Tricks for a Healthy Halloween

Hallowe'en is full of fun but also the  not-good-choice sugar season. But like anything, there are opportunities to make event his daunting haunting season one full of healthy choices. Here are a is a couple of healthy tricks for the haunting season:

1. Full up the kids with healthy food & protein before TorT'ing.
2. Examine all treats for choking hazards & tampering.
3. Explain to children what sugar load does to them - it's a chance to educate!
4. Eat a teaspoon of Chia to counter sugar load - balances by 40%

5. Have one treat a day - that's why it is called a treat!
6. Have kids rate candy for nutritional value or NOT and group them for best choice to worst (think about additives, MSG, coloring)
7. Eat an equal amount of fruit to candy.
8. Think about donating candy to encourage 'out-of-me' focus.
9. Make treats at home full of healthy fats (coconut oil) and healthy sugars (Coconut Sugar)
10. Walk or run the block tonight - rain or shine it's an opportunity to exercise.

Happy Hallowe'en - have FUN!

Mums Original Apple, Quinoa, Goji Cake

This recipe by: Superfoody Gemma Slaughter

A wonderful rich tasting summer dessert option. Easy to make and great the next day! Gluten free, nut free, soy free and vegan!

2 Apples (skin optional) cored and grated (about 1 cup lightly drained

1/2 cup Mum's Original Coconut Sugar

3/4 cup Coconut Oil

2 cups Mum's Original Heirloom Quinoa

2 tsp. Mum's Original Ground Chia Seeds
2 tsp. Pure vanilla extract

1 tsp. Apple cider vinegar
1 cup Un-sweetened Applesauce

1/2 cup Mum's Original Delores Hemp Seeds

1/2 cup MumsOriginal Goji Berries

1-1/3 cups MumsOriginal Oat Flour

1 tsp. Baking powder

1/2 tsp. Baking soda

1 tsp. Ground ginger

2 tsp. Ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. MumsOriginal Himalayan Rock Salt

1/4 cup MumsOriginal Quick Flake Oats

1. Preheat oven to 350F (180C) & grease rectangular pan with coconut oil.
2. In a medium bowl, mix the grated apple, coconut sugar, oil, quinoa, ground chia, vanilla, vinegar, applesauce, hemp seeds and gojis.  Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, soda, ginger, cinnamon, and rock salt.   Add the oats. 
4. Add the wet mixture to the dry and mix well.  Pour into prepared pan and smooth the top.  
5. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool before cutting into slices.

Long and lustrous hair with hemp!

Short, long, straight, or curly- we all love our hair… but only when it cooperates of course! 

Our different hair styles make us unique from one another, and are a part of who we are. By keeping our tresses looking fantastic, we feel more confident and ready for the world! Thin, weak hair, slow hair growth, or hair loss sound familiar? These factors are common, and can be brought on by stress, illness, chemical treatments and/or poor nutrition.

Your hair is made up of 97% protein and is important to maintain protection of our delicate scalp from elements such as the sun. By consuming hemp hearts daily, you can help improve your hairs growth due to its high complete protein, vitamins, GLA (gamma-linoleic acid) and Essential Fatty Acid content, helping nourish the hair from root to tip so it grows in thicker and stronger, quicker! [1]

If you're someone struggling with weak, damaged hair, your hair might be lacking in Ceramides. Ceramides are made up of two substances – Sphingosine and GLA, a rare essential fatty acid also found in hemp hearts. Ceramides are what enable our hair to retain moisture and protein content which is especially useful for those with colour treated hair, or who use hot styling products on a daily basis to change up our look. GLA also helps to combat dry hair, frizz and acts as an emollient moisturizer, helping the scalp retain moisture – so say goodbye and good riddance to irritation and dry scalp conditions!

The solution to fabulous hair is simple - add in more hemp protein to replenish and repair damaged hair follicles, boost your shine, or speed up hair growth  – they contain the full complete package needed for healthy lustrous hair!

---

[1] http://huhs.harvard.edu/HealthInformationAndResources/HealthInformationByTopic/Nutrition/ProteinNutrition.aspx

Oh-so-Handsome Hemp

Can a tiny seed really help you look your best? Surprisingly, the answer is absolutely! Hemp seeds (or hearts) contain very large concentrated amounts of Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) and are a fantastic source of complete protein especially for those that are vegan or vegetarian. People that add in hemp to their daily diets can experience many health benefits, both inside and out.

Super-skin

• Hemp contains an excellent source of EFA’s – Omega 3, 6 and 9, including a fantastic source of GLA’s (gamma-linolenic acid), which isn’t found often in many natural oils. With EFA’s being a very important aspect of our skins well being, all of these components contribute to healthier, well maintained and resilient radiant skin.[1]
• The natural oil found in hemp is very beneficial in treating dry skin conditions and can be found in some daily skin care products. The natural hemp oil helps to bury deep in the skin, helping the skin to regenerate new skin cells, improving its texture and appearance.

Inner harmony

• Due to the high GLA content found in hemp, these little wonder- seeds can really shorten our wait to achieving optimal health. They are an amazing source of anti-imflammatory properties, including the healthy fat ratio or 3:1 omega 6 to omega 3. This can help with health conditions such as asthma, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and even PMS! As we get older, our body’s ability to convert unprocessed omega 6 into its usable GLA form decreases, so consuming it in our daily diet is extremely beneficial.
• Hemp seeds are also jam-packed full of antioxidants that help play a role in a healthy digestive system. By keeping your immune system healthy by consuming these little miracles, you can reduce your risk of dreaded diseases such as breast, colon, and prostate cancers when paired up with a healthy lifestyle.[2]
• Hemps healthy fats help control blood sugar levels by using glucose in the blood and turning it into useful energy, which can in turn be used for sustained energy throughout the busy days we lead, or even towards a good work out.[3] Hemp also contains a high fibre content, helping to regulate healthy bowel movements throughout the day. Why not try adding hemp into your meals also; it will keep you feeling contently full for longer periods of time due to it being a natural appetite suppressant, in turn leading to helping with healthy, natural weight loss. Try it, the only thing you have to lose is pounds!

[1] http://www.atlantichealinghemp.com/hemp-contains-gla.html

[2] http://hemphealer.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/hemp-its-an-excellent-antioxidant/

[3] http://www.healing-source.com/hemp_health_benefits.htm

---

Essential fatty acids (EFA’s)… Is there really anything ‘fatty’ about them?

We often associate the word ‘fat’ with the consumption of heavily processed fast foods and drinks, however believe it or not, there is such a thing as a healthy fat.  Essential fatty acids (EFA’s), also more commonly recognized as the Omega’s (most importantly Omega 3’s and 6’s) and are actually very important aspect in achieving optimal health. Our body needs both Omega 3 (alpha-linolenic acid) and Omega 6 (linolenic acid) most importantly because our bodies cannot produce them, and therefore they must be consumed in our day-to-day diet for our body to function efficiently.

So what do EFA’s actually do?

You may be thinking to yourself, whats so great exactly about these ‘fats’? Well, studies have shown that these super-fats actually contribute to a number of bodily functions that we don’t even really think about – good circulation, skin function, cell division, brain development, immune system, blood pressure and clotting, having healthy reproductive and nervous systems, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties; the list goes on and on. If I haven’t caught your attention yet, how about if I told you that by consuming more foods with a high dose of omega 3 and 6, could actually increase your energy, boost your learning capability, assist in weight loss, and could potentially save your life. They improve your good cholesterol levels in the body, actually decreasing your chances for a stroke and/or heart attack.[1]

So whats the ‘catch’?

There is none. Unless you’re a super do-it-yourselfer and like catching your own fish of course. If you are a big fish eater and eat fish twice of more a week, then your well on your way to a healthy life. If your not the ‘fishy’ type, and still want to boost your diet, heres some great alternatives. Why not toss some walnuts and berries into your green leafy salad? Flax seeds, chia and hemp are also jam-packed full of these super nutrients. Its as simple as throwing in a tablespoon of hemp into your morning yogurt, or even buying free range eggs from the grocery store.  If you lead a busy, hectic life like most of us do in todays society, fish oil supplements are also available. Be sure to buy from trusted manufacturers who guarantee that their products are free of heavy metals such as lead and mercury.

Keep in mind also, to keep you on track to becoming a ‘better being’, a good balance of both omega 3 and omega 6 is important, and that more of one can cause deficiencies in the other. Eat a good balance of these above superfoods and enjoy a healthy, happy, long life to come!

[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10479232

---