Raw Cacao for Ravishing Skin

Were you ever told when you were younger if you ‘eat too much chocolate you’ll get bad skin!? If you didn’t know already, then you’ll be pleased that it’s not in fact chocolate (in raw cacao form that is!) that contributes to poor skin health. Raw chocolate, known as cacao, or ‘food of the gods’ has actually shown to be extremely beneficial for our skin’s health, along with an abundance of other superb health benefits due to its pure, antioxidant rich and nutrient dense composition. By consuming raw cacao on a daily basis, you are actually benefitting your skin in so many ways that you may not have ever known, providing it with a true medicine straight from nature. So stay away from processed and highly sugared chocolate bars and get chomping on that raw cacao!

Raw cacao and its sky rocketing amounts of amazing antioxidants are what make raw cacao contribute to super skin. Collagen, found naturally in our skin, decreases as we age eventually leading to droopy and weathered skin. The aging process can also sped up by environmental pollutants, free radicals, and damage from the natural sun in todays busy world. The good news is that natural flavonoids, an antioxidant, found in Cacao helps to protect collagen in the skin, helping to slow down the aging process. These same flavonoids also improve skins appearance and texture by increasing blood flow to the skin, delivering healthy beneficial nutrients faster while decreasing the skins sensitivity to light, helping to protect our skin from harmful UV rays.

These fantastic flavonoids along with a substantial amount of natural sulphur found in cacao, have also been shown to improve skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and even acne. Increased blood flow to the skin from cacao’s large antioxidant content results in better delivery of nutrients and the removal of nasty toxins from the blood, expelling them for good from the body. For those who may currently suffer with acne or oily skin, don’t fear - cacao can aid and benefit your skin too. Cacao aids your skin to help reduce overly oily production by gently and slowly drying it out. Its antimicrobial properties may help reduce inflammation, so those pores won’t become blocked and those unsightly and unwanted pimples will slowly dry away. Toss or sprinkle raw cacao into homemade baked goods, smoothies, oatmeal or simply eat on its own and start to notice a difference in your skin with cacao’s super-cleansing content!

For delicious recipe ideas on how to use Mum's Original Raw Cacao Nibs, Cacao Powder, Coconut Cacao Nibs or Cacao Beans for better skin from the inside out, visit us at www.mumsoriginal.com.

Berry Chia Pudding

This berry chia pudding is easy to make and full of vitamins, protein and anti-oxidants while bursting with berry flavors. Great as a pudding or fun as a popsicle, this one is sure to please everyone!

• 3/4 cup water
• 5 Tablespoons Mum's Original Premium White Wholeseed Chia 
• 2 cups washed blueberries
• 1 cup washed raspberries
• 1/3 cup Mum's Original Delores Hemp Hearts
• 3 Tablespoons Mum's Original Banana Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil (optional)
• 3 Tablespoon Mum's Original Coconut Sugar or 2 tablepoons raw honey
• 1 teaspoon Mum's Original Cacao Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1. Add chia and water, stir and soak for 20 minutes.
2. Once soaked, blend chia mix with all other ingredients in a high speed food processor until mixed well (2-3 min). Blend  longer for greater smoothness. Makes about 2 cups.

TURN THESE INTO FROZEN CHERRY CHIA POPSICLES:

1. Make berry chia pudding as above.
2. Take 12 cherries and gently split down middle and remove pit.
3. In an ice cube tray, place a teaspoon of berry chia pudding at bottom of each ice cube spot. Add in cherry and fill pudding to top of ice cube tray.
4. Place a small miniature wooden popsicle stick (or piece of wooden skewer) into cherry center.
5. Place in freezer for 3 hours. Remove, run back under hot water and pop out. Kids will love them!

Choco-Strawberry Chia Jam

Gluten Free, Nut Free, Soy Free, Corn Free, Vegan (option), WFM ‘Health Starts Here’ approved!

This jam is an excellent summer go-to for amazing flavors of local and ripe fruit. By adding in the live and raw Mum's Original Whole Seed Chia and the super anti-oxidant rich Mum's Original Cacao Powder, the jam goes from a nice-to-have to a must-have for an incredible source of super-sweet health.

Ingredients:

• 5 cups washed & chopped strawberries (approx 900g or 32oz)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup raw honey (or 1 cup Mum’s Original Coconut sugar)
• 4 tablespoons Mum’s Original White Whole Seed Chia
• 1 tablespoon Mum’s Original Cacao Powder

Directions:

1. Prepare 4 small mason jars with lids washed and cleaned, place in a cook pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and then turn to low heat.
2. Place strawberries and lemon juice in a large pot.  Place on stove top and turn heat to medium/high. Cook for 6-8 minutes, while heating up mash the strawberries with a potato masher.
3. Add honey stir in and turn to high, keep stirring and bring to a hard boil (meaning that mixture will not subside when you stir it). Keep at a hard boil for one minute and continue stirring. 
4. Turn heat down to low, add chia, vanilla and cacao powder. Simmer for 15 minutes or until desired consistency.
5. Take each mason jar and remove from water, carefully add in jam mixture to mason jar. Cover with lid and lightly tighten lid. Repeat until jam all bottled.
6. Wait 10 minutes and the gently tighten each lid by hand.
7. Place in fridge – will keep up to 7 days.

Spicy Turmeric Hempuccino – By Superfoodie Christa Collie

This drink is a delicious way to naturally detoxify with liver cleansing and anti-inflammatory roots turmeric and ginger. The raw Cacao Powder gives a powerful punch to your immune system and the Delores Hemp Hearts provides great vegan whole protein. Whether you make it hot or cold, enjoy!

Ingredients

1 cups filtered water
1 tbsp Mum's Original raw Cacao Powder
1 tbsp Mum's Original Delores Hemp Hearts
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp Mum's Original Coconut Sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/8 tsp Mum's Original Himalayan Rock Salt

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (depending how spicy you like it!)

2 ice cubes
 

**to boost the indulgence, add 1 tsp melted coconut oil

Directions:

Blend all ingredients in high speed blender (Vitamix or Blendtec) and enjoy! For a hot version, simply heat the water to desired temperature and omit the ice cubes.

About our Superfoodie:

Christa is a plant-based food lover and aspiring nutritionist. Since her diagnosis of Celiac Disease 11 years ago, she has slowly discovered how foods, especially superfoods, have an immense impact on healing the body naturally. A loving wife of over 11 years, she makes Calgary her home, and the mountains her playground. You can find more about Christa’s  journey and passion for health and well-being at her blog here.

Raw Cacao for a ‘mighty main’!

We all love a bit of chocolate…but who knew that our hair did too! The cacao tree is a little strange looking but beautiful tree, in which the cacao pods actually grow from its trunk, and not the branches like other trees. One thing we now know for sure, is that cacao’s health benefits for your hair, is something that is definitely not strange, and will make your ‘main’ shine out from the rest of the pack!

The cacao tree is one of the most top nutrient rich botanical plants, making raw cacao a necessity towards beauty and wellness.  An ingredient found in cacao, called sulphur, is the secret beauty mineral that is responsible for providing the correct super growth nutrients. By adding raw cacao (processed chocolate is not the same) into your diet, you can provide your hair with that added boost to help it grow long and strong which is excellent for people suffering from hair loss or a slow growth of hair, or those of us that just want healthier locks. Raw cacao adds shine and vibrancy while significantly improving the general health of hair.

Environmental toxins also play a role in the health of our hair. In today’s society, many toxins roam in the environment around us that are harmful to our health and wellbeing. In addition, poor food choices also contribute to poor hair due to high BAD fats and little nutrition. By eating antioxidant rich food like cacao, you help your body  fight free radical damage so it can repair itself whenever needed, including the cells that make up hair follicles. Antioxidant rich raw cacao powder is at the top of the antioxidant measurement table:  ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) chart, with a whopping 28,000 antioxidant level per 100g – higher than green tea…so goodbye dull hair and hello healthy hair from raw chocolate![1] [2]

Another fabulous nutrient in raw cacao is its protein content. Not only is protein needed inside and out for growth, repair and maintenance, it can externally be used additionally to coat the hair, adding strength and therefore preventing breakage. Try out this amazing nutrient dense conditioning hair mask to leave your hair feeling soft, looking shiny, with super-strength!

To get started take:

·        6oz plain yogurt
·        2 tbsp Mum’s Original Cacao Powder
·        3 tbsp coconut oil
·        2 tbsp honey

1.      Combine all of the above ingredients until you reach a cake frosting consistency.
2.      Section hair, and apply mixture from root to tip concentrating more on the ends if you have dry, brittle ends.
3.      Once your hair is fully covered, cover with a shower cap or plastic wrap and your hair soak up the goodness for 30-45 minutes. Shampoo and condition your hair like normal and style.

VOILA! Soft, supple and ready for anything hair! Plus…. Your bathroom will smell absolutely divine! What a bonus.

For delicious recipes on how to use raw cacao daily for its full benefits inside and out, visit www.mumsoriginal.com and enjoy!

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[1] http://www.creativehealthinstitute.com/blog/raw-cacao-tops-the-table-of-orac-values-for-common-foods/

[2] http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf0344385?prevSearch=cacao%2Bantioxidant&searchHistoryKey=