Cashew Cheesecake Recipe

Cashew Cheesecake:

CRUST

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4 cups packed pitted dates

3 cup raw walnuts

1 cup raw almonds 

5 vegan Graham Crackers 

1 tsp Nutmeg 

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FILLING:

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6 cups raw cashews, quick-soaked

2 large lemons, juiced 

3 tbsp Lemon Zest

1/3 cup coconut oil, melted

1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk 

1/2 cup maple syrup (or honey if not vegan)

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1. Blend crust ingredients together in a food processor or blender

2. Lightly grease a cheesecake springform pan or a cake pan. Line the bottom with crust mixture and go as far up the sides as you can. Press down with wax paper and place in freezer

3. Add all filling mixture to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth. Add more maple syrup or honey if needed. 

4. Remove crust from freezer and add filling. 

5. Freeze for at least 10 minutes if you want to serve immediately or overnight to completely set.

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I love dressing this vegan Cashew Cheesecake with edible flowers. It’s rich and full of flavor! Yum!

Generational Cycles of Well-being

 

 

One of the biggest misconceptions is that the health of a child starts when they are born. The health of a child begins with what their mother eats when they are pregnant. A child’s development in the womb is based on the nutrition the mother eats, their lifestyle and mental well-being during pregnancy.  A child’s developmental issues, allergies, and health are all pre determined by these factors in conjunction with genetics. The cycle of well being starts at conception and continues through childhood into adolescence and then adulthood. You can directly correlate the health of a child and their  development with studies conducted on the affects of eating particular foods and lifestyle.  Then take into account genetic triggers and you can clearly see the generational cycles of well-being. 

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While there may be exceptions to the rules with why some children can have zero injuries with vaccines while other do and while one child may been born completely healthy and a sibling  has developmental issues, it all comes down to chemical reactions during development and since no two dna are the same either are the chemical reactions to nutrition, lifestyle and genetic triggers. 

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You can not control wether the dna will have a positive or negative reaction to a hormone in animals products or a preservative in processed foods but you can control not exposing that dna to something that holds a risk. 

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Creating a lifestyle and nutrition that does not include consumption associated with developmental  risks and disease like animal products, processed foods, synthetic vitamins, food dyes and GMO’s removes the likelihood of continuing the vicious cycle of generational diseases and obesity. 

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Look at your families genetics and look up the foods that cause the diseases your family has a history of developing and avoid them, then look up the foods that prevent those diseases and eat them. Every person has a chance to create health and well being and breaking this cycle by controlling their nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle that including being active physically and working on mental well-being with consistency and the desire to make life better for the next generation.

Taste the Rainbow? No Thanks!

Taste the rainbow? No thanks!  I feel very fortunate that I was able to give Vivienne the first 2.5 years of her life without her ever tasting artificial colors but as life has it we can not control everything our children are introduced to & through school & marketing she got her first taste of artificial food coloring. Let me tell you that not only was the hyperactivity present within a second of the dyes touching her tongue so were many other symptoms. 

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Now mind you my daughter has a nutritional foundation that consists of whole unprocessed plant based foods. Her body is very sensitive to the smells, textures and affects of anything unnatural. The majority of the time when she wants to try a food that’s processed it won’t even get past her smelling it because her body doesn’t recognize things with dyes or additives as food. If she does taste it, she usually doesn’t like it & spits it out.  However, she does like gum balls and jawbreakers BUT she has realized she instantly becomes hyperactive, unable to focus and will ultimately get a tummy ache. 

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It’s fascinating that the symptoms produced by these dyes are immediate and undeniable.  I can understand how parents who have fed their children these dyes and other additives associated with these symptoms since they starting eating could miss that these foods are causing their children’s behavioral problems, giving their kids gut and headache symptoms.  If you couple the symptoms from food dyes, additives & add the affects of dairy to it, it would be impossible for a parent to even consider that the health symptoms, chronic colds/flu and behavioral problems aren’t genetic or natural and they’re actually being caused by what they’re feeding their child. 

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It’s only really apparent to me because I’m a nutritionist and I’ve studied these dyes and additives but because of the nutritional foundation I’ve created for my daughter, I can see the affects in real-time and can say with certainty that children’s development and wellbeing are being thwarted by the dyes and they are being diagnosed with illnesses and medicated for something that a change in nutrition will solve. 

The Business of Medicine

Medicine is a business but doctors don’t have business minds. They’re actually mostly people who are good at memorization and regurgitation of the information. Through out my childhood my family was immersed in the business of medicine.  One person had the degree and the other had the business mind. Our home was littered with pharmaceutical swag, our family vacations were to medical conventions, free dinners at the best restaurants and the pharmaceutical reps were like family. The reps were everything because those who treated you the best were the ones who’s medication you prescribed the most. Watching doctors learn how to best memorize and regurgitate the talking points the pharmaceutical company wanted you to represent all while completely ignoring anything that could challenge the safety of medication. 

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The business of medicine is also so far and so widespread it’s unbelievable and most of it has nothing to do with the purpose of medicine in the first place, the health of people. Everyone, doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies have their hand in the pot and everything revolves around profit and nothing around cures or the health of the people. 

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Unfortunately it’s really a shining example of supply and demands to a doomed society. Medicine not for profit means cures but with a long line of self serving clientele that doesn’t want to do the work to be healthy or have any accountability for their lifestyle choices the business of medicine is alive and well. 

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Everything in medicine is bought and paid for and nothing comes for free! 

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Benefits of Mango

 

Health Benefits of Mango:

1. Boosts the Immune System: 

Mangos contain large amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A as well as 25 different kinds of carotenoids that will keep your immune system healthy and strong.

2. Improves Digestion: 

Mangos contain enzymes for breaking down protein which cab help to improve your digestion. The fiber in mangos also provides additional help with digestion and elimination.

3. Lowers Cholesterol: 

The high levels of fiber, pectin and vitamin C help to lower serum cholesterol levels, specifically Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) which is known as the bad cholesterol. 

4. Prevents Cancer: 

Many research studies have found that the antioxidant compounds found in mangos may protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers.  Quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat are a few of the compounds found in mangos that have shown the ability to prevent cancer 

5. Reduces Acne: 

Mangos are versatile for your skin and can be used both internally and externally. Eating mangos provides the body with the nutrients it needs to detoxify and improve skin from within. Mangos can be used as a face mask externally to help clear clogged pores and eliminate pimples.

Vegan Layered Greek Briam

Vegan Layered Greek Briám! 

Prep: 1 cup Brown Rice 

1 can Garbanzo Beans

Zucchini Noodles

Pre heat oven: 400 (optional)

Chunky Veggies in Sauce Recipe:

10 minced garlic cloves

1 minced Serrano Pepper 

1 cup chopped Parsley

1 cup chopped Cilantro 

1 tbsp chopped Chives

1/2 cup chopped Onions

1 sliced Red Pepper

2 diced Roma Tomatoes

1/2 cup diced Zucchini 

1/2 cup diced Eggplant 

1 tablespoon Garlic Powder

1 teaspoon Vegan Worcestershire Sauce 

2 tablespoons Dried Basil 

1 teaspoon Black Pepper

Last Ingredients: 

1/2 cup distilled Vinegar 

5 oz Organic Tomato Paste

Lightly Spray pot with Spectrum Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil Cooking Spray

Saute' all ingredients except "last" ones

Wait about 3 minutes; add Vinegar & cover

Let simmer 2 minutes; stir in Tomato Paste

Layers:

1. Zucchini Noodles

2. Chunky Veggies in Sauce 

3. Brown Rice

4. Chunky Veggies in Sauce 

5. Garbanzo Beans, Parsley, Cilantro, Chives, micro arugula 

Place in oven for 5-7 minutes or eat as is!

Servings: 2-3

I can't even with this deliciousness!

 

Alcohol

 

Alcohol has a different relationship with all of its users and even its former users. Some people spend their entire lives in the pursuit of alcohol. Wether it be the weekend warrior who works hard all week and just gets wasted all weekend or the two glasses of wine a night business woman who just needs to unwind. Some people can have just one drink and some just can’t stop.  Most people start off a certain way with alcohol but it seems that the general gist is that a lot of peoples problems or lack thereof in life can be directly correlated with their relationship with alcohol. 

For me personally, there was a period of time where I did go out and enjoy drinking but i was always very controlled with the amount of nights and drinks I had once I learned my limits. I never let it affect accomplishing my goals in my career and fitness. After my relationship with many alcoholics I just made commitments to my health, my body and mind. I outgrew alcohol being part of my life and would have one drink here or there.  Slowly but surely as I would have an occasional drink, it would have a horrible affect on me. Like a sip of vodka would cause anxiety and I couldn’t tolerate the lack of mental control. I didn’t like how it made me feel. When I was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy I didn’t want to have a drink especially while on the medications and I just haven’t had any alcohol since. It’s been over a year and I just don’t have alcohol in my life at all and it’s nothing like I can’t if i wanted to it’s just I think that drinking alcohol prevents you from evolving, enjoying life and tackling your goals.  Alcohol is the inventor of problems and the masker of emotional wellness. It robs you of life even your celebrations. Why is #alcohol the celebration and not the feelings of joy you feel being enough. Problem thinking, bad decision making, procrastination and in some cases health issues. You can only go so long before alcohol deteriorates you in some way so you either go down with it or survive it.