Super-Smooth-Beet-Brownies!

Todays recipe was requested by one of our regular readers, Nina!  She wanted to know how to make a tasty chocolate cake, that wouldn't leave her feeling guilty for indulging, or for serving to her guests.  The catch - she's lactose intolerant & was struggling to find a recipe!

Here is one of our favourites, that not only incorporates superfoods, but also beetroot - yes that's right beetroot!  You will find this recipe a great treat, sweet & full of nutrients, with an amazing velvety texture!

If you would like us to show you how to put a superfood spin on one of your favourite meals, please email us at sales@tonicsuperfoods.com.au with your request!

Super-Smooth-Beet-Brownies

4-5 fresh beets

2/3 cup Cacao Butter

2/3 cup Tonic Superfoods Cacao Powder

2/3 cup Xylitol

½ cup boiling water

2tbsp Agave

1 vanilla pod

2/3 cup almond meal

¼ cup Tonic Superfoods Maca Powder

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp celtic sea salt

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.  Prepare a small baking pan (about 9”) with either baking paper or grease with organic butter or coconut oil.

Melt the cacao butter until it is liquid and set aside.

Peel the beets, cut them into small pieces then steam for about 10-15 minutes (until soft).

Place the steamed beets in a blender with ½ cup of boiling water, Agave & the vanilla pod, and blend until liquid, then set aside.

Mix the cacao, almond meal, maca, xylitol, baking soda and salt together in a bowl then pour in the melted cacao butter & and the beet mixture.  Mix well.

Pour the mixture into the baking pan and spread evenly before baking for about 30 minutes.  

Do you have your own website or blog?  Check out the Tonic Superfoods Affiliate Program.  By spreading the word about Tonic Superfoods on your site, you are not only helping people in their health journey, but you can make money!

Pull the trigger on emotional eating!

Eating a healthy diet isn't just about what you eat.  We all know to some degree, what types of foods are considered healthier, and what types of foods we think we should avoid.  Many of us though, don't take the time to identify WHY we eat.  Yes, we eat because we are hungry, or because we need energy - But is that always the case?  Without realising, we often eat because of situational or emotional triggers.


Food is great, especially when it tastes good. It can bring people together, it can provide entertainment and nourishment, it even provides an income for some;  What food also provides is comfort. How many times have you thought - Gee its cold outside, I'd love to eat something nice and warm! Or, my favourite - Ergh, my boss was horrible today, I hate my job, I feel like chocolate! 


By becoming more aware of why we are eating, we can ultimately gain more control over what we are eating & how we feel.  Eating emotionally often becomes a habit (that we are unaware of), which can prevent us from learning ways to deal with emotional stresses, and in turn can lead to over-eating.


What are the triggers?

Emotional eating
Emotional eating can come about in many different ways. Nothing to do, are you eating out of boredom? Do you feel stressed or anxious, surely something to eat will make you feel better?  What about being upset or angry - chocolate is great!  Are you sick of spending time alone, feeling lonely - you may as well have something to eat, right? Emotions often lead to cravings of food and comfort.


Situational/Habitual eating
We all have activities and pass times that are associated with food.  The movies wouldn't be the same without a choc top or a bucket of pop corn, and the footy isn't the footy without a meat pie!  Take some time to think about it, do you eat whilst you watch tv because you are hungry, or because thats just what you do?  What about your lunch break at work, are you eating because you are actually hungry, or are you eating just because it is "lunch time"?


Physiological eating
How many times have you skipped meals because you are busy running around doing things?  Then later when things slow down you tell yourself you are starving because you haven't eaten all day! Is that headache you have really due to hunger, or is your body trying to tell you something else?


Social eating
Catching up with family and friends is great - it makes us feel fantastic.  How often though, is a get together associated with food?  "Lets catch up for dinner!" or "We should have a BBQ" are very common.  These sort of events naturally mean you are going to eat, but are you actually hungry or are you just eating due to the social occasion and because everyone else is?


Eating triggers, once you are aware of them, are not a bad thing.  By knowing why you are eating - there is more control.


How can Superfoods help?
Chocolate is a huge favourite when it comes to emotional eating - and there is a reason for this, it does actually make us feel good!  Chocolate is a highly refined overly processed form of the cacao bean that has been mixed with a number of unhealthy substances, including refined sugar and milk.  Its actually the chemical compounds of the cacao bean that makes us feel good.  

Cacao contains Penylethylamine (PEA). PEA is a chemical associated with love and optimism. When we feel good our PEA levels increase. Conversely when we ingest PEA rich foods such as cacao our mood also is likely to become elevated.  Cacao also contains Anandamide, known as the bliss chemical, it is a chemical naturally produced after exercise giving us a sense of well being. The brain rapidly breaks down this chemical so that its effects are not long lasting. Cacao is the only plant that contains this chemical and in addition contains enzyme inhibitors that slow its break down in the system. This is one of the reasons that cacao can give a longer lasting bliss sensation particularily in combination with the other unique chemical properties in the cacao.

Stress is a big trigger when it comes to emotional eating.  Maca, is a great superfood for helping us adapt to cope with the stresses of everyday life. Maca, much like many other superfoods and herbs is an adaptogenic plant. This means that when ingested by the body it has the effect of balancing hormones and nerves and stabilizing the musculature and cardiovascular systems in the body. What this means is that the body will utilize the maca as it sees fit. In otherwords if the body is under stress and requires rest it with allow it to do so. Conversely if the body requires extra energy in times of stress it will adjust to meet the circumstances. What this can mean for the long term is a slow building up of the bodies natural defence system which can enhance immunity against the pressures that one might encounter in their everyday lives. See our previous post on Maca, for more information on Maca can help you deal with stress and balance hormones!


With these factors in mind, it makes more sense to use some Tonic Superfoods Cacao Powder & Tonic Superfoods Maca Powder to make a smoothie the next time you feel like a bit of a pick me up rather than turning to something bad!  
By eating nutrient dense Superfoods, you will not only be making better decisions about what you are eating (whether it be out of necessity or emotional eating) you are also fueling your body with nutrient dense foods.  By ensuring your body is getting what it needs, it will curb cravings for sweet & undesirable foods in the future - breaking the cycle of bad emotional eating!


Do you have your own website or blog?  Check out the Tonic Superfoods Affiliate Program.  By spreading the word about Tonic Superfoods on your site, you are not only helping people in their health journey, but you can make money!

SUPERFOODS AND WEIGHT LOSS: They keys to your success

By Bonnie Pockley

Everyone whose every tried to lose weight will know that weight loss can be difficult and boring. It’s easy to get frustrated, dejected and defeated. Using Superfoods to lose weight, however, is fun and relatively easy when it’s done holistically. 

Lets take a look at the three elements that are essential to weight loss:

Detoxification:

If you’ve been eating badly, if you eat non-organic meats, unwashed vegies or if you live in a city, your body will be burdened by toxins. If your organs are taxed, your body’s processes of elimination will be compromised and these nasties will be stored in your fat. As most toxins are fat soluble, your body will lay down extra fat stores to ‘house’ extra waste that can’t be metabolised. Toxins, therefore, cannot only make you gain weight but set in motions imbalances in hormonal and digestive function that have broader implications on your ability to lose weight but also in your energy levels.

So what do we do?  TAKE MSM!

TONIC SUPERFOODS' MSM is one of the best agents of detoxification. If you’ve been reading our blog or website you’d already know what we’re talking about. MSM is a naturally occurring sulphur that has both a supportive effect on the boy’s tissue membranes as well as a ‘drawing’ effect on toxins. MSM synthesises collagen that makes cell membrane’s stronger but also more permeable allowing nutrition to enter body tissue and toxin laden fat to flow out. MSM also clears stagnant bile from your liver: the organ responsible for the metabolism of fats and the filtration of what you ingest. MSM is an absolute must for weight loss.

MSM

· Detoxifies cells

· Detoxifies liver

· Increases metabolism of fats

· Synthesises collagen to strengthen cell membranes (this means glowing skin too!)

· Improves digestive function

· Improves immunity

Click here to buy MSM

Hormonal balance:

Hormonal imbalance has an ENORMOUS effect on weight gain. Cortisol, Insulin and Oestrogen are particularly culpable. Cortisol is the ‘stress’ hormone that may be released by environmental, emotional or even physical stressors. Prolonged exercise can even increase levels of cortisol leading to an increase of fat stored around your belly. Oestrogen, similar, stores weight in a particular way. Increased levels of Xenoestrogens (industrial compounds that act like oestrogen in the body but are artificial and unable to be metabolised) lead to weight gain in the lower parts of the body (legs, thigh, hips) and in the bicep area of the arm. Xenoestrogens are toxic to our systems and have been linked to the development of endometriosis, breast cancer and cysts. Xenoestrogens also increase the level of naturally occurring Oestrogen in the body producing what is known as Oestrogen Dominance. Oestrogen Dominance leads to a ‘pudgy’, ‘soft’ appearance because the dominance of this hormone compounds water retention and weight gain. Xenoestrogens are found in plastic wrap, cleaning products and of course it is contained in the contraceptive pill. Oestrogen itself can be found in many foods including tofu, soy, soymilk, chickpeas, non-organic meats and many more.

Insulin is another hormone responsible for weight gain when out of balance. Insulin is secreted when we eat to instigate energy uptake by our cells. To control weight, our insulin levels must be evenly maintained and the GI index system was developed as a way of understanding the ‘spiking’ effect of high sugar foods of our insulin levels. The higher the sugar content of food, the greater the release of insulin which also leads to the greater the amount of energy stored in our bodies as fat. Maintaining these levels in also an important part of preventing diabetes and hyperglycaemia. (high blood sugar levels)

What can you take to balance out fluctuation hormone levels in your body from a variety of different sources?  MACA.

TONICSUPERFOODS' Maca is a root vegetable that naturally balances your endocrine system. Maca is an ‘adaptogen’ so it redresses balance where imbalance exists within the human body. Because the endocrine and central nervous systems are cyclical in nature and are based on fluctuating levels, Maca balances out excessive hormonal levels without negative effect. This means is combats high levels of Cortisol, Oestrogen and regulates Insulin release.  Maca also contains high levels of essential minerals including selenium, calcium, magnesium and iron as well as much needed quantities of linolenic, palmitic, oleic acids, fatty and amino acids. If you have a lot of weight to lose, Maca will also assist in skin elasticity and the ability of your skin to adjust quickly to the weight loss.

MACA

· Contains a high level of nutrition

· Balances out adverse levels of cortisol, oestrogen and insulin

· Supports your endocrine and central nervous systems

· Helps to manage stress

Click here to buy MACA

Nutrition:

The final, but one of the most important components of weight-loss is nutrition. Today’s food lacks the mineral and vitamin content is once had. Depleted soils through increased harvesting and farming mean that our food literally lacks vitality and nourishment. Unfortunately, we still require the same recommended dietary intake of nutrition that we always have and yet it seems unavailable to us through ordinary means. Our body’s regulation of food is, to a large extent, based on blood levels of nutrition and when they are inadequate we crave more food. This means we eat more. Good nutrition also means we don’t store excess weight.  In order to avoid cravings, excess weight from ‘empty’ food we needs to supplement our diets with Superfoods: nutrient rich foods.

Two of the best of these are TONIC SUPERFOODS BEE POLLEN and TONIC SUPERFOODS RAW CACAO.  

Cacao is the richest food source of magnesium and with an anti-oxidant (ORAC) score of 95500 – 14 times more than red wine – it is also the richest source of antioxidants and bioflavonoid. High levels of sulphur in Cacao act in a similar way to MSM by detoxifying the liver and supporting silicon synthesis. Assisting in immunity, tissue regeneration and protection as well as balancing brain chemistry and function, the benefits of Cacao in your diet also extends from a physical to an emotional level: Cacao contains Amantadine (the bliss chemical), Phenyl ethylamine (PEA – the chemical released when we are in love) and MAO inhibitors (suppress appetite and release serotonin). 

When you feel good, you find it easier to train, easier to reach your goals and easier to keep going with your dietary plans. Bee Pollen contains all 10 essential amino acids (but up to 22 depending on plant origin), 59 trace minerals and is about 20% protein. As a complete protein, Bee Pollen is favourably comparable to equal weights of meat, eggs and cheese with 5-7 times more bioavailable protein and amino acid content. This makes Bee Pollen an ideal component to nuts both gastronomically and as a high protein on-the-go snack.  Bee Pollen also contains high levels of B vitamins (used directly in energy production) as well as significant levels of Calcium, Chloride, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Silicon and Sulphur. It also has an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-histamine effect on the body. Both are excellent forms of comprehensive nutrition.

CACAO

· Is the richest food source of magnesium

· Contains sulphur which not only detoxifies the body but is used in most of its processes

· Is high in bioflavonoids

· Is the richest food source of antioxidants with an ORAC value of 99500

Click here to buy RAW CACAO

BEE POLLEN:

· High in Protein

· Contains significant levels of vitamin B, calcium, Chloride, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Silicon and Sulphur.

· Contains all essential amino acids (the building blocs of all cells)

· Has an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial and an anti-histamine effect on the body.

Click here to buy BEE POLLEN

Tools of the Trade!

In our busy fast paced lives, the key to staying healthy is being organized.  As the saying goes “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail."  Eating well isn’t difficult, it just takes preparation! I like to prepare my meals the night before, so I know they are ready to go & I have everything I need with me for the day! (It cuts out the need for the mid afternoon “naughty” snack!)

However, we don’t always have time to fuss around in the kitchen to make recipes with lots of ingredients.  This is why SMOOTHIES are a great option.  Smoothies are quick to make, easy to drink on the go & you can throw all your superfoods in for a power packed, energy boosting, nutrient dense treat!

Whether you like your smoothies fruity, with protein or packed with superfoods, I’m sure you will agree that a necessary component of smoothie making is a blender!  There are so many different types, so we thought we would give you a bit of a run down to help you choose what type of blender is going to suit your lifestyle & needs for SUPER SMOOTHIE MAKING!

Vitamix – (The King of Blenders)

RRP - $1050

Available from www.totalnutritioncentre.com.au

The Vitamix is most certainly the top of the range blender.  Created to be used commercially, the Vitamix is fast becoming an option for home due to its various features and benefits.  It is the most powerful blender on the market, possessing a two horsepower motor, the Vitamix is able to create smoothies in seconds, as well as grind flour or nuts & cook soup! Yes, that’s right the Vitamix can cook a soup in a matter of minutes – throw all your vegetables and ingredients in & blend – the friction from the motor warms the soup whilst it blends! Convenience plus!

Besides its powerful motor, the Vitamix offers a large plastic blending jug  (2 litres).  The plastic jug is really easy to clean – which is very handy if you are time poor!  Also, the blades are attached to the blender base, so there are no pieces to take apart – also very handy when cleaning!

The only downside to the Vitamix, is it’s size – The jug is quite tall, which may mean that it wont fit on the bench in a smaller kitchen!

Overall, the Vitamix is well worth the price you pay for it, in fact it’s an investment, once purchased you will never need to purchase another blender again!

You don’t need the vitamix to be able to make great smoothies though, just about any blender from an electrical store will be powerful enough to create great supersmoothies in minutes for you! A more affordable option that is recommended by many of our customers is a Sunbeam blender.

Sunbeam – (The affordable blender!)

Several models available

RRP -  $59.95 - $219

Available from www.sunbeam.com.au

With options available at several price points, the sunbeam blender is a great choice for the budget conscious! All models come equipped with serrated ice-crushing blades (very handy if you are using frozen berries in your smoothie recipe!)  The bottom of the range blender possesses a 600 watt motor, which is ample for smoothie recipes where you are chopping your fruit up before throwing it into the mix, whilst their top of the range blender possesses a 1200 watt motor, which has enough grunt to handle larger fruits or vegetable pieces as well as nuts that have been soaked and softened.

Individual choice plays a part in whether you would prefer a glass or plastic jug – both are easy to clean, with the cheaper models possessing a 1.5litre jug & the more expensive models a 2liter jug,  The blades are detatchable for cleaning – which isn’t as easy as the Vitamix, but they do come apart easily, so cleaning isn’t exactly hard!

These blenders will definitely do exactly what you need them to do when it comes to making Superfood Smoothies!

Bamix – (The portable blender!)

RRP – From $119

Available from www.kitchenwaredirect.com.au

The bamix is a portable hand held stick blender, which is great for traveling & for when you are on the go. The Bamix Basic model features a 140 watt motor, 2-speed controls and a detachable multi-purpose chopping blade that is more than adequate for crushing ice and making smoothies.  I would recommend using the stick blender more for smoothies that require the blending of powdered ingredients & fruit that has already been chopped up.  It is great for mixing up protein shakes!

The benefit of the stick mixer is that it is small enough to throw in your bag, you can have all your smoothie ingredients in your shaker, just add your liquid and blend in the shaker bottle!

Cleaning of the stick mixer is really easy!

VitaMinder – Power Mixer (Individual & On the go blender!)

RRP - $10-$15

Available from Amazon

The VitaMinder is an individual portable blender including a drinking cup.  It holds about 600mls of liquid & uses 4 AA batteries.  Obviously it isn’t anywhere near as powerful as the other options we have recommended – but it is still a convenient item for every day!  I would recommend this item only for powder based super smoothies – it’s great if you are just blending up some maca or cacao or even your Tonic Core or whey protein!

As the mixing stick doesn’t go all the way to the bottom of the container, I would recommend adding your liquid before the powder, so as to avoid lumps! 

Overall, this is a great gimmick & very convenient.

So there you have it, there are blender options for every lifestyle and budget! Start making super smoothies to give yourself energy & fuel your body with necessary nutrients!  Here is on of our favourite recipes to get you started!


Start your Sunday with a Super Smoothie!
The Tonic Team


Do you have your own website or blog?  Check out the Tonic Superfoods Affiliate Program.  By spreading the word about Tonic Superfoods on your site, you are not only helping people in their health journey, but you can make money!

Super Salsa Snack!

This Super Salsa/Bruschetta like snack is great on the go & is a crowd pleaser at parties!  It’s packed with omega-3, dietary fibre & antioxidants, whilst the black beans provide a great source of protein.  The sweet goji berry flavour compliments the lime and tomato flavours – try it for yourself, we are sure you will agree! 

For the Base:

1/3 cup Nut Milk

1 cup almond meal

1 tsp Tonic Superfoods Maca Powder

¼ cup of black beans (mashed)

pinch sea salt

clove of garlic (crushed)

4 tbsp Tonic Superfoods Chia Seeds

Method:

Combine 2 tbsp Chia Seeds with the other ingredients in a bowl and knead, then leave to stand for 5-10 mins.

Spread 2 tbsp Chia Seeds over a non stick pan, then roll the dough over the seeds until it is the desired size & thickness

Cook for 10 minutes.

For the Salsa:

½ cup Tonic Superfoods Goji Berries

1 cup diced tomatoes

¼ diced red onion

1 clove garlic (crushed)

¼ cup diced spring onion

Fresh basil leaves

1 lime

Optional:

Jalapeño pepper

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl & squeeze lime juice over the top. 

Leave in the fridge for 40 mins, so the flavours can infuse before spreading over the base.

You can of course eat the salsa by itself as well as serve up on the base! Enjoy!

Do you have your own website or blog?  Check out the Tonic Superfoods Affiliate Program.  By spreading the word about Tonic Superfoods on your site, you are not only helping people in their health journey, but you can make money!

Healthy Hummus!

In a previous post we told you all about the benefits of chia seeds.  Here is a delicious healthy hummus snack, it takes minutes to make and is jam packed with omega-3, antioxidants & dietary fibre!

3 tbsp Tonic Superfoods chia seeds (ground)

1 ½ cups chick peas (soaked over night)

6 artichoke hearts

3 tbsp lemon juice

3 tbsp olive oil

¾ tsp oregano

1 clove garlic

3 tbsp tahini

2 tbsp sliced spring onions

Grind the chia seeds in a mortar & pestle until they resemble more of a powder then add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. 

Enjoy!


Do you have your own website or blog?  Check out the Tonic Superfoods Affiliate Program.  By spreading the word about Tonic Superfoods on your site, you are not only helping people in their health journey, but you can make money!

Have your pancake, and eat it too!

Everyone loves pancakes!  If you are anything like me, you have avoided them knowing how carbohydrate dense they can be, and how will power can go out the window when you start to put all sorts of toppings on them! Here is a way to enjoy pancakes that are jam packed with nutrient dense Superfoods - guaranteed to leave you feeling good rather than guilty!

1/4 cup Tonic Superfoods Maca Powder

4 free range eggs - we recommend Green Eggs from the Melbourne Farmers Market!

2 cups of Apple juice

1/4 cup raw Honey or Agave syrup

1 Tonic Superfoods Vanilla Bean

1 1/2 cups Coconut flour

pinch of Himalayan crystal salt

Coconut oil for cooking

Put the Maca, Eggs, Honey/Agave, Vanilla, Coconut Flour & Salt in a blender & blend until mixed well.

Melt some Coconut oil in a pan, pour the mixture into the pan (to your desired size for pancakes) & cook until the mixture starts to bubble on top, then flip & cook until golden brown.

Pancakes can be served with any of your favourite toppings - berries, fruit or Raw Cream!

Variations:

The recipe is great if you throw 1/2 a cup of Tonic Superfoods Goji Berries in the mix, or if you want a chocolaty treat try adding Tonic Superfoods Cacao Powder & serving with Raw Cream & fresh Strawberries - Yummy!

Cup of Cacao!

It's cold and rainy outside - not the most appealing day to head out on an adventure! I can't think of anything better than sitting with friends (somewhere warm!!!) & sharing some laughs over a hot beverage. Here is a yummy hot chocolate recipe that will leave you feeling warm, satisfied and happy!

1 tablespoon of Tonic Superfoods Raw Cacao 

1 tablespoon of Coconut Oil

1 cup of hot water

1 tablespoon of Mesquite powder

Pinch of cinnamon

Optional:

Honey to sweeten

Body Cream (Raw cream)

Add all the ingredients to your blender, blend & then Enjoy!

Maca-molè!

A few posts ago, one of our author's, Bonnie, wrote all about the benefits of Maca & its adaptogenic properties.  In this post you would have learned all about how maca has a normalizing, regulating & energizing effect on the body.

Most people consume maca in a super smoothie - but maca's adaptogenic properties stem further than just its health benefits!  Here is a delicious maca guacamolè dip to make for your next party or celebration!

3 tablespoons of Tonic Superfoods Maca Powder
3 ripe avocadoes
juice of 1 lime
1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
1/2 tablespoon celtic sea salt

If your feeling a bit adventurous you can throw in some cacao nibs - then blend all ingredients until its a creamy consistency.  Yum!


The Team at Tonic are excited at the moment - yesterday we finally launched our online store!  Please stop by and check it out - we would love to hear what you think!  Something that may also be of interest to you - Do you have your own website or blog?  Check out the Tonic Superfoods Affiliate Program.  By spreading the word about Tonic Superfoods on your site, you are not only helping people in their health journey, but you can make money!


The Team at Tonic