Gluten & Egg Free Banana Muffins.

After our morning walk today my son (18 months) and I decided to bake some muffins.  Let me tell you he bakes like he is playing in a sand box so my kitchen and both of us are a mess.  This is also why there are no "in the process" pictures.  I used sorghum flour for this recipe, I love the taste and it is the closest in texture and taste to traditional wheat flour of any of the gluten-free flours.  You can use any flour you want though, brown rice, buckwheat (ground from raw groats is nice) or even almond.  I also choose sorghum because it is a little cheaper and baking with the wee one half of the ingredients are on the floor. 

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Enjoy!

Coconut Water Mango Hydrating Smoothie

Hydration is sooo important for so many reasons and water is so important because it helps to transport nutrients, regulate body temperature, remove wastes, flush toxins, lubricate joints, improves oxygen delivery to all our cells, enables cellular hydration, moistens oxygen for easier breathing, cushions bones and joints, absorbs shocks to joints and organs, prevents tissues from sticking, improves cell to cell communication, maintains normal electrical properties of cells and empowers the body’s natural healing process.  Yup that was a long sentence but it shows you how important water is for our over all health.  Also it's important to note, if you are already thirsty, you are already dehydrated!  Other then water after a workout Coconut Water is one of the best natural recovery drinks.  

Rehydrate and replenish with nature’s sports drink and best electrolyte. With more potassium than a banana, low acidity, no fat, no sugar added and no cholesterol you are going to want to chug a lot of this water … and often!  It is especially good for dehydration.  When we exercise we end up using our electrolytes and water, and drinking coconut water is a perfect way to replenish yourself to optimal functioning.

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Random Tips From Kim...Goji Berries.

Kim Tip -Goji Berries.

Goji Berries originated from Asia but different species of goji berries can be found in North and South America as well. 

According to David Wolfe dried berries do not contain Vitamin C like widely reported, but they are a complete protein and the most nutritionally rich berry-fruit on the planet. 

They are known to "boost the immune function, increase alkalinity and vitality, provide liver protection, improve eyesight and blood quality, deliver anti-aging compounds, and possess a number of additional out-standing qualities." 1

Now that is one powerful berry, you can eat or drink them many ways.  In the dry form you can just eat them like a raisin, the way my grandma loves them, add them to smoothies, on top of granola or make a goji juice.  I 1st tried this juice in 2008 and I loved it in the morning for a pick me up drink.

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Wolfe. Superfoods: the food and medicine of the future. North Atlantic Books. 2009

Super Cacao Blueberry Almond Milk

For anyone that knew me as a kid or in high school, I LOVED dairy milk and chocolate milk.  I would have it every day twice a day if I could.  I would just be buzzing and my tummy would feel heavy and sore but I didn't care I loved chocolate milk soooo much.  Fast forward to my late 20's and I finally put it all together.  I had an intolerance to dairy, every time I  had milk or yogurt I would get stomach cramps and break out in tiny pimples around my mouth.  When I was breastfeeding my son he had cramping when I got into cheese as well.  Thank goodness there are a million other ways to get Vitamin D and Calcium in even more absorbable forms. 

Over the past few years I have fallen in love with making my own almond milk, it is easy and way healthier for you, because the milk you make doesn't have additives, sugars and carrageenan.  The only issue is almost all almonds you purchase are from California which are all pasteurized.  There are four main methods of pasteurizing almonds, steam processing, high heat treatment (roasting), blanching and highly toxic fumigation treatment with propylene oxide (PPO), with the steam processing and PPO fumigation used most often.  Even organic are pasteurized but without PPO, so if you want to get all the health benefits out of your almonds, pay a little more and buy European almonds.  My personal favorite brand is Prana, I hope to be selling them soon.   Do your best, find what you can, but at least try to make your own from organic almonds.

 

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3 Ingredients Cookie

It's been a busy week around here at Appreciating Health.  I had two meet and greets and met some lovely people and let them try a yummy smoothie.  recipe coming soon.  I also made some fantastic business connections that I will be telling you all about next Monday.  I'm so excited to tell you about it but better wait till everything is finalized, so next week it is. 

On to this week.  On Saturday we had my brother and his beautiful girlfriend over for dinner.  It wasn't till after dinner was over we realized we had no dessert so in 15 minutes from start to finish this is what we came up with.  You must see a theme here with me and desserts. 

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