A sudden desire for sweets or chips? Try somehting else and satisfy this crave with some healthy, tasty almonds!

Almonds are known for their high nutrient and vitamin contents. They deliver important unsaturated fats and mineral salts like magnesium and calcium as well as a large amount of vitamin B and E.

 

By eating only 60g per day you can already provide diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and a high level of cholesterol. This recipe combines almonds with healthy garlic and rosemary, which has a memory improving effect.

 

 Bon appetit!

 

10 g butter*

 

200 g almonds

 

2 big cloves of garlic (crushed)

 

1 handful of rosemary leaves

 

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

 

1 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. smoked paprika

1/2 tbsp. Brown sugar

2 tsp. Seasalt flakes

1 tbsp. native olive oil

Melt the butter in a cast-iron or stainless steel skillet, add the almonds and stir until they're heated through and starting to brown. Take off the heat and add the condiments, stirring through. The residual heat of the pan should cook the garlic just enough to take off the edge without burning it (which results in a bitter taste).

Instead of the brown sugar you can also take some honey, which gives a beautiful color and a delicious taste!

* I used to prefer the taste of olive oil for this purpose, but I do not like to heat vegetable oils in order to avoid transfats, so I have got used to using butter or ghee for this recipe.  

Recipe found at The passionate cook

 

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My first intention was to do raw food blueberry muffins. I saw the recipe and it sounded great. Unfortunately the dough became sticky and it was impossible to form little muffins out of it. So I decided to add more nuts and raisins, some honey as well as one caramel and chocolate layer. For the freshness and some more vitamines I added fresh fruits. The result: Some delicous caramel nut bars with chocolate and fresh fruits!

 

The recipe:

 

First you need all nuts you like (I took one cup of each walnuts, cashews, and peanuts)

 

You put the half of it in a blender and mix it until it becomes a sticky mixture. Then you add the other half with a spoon and mix it (manually) so that the sticky dough becomes a great nut dough.

 

Now you can add dried fruits which you have to chop up first. I took dates and raisins. Then you add a little pinch of himalayan salt, some honey and cinnamon (as you like). Before eating everything you should quickly press the crust into a plate and put it in the refridgerator.

 

For the Caramel I took some salted butter, which I melt together with sugar in a little pot. When the sugar gets the typical caramel color and there are no pieces left you can take the pot from the stove and put it over one side of the nuts mixture. Put it again in the fridge.

 

Last and very important thing: the chocolate. You can melt it eather in a bain-marie (you need some patience) or just for a minute into the microwave to melten it.

 

When the caramel-nut bars dried, you can turn them onto the caramel side, so that you can put the chocolate on the other side. If you like to add fruits too, you should slice them before putting the chocolate on it. When the chocolate is still liquid, you can put the fruits on. Now you just have to put it in the fridge and wait for the chocolate to cool and voilà! Easy recipe for delicious, healthy home-made nutbars!

 

 

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Top cleansing and detox books of 2014 to start the new year

By relaxnews

After days of engaging in wanton gluttony, holiday revelers are slowly emerging from their food comas, eager to purge their bodies of that last chocolate bonbon and that second and unnecessary helping of turkey.

To help you along, here are a few of the best book releases from 2014 meant to offer readers tips on how to eat clean, nourish the body and begin the new year with a fresh start.

Clean Slate: A Cookbook and Guide by editors of Martha Stewart Living
Over 160 pages, the editors of the Martha Stewart Living empire offer a variety of recipes that are meant to do everything from replenish, restore, reenergize and relax. Mostly a plant-based cookbook, recipes include roasted mushroom tartines with avocado; spinach and white bean dip; as well as wild salmon, asparagus and Shiitakes in parchment. Recipes emphasize clean eating, whole, unprocessed foods. The book includes a menu plan for a 3 to 21-day cleanse.
Retail price $26 USD

10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse: Lose Up to 15 Pounds in 10 Days! by JJ Smith
It’s the bestselling book in Amazon’s Detox and Cleansing category and was also a New York Times bestseller in 2014. Designed to ‘jumpstart’ weight loss, the book provides step-by-step instructions on how to undergo a 10-day juice fast packed with leafy greens and fruits. The book includes a shopping list, recipes and detailed instructions on how to follow the diet.
Retail price $15.99

Zero Belly Diet: Lost up to 16 lbs in 14 days, by David Zinczenko
Release date: December 30, 2014
In his latest book, Zinczenko, author of the New York Times bestselling series ‘Eat This, Not That!’ takes a genetic approach to dieting in his latest book and explains how some foods actually ‘turn on’ our fat genes, causing weight gain. The book identifies nine power foods that can help turn off the switch and offers tips on how to lose excess belly fat, which increases the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Retail price $26

The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet: Activate Your Body’s Natural Ability to Burn Fat and Lose Weight Fast by Mark Hyman
Also a New York Times bestseller this year, Dr. Hyman’s approach to weight loss is to keep the body's insulin levels low. The book claims to teach readers how to ‘reprogram’ their metabolism, shut off fat-storing genes, and control appetite. Meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists are included, as is advice on supplements and exercise.
Retail price $28

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Aloe Vera is more than just another pretty plant.

The ancient succulent is just one of 450 different types of aloe that dates back to 2100 BCE. Originating in Africa, the dessert plant is now grown around the world for various reasons. According to the Global Diabetes Community,aloe vera juice can decrease blood lipids and swelling, both of which are common in diabetics. Aloe vera juice can also be used as a laxative, but be careful not to consume too much because it can also cause stomach cramps, kidney problems and heart disturbances, warn experts at The Mayo Clinic.

In the infographic below by Natural Healers, a website for students of natural medicine, we learn more about this medicinal plant, including how to grow it in your own home. 

This infographic explain the story of the aloe vera, his composition and the benefits for your body.

 Source: The Health Benefits Of Aloe Vera

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