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Chocolate Recipes for High Blood Pressure, Moodiness and Healthy Heart

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Chocolate and Love are in the air! Did you listen to Feel and Look Fabulous with Irina about Love…Chocolate…Sex…Romance? Have you tried delicious and sexy recipes Mary McGuire-Wien has shared with us? Well, you should. Click here to listen and get ready to make some notes.

As we know, all chocolate is made from Cacao Beans (also known as Cocoa Beans). So practically, Cacao is chocolate! All the antioxidant value, mineral benefits, neurotransmitter rejuvenating properties, and overall health-giving qualities of chocolate are found in Cacao (Chocolate) Powder made from cacao beans.

Studies show that Cacao (Chocolate)might lower blood pressure, increase circulating, increase blood flow to the brain, decrease chronic inflammation in the body and cardio-vascular system in general; dark chocolate also boosts our serotonin level to fight our moodiness.

I would like to share with you these healthy chocolate recipes to make you feel fabulous.

Instant Chocolate Pudding Recipe

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup (about 12 ounces) firm silken tofu, crumbled

¼ to ½ cup dark brown sugar, or pure maple syrup

1/3 cup Cacao (Chocolate) Powder or Carob Powder

2 tsp vanilla extract

pinch of salt (optional)

Directions:

Place all the ingredients in food processor and blend several minutes until smooth and creamy. Chill I the refrigerator until serving time. Adopted from Breaking the Food Seduction by Neal Bernard.

Chocolate Frosting Recipe

Ingredients:

11/2 extra firm silken tofu

1 cup Cacao

1/3 cup agave nectar or Yacon Syrup

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Blend the tofu, Cacao , agave nectar and vanilla in a food processor until smooth and creamy. Set aside. Stir the chocolate chips in a large metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until the chocolate melts. Carefully add the melted chocolate to the food processor, then blend until thoroughly combined. Transfer the frosting to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 2 hours or until just firm enough to spread. From The Real Food Daily Cookbook by Ann Gentry.

Bon Appetit!

P.S. Listen to Feel and Look Fabulous with Irina:

Romance, Sex, Love, Self-Love with Essential Oils and Romantic Getaways

Passion, Power, Inner Leadership to Feel Fabulous

Recipes and Facials, Love, Sex, Healthy Heart with Chocolate

Breathe, smile and be happy.

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

Posted in High Blood Pressure Remedy, Holistic Health, Nutrition and Recipes, Uncategorized, Whole Foods | No Responses »
Tags: Dark Chocolate, Healthy Chocolate Recipes, Healthy Heart, High Blood Pressure, Valentine

How to Read Labels — Lesson II

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Do you normally read labels before buying anything in the store? Well, sometimes it can spoil your appetit but improve your health and well being.

As a holistic health and nutrition counselor, I always remind my clients that if they want to lose weight, get rid of cravings, lower your blood pressure, prevent headaches and migraines, help with PMS and hormonal imbalance, reduce risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, reading labels is a must.

Here are some tips on how:

1. The serving size

The information on the labels is only for one serving. If the the product contains more than one serving, do the math

2. Calories and calories from fat

Assuming that you are on 2,000 calorie diet, 40 calories is considered low, 100 calories is medium, and 400+ is considered high. Always check if calories come from fats, nutrients, fiber, carbohydrates, sugars, etc.

3. Total Fat

We shouldn’t have more than 65-70 grams of fat per day, it means no more than 30% of total calories coming from fat. The easiest way to convert calories from fat, multiply by 9.

4. Trans Fat

If the labels say 0 trans fats but the product contains partially hydrogenated oils, there is still 0.5 or less of trans fats per serving. Well, do the math before you eat too much of 0 fat products. Trans fat is very dangerous for our health, because it clogs arteries which leads to heart disease.

5. Sodium.

The amount of sodium means the amount of salt per serving. Look for products with 140 milligrams per serving or less. Too much sodium is dangerous because it raises our blood pressure which can lead to heart attack and stroke.

6. Dietary fiber

Ladies, to feel and look fabulous, we need at least 25-30 grams of total fiber daily. Don’t be fooled or confused with whole wheat, multigrain bread. If your favorite bread contains less than 3 grams of fiber, it is not as healthy as you think it is. Look for products with 3-5 grams of fiber per serving.

7. Sugar content

Always remember that 4 grams of sugar = 1 tsp. And don’t forget to look for hidden sugar.
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8. The footnote

The footnote is your reference. The “less than” means that you should limit intake of these nutrients.

Let us be label reading smart , shall we?

Don’t forget to breathe, smile and be happy.

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

Tips on How to Avoid Hidden Sugar by Reading Labels

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Video Tip: 10 “Super Foods” that Can Make Us Super Sick

Super Foods to Avoid to Beat Seasonal Depression

Video Tip: Sugar Surprise

Sugar and Caloric Overload Foods

Listen to Your Body and Be Crave Smart

Quick and Easy to Make Recipes to Beat Sugar Cravings

Headache Triggers Might Be in Your Lunch

From Earth Day Diet to Every Day Diet One Step at a Time MP3 available

Posted in Cancer Prevention, Detox Weight Loss, Headache Migraine Relief, High Blood Pressure Remedy, Holistic Health, Nutrition and Recipes | No Responses »
Tags: High Blood Pressure, Labels reading, Weight Loss Tips and Recipes

How to Get one Extra Kiss and Hug Daily

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Are you a wishing – good – night person? Do you normally wish Good Night to your partner, parents, in-laws and friends when they are around? Good night wishes are very important because they can warm up people’s hearts, make them feel special and loved which helps reduce stress and sleep better.

What about a Good Night Kiss routine? We are certain in the importance of good night kisses and hugs for our children, but what about us, adults? Is a Good Night Ritual as important for kids as for adults? Apparently, studies show that it is…

Listen to Podcast for Some Laughs

If we do certain things every day, they become a habit, turn into routine, and we don’t feel appreciated any more. Well, maybe. But I truly believe that most of routines are very beneficial especially for kids, dogs and husbands .

When people know what to expect, they feel safe, confident, relaxed and happy; they become more organized, manageable and more efficient. As for us, things we repeatedly do on a daily basis save us time, keep us focused, help us be more flexible and goal oriented, minimize our stress and frustration level which can save us several migraines and headaches, lower our blood pressure, and of course, help us handle any out of control situation better.

Sometimes we do take things for granted and are not grateful for them any more; sometimes we simply stop doing certain things assuming that they are not necessary any longer. But they are… We do need a human touch, hugs and kisses on a regular basis to feel happy, loved, and appreciated.
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Can you imagine: if we start with one Good Night Wish and soon after Good Night Hug and Kiss on a regular basis, we’ll receive extra 365 kisses and hugs within a year? For some people this is exactly what they need to feel appreciated and loved. It might improve our relationship, sex life, health in general, and even business, because happiness makes us healthier and more successful.

Happiness is like a kiss – it feels best when you give it to someone else.

~Author Unknown

And if sometimes we have to remind our partners about this extra kiss and hug, so let’s do it!

A kiss that speaks volumes is seldom a first edition. ~Clare Whiting

Let us be wise enough to enjoy extra hugs and kisses by giving, receiving and sometimes reminding….

And whatever we do let’s always remember to breathe, smile and be happy.

P.S. I will give you some ideas on how to say Good Night in at least 50 several different ways in my next post; it will amaze and amuse you at the same time, so stay tuned.

P.P.S. If you think you might need help with my unique Health and Wellness Program for Women “Healthy Relationship – Healthy You“, contact me and let us talk about how I can help and if this Program is a good match for you.

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

Related Articles, Podcast and Video:

Good Night Wishes as Laughter Therapy

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Do We Always Take Everything for Granted?

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Posted in Dating and Relationships, Headache Migraine Relief, High Blood Pressure Remedy, Nutrition and Recipes, Podcast, Self Motivation, Stress Relief Help | No Responses »
Tags: Good Night, Headache an Migraine, High Blood Pressure, Holistic Health and Nutrtition Tips, Hugs and Kisses, relationship, stress

5 Summer Tips for Weight Loss, Headaches, High Blood Pressure, and Detox

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Summer is a beautiful time of the year. It can be also the healthiest time for you if you learn how to take advantage of Summer time in terms of weather, long days and abundance of fruits and vegetables. It is the right time to lose some weight, detox, lower high blood pressure, get rid of urinary problems, support your heart.

liz

Listen to Podcast for Extra Tips

Here are some helpful tips for you:

I. Try to drink two-three extra glasses of water – it is very easy to do when it is hot outside. If you develop a habit, you will continue drinking more water in the fall and winter.

Dehydration can cause headaches and migraines, constipation which will lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, hormonal imbalances, PMS symptoms, etc.

One Extra Glass of Water to Drink and 500 calories to Burn the Easy Way

II. Start easy exercise program. By easy I mean think about some outdoor activities you would enjoy, like maybe walking, bike riding, tennis, swimming, hiking or even dancing. Consider camping too – it might help you reduce amount of food you eat during the day.

Summer days are long enough, so no excuses for not having time to exercise every day. Eventually it will become your daily routine easier to keep up with in winter. Did you know that morning exercising brings better results and is healthier for the body?

III. Try to reduce high-calorie and high fat meals for a while. Abundance of fruits and vegetables will be a perfect substitution for your daily meal plan. Eating more plant foods helps to lose weight, detox/cleanse your system which means get in shape. Why? Because all fruits and most vegetables are laxative = rich in fiber. And fiber we need the most if we want to have a healthy digestion.

Avoiding high calorie and high sugar foods will also relax you, which is very important if we want to feel and look fabulous (as well as for successful weight loss – destress is the key)

Tips on How to Read Labels and Find Hidden Sugar

Sugar and Caloric Overload Foods

Fiber Rich Foods for Headaches, Blood Pressure and Weight Loss

IV. Try to eat more diuretic foods, such as cherries, pine apple, celery, parsley root, water melon, cucumbers, artichokes, watercress to improve urination and detox your body.

Hot weather increases sweating and reduces urination which might lead to water retention, and sometimes to a puffy face or heavy legs. These foods will also help you reduce your blood pressure which is very important for healthy kidneys and heart. Check which fruits and vegetables are from Dirty Dozen List, and why it is better (healthier) to buy them organic.

Why Strawberries, Peaches and Cherries Can Be Dangerous for Our Health

V. Try to spend at least 10 – 15 minutes every day being in nature:at the beach, in the park, in the woods, in your back yard watching birds, floating clouds, your favorite flower or a tiny lizard; or maybe doing completely nothing. It will destress your mind and relax your body.

Take a Break and Relax with Butterflies

The only thing you can do is breathing, smiling and being happy.
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P.S. If you think you might need some help to get back on track to feel and look fabulous, contact me, and let us talk which of my Holistic Health and Nutrition Programs for Women might be a good match for you.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

Related Articles, Podcast and Video:

Summer Survival Kit: Six Tips On How to Make Your Summer Healthier and Happier

Video Tip: Super Foods That Make Us Super Sick

Video Tip: Sugar Surprise

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Food Meditation – Talk to Your Body (Guided Visualization) MP3 available

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One Extra Glass of Water to Drink and 500 calories to Burn the Easy Way MP3 available

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