Tag: healthy alternative to caffeine

Healthy Chocolate Milkshake Recipe and Video!

Recipe:

    *8 oz Coconut Milk (coconut butter + filtered water) or Almond or Oat Milk (can buy boxed)
    *2 Tablespoons Cacao Powder
    *2 Teaspoons Cacao Nibs
    *1 scoop (2 Tablespoons) Protein Powder of your choice (Raw, Brown Rice or Whey)
    *2 drops of chocolate stevia concentrate
    *2 drops of vanilla creme stevia concentrate
    *handful or two of ice

      Optional:

        *maca powder- 1-2 teaspoons
        *banana or dates (take out the pit!) for sweetener instead of or in addition to stevia
        **toppings: buckwheat grawnola, goji berries, cacao nibs

          Fatigue and Foods that Help

          Perhaps you are burning the candle at both ends. Maybe you are a workaholic. Whatever the situation, you usually know why you are feeling fatigued.

          We may not feel like getting out of bed because of factors such as nutritional deficiencies and imbalances, stress, jet lag, PMS, as well as a diet of too much fat, sugar and food additives.

          You can experience fatigue in both body and mind.

          You expect muscle fatigue after a hard work out. And mental fatigue is normal after a hard day’s work or after dealing with the typical emotional ups and downs of modern life. Usually, a good night’s sleep or a restful weekend will do the trick. But victims of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) experience endless, debilitating lethargy. Symptoms of CFS include swollen lymph nodes, low-grade fever, recurring sore throat, muscle pain, poor concentration and memory, headache and depression. The most debilitating is the relentless, uncompromising exhaustion.

          tired

          If you’ve already done a Pure Philosophie Experience or Philosophie Cleanse, you have already experienced the feeling of raw juices instantly supercharging your body. Why do you get this quick jolt of energy? In addition to their bioelectric energy field, raw nutrients are more viable than cooked nutrients. Nutrients such as vitamin C, most B-complex Vitamins, and enzymes simply cannot survive the heat. Proteins may be altered in a way that makes them indigestible, and fats can degrade into carcinogenic forms.

          When you consume these foods in a more natural state, you get nearly 100% of their nutrients, including the phytochemicals and enzymes that assist in their digestion. This increased digestibility means you get to use more of what you eat. Since it takes less energy to digest the meal, you have more left over and you feel it. You become more efficient! You need less sleep, have more energy, more stamina, less fatigues and do a better job of fighting disease.

          still life fruitWhatever the cause, good nutrition can reduce and possibly eliminate the symptoms. A high-energy diet that builds the immune system should include complex carbohydrates that stimulate the metabolism, whole grains and beans that add fiber and protein, low fat protein, fish and fish oils for beneficial fatty acids, and lots of water. Use the power of fruits, vegetables, and their juices to provide the vitamins, minerals and fiber to get you going. Start the day with a high protein, high mineral drink that rejuvenates your senses, vitalizes you spirit and sustains your body.


          What about Coffee?

          Avoid caffeine, as it is only a temporary boost, merely postponing fatigue. Put away the espresso maker and pull out the juicer. Juicing is the best way to get instant energy. Stock your fridge with organic fruits and veggies. Leave sugary foods and high fat, processed foods at the bakery and butcher shops.

          See prior posts for raw recipes for energy and to blast exhaustion! (I’d suggest brain food, green smoothie, rocket fuel, bunny love or maca java)

          Getting outside and breathing fresh air can do wonders. Take a blanket outside on a sunny day and lay on a patch of grass while stretching and breathing.  It's incredibly grounding.

           

          Brain Food

          Brain Food!!!

          • 8 oz Carrot Juicecarrots

          • 2 oz Alfalfa Sprouts

          • 1 tsp Blue-Green Algae, Spirulina or Chlorella


          Carrot juice is renown for its abundance of antioxidants. Alfalfa sprouts are rich in phytochemicals and chlorophyll and increase oxygen in the blood and brain. Blue-green algae, in any of its varieties, is a superb brain foods for sharpening concentration and alertness. Use organic carrots whenever possible.

          Blue Green Algae and Energy

          For natural energy, I try and chose natural and healthier options. I have begun thinking about this daily energy as a process of ups and downs, rather than something continuous and constant. It's more natural to have a low period or two during a day versus constant up because of band aids and quick fixes (coffee, stimulants, etc).

          Move over, wheatgrass. There's a new superfood in town.

          I have been adding blue green algae to my routine for about 2 years now and I've really noticed a difference in my energy level.

          There are two kinds of blue green algae: that from fresh water and that from the ocean. The fresh water blue green algae is from a lake in Oregon called Klamath Lake. The blue green algae from the ocean is termed Spirulina and comes in a powder/flake or tablet form. I add spirulina flakes to smoothies and juices or sprinkle it onto a salad. I take blue green algae in liquid form and usually take a shot of it in the morning and mid day during my energy shift. Lately I've been putting the liquid algae (I use E3 Live brand) into an ice cube tray and dropping it into a glass to melt so that I have an ounce or two at my finger tips instead of freezing and defrosting the whole bottle once or twice a day. I found that I got lazy and would rather not go through the process before I was putting it in an ice cube tray.

          e3live - Blue Green AlgaeThe technical term APHANIZOMENON (genus) and FLOS-AQUAE (species) are actually zoological terms of classification that literally mean "invisible living flower of water" in Greek.

          Algae capitalize on the direct energy of the sun more than any other food. Primitive as they may appear, most are highly efficient photosynthesizers. Algae utilize light energy from the sun, carbon dioxide from the air, and hydrogen from the water to synthesize its bio-chemicals. Klamath Blue Green Algae is unique among all food grade algaes in that it also metabolizes molecular nitrogen directly from the air to produce proteins and other nitrogen containing bio-molecules.

          What are the benefits to adding this to your diet?

          • increase in mood and mental clarity
          • Immunity booster
          • for healthy hair and skin
          • fights off aging (powerful antioxidants-fight free radicals)
          • feel good food-helps with serotonin
          • detoxifies our bodies: liver, GI Tract
          • Green Foods in general help with cholesterol problems (regulates gallbladder and liver)
          • 10-30x more nutritious than land vegetables

          You can begin feeling the effects of blue green algae by trying Spirulina in your smoothie at a juice bar (most have it) or you can try a shot of E3 live. I would suggest trying it a few times before purchasing it to see how it works with you and if you like the effect on your body. I've tried several supplements or superfoods some people LIVE by, only to find out it makes me feel off. These are all suggestions, find what works with your body, experiment with many options, and ask lots of questions!!


          Natural Energy

          Many of my clients ask me what they can take for help with gaining more energy. First of all... Lets take it to the basics. What IS energy?
          Energy: "the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity."
          Obviously you need calories to exert energy. But WHICH calories you bring in is super important.

          Before talking about what to ADD to your diet or routine, lets talk about what to TAKE AWAY. If you eat processed or sugary foods, you are sure to crash right after you eat. If you drink caffeine, you are also guaranteed to crash later on.

          The first thing you should do is cut down on both these things and find healthy swaps for them. For example, instead of having soda drink water, instead of coffee try tea, a kombucha or a green vegetable juice for energy.  (more on these later!)

          After making these changes, you will absolutely begin to feel a difference in your energy level.

          Also, so vital...SLEEP

          While people lift weights for muscular strength, do Yoga and Pilates for flexibility, spend hours a week for cardiorespiratory strength and endurance, and count calories for body composition—there is one thing that hardly ever gets named as part of a person’s fitness regiment. The irony is that one thing may very well be one of the most important components of health and fitness—that thing is sleep. Make sure you are getting enough for YOU and your body. Try and settle down an hour before you want to get to sleep, turn the lights down, turn the computer/tv off (stimulation for the brain) and read, meditate or take a bath. Make sure you have a routine and attempt to get to sleep around the same time each evening. 

          If you still feel drained or low energy, you can begin to add healthy supplements and superfoods to your regiment.
          Here are some of my favorites for natural energy:

          • blue-green algae
          • maca
          • bee pollen
          • ginseng and royal jelly

          More to come about these!!!! For now... start on the sleep and cutting back on caffeine :)

          one thing at a time...

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