Tag: nutrition

Organic Vegan Brownies

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Yes, I promised a brownie recipe and here it is. It is not only ridiculously simple, it is incredibly delicious. This batch of brownies didn’t last more than 2 days. No one will even know they are vegan.The best part? You can cheat. I’ll tell you how!

What you need:

1 Box of Dr. Oetker Organic Chocolate Brownie Mix (Yes it is a mix but it is phenomenal)

**The box calls for eggs and oil but I don’t use eggs**

1 cup of coconut milk (not the canned stuff)

1/4 cup melted vegan butter or olive oil

Ener-g egg replacer (1 egg = 1 1/2 tsp dry Egg Replacer plus 2 tbsp water)

**I only put one egg since I used coconut milk.**

[If you don’t have Ener-g egg replacer or you can’t find Dr. Oetker Organic Chocolate brownie mix, you can always use another brand but preferably organic. instead of Ener-g egg replacer you can use applesauce or Greek yogurt instead]

How you make it:

1. PREHEAT oven to 350°F for a shiny metal pan; 325° for a dark, non-stick pan.
2. GREASE bottom of pan (with vegan butter or olive oil).
3. BLEND organic brownie mix and the rest of the ingredients in a bowl until moistened and well incorporated. Spread into prepared pan.
4. BAKE 25-30 minutes on center oven rack.

Tip: If you want moist brownies cook for 25-30 minutes. Watch carefully and make sure you let these bad boys sit before you decide to take a bite. It is worth the wait. For more cake like brownies cook for 35 minutes.


If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.


Peace, love and no beef!


Guramrit


You Are What You Eat (My Latest “Column” For CSL’s Monthly Newsletter)

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(So this post is kind of similar to what I wrote last week on healthy eating…but you can’t get enough encouragement to lead a healthy lifestyle. Here is just a bit more of a push towards living a healthier life) 

A few of the most common questions I am asked is, “how can I eat healthier? How can I lose weight and fast?” It’s as though there is a magic pill, diet or cure that can grant people their health and fitness goals. My answer is simple. Crash diets do not work and not one diet works for everyone. Dieting seems to come hand in hand with cutting out “bad foods.” However, before true results show up, a lifestyle change must occur.  

If you are eating healthy just to lose a few pounds and go back to eating unhealthy then of course your body is going to react and those few pounds you’ve lost quickly increase to 5, 10 even 15 pounds gained. Your body needs consistency.   

You don’t need to eliminate things from your life to feel good, healthy and well. Slowly introduce fresh vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts and healthy alternatives to your favorite snacks, meals. As you slowly introduce these things to your meals, your body will begin to feel better.   

Do you take the time to actually chew your food? What is your home environment like? How are your interpersonal relationships? Take the time to not only eat slowly and consciously, become aware of your environment. Each and every aspect of your life is connected to your health. Take a few moments to breathe, stretch, walk, chew and smile. A healthy lifestyle is much more than just dieting, it is a life focused on all aspects of your health (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual).  

I strongly believe that anyone can lead a healthy lifestyle. It just takes a little push along with some planning.  

Peace, love & no beef,


Guramrit 

(To View Center of Spiritual Light’s newsletter in its entirety click here!) 

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sheriex:

rawlivingfoods:

The Acid Alkaline Balance

Human blood pH should be slightly alkaline ( 7.35 – 7.45 ).  Below or above this range means symptoms and disease.  A pH of 7.0 is neutral.  A pH below 7.0 is acidic.  A pH above 7.0 is alkaline.

An acidic pH can occur from, an acid forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, and/or immune reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients.  The body will try to compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals.  If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur.

An acidic balance will:  decrease the body’s ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells, decrease it’s ability to repair damaged cells, decrease it’s ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumor cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness.  A blood pH of 6.9, which is only slightly acidic, can induce coma and death.

The reason acidosis is more common in our society is mostly due to the typical American diet, which is far too high in acid producing animal products like meat, eggs and dairy, and far too low in alkaline producing foods like fresh vegetables.  Additionally, we eat acid producing processed foods like white flour and sugar and drink acid producing beverages like coffee and soft drinks.  We use too many drugs, which are acid forming; and we use artificial chemical sweetners like NutraSweet, Spoonful, Sweet ‘N Low, Equal, or Aspartame, which are poison and extremely acid forming.  One of the best things we can do to correct an overly acid body is to clean up the diet and lifestyle.

To maintain health, the diet should consist of 60% alkaline forming foods and 40% acid forming foods.  To restore health, the diet should consist of 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid forming foods.

Generally, alkaline forming foods include: most fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs and seasonings, and seeds and nuts.

Generally, acid forming foods include: meat, fish, poultry, eggs, grains, and legumes.

Click here for more information.

Wow.

I love this. May have to pay more attention to acid causing foods and focus on the alkaline foods.

A Healthy Lifestyle

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One of the most common questions I am asked is “how can I eat healthier?” I come across people who love meat but don’t know which vegetables they like and often complain about the cost of eating healthy. Many want to lead a healthier lifestyle to lose weight (or even maintain it) but want to jump right into a diet which really is only a temporary solution. Like I’ve said time and time again (and nutritionists, health & wellness guru’s will back me up on this) DIETS DO NOT WORK. Temporary solutions only lead to temporary results.

The first step in trying to live a healthier lifestyle isn’t cutting out the bad foods, it is slowly eliminating them by adding in healthier alternatives. Just a little reality check, yes, french fries are made from potatoes but NO that does not count as you eating vegetables. Before jumping into the healthy lane (and if you’re going veggie, this is also important- slowly stop eating meat and increase your vegetable consumption and substitute different forms of protein) introduce more fresh vegetables (none of that canned stuff), fruit and non-processed foods.

One thing I really recommend is finding a farmers market, hitting the produce section of your grocery store and getting to know the vegetables. Yes, I said get to know your vegetables. By getting to know your vegetables and the healthy alternatives you like, you can plan meals. By planning meals and making a list (super important!) you can make smart meal choices that are affordable. Experiment. Try new things. You really can’t get enough vegetables in your diet.

As you slowly introduce more healthy goods into your life, you can decide what works for your body and doesn’t. I don’t believe in eliminating things. I’m more of a pro-moderation person. If you are craving something, for example, I try to identify what exactly I’m craving. Is it something sweet, crunchy or salty? Whatever it may be I try to find a healthier alternative to satisfy that craving.

The second step to leading a healthy lifestyle is getting up and getting moving. Sure, you can eat healthy and still look great but being active goes hand in hand with this lifestyle. The two must not be separate! Eat well, move that body and you will feel amazing (trust me). No, you don’t have to jump into Insanity right this second but grab a friend and go for a walk.

There’s no need to be afraid or even hesitant to start this new lifestyle. You don’t have to completely eliminate the things you like, just crowd them out with the good stuff.

Take baby steps when starting this new way of life. Your body, mind, soul and of course, your health will thank you.

Peace, love and no beef!

Guramrit