also the immune defenses.

The problem is not so much any particular food, but rather the cumulative effect of a highly acidic diet over many decades that eats away at our health.

So, where does that leave us? What can we do to reduce the impact of an acidic diet? For one, reduce the serving sizes of the acidic foods, while increasing the amount of greens and other alkaline veggies during a meal. This markedly reduces the total number of calories consumed, while reducing the acid impact. Learning about what foods are highly acidic or alkaline can help one balance the diet better.

Here are a few suggestions that can help you add more alkaline foods to your diet;
Have a big salad at least once a day using green leafy vegetables (especially collard or mustard greens, endive and kale) and add sprouts, broccoli, parsley, asparagus and peppers. Grind black pepper on everything savory. Squeeze lemon or lime juice on fish, salads or in your beverage. Munch on pumpkin seeds or add them to salads. Use sea salt (Celtic, French or Himalayan preferred) rather than regular table salt. Use Apple cider vinegar rather than Balsamic vinegar. Drink ginger tea instead of coffee. If you like radishes, eat them like candy. If you want something sweet, eat cantaloupe, tangerines, mandarins and assorted berries. Let vegetable juices be your summer thirst quencher. Quell a hunger with celery smeared with nut butter. Smear half of an avocado on toast, rather than margarine.

Green leafy vegetables and the foods mentioned above can make a major difference in the balance of things and protect the bones, joints, muscles, heart, brain, liver and kidneys. Alkaline bodies are also much more resistant to infection and cancer.

As far as diets go, these are not boring foods by any means. Indeed, there is a great variety to choose from, and hundreds of simple recipes to play with. In addition, many other healthy and tasty foods are alkaline forming, though not with the same impact as the foods listed above. There are also alkaline mineral supplements, such as the citrates of potassium, magnesium and calcium, which can have profound effects on health and well-being.Source: www.naturalnews.com