Sunday, August 29, 2010

Cheeky Choc-Mint Cheesecake!

Whilst playing around with natural sweeteners - Tonic created this amazing cheesecake recipe that was too good not to share!  With no sugar, you don't need to feel guilty whilst enjoying this sweet treat!
Incorporating cacao which contains Penylethylamine (PEA), this cheesecake is guaranteed to make you feel good - PEA is a chemical associated with love and optimism. When we feel good our PEA levels increase. When we ingest PEA rich foods such as cacao our mood also is likely to become elevated - So go on, have a slice of cheesecake, it will make you smile!


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!



Crust Ingredients
2 cups crushed almonds (left over almond fiber from making almond milk is great!)
1/2 cup organic butter
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Method
Butter sides & bottom of 9” spring foam pan.
Press almond mixture to bottom of pan & bring the mixture ½ an inch up the sides.
Bake for 10 minutes on 140ÂșC.
Leave to cool completely.

Filling Ingredients
2 tsp stevia
¾ tsp peppermint extract
2 x 500g block of Cream Cheese (Softened)
2 cups water
1½ envelopes of unflavoured gelatin

Method
Let cream cheese sit at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours.
Sift cocoa powder
Add cream cheese & combine until smooth using an electric mixer
Add stevia & peppermint extract & mix well.
Boil the water & quickly add the gelatin, stirring until dissolved.
Add gelatin to cream cheese mixture & mix well on a low speed.
Pour filling into spring form pan with completely cooled crust.
Chill in the fridge for 2-3 hours & garnish with Mint leaves before serving.

YUM!



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!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Say No to Sugar! But what are the alternatives?

You have read about why sugar is bad, how it can affect your immune health, rob you of important nutrients, increase blood glucose levels, lead to weight gain & fast track the aging process – but you still crave something sweet, we all do!  So lets take the time to look at why artificial sweeteners are bad, and some natural alternatives that you can turn to instead!
Artificial Sweeteners?
First thing is first, Artificial sweeteners are BAD and should be avoided at all costs.  We don't expect you to just take our word for it either; here are some harsh facts that will help you make up your own mind!
Aspartame (Phenylalanine) it's a chemical! You don't need to be a rocket scientist to know this is already bad news! Often known as nutra sweet or equal & found in many 'sugar free' drinks & sweets, Aspartame is a common choice for sugar conscious individuals.  So what is it?  A non-saccharide sweetener 100-150 times sweeter than sugar, meaning very little is required to produce a sweet taste - sounds great if you are counting calories, but here's what they don't want you to know!  Aspartame has been linked to brain tumors, brain lesions & lymphoma as well as causing hallucinations & seizures.  You just have to GOOGLE the word "Aspartame" to see what we are talking about!
So what about Sucralose (Splenda), a zero calorie artificial sweetener, which is said to be 600 times sweeter than sucrose (sugar) & 3 times sweeter than Aspartame.  Sounds too good to be true right? That's because it is!  Once again, GOOGLE "Sucralose" and you are faced with a myriad of sites pointing to research that shows Sucralose causes diarrhea, headaches, rashes, anxiety & bladder problems; & they are just the mild side effects!  It also enlarges the liver & kidneys & shrinks the thymus gland, which leads to immunodeficiency. 
So, what are the alternatives?
Never fear, there are a host of natural sweet alternatives available (phew!).

Stevia
Stevia is a South American herb that is specifically grown for its sweet leaves.  It is part of the sunflower family & is sometimes referred to as sweetleaf or sugarleaf.  Stevia has a nugatory effect on blood glucose, and actually enhances glucose tollerance.  It is 300 times sweeter than sugar, so you don't need much - and it's calorie free!

Agave
Agave nectar is a fantastic alternative to sugar or honey.  It is derived from the agave plant & posesses a fructose content.  Agave acts like a complex carbohydrate, meaning it has a low glycemic index, whilst honey is high GI.  Agave is said to be 1.4-1.6 times sweeter than honey & contains Iron, Calcium, Potassium & Magnesium.  Be warned with Agave though - you need to ensure you are purchasing a good quality Agave and not something that has been processed with High Fructose Corn Syrup!

Xylitol
Yes it sounds like a strange name, and I'm sure you're screaming chemical! However, we assure you it's not!  Xylitol is a natural substance that is found in fibrous fruit & vegetables as well as hardwood trees.  Furthermore its actually produced naturally in our bodies during metabolism.  So what's with the name? It originates from Finland.  What is so great about xylitol, is that it looks (and tastes) exactly like sugar, but what makes it even better is the fact that it helps to build immunity within the body whilst reducing sugar cravings & its alkaline enhancing, unlike sugar which is acid forming!  Looking and tasting exactly like sugar, Xylitol can be used as a replacement for absolutely everything that sugar is used for including cooking & hot beverages.
Click here to purchase Xylitol from Tonic Superfoods


Lakanto
Similar in appearance to Xylitol, Lakanto also possesses the same sweet taste & usability as sugar.  It is made from two ingredients erythritol & luo han guo fruit.  The erythritol used to create lakanto is Non-GMO & is a fermented sugar alcohol naturally found in many common things like mushroom, grapes & pears.  Alone the erythritol does not possess the taste of sugar, so luo han guo is added.  Luo han guo is an extremely sweet fruit from China that is said to have medicinal qualities - particularly to do with the lungs, as well as promoting longevity.

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!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Sugar - Everyone’s favourite enemy!

Refined Sugar, its in so many different things, comes in so many different forms – and even those of us that eat the cleanest of diets crave it from time to time!  Do we really know how bad it is – or for that matter, why its so bad?  So what is sugar, what does it do to us & why should we avoid it?
The dictionary definition of sugar is quite simple - a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative. If only it was really that simple! Yes, sugar is a carbohydrate, but it comes in many forms – the most common being sucrose (commonly found in food), lactose, dextrose (corn sugar) & fructose (fruit sugar).
Like starch, sugar raises blood glucose levels.  When consumed, Sugar causes blood glucose levels to rise quickly, which stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin to drop blood-sugar levels. These rapid fluctuations of blood-sugar levels are not healthy because of the stress they place on the body.
Inundating the bloodstream with sugar upsets the body's blood-sugar balance, in-turn triggering the release of insulin, which the body uses to try and regulate blood-sugar levels. Insulin also promotes the storage of fat, meaning when foods high in sugar content are consumed, weight gain & elevated triglyceride levels will be a by-product.
A recent blog post by Health & Performance Coach, Kat Eden, (Breaking up with sugar your how to guide) explains why we have such a relationship with sugar & why we crave it!  It’s well worth the read if you have the time!

So lets look at why sugar is so bad!
Firstly, the body uses sugar for energy.  However, if the body is unable to utalise all the sugar consumed, it will turn excess sugar into fat .  Great – just what we want, NOT! And what makes it even worse – whilst metabolizing this excess sugar, the body suffers a number of metabolic swings that are actually going to reduce energy, leaving you feeling sluggish!
Have you ever noticed that after you consume something with sugar in it, you are no longer hungry?  Consuming sugar makes hunger go away, the problem is refined sugar contains no important nutrients, only empty calories.  So, eating a refined carbohydrate like sugar means you are not consuming vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats or enzymes.  The body then needs to borrow these vital nutrients from healthy cells to metabolise the incomplete food you have just consumed.  It takes magnesium, calcium, sodium & potassium from elsewhere in the body to do this.  What’s worse? Calcium is required to neutralize the effects of sugar on the body, which can lead to bones becoming osteoporotic due to withdrawn calcium!  So remember, there is a difference between feeling full after every meal & gaining the nutrition you need from the meal!
We all want to look good and slow down the aging process – well listen to this!  Consuming sugar affects the way you look.  The sugar molecules bond to the protein molecules, in your body, without the controlling action of an enzyme.  This is called glycation. Glycation, or inflammation of the skin, leads to high levels of free radicals which attack the collagen that keeps the skin stay firm. Without enough of this collagen, you will start to notice wrinkles.  Furthermore, it can lead to a lack of mobility in the joints, dry brittle nails and hair and a range of other health problems. 
Not only are free radicals bad news for your skin they are also deadly for the body, which is another reason why sugar is bad for your health. Free radicals can cause a lot of damage in healthy cells and lead to many illnesses of the body. Sugar will lead to increased immune deficiency. Research has shown that white blood cells are less efficient at fighting illness when exposed to sugar.  Candida is the most common imbalance caused by excessive sugar intake.  Candida albicans is a naturally occurring organism, living inside our intestines in balance with beneficial bacteria. Too much sugar often leads to excessive amounts of Candida. And in excess, Candida excretes toxic metabolites that begin to degrade the intestinal walls. Low energy and chronic fatigue is a major symptom of Candida because one of its by-products is acetaldehyde and this chemical creates ethanol as a by-product. Ethanol causes fatigue as it destroys enzymes needed for cell energy.
Cutting the excess sugar out of your diet is one of the best things you can do for your body. 

It’s not easy especially the first few weeks when you will still experience some sort of craving for sugar!
Next post Tonic will provide you with a host of natural alternatives to sugar!
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!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Super hero - Salmon Stir Fry!



Who doesn’t love a stir fry, its quick, easy & can be put in a container for lunch the next day!  We put a super spin on an old favourite incorporating superfoods to keep you energized, balanced & feeling great.  What is even better - This dish is rich in vitamin D, which may help slow the effects of aging!

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!

Serves 4
Super Teriyaki Marinade
3 Tbsp Nama Shoyu
1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger
½ clove crushed garlic
1 Tspn finely chopped onion
1 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
2 Tbsp water

Directions
Combine all ingredients into a small bowl and whisk until completely combined.  Cover in fridge for 20-30 minutes.
If a thicker marinade is desired use less water, for a thinner dressing style marinade add more water.
Super Stirfry Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 salmon fillets, skinned and sliced
150g broccoli
100g green beans, top and tailed
2 avocados, peeled, stoned and sliced
6 cherry tomatoes, halved
150g baby spinach
50g walnut halves
Directions
Heat oil in a wok then add broccoli & cook for 2 minutes, add the salmon & beans and cook for a further 2 minutes.
Toss in the avocado, tomatoes, baby spinach & walnut halves & cook for a further 2 minutes, stirring them around the wok to ensure they still have some crunch!
Add the Super Teriyaki marinade & toss for a further minute
Serve with your choice of noodles, quinoa or rice.

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!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Slow down & Stop the stress!


It’s often hard to find the time to get everything done!  We all have such fast paced lifestyles, with work, home life, social lives, exercise & general day to day occurrences. It can be stressful, but with fear of missing out on the excitement we push ourselves to keep going. We want to be part of it all, but sometimes it’s too much – we get tired and we can’t keep up. Why? It is said that at one time or another, adrenal fatigue effects an estimated 80% of people living in industrialized countries – so what is it, & how do we treat it?
The Adrenals
Your adrenal glands are two tiny pyramid-shaped pieces of tissue situated right above each kidney. Their job is to produce and release, when appropriate, certain regulatory hormones and chemical messengers.
Adrenaline is manufactured in the interior of the adrenal gland, called the adrenal medulla. Cortisol, the other chemical from the adrenal gland, is made in the exterior portion of the gland, called the adrenal cortex. The cortex also secretes androgens, estrogens, and progestins. Cortisol, commonly called hydrocortisone, is the most abundant - and one of the most important - of many adrenal cortex hormones. Cortisol helps you handle longer-term stress situations. These two primary adrenal hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, help control body fluid balance, blood pressure, blood sugar, and other central metabolic functions.
What is Adrenal Fatigue?
The adrenal glands produce adrenaline and cortisol in response to stress, temporarily increasing the body's ability to deal with whatever is causing it stress. Modern life can be so full of stress that the body overproduces adrenaline, cortisol and other stress hormones. 
Adrenal fatigue often develops after periods of intense or lengthy physical or emotional stress, when overstimulation if the glands leave them unable to meet your body's needs. Constant stress and poor nutrition can weaken the adrenal glands.
Adrenal fatigue is your body's attempt to shut itself down long enough to recover from all those stress hormones. The overproduction of adrenal hormones caused by prolonged stress can weaken the immune system and inhibit the production of white blood cells.
Signs of Adrenal Fatigue
·      excessive tiredness
·      overwhelmed by or unable to cope with stress
·      feeling rundown
·      craving salty and sweet foods
·      energetic in the evening
·      not feeling rested after a full night's sleep
·      interrupted sleep
·      low stamina
·      difficulty concentrating
·      poor digestion
·      low immune function

How to treat Adrenal Fatigue
Listen to your body. Not every case of adrenal fatigue presents the same symptoms, and as such it will need to be treated differently.  It is important though to reduce stressors & to take some time out to relax.  Equally important is SLEEP! Most adults need eight hours of daily sleep, and trying to make up for all your lost sleep once the weekend rolls around is counterproductive, get yourself into a good sleep schedule to help the body restore its equilibrium.
Exercise resets the biological systems, increasing pleasure hormone levels in the body and increasing its ability to metabolize the waste products of adrenal hormone production, you don’t want to over do it though – try walking or yoga.

Nutrition & Adrenal Fatigue
The cortisol produced by the adrenal glands has a significant effect on blood sugar levels, and so eating habits play a major role in moderating the condition. Balance Your Blood Sugar With Your Diet. To minimize stress on the adrenal system, and ensure maximum energy, you should consider a low-glycemic (low-sugar) diet, consisting of sufficient protein and fat, low-glycemic carbohydrates, eaten in smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. Sugar and simple carbohydrates put stress on the adrenal glands due by rapidly shifting blood sugar levels. By switching to vegetables, fruits and proteins, and high fiber carbohydrates, blood sugar remains more stable, providing less strain on the adrenal glands.

Coffee can stimulate the adrenal glands, only worsening your adrenal overload & should be avoided at all costs!  Instead try Yerba Mate, a herbal tea native to South America.  Yerba Mate is considered far more nutritious than black tea or coffee, and though it also has some caffeine, it's effects are energizing & nourishing.

A Vitamin B complex is also extremely important with stress management. When we ‘stress’ our body leeches high levels of mineral and uses up vitamin stores to manage excess hormone levels.  Bee Pollen is a rich source of B vitamins & is a rich source of enzymes & other vitamins & minerals.  The reason why bee pollen is a better choice over other B Vitamin supplements is that it is a food substance that is easily absorbed, it is also high in protein & essential amino acids.

Adequately feeding your immune system boosts its fighting power, Vitamin C is a great way to do this. Vitamin C increases the production of infection-fighting white blood cells and antibodies and increases levels of interferon, the antibody that coats cell surfaces, preventing the entry of viruses. A great source of Vitamin C is Camu Camu. Camu Camu contains more vitamin C than any other known plant, with Camu Camu powder containing up to 60 times more vitamin C than an orange, it also contains phytochemicals including serine, amino acids, valine.

The benefits of Maca can definitely not be overlooked when trying to treat adrenal fatigue.  Being an adaptogen, Maca redresses balance where imbalance exists within the body.  Its going to balance out excessive hormonal levels, combating the high levels of Cortisol & Oestrogen & assist with regulating insulin release.


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!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Lunchtime Lentils!

  • Lentils have incredible nutritional value by being rich in protein, fibre and complex carbohydrates. They are a good source of calcium, phosphorus, iron, B vitamins and folic acid. They are also low calorie, low fat and cholesterol free. If this isn't enough to make you want to eat them then nothing will!  Here is a super lentil recipe, that is guaranteed to give you a gradual, steady stream of energy throughout the day.

Serves 4

  • Ingredients
  • 2 cups of chickpeas, rinsed & drained
  • 2 cups of lentils, rinsed & drained
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup coriander leaves
  • 1 cup Tonic Superfoods Maca Powder
  • 1 cup Tonic Superfoods Chia Seeds
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 brown onion
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 tbsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 2 eggs

Method
Heat olive oil in a frying pan & cook onion until it softens. 
Throw in the crushed garlic, turmeric and cumin & mix with the onion well.
Put the chickpeas, lentils, sunflower seeds, coriander, egg and onion mixture in a blender until it is a smooth texture.
Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl then add 2/3 cup of Maca Powder. Stir until well combined.
Place remaining Maca powder on a plate. Form chickpea mixture into 8-10 patties. 
Roll in Maca Powder until coated.
Shallow fry patties until golden brown.

Serve with some leafy greens & either mint yoghurt or avocado for the best lunch ever!


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!

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Hormone health at any age

Dr. Sherrill Sellman is the premier educational leader worldwide, when it comes to the issues of women’s hormones and the havoc forced upon us by the orthodox medical establishment. Sherrill is a dynamic and powerful speaker who entertains as she educates, revealing the truth behind the myriad of deceptions in the field of women’s health.
Join Tonic Superfoods in Melbourne for some of the most important lectures and workshops you will see in Australia, empowering women to embrace their feminine selves as they journey towards rejuvenating mind, body and soul.  “Turning Back the Clock – Restore, Regenerate & Rejuvenate Your Hormones at Any Age” Workshop for women to explore these subjects at a deeper level, offering solutions and strategies to reclaim your health and your life.


  • Are Bio-identical Hormones – Harmful, Helpful or Hype?
  • Learn when you should and shouldn’t use Bio-identical hormones
  • Learn the BEST program to maintain:
    • Desired weight • Strong bones • Happy moods • A sharp focused memory
    • Deep regenerative sleep • Vibrant beautiful skin • Feeling sexy and a strong libido
  • Learn the best ways to balance hormones with supplements, herbs, and nutrition
  • Learn the myths and truths of bone health and why Calcium can harm you
  • Learn how to reclaim your waist, & your ideal weight and safely lose a pound a day
  • Discover a revolutionary way to regenerate youthful, wrinkle-free skin and avoid expensive, temporary synthetic fillers and toxic muscle relaxers
  • Discover why your adrenals, thyroid and digestion rule your hormones and how to restore them
  • Learn simple, practical tests you can do at home to assess your hormones.



Why eat Superfoods?
By eating superfoods you are fuelling your body with proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, coenzymes, good fats and oils, essential amino acids, glyconutrients, polysaccharides and essential fatty acids.
Just eating healthy these days isn’t enough.  Many healthy fruits and vegetables are grown in soils that are deficient in nutrients. Superfoods contain many of these missing nutrients & will help to restore the balance in a modern life.
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? 

MACA
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 and women:
Maca, however, does not directly affect hormone levels. While it has been said to treat conditions ranging from acne to endometriosis, it is the high nutritional level of Maca that supports the endocrine system by nourishing its function and indirectly producing such promising results. Maca 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. The supplementation of Maca, therefore, is enormously beneficial to women suffering from anemia, menstrual cramps, brittle hair and nails, stress, acne, skin condition and low energy. Simply put, Maca is of great benefit for both general use and specific but common complaints. For serious or continuous conditions Maca should be used in a supportive capacity only and in conjunction with medical examination and treatment.


MSM
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is one of the most broadly applicable tonics for the body. While the name is overwhelming, MSM is simply an organic form of sulphur found in a normal human diet and used by the body in an extraordinary number of its processes. Sulphur is found in the hair, nails, skin and bones and is used broadly as an anti-inflammatory as well as a powerful device of detoxification and cell regeneration.
Entering the diet through the ‘sulphur cycle’, MSM is first released by plankton into the atmosphere, where ultraviolet light converts the mineral into Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO): the precursor to MSM. It then enters our soil and is absorbed by plant matter after it rains and through the consumption of fruits, vegetables and some plant grazing animals, becomes available to us as an important part of our natural mineral intake. Unfortunately, today’s mineral content of our soils is poor and sulphur is often found to be deficient in our diets and must, as a result, be supplemented. MSM is not only a component of many of the amino acid building blocks of our cells but by increasing the flexibility and permeability of the cell membrane, ensures its integrity. Such permeability also allows toxins that have built up inside the cell to be released.
MSM and women:
The supplementation of MSM is of enormous benefit for women. Not only can MSM help prevent such degenerative conditions as Osteoporosis and Arthritis but its supplementation can be used to treat cellulite and to prevent ‘aging’. As sulphur is required for collagen synthesis and the development of the connective tissue fibres of bones, hair, teeth and skin it plays a significant role in promoting and maintaining their health. With more MSM in our diet our cells stay buoyant, clean of toxins and youthful! MSM is a powerful beauty tonic.


Cacao
Cacao is a great source of phytonutrients including aminos, protein, omega-3, calcium, zinc, sulphur, copper, potassium, beta-carotene, chromium and magnesium.
Magnesium is critical for muscle relaxation, circulation, and heart health.  It is the most abundant mineral found in the heart. Magnesium helps us to relax, and prevents us from getting overly stressed. Chromium is a mineral that is critical for helping us to regulate our blood sugar. It helps our cells to become more sensitive to insulin.  Insulin resistance also known as pre-diabetes is a condition that affects many people living in western countries, whilst Chromium helps us bring insulin levels back into balance, re-sensitizing  our cells to insulin. Our bodies can then utilise glucose (blood sugar) as fuel.  Without balanced blood sugar, our brain function, muscle function and overall well being is affected
Cacao and women:
The high levels of  magnesium contained in Cacao are a wonder for women during their menstrual cycle.  During the menstral cycle, levels of magnesium in the body drop, which can lead to migrane head aches and cramping.  The magnesium found in Cacao, can assist in easing these symptoms, as well as assisting with water retention and weight gain that are caused by low levels of aldosterone which is produced by adrenal gland as resulting of magnesium deficiency . Cacao  also contains Penylethylamine (PEA). PEA is a chemical associated with love and optimism. When we feel good our PEA levels increase. When we ingest PEA rich foods such as cacao our mood also is likely to become elevated, and every woman wants to feel as good as she can during that time of the month!


Bee Pollen
Bee Pollen is a complete protein containing 17 amino acids, is a rich source of B vitamins, and is also one of nature’s richest naturally occurring sources of lecithin.  Eating bee pollen has been shown in studies to help our immune system.  It is also a rich source of enzymes, vitamins and minerals.  Furthermore, the human body is made up of 22 essential elements, Bee Pollen is the only food to contain all of them.
Bee Pollen and women:
Stress affects most functions of the body including metabolism and detoxification. When we ‘stress’ our body leeches high levels of mineral and uses up vitamin stores to manage excess hormone levels that need to be balanced, metabolised and excreted. The more prolonged stress is, the more impaired these processes are. A Vitamin B complex is also extremely important in stress management. As Vitamin B is a water-soluble vitamin that isn’t produced by the body and isn’t stored, it must be continuously replenished. Furthermore, Vitamin B is deficient in most diets.

B-Vitamins are commonly associated with and commonly used to treat:
· Stress
· Nervousness
· Anxiety
· Cardiovascular system health
· Poor energy levels
· Skin, Hair and Nails
· Our immune system