Avocados: Your Favorite Fruit Smoothie Ingredient

When I think of avocados, chips and guac pops into my head. Finding them as an ingredient on the smoothie menu? Not so much. But there it was, ‘Avocado, hemp, and honey.’ Quite the ingredient list, simple, but yet so much nutrition happening. 

I did hesitate. I must share, I hate thick smoothies. Your face feels like it’s going to fall off from sucking on the straw so much. When I read avocado, I pictured guacamole in a cup. Being a Leo though, curiosity always wins. I know avocados are full of healthy fats and hemp is rich in omegas. “What have I got to lose?”

At first sip, I fell in love with my avocado, hemp, honey smoothie. It was smooth, light, and surprisingly, it ended up being my morning breakfast. I loved discovering with a couple of whirls the nutrient dense avocado is smoothie magic. I’ll always love chips and guacamole, but if you’re looking for avocado’s health benefits, it’s all about a smoothie.

What makes the avocado super fruit so good for you? It gives you close to 20 vitamins and minerals, including potassium (which helps control blood pressure), lutein (which is good for your eyes), and folate (which is crucial for cell repair and during pregnancy).

Interestingly, avocados have more potassium than bananas. I thought bananas were the potassium holy grail, but nope. Avocados are the better post workout recovery snack. Slice a halve before you head into the studio, and replenish afterwards like none other.

You’re getting vitamin B, which is great for fighting off disease and infection. It also gives you vitamins C and E, plus natural plant chemicals that may help prevent cancer. Avocados must be in the same league as coconuts. What can this super fruit not do? 

Here’s a little more avocado dazzle for you. It’s low in sugar, and high in fiber as well. It’s why avocados are a great way to start the day. Flip the script when you eat avocados. After a lifetime of guacamole and chips, rethink how you eat this fruit. Avocados smoothies give you the right serving size, instead those large scoops with salty chips.. 

Have I inspired you to get a little funky with your breakfast? Why not? Avocado’s a fruit. Add it to your rotation. Mix it up a little. Add avocado into your smoothie recipes, and you’ll physically notice the difference. Your skin and hair say hello after making it a regular part of your life.

Monounsaturated fats in avocado are the magic behind making your skin glow. It does this by maintaining moisture levels in the epidermal layer of your skin. In addition, the Omega-9 fats in avocados help reduce skin redness and irritation. Avocados can actually help repair damaged skin cells.

Additional beauty benefits also include protecting your skin from wrinkles with its antioxidant properties, carotenoids. Vitamin E helps guard against photo-aging from sun exposure. Last but not least, vitamin C in avocado creates elastin and collagen for maintaining your skin’s elasticity and firmness.

Check out these smoothie recipes to help change your regular guacamole fiesta into a low cal, low fat party instead. Create your own. It’s the best part of making smoothies a regular part of your life. Always new healthy creations to invent.

Avocado Kale Superfood Smoothie

• 1 frozen banana, chopped in small chunks
• 1/2 cup blueberry yogurt
• 1 cup kale (or spinach) leaves, chopped
• 1/2 ripe avocado
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

Apple, Pear, Avocado and Spinach Detox Smoothie

• 2 red apples (they’re sweeter than green)
• 1 pear
• 1 small avocado
• a large handful of fresh spinach leaves

Blueberry Hemp Smoothie Recipe

• 1 cup hemp milk (substitute almond or coconut milk or water)
• 1/3 avocado
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 2 tablespoons shelled hemp seeds or hemp protein powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 tablespoon honey to sweeten

Raw Coconut Vinegar is taking over ACV’s territory.

I remember when I learned about the Native Americans’ hunting practice of everything serving a purpose. Nothing went to waste. I was in awe of their ingenuity. I recently had the same spark when I discovered raw coconut vinegar. Haven’t we done everything we can with coconuts?

You’ve tried coconut water, coconut oil, but have you tried coconut vinegar? Try replacing your apple cider vinegar shots with fresh coconut sap vinegar and you’ll be getting more vitamins, minerals, and amino acids than you ever would with ACV. According to the USDA Nutrient Database, apple cider vinegar has no measurable vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, or vitamin E. 

Coconut vinegar also leaves ACV in the dust with it’s 17 amino acids. In comparison, apple cider vinegar barely registers on the scale with it’s low count. Amino acids supply nutrients to nourish the skin, hair and nails from within the body. They also work to strengthen connective tissue which keeps our skin smooth and elastic, the nails firm and the hair strong. 

Coconut vinegar gets it’s amazing powers from coconut trees growing in rich volcanic soil. This environment contributes to the liquid’s high mineral content, low glycemic index, and nearly neutral pH balance to help alkaline our bodies. It also contains Fructooligosaccharides or FOS for short. FOS cannot be digested or absorbed by the human body, and must pass through the digestive tract to the large intestine where they act as a food source for probiotics. 

Our bodies need probiotics to keep everything moving in our digestive tract, and raw coconut vinegar is an excellent prebiotic to start this process with one tablespoon. Like I said, I thought we had discovered everything there was about the coconut, but learning about raw coconut vinegar made me realize we really should be more like the early frontiers people and use every little piece of nutritious food supply.

Coconut vinegar is made from the sap of the coconut tree (called Tuba). Tuba is collected from the stem that "feeds" the coconuts. A "Tuba Collector" climbs to the top of the coconut tree and clips the stem that contains flowers and baby coconuts. Then a collection vessel is hung from the tree and the stem placed so the sap will run into it. Every day a collector travels to collect the sap from each tree.

Once collected, the sap (or tuba) is allowed to ferment into a natural coconut vinegar. Unfiltered and unheated, the color of the vinegar changes as it ages, from cloudy white to light yellow to a clear light brown as it further matures. As the vinegar ages, sediments will appear at the bottom. This is called "mother vinegar,” as we’re familiar with ACV.

If you want to try coconut vinegar for yourself, make sure you’re buying a product which comes from sap vs. coconut water. The sap is what contains all these health benefits we’ve been discussing. Sap vinegar is naturally aged for 8 months to one year, with no additives, enhancing it’s nutrient-rich properties.

On the other hand, coconut water-based vinegar undergoes an “assisted” fermentation process. This happens by adding a fermentation starter, either apple cider vinegar, or muscavado cane sugar to catalyze fermentation. Because of this, water-based vinegar is not capable of forming a “mother” culture, resulting in a less nutritious end product. You could save a couple of dollars buying the lesser product, but you’d be better off using it for salad dressing. If you want to receive the health benefits, definitely splurge for this tasty detox remedy. 

If you’re currently using ACV for your daily cleanse, you’ll love the taste of coconut vinegar. It has a much sweeter taste in my opinion. A contributing factor to this opinion could be the fact you only have to use one tablespoon of coconut vinegar, in comparison to the two tablespoons of ACV for a single serving. One tablespoon, two tablespoons, what’s the difference? When you’re drinking raw vinegar, it definitely makes a difference on your tastebuds.

I’ve swapped out my ACV with raw coconut vinegar, and I can say after a week of doing this, I’m extremely happy with the results. I’ve been drinking ACV every morning for the last eight months, and have noticed I have more energy. My sinuses are getting rid of all the toxins. I’d also agree with other users who report eating less. Coconut vinegar contains acetic acid, an organic compound studies show suppresses appetite. It must the pH balance I tell ya. Whatever it is, raw organic coconut vinegar should be your new best friend.

Watermelon: The Nutrient Dense Summer Time Treat

Happy National Watermelon Day, a celebration you should be having regularly. Watermelon is chock full of healthy goodness for you. It’s a nutrient dense food, which provides a high amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for a low amount of calories.

With it’s great taste you’d think it’d be in high in sugar content, but in one cup of diced watermelon (152 grams) you’re consuming only 43 calories with zero grams of fat. This is probably due to the fact watermelon is made up of 92% water. This naturally low cal, fat free snack also gives you 17% of vitamin A, 21% of vitamin C, 2% of iron and 1% of your calcium needs for the day. Watermelon power indeed.

If you’re not really a veggie eater, watermelon is a great way to get more greens into your life, since this power produce is both a fruit and a vegetable. Yes, watermelon rind is completely edible with health-promoting and blood-building chlorophyll. By eating the rind, you are actually eating more of the amino acid, L-citrulline, than you would find in the pink flesh.

This is important to note because L-citrulline is related to L-arginine. Once inside the body, L-citrulline is converted into L-arginine. L-arginine increases nitric oxide levels in the blood. Higher nitric oxide levels means your body is relaxing and dilating blood vessels. This increases blood circulation to various organs, including the heart, skin and sexual organs. Drop the rind into a blender with a little lime, and give your cardio vascular system some major love.

Other major benefits of a watermelon treat? 

Asthma prevention: The risks for developing asthma are lower in people who consume a high amount of certain nutrients. One of these nutrients is vitamin C, found in many fruits and vegetables including watermelon.

Blood pressure: A study published by the American Journal of Hypertension found that watermelon extract supplementation reduced ankle blood pressure, brachial blood pressure and carotid wave reflection in obese middle-aged adults with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension and that watermelon extract improved arterial function.

Diets rich in lycopene may help protect against heart disease.

Cancer: As an excellent source of the strong antioxidant vitamin C as well as other antioxidants, watermelon can help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer. Lycopene intake has been linked with a decreased risk of prostate cancer prevention in several studies.

Digestion and regularity: Watermelon, because of its water and fiber content, helps to prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract.

Hydration: Made up of 92% water and full of important electrolytes, watermelon is a great snack to have on hand during the hot summer months to prevent dehydration.

Inflammation: Choline is a very important and versatile nutrient in watermelon that aids our bodies in sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory. Choline also helps to maintain the structure of cellular membranes, aids in the transmission of nerve impulses, assists in the absorption of fat and reduces chronic inflammation.

Muscle soreness: Watermelon and watermelon juice have been shown to reduce muscle soreness and improve recovery time following exercise in athletes. Researchers believe this is likely do to the amino acid L-citrulline contained in watermelon.

Skin: Watermelon is also great for your skin because it contains vitamin A, a nutrient required for sebum production that keeps hair moisturized. Vitamin A is also necessary for the growth of all bodily tissues, including skin and hair.

Adequate intake of vitamin C (one cup of watermelon provides 21% of daily needs) is also needed for the building and maintenance of collagen, which provides structure to skin and hair. Watermelon also contributes to overall hydration, which is vital for having healthy looking skin and hair.

The one problem I run into when I bring a watermelon home, “What to do with all this watermelon?” Chopping it up and having some cold, refreshing treats waiting for you in the fridge is the easiest. And when one can only eat watermelon slices for so long, add a little variety to this good for you produce. Throw the slices into the blender, rind and all to really maximize the health benefits. 

You could also make some interesting food combinations like watermelon kabobs with tomato, feta, mint and lime. Or you could make a summer shrimp salad. There is nothing quite like the taste of watermelon, avocado, and protein rich shrimp on a hot summer day. Maybe National Watermelon Day will become a regular celebration in your life. Now if we could also do that with birthdays as well.

Probiotics, Superfoods, Multivitamins, and Omega-Rich Oils: Four Daily Supplements You Need

Adding probiotics, superfoods, multivitamins, and omega-rich oils into your diet could be the four  supplement power punch to make your healthy living a reality. With so many powders, pills, and additives, I wanted to take a step back. I figure a makeover is good for the outside of your body, why not the inside of your body?

Off to the vitamin section I went. I didn’t go in with a list like I normally do, but I did go in with an open mind. I knew the question was, “What am I not getting enough off in my diet?” Probiotics, superfoods, multivitamins, and omega-rich oils the knowledgeable specialist shared. My ears perked up, like Moses receiving the 10 commandants, I guess you would call these the four commandments of health.

Probiotics, Superfoods, Multivitamins, and Omega-Rich Oils are the four basic supplements you should be incorporating into your life regularly. This power combo isn’t normally achieved through the basic American diet, but so necessary to keeps us alined and balanced internally.

So what are these four power punch elements in a little more detail? My favorite chain farmers market, Sprouts, enlightens us a little more.

• Probiotics are live beneficial microorganisms that are widely believed to support healthy digestion and immune function. These friendly bacteria are essential for gut health, as stress, low-quality foods and over-the-counter-medications can destroy probiotic activity, which leads to lower immune function, yeast overgrowth and digestive disorders.

• Red, green or blue superfoods such as salmon, broccoli, goji berries, blueberries and tart cherries are rich in protein and/or packed with phytonutrients and trace minerals that help support overall health and vitality. Their mega boosting performance nourishes your body, strengthens your immune system, and protects you against diseases.

• Vitamins are organic nutrients required by the body for growth, repair, normal metabolism and optimal health, but few of us get the right ones at the right levels. That's because no single food contains all the vitamins and minerals the body requires; moreover, the combination of eating on the run, high levels of stress and consumption of highly processed foods can lead to nutrient deficiencies. The elderly, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women and vegetarians are especially at risk. Multivitamins provide essential vitamins and minerals needed to maintain optimum health.

• Omega-rich oils are found naturally in fish and flax, among other foods. These essential oils offer valuable nutritional support for healthy skin and brain function. Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

If you caught last week’s blog on kefir, you already know it’s an excellent source of those good for you probiotics. Some other yummy ways to get probiotics into your system is with

• Goat’s Milk Yogurt
• Sauerkraut
• Dark Chocolate
• Microalgae (ocean-based plants such as spirulina, chorella, and blue-green algae)
• Miso Soup
• Pickles
• Tempeh
• Kimchi
• Kombucha Tea

You can add more superfoods into your diet with with those named above, and you can also try 

• Mulberries
• Chia Seeds
• Coconut Water
• Golden Berries

When it comes to a multivitamin, it really is a conversation you should have with a vitamin specialist. Talk to them about your stage of life. I have yet to find one advisor who isn’t passionate about what they do, and want to share their knowledge with you. One thing I would suggest, make sure you avoid synthetic multivitamins. We like our foods natural, same should be said for vitamin supplements.

If you want to get the J. Lo glow without a steady diet of fish, you can also try these foods rich in Omega-3’s

• Grass-Fed Beef
• Edamame
• Flaxseed Oil
• Enriched Eggs
• Walnuts 
• Spinach
• Hemp

These suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to probiotics, superfoods, multivitamins, and omega-rich oils foods. You can also do a little multi tasking, which is my favorite-smoothies. They are quick, easy, and great to go anywhere. This is my current favorite kefir based smoothie, that has everything in it, but the kitchen sink. Create your own, but make sure not to cut out the elements of the four power supplement combo. 

Kitchen Sink Kefir Smoothie

8 oz Lifeway Lowfat Kefir (Flavor Varies)

4 tbsp Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Pro Fiber

1 oz Genesis Today Organic Power4

2 tbsp Lily Of The Desert Aloe Herbal Detox Formula

1 tsp Carlson Super D Omega 3

2 tsp Health Force Spirulina Manna

1 tbsp Golden Flax Seeds

1 tbsp Chia Seeds

Fill to capacity with frozen fruit like blueberries, raspberries, or other high water based fruits.  

Seems like a lot of ingredients, but trust, it tastes great with the kefir base. Hemp powder has a nice, nutty taste, and you won’t believe how much daily goodness you’re putting into your body with one drink. Let me know what you thinks. Happy four power supplement punching.

Dextox Supefood Kefir. Drink Your Way To Health

Oh the grocery store, where some days you have it down to a science, and can get in and out the building like a ninja. Other days, you wonder how you spent two hours reading labels for almost every product you’d been curious about. It’s how I ended up with kefir in my cart one day, and now this probiotic superfood is part of my daily life. 

I’d always thought of kefir as a “drinkable yogurt,” and wasn’t exactly sure what the difference was between the two. I thought consistency was the only real difference, but I was way off base. Kefir has been through a fermenting process. After this 24 hour process, kefir now has 10 to 20 strains of probiotics [in kefir], which is three times what you would find in yogurt. 

Why should you care about probiotics? Simply put, probiotics help keep everything moving. When we eat clean, exercise, and hydrate our goal is to keep everything in balance and release the toxins. It’s why we love a good sweat during our workout, your body is detoxing, and you can feel it happening.

Our guts or digestive system also need to be taken care with the same thinking in mind. You think it’s just the kidneys processing toxins, but it’s everything starting from our mouth, all the way to our gall bladder. 75% of your immune system is housed in your digestive system, and with the help of kefier, you can help it work properly with it’s good bacterias and vitamins. 

Kefir is right up there with the other superfoods like kale, chia seeds, and blueberries for the multitude of health benefits you’ll receive. Drink it regularly and you’ll

• Boost your immunity

• Heal inflammatory bowel disease

• Build bone density

• Fight allergies

• Improve lactose digestion

• Kill candida

• Support detoxification

If you’re lactose intolerant or trying to reduce the amount of dairy you consume, don’t worry, through the fermentation process kefir loses much of it’s sugar or ‘lactose’ as it’s more commonly known, and you end up with lactic acid instead. How?

Fermented foods go through a process of lactofermentation in which natural bacteria feed on the sugar and starch in the food creating lactic acid. This process preserves the food, and creates beneficial enzymes, b-vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and various strains of probiotics. All the good stuff our body wants and needs.

People have been drinking kefir for centuries. Before refrigeration and all these modern conveniences, people did a lot of canning, preserving, and pickling. Without knowing it, people created superfoods, and have been reaping the benefits for centuries. 

Its unique name comes from the Turkish word “keif”, which means “good feeling.” Maybe because tryptophan, an amino acid, is also found in kefir, which we all know is found in turkey. It’s what puts you in the ‘let’s sit on the couch’ and lounge mode. Now you can have the same feeling of relaxation without eating a monster holiday meal.

Kefir is a great way to get extra protein in your diet without extra calories. A single serving of plain, non-fat kefir has less than 100 calories, but provides 10.5 grams of protein, which can help you feel fuller without extra fat. Great for late night when you’re craving a snack or some ice cream. Why not add this healthy alternative into your diet? Just watch out for added calories and sugar if you purchase flavored kefir.

With the benefits of kefir becoming more well, there are so many different brands and varieties of kefir available. You can choose from cow, goat, coconut or water base, and if you’re not a fan of the plain flavored tart taste. You have anything from pomegranate, mangos, or peaches blended into you kefir.

Are you curious about kefir now? I hope so. It tastes greats. Comes in so many varieties. And when you want to feel like you’re having a cheat moment, you’re really not. Kefir tastes amazing, and you’ll feel so good after you stomach is coated with some probiotic goodness. 

Why not put it your morning smoothie? You’ll be starting off the day right, and your body will treat you right the rest of the day, and everyday. 

5 Healthy Snacks To Always Have In Your Purse This Summer

Summer weather is finally in full swing. The days are getting longer, and I couldn’t be happier. Running out for errands sometimes ends up with impromptu hiking dates being made or taking the scenic view home. There’s nothing quite as beautiful as watching those purple rose skies at dusk. Not great is being hungry while you’re out having fun. This is where bad choices happen. Fast food, connivence stores, no buenos. 

Having a couple of healthy nibbles on hand, could help you pass up the candy bar at the gas station in of moment of hunger. Try some of these new products to mix it up with your usual almonds. My goal is to have them in my everyday bag without making my bag squishy at the end of the day. I’m looking at you travel mug. I got your number. I love filling up a two ounce containers full of things like, 

1. Navitas Naturals Organic Superfood Power Snacks 

In combinations like blueberry hemp, cacao goji, citrus chia, coffee cacao, or lemon goldenberry. you’ll be able to find something to please your tastebuds. They are full of tasty goodness, travel great, and offer nutrient-dense organic snacking on the go. 

My favorite is the blueberry hemp which is made with organic superfoods such as chia, maca, lucuma, camu and maqui, as well as other raw foods including sesame seeds, cashews and sunflower seeds. There are no refined sugars, preservatives, or artificial colors and flavors. You’ll also be getting protein from the hemp and chia seeds, along with healthy fats and fiber. All this goodness with the tiniest of snack bites. If you pick my blueberry favorite, you’ll also get antioxidants, vitamins including A, C and E, and minerals such as iron, potassium and calcium into your body.

2. Powbab Superfruit Chews

I talked about these tangy treats before, and cannot stop raving about baobab. One baobab chew a day gives you 100% daily antioxidant dose per chew with daily dose of Vitamins C & E. They’re a good source of Vitamin A, and when you combine them with pomegranate and acai berry, your body will thank you for eating them. All natural, organic, just giving you raw, unprocessed whole fruit & other natural ingredients. Think how good you’ll feel after having some organic baobab fruit pulp which is naturally 50% fiber.     

3. KIND Healthy Grains Bars

I was a little turned off from KIND after the controversy with the FDA, but after I discovered their newest product on the shelf, I had to admit to myself, “Come on, you know it’ll taste good.” They have over 10 varieties of Healthy Grains Bars to choose from, and with a foundation of six super grains, including sorghum, I was willing to be swayed. I throughly enjoyed my Popped Salted Caramel Bar. It was a subtle flavor, with 20g of whole grains in each bar, and fits perfectly in my purse along with my wallet and all of life’s necessities.

4. Justin’s Snack Pack

You’re already familiar with Justin’s healthy nut butter pouches, but if you visit Target starting this week you can pick up Justin’s new Snack Pack. One side has Justin’s nut butter, the other side has gluten-free pretzels, packaged in 100 percent recycled plastic. A dream made in snacking heaven when you want a little crunch with your pick up me protein. You can choose from Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter and Pretzels; Classic Almond Butter and Pretzels; or Maple Almond Butter and Pretzels. You’ll only be able to find Justin’s Snack Pack at Target, as part of their "Made to Matter" collection, which brings together 31 leading natural, organic and sustainable brands to provide better choices for all. So who knows what else you’ll discover while you’re there.

5. Earthbound Farm Organics Freeze Dried Fruit

There are several brands of freeze dried fruits out there. Freeze-dried fruits are similar to dried fruits, because they’re dehydrated. This makes for a great crunchy texture, as you get your healthy snacking going. You can leave them in your bag without any spoiling. Perfect for our stash and go. I’m partial to Earthbound Farm’s. Their product lines are organic, no additives, nothing but the pure goodness of food. 

Let me know if you have any new products you love to have in your purse without having to worry about them. You never know when you’re going to spend a little more time outside having fun. No reason to go hungry or end up eating some not so good for you sustenance. Now you have some ideas for setting and forgetting your health snacking in your bag.

No more greasy skin with Vaseline Intensive Care Spray!

Since winter is over and summer is here (in case you were living under a rock) a lot of us may neglect the feeling that we need to put lotion on our bodies.  We have entered the warmer, humid climate so why should our bodies still need to be moisturized.  Even if your skin isn’t as apparent right now for the thirst to be moisturized, your skin still needs moisture to keep it healthy.  Especially after some summer activities that can leave your skin extra dry – swimming in the ocean, working up a good sweat than taking a shower, etc.  I know what you are saying in your head as you read this though, but I don’t want to add a layer of thickness on me when I am already hot or feel like my legs are a slip and slide.  Or I don’t have time to apply lotion and wait for it to dry before I put my clothes on.  Well…I have the answer to your concerns. 

Vaseline…um yea that brand that you think of immediate slip and slide petroleum jelly has come out with a new product that will make you a new found lover of and dedicated customer all over again. 

Vaseline Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer

This little baby comes in a spray can, like many of our loved sunscreens.  Yes it is thin enough to come out of a spray nozzle which means it is thin enough to not feel thick on your skin or leave any shiny sticky residue behind. 

Speaking from personal experience it left my skin soft and smelled surprisingly wonderful.  So easy I can take it with me at shoots and add some moisture to my skin between takes!

The spray lotion comes in four different variant to suit your skin’s needs.

Vaseline® Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer Essential Healing™ – with pure oat extract for healthy soft skin

Vaseline® Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer Aloe Soothe™ – with pure aloe for healthy fresh skin

Vaseline® Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer Cocoa Radiant™ – with pure cocoa butter for healthy glowing skin

Vaseline® Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer Advanced Repair- with 2x more moisture* to help heal very dry skin

I was very surprised by how little of time it took to apply the lotion, for it to dry and for my skin to already feel moisturized.  And when I say how little time, I am saying 30 seconds or less.  Spray.  Wait 30 seconds.  Put on clothes.  Out the door.  It doesn’t get any quicker than that.

If you are interested in any of the chemical aspects as to what it is composed of, the components of what the container is made out of or whatever else your little heart desires, feel free to find out more information at their website: http://www.vaseline.us/

Baobab : More health benefits than the acai and goji berries you know

When I was younger I could spend hours in the cosmetics section of Thrifty’s learning about skin cleansers and moisturizers. Now imagine the same enthusiasm for exploring the aisle of superfoods, organic extracts, and natural health remedies at the market. It’s how you discover new things, such as the amazing South African superfruit baobab. The market employee couldn’t stop raving about all the benefits this citrus flavored superfruit. 

Into the cart it went, and after a few weeks of trying it, I was left wondering, “Why I had I not discovered this earlier?” I ventured into the world of baobab by trying out Powbab’s superfruit chews (It sounds like a tongue twister). When the label promises a 100% of my recommended daily antioxidant dosage, along with daily serving of Vitamins C, E & A, I figured why not. These bitesize nibbles combine baobab along with pomegranate and acai berries. The health benefits of the acai berry are well known, so I figured I had nothing to lose, and a whole lot to gain. It was was one of the best gambles I took. 

Among some of the most notable health benefits of the African superfruit are:

A single serving of offers 25 mg of Vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid, a naturally occurring organic compound with antioxidant properties

• Up to 7 times more Vitamin C than goji berries

• 25 times more Vitamin C than acai berries

A single serving offers 3 grams of soluble fiber and 1 gram of insoluble fiber, which reduces cholesterol levels and to reducing risk of heart disease

• 19 times the amount of fiber of goji berries

• 8.5 times the amount of fiber of acai berries

Being high in antioxidant levels means baobab reduces free radicals, the molecules you hear referenced in beauty treatments. Free radicals are responsible for damaging our body cells. The oxidative stress that oxygen-free radicals cause is held as reason why our bodies age. This superfruit fills your body naturally to fight the anti aging process.

This little African fruit contains so many health and beauty benefits, your body will love you for adding it into your diet. Foods rich in Vitamin C are a cornerstone of the anti-wrinkle diet. Vitamin C, whether derived from foods or dietary supplements, helps your body form collagen and elastin, two structural proteins that give your skin support and elasticity. 

Adding Vitamin C rich foods such as baobab to your diet might also enhance your body's fat burning capabilities during a workout. A team of scientists from Arizona State University discovered that people with low blood concentrations of Vitamin C burned 25 percent less fat during a 60-minute walk on a treadmill, compared with those who had adequate levels of Vitamin C in their blood. 

The potential weight loss effects of Vitamin C may be linked to the fact that it is needed for the production of carnitine, a compound that encourages your body to turn fat into fuel, rather than to store it as body fat. Also, Vitamin C rich foods also combat varicose veins because they help our cardiovascular system work more efficiently. Vitamin C keeps our body working smart, regenerating, and maximizing how our processes work instead of slowing down as we age. 

If you’re still not sold on the superfood benefits of baobab, what would your liver say when it heard this superfruit will help realign it’s internal cleansing. It works hard detoxifying toxic substances, including metabolic wastes, and excreting them from your body. Over time, high exposure to toxins such as cigarette smoke, chemicals, alcohol and other substances can cause damage to the liver and limit its detoxifying capabilities. 

Help your body get it’s groove back by fueling it with restorative superfoods like baobab. This superfruit comes from a tree referred to as “The Tree of Life,” which usually are over 1,000+ years old. They supply your body with a myriad of beneficial minerals including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. 

Human beings have been on this planet for a long time. Before there were planes, trains, and automobiles, we had to look to our backyards to feed ourselves with goodness. Let’s embrace what modern technology has given us. Now we can visit every global ‘backyard,’ and learn about their wholesome native foods. The magical African fruit, baobab, comes from a tree named after life. After trying it, my body knows why. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.