The holiday season is notorious for high stress, and lots of high sugar, high fat comfort foods. The inevitable result of this late season binge is a huge energy drop, and lots of illness, trouble and more stress to start the new year.
There are so many natural foods, herbs, & spices that are exploding with the tastes and textures we love, why do we buy into the "traditional holiday season" and submit to the man-made death trap of processed foods. Make your holiday season healthier and more harmonious with the best superfood nutrition. Try utilizing these 3 nutritional powerhouses in your recipes:
1. Cinnamon: This incredible spice is the 2nd highest ranked anti-oxidant rich food with an incredible ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbancy Capacity) score of 267,536. Cinnamon's powerful essential oils are known for their "anti-microbial" factors. Studies have shown this spice to be highly effective at halting the growth of bacteria as well as fungi, including the commonly problematic yeast Candida.
Cinnamon also helps to balance blood sugar by stimulating insulin receptors, giving them a stronger affinity for the blood-sugar lowering hormone. In response, the body needs to produce less insulin in order to create the desired effect. This creates less pancreatic stress, improved metabolic rate, and decreased inflammation.
If this isn't enough, the mere scent of cinnamon has been shown to powerfully stimulate regions of the brainallowing for greater attention span & memory. Sprinkle tons of this amazing spice on sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, fruit, pastries, ice cream, egg nog, etc.
2. Cacao: This nutritional powerhouse is the 5th highest anti-oxidant rich food boasting an ORAC score of 80,933. Chocolate is made from the seeds Theobroma cacao. The seeds are dried, roasted, & processed to form cocoa, the major component of chocolate. Cacao beans taste like dark chocolate, because they are dark chocolate!
Cacao contains a group of powerful anti-oxidant polyphenols called flavenoids that include catechins, epicatechins (the widely regarded anti-oxidant in green tea), and procyandins (famed component of grape seed extract) which are known for their incredible ability to reduce free radical attack, destroy bacteria/viruses/yeast development, and inhibit cancer formation
Cacao is also rich in major minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese. These minerals are essential in maintaining normal cardiovascular tone (stabilizing blood pressure), immune, neurological, and reproductive health. Incredible cacao based recipes such as rich and creamy fudge , truffles, and chocolate balls the whole family will love can be found at www.cacaoweb.net
3. Coconut: This nutritional powerhouse is a high-energy, weight loss, immune boosting superstar. The 90% saturated fat content of coconut oil has been given it a bad rap for ages, but the new science has shown these medium chain triglycerides (MCT's) to actually improve cardiovascular function by reducing inflammation, and providing a preferred fuel for the heart in stearic acid. In addition, the saturated component gives coconut oil remarkable strength to maintain its normal structure under high heat. Due to this relatively uncombustable nature, it is the supreme oil to cook with and to utilize as a facial & body moisturizer.
These fatty acids do not require bile or large amounts of pancreatic enzymes to be metabolized (like most fats do) so they are easy for the liver, pancreas, and the rest of the digestive system. In addition, coconut has been shown to stimulate the thyroid and speed metabolism, increasing the body's natural fat burning abilities. Finally, the MCT's enhance immunity by providing strong anti-bacterial, anti-viral, & anti-fungal functions.
Be sure to utilize the many coconut products such as coconut oil, milk, cream, flour, flakes, etc. in your different recipes.
At Exodus Health Center, we are here to help you find great new ways to add superfood nutrition into your family's diet. We will be demonstrating exactly how to make these amazing superfood recipes that taste incredible and nourish your body at the same time. Some of the recipes to be made include:
Egg Nog Chocolate Mints Raw Chocolate Treats
Dukka Macaroons Strawberry Almond Cream
Learn and enjoy some amazing recipes for a healthy and tasty holiday party season. I will be making a super deluxe egg-nog that is extraordinarily healthy and incredibly delicious. We will have several other recipes on board as well. Bring your friends with you to this fun and festive night of creative, enjoyable, & innovative holiday recipes.
Healthy Holiday Recipe Night
Monday, December 21st 7pm
Exodus Health Center
2750 Jiles Rd Kennesaw 30144
770-420-0492
