Summer Detox Part 2: Back to Basics

In Summer Detox Part 1: Heavy Metal Detox, Bonnie Pockley introduced a fun and easy way to start the summer detox process by way of a heavy metal cleanse.  Now its time to go back to basics, to give you your best beach body ever!

The sun is out and the days are fine, the smell of blossom fills the air and on the weekend, your friends want to go to the beach. Yes, it’s almost Summer; the season of shorts, bikinis and long languorous days. It’s the perfect time to spring-clean your body and get your eating habits back on track to look, and feel, your best. So, let’s get back to basics and start summer with some detoxification and a reminder of the principles of good eating. At TONIC SUPERFOODS we believe that the more good stuff you add in, the less of the other stuff you need to worry about. Remember: the best way to get rid of bad habits is to replace them with good ones!

Drink MSM every morning:

MSM is a powerful blood cleanser and detoxifier. Drinking a teaspoon to a tablespoon in water every morning is one of the best things your can do to kick start your metabolism and set you up for a good day. MSM helps digestion and supports the synthesis of collagen, making it an all round must for glowing skin and a beating the dreaded bikini bloated belly. MSM tastes bitter so disguise the taste with some organic honey or a squeeze of lemon juice.

Click Here for Tonic Superfoods MSM

Alkalise your body:

In order for your body to operate at its optimum level your blood needs to be alkaline. When it becomes acidic, your kidneys work overtime to regain a blood ph level of around 7.45. Beyond this, an acidic system is aging, inflammatory and aggressive to your body because it leeches calcium and other mineral from your skeleton to redress acidity in the blood. Fruit and vegetables alkalise your body so eat plenty of them and avoid acidic foods like glutenous grains (oats, rye, wheat,) refined dairy, sugar and excess coffee. I don’t say ban coffee altogether here because coffee has certain health benefits that offset its acidity. Coffee brewed fresh and black is a great blood cleanser so oft for a Long Black or a Long Macchiato instead of your usual Flat White. TONIC SUPERFOODS smoothies are also the ideal meal or snack during a hot summer day because they are quick, easy, nutrition and delicious! Water also alkalises your body so make sure you are drinking your 8 glasses every day.

Stay away from processed foods:

Processed foods are often highly toxic. As we’ve mentioned before on this blog, processed foods often contain nasty chemical, GM additives, high amounts of sugar and fat and are difficult for your body to process and are thus stored as toxic build-up. Added to this, inorganic foods are sprayed with pesticides and herbicides that contain heavy metals. It is fair to say, the more human interference involved with food production the more likely it to make you look and feel unhealthy, contribute to weight gain and illness. The most important guideline under this topic heading is to get rid of sugar and flour! If you are serious about your health, cut them out of your diet as much as you can.

Eat nutrient rich food from organic sources:

Organic food is what food should be and means that it hasn’t been sprayed, waxed or tampered with during its production. Organic food also has a higher nutrient value, better taste and is environmentally sound. TONIC SUPERFOODS are a great place to start with eating organic because they contain higher mineral and vitamin levels than other foods, stay fresh on your shelf (no more having to throw out old fruit and veg because you haven’t got around to eating it), tastes delicious and leaves you satisfied. Added to this, your body will feel more energised, look healthy and perform better.

Eat good quality protein at almost every meal: 

Add protein to a detox? It may sound strange but protein is very important to detoxification. Your body required amino acids (protein building blocs) for almost every process in your body. Protein also keeps you feeling full and is an important part of any weight loss plan. This doesn’t mean you have to eat steak at every meal but rather to be mindful of including protein in your diet. Did you also know that TONIC SUPERFOODS Bee Pollen is richer in protein than beef? There are many ways to include protein in your diet so be creative and try something different like adding a spoonful of bee pollen to your favourite smoothie. You’ll love the taste!

Click here for Tonic Superfoods Bee Pollen

Stress-less:

Stress has become a past of our modern lifestyles. We never have enough time to stop and enjoy what matters to us. Stress contributes to almost every illness making it important for us to find the time to unwind before we pay the price later. Use the beautiful weather as an excuse to sit in the park or go to the beach and tune out to other people’s demands on your time. Taking even just 15 minutes a day for yourself will help keep stress levels down and make you feel slightly more human again. You’ll find the less stressed you are, the better food choices you make and the happier you will feel. Magnesium is also a great stress-buster so make sure your smoothies contain some of TONIC’s high magnesium Raw Cacao.

Click here for Tonic Superfoods Raw Cacao

By Bonnie Pockley

Nuts about Almonds!

One of the first things people start to do when embarking on a new diet is to snack on almonds. Your body needs fuel on an ongoing basis - You want to have a steady stream of fuel throughout the day in order to keep your blood sugar levels balanced, which is what makes almonds a great snack! Did you know that just a small handful of almonds can provide a great amount of essential nutrients? So, what is in that handful of almonds that has the ability to assist in relief from a host of health ailments as well as assisting the aesthetics of your hair, skin & teeth?

Firstly, almonds are a great source of protein, Protein with no cholesterol!  They also contain vitamin E, a valuable antioxidant with many cancer-fighting qualities. It doesn’t stop there, by consuming a small quantity of almonds; you are consuming minerals like magnesium, phosphorus and zinc, as well as fibre, calcium and folic acid. Don’t fall for the myth that almonds are fattening - most of the fat in almonds is unsaturated, which is "good" fat.

All of this sounds great, but how will almonds really help you?

Almonds are going to help the health of your heart! The fat, protein and potassium contained in almonds are good for the heart. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and reduces the risk of heart diseases. The presence of magnesium in almonds helps to avoid heart attacks. Almonds help reduce C-reactive protein which causes artery-damaging inflammation. Almond is also a source of folic acid. They therefore help to reduce the level of homocystein, which causes fatty plaque buildup in arteries.

The potassium present in almond helps to regulates blood pressure. Almonds are very low in sodium which also helps in containing blood pressure.

Regular consumption of almonds helps to increase the level of high density lipoproteins (HDL) and reduce the level of low density lipoproteins (LDL), thereby effectively controlling cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol is called bad cholesterol.

Almonds are rich in fibre. Like most other fibre rich food, almonds also help in preventing constipation.  By assisting movement of food through the colon, this can also assist in the prevention of colon cancer.

Still worried about the fat?

The mono-unsaturated fat contained in almonds satisfies appetite and prevents over-eating. Studies have revealed that almond rich low calorie diet is good for obese people to assist in shedding their weight. Furthermore, The presence of manganese, copper and Riboflavin in almonds helps with energy production, which means you are going to have more energy to exercise!  Almond milk is a great substitute for dairy if you are looking at ways to tweak your diet to aid with weight loss!

Here is a great cake recipe that caters for most (No Gluten, No Dairy, No Wheat, No SUGAR), unfortunately if you have a nut allergy you may want to steer clear though!  Not only does this posess all the benefits of eating almonds, but this cake will provide vitamin C as well! Enjoy!

Middle Eastern (Superfood) Orange & Almond Cake

Ingredients

2 large Oranges

1 tsp Tonic Superfoods Camu Camu Powder

6 eggs

250g whole almonds (don’t use almond meal – blend/crush them yourself!)

200g xylitol

1 tbsp Tonic Superfoods Maca Powder

Method

Wash and boil oranges (unpeeled) in water for 2 hours, don’t cover them with water but keep topping it up so it doesn’t boil dry.
Preheat oven to 190.
Prepare a cake tin with butter or baking paper

Let the oranges to cool, then cut them open and remove pips.
Throw the whole almonds in to a food processor to grind them finely, however a few chunks are good as it will give the cake a slightly crunchy texture.
Take the almonds out of the food processor and then use the processor to blend the oranges & make them quite “pulpy”
Toss the oranges into a bowl with the almonds, then throw in the eggs (beaten) , the xylitol, camu camu & maca powder. Give it a good mix.
Pour in all into the cake tin, preferably one with a removable base
Bake at 190 C or about an hour, or a little longer if still very wet, although a little bit moist is great for this type of cake!

Cold Weather - Comfort Food!

We have all experienced it, the weather gets a bit cold - we crave comfort.  Something warm that is going to make us feel full and happy!  You don't have to throw your clean eating regime out the window to experience this feeling.  Here is one of our nutrient dense, comfort recipes!

Cauliflower Maca Mash

Head of 1 Cauliflower
2 Cloves of Garlic
1 Tablespoon Tonic Superfoods Maca Powder
1/4 Cup of Raw Cream
2 Teaspoons of Olive Oil
2 Teaspoons of Organic Butter
Pinch of Celtic Sea Salt

Pepper or Fresh Chives to Taste

Chop up the cauliflower and boil in water until soft then drain, add all the ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth.

Being nutrient dense, eating cauliflower is going to ensure you are consuming Vitamin A, Calcium, Magnesium & Potassium.  If you have read our previous post, you would know that a combination of calcium & magnesium is imperative during any strength training plan, as it allows muscles to relax & contract.
Cauliflower is also a great source of Fibre, Folate, Selenium & Vitamin C - with Vitamin C assisting with increased immune function and the manufacture of collagen; the protein that forms the basis for connective tissue.
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.  Making this Maca/Cauliflower Mash the perfect comfort snack for anyone that takes their training or general health seriously!

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 core of your nutrition plan!

To ensure your body is healthy, it requires healthy fuel.  We at Tonic believe that by incorporating the right fuel, the rest will fall into balance.
Tonic was recently lucky enough to have the opportunity to collaborate with Nutritional Coach & Superfoods Enthusiast, Christian Petersen, to create a superfood formulation packed with bio-available (highly digestible) nutrition that will cleanse and rebuild the body.


The Tonic Core has been carefully crafted, with hand picked ingredients to help re-mineralise nutrient deficient bodies.  By consuming mineral rich foods, such as whole-foods, the body is able to make nutrients bio-available through our enzyme systems, and therefore utalise, breakdown and absorb only the minerals it requires.  By giving the body what it needs, cravings for less savory nutrient dense foods will decrease, the body will be better equipped to deal with stress & you will notice increased mental function.


The detox concept has been developed and marketed as a way for people to remediate their grocery sins.  This need for detox arises when people at foods that have been displaced from nature - processed foods.  Processed foods are not compatible with our bodies.  Looking around at civilized people, we can see people surviving on processed foods, however very few are thriving!  The Tonic Core is about thriving! Conventional detox programs cause rapid unsustainable, uncomfortable detox reactions in many people; causing stress to our vital organs.  The Tonic Core is a dietary upgrade, that naturally assists the body in cleansing the way it should be, minimizing organ stress.


With this nutritional philosophy in mind Tonic worked with Christian & chose three ingredients for the Tonic Core, creating a superfood formulation, that can be utalised on its own, incorporated into your current nutrition plan or used as a delivery system incorporated with other nutrient dense superfoods.  The ingredients chosen carefully for the Tonic Core are Raw Cacao, Maca & Mesquite.

Raw 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. Iron is assists with mineral oxygenation of the blood, coupled with the magnesium and therobromine it acts as a vasodilator (vein relaxant). When veins are relaxed, the body better absorbs nutrients and transports oxygen throughout the body.   Raw Cacao is a crucial ingredient of Tonic Core - as it acts as the delivery system & assists in nutrient absorption - assisting with energy production & recovery after training.

Maca

Maca is a key component of Tonic Core.  It comes from the Peruvian Andes, and has been eaten as a staple food in this region for thousands of years.  Maca is a rich source of protein, minerals, plant sterols and di-indol methane.  The adaptogenic properties of Maca are one of the reasons it makes such a great addition to our diet. The various phyto nutrients and alkaloids present are said to help balance our master glands.  It is through this balance that we are able to normalise our hormonal function. Having balanced hormones is critical to optimal health because it will help us to build lean muscle mass, maintain our mood, and feel our best.  For more information about the individual benefits of Maca please read our earlier post on the benefits of Maca.

Mesquite

Mesquite is dense in Zinc, Calcium, Lystine & is also a source of fibre.  By combining the calcium in mesquite with the magnesium in cacao, we are fuelling the body to create strong bones.  The calcium is easily utalised by the body, as it is in wholefood form.  The combination of calcium & magnesium will also give you a competative edge with strength training as the muscles ability to relax & contract is heightened.  Zinc & Lystine assist with immune system function, ensuring the immune system is able to endure the stress placed upon it during strenuous cardiovascular or strength training.  Zinc & Lystine also fuel enzymes/muscle building proteins within the body.  Lystine also assists with calcium absorption.

The Tonic Core program has been designed to work as a foundation for any lifestyle, allowing you to easily incorporate nutrient dense wholefoods in an exciting and fun way.  Start to feel great, increase your energy, mental & physical well-being with Tonic Core.

To purchase the Tonic Core click here.

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!

Christian Petersen is available for Nutritional & Superfood consultation and can be contacted by email christianjohnpetersen@gmail.com

 

Achieve balance with Maca.

By Bonnie Pockley

Lepidium Meyenii or ‘Maca’ is an extraordinary root vegetable that originates in Peru. Sometimes known as Peruvinium because of the locality of where it grows, all parts of the Maca plant have been used and continue to be used in traditional Peruvian cooking and culture. It is the root, however, that is used medicinally in the Andes and by practitioners of alternative medicine worldwide. Maca is available over the counter in health food stores except in Norway where a prescription is required to obtain it.

Maca is considered to be an ‘Adoptogen’. Adaptogens are a class of natural substances that have a ‘normalising effect’ on the body and its processes. While this should make Maca incredibly broad reaching in its medicinal application, it is mostly used to assist the regulation of the endocrine system and to increase stamina and endurance. Used in large quantities by Incan men before battle to increase their strength and endurance, Maca made powerful soldiers into formidable warriors but also left them in a state of such heightened sexual desire that its use was prohibited immediately after battle to protect the Incan women. Indeed, Maca is both a powerful tonic for sexual function as well as being both energizing and sustaining. According to several independent studies, its use had proven results of increasing semen quality, motility and quantity in men as well as increasing their levels of sexual desire and overall sexual activity. Maca has been used successfully in trials to decrease enlarged prostates and may therefore be said to assist in preventing and possibly supporting the treatment of disease relating to prostate.

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.

How to use Maca
Using Maca is fun. Maca has a slightly nutty taste making it a wonderful and simple addition to Super Smoothies. Other alternatives include adding it to hot chocolate made from unhomoginized, (ideally) unpasturized milk, raw cacao and brown sugar or alternative natural sugar substitutes. Add together according to your taste but I’d recommend no more than a teaspoon of Maca per person or per cup as it is very strong and has some side effects which I will mention below. Another lovely way to include Maca in your diet is as a flour alternative (if you cook with flour) or on special occasions when you want a healthier version of a chocolate cake.

My favourite is a flourless chocolate cake using the following -
250g of almond or hazelnut meal
3 eggs
I cup of milk,
a pinch of baking powder
6 tablespoons of raw cocoa
1 heaped tablespoon of Tonic Superfoods Maca Powder
1 cup of brown sugar.

Just mix the ingredients all together, place in a greased square cake tin, sprinkle with cinnamon, cocoa, brown sugar and cardamon and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 45 minutes. Otherwise, melt raw chocolate over the top and decorate with fresh strawberries.
People have told me this is the best cake they have ever eaten. Little do they know it is probably one of the most nutritious too!

Caution with Maca
Maca is strong and should be used wisely. While is has no toxicity, some wisdom and caution is required when supplementing your diet with it. Maca is high in carbohydrate (approximately 60%), which means that it is high in sugars. Maca also exerts an energizing effect on the central nervous system. If you are trying to lose weight, supplement Maca in the morning as you will burn the extra energy during the day but if you participate in hard labour or athletics during the day, taking Maca at night will help your body recover lost levels of glucose and glycogens from physical stress. These are both needed for muscle repair. Do not take Maca just before going to bed as it has a stimulant effect and can lead to insomnia. Maca has high levels of Iodine so consult your doctor before taking it if you suffer from any thyroid condition. Apart from these simple guidelines, enjoy using Maca at a recommended level of intake of approximately 1 – 4 teaspoons a day and consult a professional practitioner if you are in any doubt of its use.

Maca powder is available from Tonic Superfoods.

Aloe Vera...The secret to staying youthful!

One of the most interesting examples of of superfoods we have available to us here in Melbourne is the locally grown Aloe Vera. Originating in ancient Egypt it is likely the secret of Cleopatras legendary beauty routine. She is porported to have consumed the gel and topically applying it to her skin. This knowlege was passed to the Essenes a long lived sect that grew this plant near the dead sea and lived three times as long as ordinary folk of the period. Later the Greeks used its amazing healing abilities on soldiers wounds and would often carry potted aloe into battle.

The gel of aloe contains many great benefits, including vitamins A, C and E. All of which are useful in maintaining youthful elastic skin as well as regenerating damaged dermal tissue. It is also rich in sulfur, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium and chromium. These are known beauty minerals particularly sulfur which is essential in the formation of collagen. It also contains antioxidants, mucilagenous fibre and polysacharides.

So what is a mucilaginous fibre?
Essentially is is a jelly like fibre that expands in your gut allowing you to feel more full and soothing your digestive tract. It’s true genius is however is the former. When you combine a mucilaginous fibre such as aloe vera in a smoothie it slows down the digestion of what ever you combine it with allowing you to feel fuller longer. This way you can have a meal that is extremely nutritive both from the combined ingredients and the filler (aloe) itself. This allows you to prevent emotional eating there by supporting weight loss, while at the same time maintaining energy levels and reducing hunger issues during the day. Some other well known sources of mucilaginous fibre are flax, chia, and irish moss. While both chia and irish moss are also good sources flax is not recommended long term due to its estrogenic nature. This can cause issues in both men and women. Also none of these contain the powerful pollysacharides that Aloe does.

What gives aloe vera its true superfood nature is the polysacharides present in the gel. Like the mucilaginous fibre they provide a steady burning fuel source to maintain energy over time. These polysacharides also possess abilities to fight bacterial, viral and fungal infections. They calm and soothe the digestive tract and so can assist with any upsets pertaining to those areas. By dissolving mucous in the intestines aloe increases nutrient absorbtion. It is also a powerful anti inflammatory which like MSM gives the body and its cells greater flexibility and elasticity. Aloe gel has been shown to aid blood sugar stabilization and lessen the effects of diabetes. When consumed in conjunction with antioxidant rich foods it seems to increase the bioavailability of those in the body.

From a sports perspective aloe has the ability to assist in weight loss and the ability for the body to put on lean muscle mass. It also contains a lot of hydrogen and so is useful in hydrating the body. When consumed with other hydrating foods like MSM and honey it can replenish and rehydrate after intense physical exercise.

Aloe can be purchased in a prebottled form though it is very likely that this has been heated and or processed to some extent. This means that much of the true healing medicine of the plant is largely lost. It is better to seek out fresh leaves that can be purchased from some Asian grocery stores. You may have to hunt around but it is well worth the effort to do so. We have also posted a video for you to view showing how to properly prepare and filet the fresh aloe leaf.



Once the aloe has been filleted the yellow goo on the skin can be placed onto the skin. It is this pungent stuff that has the healing effects for topical application. It helps with wounds and any other skin conditions and if you have ever cut a live plant before you will note that it is this exudence that seals the plant back up. This action is reflected in its own on your body. This remarkable ability will topically assist in making your skin softer and more suble. Don’t be put off by it’s odor as you can wash it off after 10 minutes. In the case of very dry skin or burns this will not be necessary as the body will quite literally drink it in.

Stay tuned for our next post, where we will give you some delicious aloe vera smoothie recipes!


Post provided by Julze Serendipity

Goji Snack!

Are you looking for a healthy, tasty mid afternoon snack to get you through the day?

We at Tonic tried this recipe the other day, and now we're addicted!

Goji Balls

2 cups TONIC SUPERFOODS Trail Mix (blended in a blender)

1 cup rice bran

2 tbsp Coconut Oil

2 tbsp Raw Honey

1 heaped tbsp TONIC SUPERFOODS Cacao Powder

1/4 cup Almonds (blended into powder in a blender)

Mix ingredients together & then roll into bite sized balls.

This snack is not only yummy, but gives you the benefits associated with eating both goji berries & cacao.

Goji berries are a great source of vitamin C, Vitamin A, posess 21 minerals, 18 amino acids and score an amazing 23,500 on the ORAC (anti-oxidant) scale. As a comparison blueberries only score 2400. Goji berries are an adaptogen, meaning they have a combination of therapeutic actions on the body, depending on what the body needs. Goji berries increase strength, stamina, longevity and sexual energy by increasing the energy of both the kidneys and the adrenal glands.

Cacao nibs are 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.

Indulge when you are busy & on the go, or when you want some time out to relax!

Crazy about coconuts.....

Coconuts are the unsung heroes of the Superfood world. Even though they have been used for literally thousands of years as a tonic and medicine, in recent years they have fallen onto hard times in nutrition and sports circles. That is about to change. Despite much bad press about coconuts being a saturated fat and therefore to be avoided in the case of both diabetes and weight issues, the scientific research suggests otherwise. It has been shown to be effective in stabilizing blood sugar levels and normalizing thyroid function. likely originating in the Philippines it has spread throughout the world and is a foundational food source for the South Pacific.

Coconut in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit literally translates to “the tree that supplies all that is needed to live”. A perfect example of this occurred during the mid 20th century on a then unpopulated Magnetic Island off the coast of North Queensland. A pair of men were marooned there for some 9 months and forced to live off nothing but coconuts. When they were finally rescued despite their robust appearance, doctors feared that this sparse diet may have caused major deficiencies and ran many tests on the men. To their shock not only were they the picture of health but many of their previous ailments had disappeared. Such an example gives us a valuable insight as to the healing powers of coconut.

Coconut Water

The water of the coconut is nearly identical to that of human blood plasma meaning that when combined with a green juice such as wheatgrass it becomes an instant and refreshing blood transfusion. The electrolyte rich water is naturally filtered for nine months inside the nut to create the best sports drink ever. The water is also filled with b vitamins and other valuable minerals.

Coconut Flesh

The flesh of a coconut consists of a pure saturated fat that can repair damaged tissue, increase nerve function and restore sexual fluids in males. Unlike the saturated fats found in animal sources coconuts have shorter chain fats that require less energy to burn. This means that they make for a quick burning and readily accessible food source and a gentler fat for the liver. These two factors create a leaner and more energetically functional body.

Coconut Oil

Unquestionably the true magic lies in the oil found in the flesh. When extracted and concentrated the powerful healing benefits of coconuts can really be accessed. The oil of coconut is antiviral, antimicrobial, and antifungal. It can therefore be used both inside and outside the body to great effect. Here is a list of some of its many benefits:

• Improved digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
• Increase the absorption of calcium and magnesium
• Supports immune system
• Powerful antioxidant capability
• Lauric acid present in oil great for skin
• Doubles omega 3 uptake when used in combination with O3 rich foods
• Assists hormone regulation
• Anti aging precursor
• Increase thyroid thus allowing body to burn excess fat
• Displace bad fats that have been previously ingested
• Contain no cholesterol
• Can assist in fungal overgrowths such as Candida and fight viral infections

Coconut oil for us is a mainstay and helps slow the release of the sugars when added to smoothies. This is the best part of the nut and we are blessed that we can get good quality organic oils that are toxin free. Another fun form though is young Thai coconut. These can be purchased from supermarkets and Asian grocery stores everywhere. They are easy to use once you know how. We have put a video as to how to open these so don’t be intimidated. They are great for beginners and taste awesome with cacao in smoothies. Their soft flesh is easily digestible and offers lots of energy giving goodness. The water is sweet as it is a hybrid nut so it goes down a treat. For now have fun and enjoy their sweet creamy taste!

Post provided by Julze Serendipity