EASY HEALTHY VEGAN BLACK QUINOA, BERRY AND CHIA SEED ENERGY BAR TOPPED WITH CRANBERRIES AND DARK CHOCOLATE RECIPE
- 1/2 cup of quinoa
- 2 tbsp of chia seeds
- 1 cup of frozen berries
- 12 dates
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 2 bits of dark chocolate
This energy bar is rammed with goodness! Not only is it the quinoa a complete protein, meaning that it contains all of essential amino acids the body cannot synthesize from other sources, but it also has the highest iron content of any grain! Additionally it is rich in essential amino acids and vitamins A, B2 and E and is an excellent gluten free alternative to other grains. I get mine from the wonderful people at Real Foods. The dates and berries are full of vitamins and dietary fibre and keep the whole bar stuck together. And well, the chocolate is a little happiness booster, filled with antioxidants and caffeine to get you pumped up and ready to go :)
And the best point is they are so easy to make! Start off with rinsing the quinoa in cold water, then bring to the boil and let it simmer for approximately 15 minutes, drain and set aside to cool (if you have the time, let it cool in the fridge overnight). Next step is the base: throw the chia seeds, berries and dates into the food processor and blend till its a gooey sticky red mess. I like to add apple sauce and vanilla for extra flavor. In a bowl mix most of the dried cranberries with the black quinoa and red mess. Spread the mixture on a sheet of baking paper, it should have a fairly dense consistency. Bake at 190 C/fan 170C/gas 5 for thirty minutes, depending on the thickness of the energy bars. Once crispy, remove from oven and cut into portions. Now’s the time to melt the dark chocolate in a small saucepan and cover each bar liberally, then sprinkle chopped dried cranberries on top while the chocolate is still warm. Let the whole thing cool et voilà! Enjoy as a workout snack, a posh biscuit or a lunchbox snack.omg..
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”
Hippocrates was definitely on to something. Have you ever wondered why some people are always full of energy, always on the go, don’t need a lot of sleep and are rarely if ever sick?
Most people don’t realize how much the pH level of the food you eat and your body affects your organs and immune system. The typical western diet of processed and fried foods, refined grains, meat, dairy, and sugar are extremely acidic and result in acidic residues after digestion. As our body is approximately 20 percent acidic and 80 percent alkaline it’s recommended that we eat approximately 20 percent acidic foods and 80 percent alkaline foods too. Nearly all of our physiological functions, including immune system, cardiovascular and digestive functions including most of our enzyme and metabolic processes require that our bodily pH is slightly alkaline. This prevents diseases since most bacteria and viruses can not survive in an alkaline state. Also, organs within our digestive system, such as the pancreas, have functions to balance the pH of the digesting food. The pancreas releases sodium bicarbonate into the small intestine to neutralize the stomach acids. Eating acidic foods puts futher stress on the pancreas and can actually cause diabetes. Eating alkaline foods removes this stress from the pancreas and allows it to function properly. An overly acidic system could lead to symptoms like lack of energy, fatigue, digestive disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, allergies, respiratory ailments, depression, colds, flu and other chronic illness. Another affect of having an acidic body is that calcium is pulled from your bones to balance the pH which can cause bone loss.
It’s worth remembering that the pH of the food item itself may not be accurately reflective of its affect on the body. For example, citris fruits are naturally very acidic, however, when they are digested, they have an alkalizing affect on the body. Therefore, oranges, graprefruits, and lemons are considered alkaline foods because of the affect they have on your body’s pH level, not by their natural pH level.
Here are some of my favourite alkaline recipies:
Tamari Pumpkin Seeds
I love adding pumpkin seeds to jazz up salads and pasta dishes and I recently found out that they have the added bonus of also being the only seeds that are alkaline forming. If you want to give them an extra kick try dry roasting them in a frying pan and then adding 1-2 tsp of tamari or soy sauce.
Lemon Water
Lemons are veritable wonders. Not only do they top the list of the most alkaline forming foods but lemon juice is high in vitamin C, B6, calcium, potassium, copper, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, iron and magnesium. If that wasn’t enough it also has great digestive qualities and can help cleanse the body of toxins.
Spinach
Greens are the highest alkaline-forming foods and they are full of vitamins A, K, and D so adding a spinach salad (spinach, walnuts, lemon juice and avocado) to your meal is an excellent way to alkalize your diet.
Millet
Millet is punchy powerfood, the only alkalizing grain and is a great source of protein. It has a sweet nutty flavor and is considered to be one of the most digestible and non-allergenic grains available.
Adapted from these articles; Care2 and Mission Vitality
The flowers have arrived, farmer’s Markets have started and the winter clothes have been packed away. My summer has finally begun. I’m ready for flip-flop tan lines, losing at least three pairs of sunglasses and roasting homemade marshmallows over backyard bonfires. I tend to cook a lot more…
Mercury, Venus, and Saturn align with the Pyramids of Giza for the 1st time in 2,737 years on December 3, 2012.
Greapeseed oil: Grape Seed Extract and its oil is derived from the seeds of a grape. Due to their nutritional and medicinal properties grapes, their seeds, and leaves have been used in many home remedies for centuries.
Walnut oil: Walnuts and walnut oil are rich in antioxidants and are one of the best antioxidant sources among the tree nuts.
Avocado Oil: Avocado oil is of of the few oils not pressed from oil-rich seeds but from the flesh of the fruit of the avocado tree
Coconut Oil: The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength.
Olive Oil: In addition to bolstering the immune system and helping to protect against viruses, olive oil has also been found to be effective in fighting against diseases such as: Cancer,Heart Disease, Stress, Blood Pressure,Diabetes,Obesity,Arthritis and Osteoporosis
Hemp seed oil: Hemp seed and oil has been called “Nature’s Perfect Food for Humanity”
Flax seed oil: Flax Seed Oil is derived from flax seeds, flax seeds are an excellent source of Omega-9 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids. They are also a very good source of dietary fiber and protein, as well as manganese, folate, Vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorous, lecithin, zinc, and copper. In addition, flax seeds are concentrated in lignan, which has been shown to fight both breast cancer and colon cancer.
Brazil Nut Oil: Brazil Nut Oil is also one of the best sources of selenium around Least HealthyPalm oil: This oil is generally found in processed foods and contains a high ratio of saturated fat. Studies show it may raise the risk of heart disease and spike cholesterol levels.
Cottonseed oil: Cottonseed oil is so toxic that it is often used as a pesticide
Vegetable and soybean oil: Hydrogenated oils and fats are extra-saturated and can increase “bad” LDL cholesterol and decrease “good” HDLcholesterol.
They’re typically found in processed foods and snack items with a longer shelf-life.
Corn oil: Corn Oil’s polyunsaturated acids are the prime requirements for cancer growth. Long-term corn oil use is associated with colon cancers because it inhibits an enzyme used to prevent cancer growth.
Further, Japanese researchers have found that long-term use of corn oil and other corn products increases mortality rates and esophageal cancers.
Canola oil: Canola oil comes from genetically engineered rapeseed. Rapeseed is easy to produce because it is so toxic not even insects want it. It was originally used as a lubricant for machinery in small industries. It has been proven to cause lung cancer and heart disease. It was originally used in Europe in farm animal feeds. These animals went blind, began exhibiting various diseases, and finally went mad and began attacking people.
Sunflower oil and Safflower oil: Vegetable Oils and their fats should be avoided completely. There are much healthier alternatives and there is no reason or need to consume these types of fats.
