Friday, January 27, 2017

Grain Free Dairy Free Brownies

I had a taste of some keto brownies this week that a friend was gifted for her birthday. There were so moist and delicious I decided to find a great recipe and give it a try! I couldn't find a recipe that I loved all the ingredients so I made my own. Most keto recipes are using stevia and in my experiences using stevia the recipes end up having a bitter aftertaste. I love coconut sugar and I'm not specifically on a keto diet but I am gluten free so this recipe worked perfect!


 


3 eggs
4 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup coconut sugar
Pinch of pink salt
Bake 350 for about 20 minutes 

The icing was actually a chocolate mousse and was 1 can of full fat coconut milk, 1/2 cup coconut sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa and I blended it in the Vitamix then chilled till pudding consistency. You can ice the brownies as you serve or keep refrigerated if you ice the entire batch.

I hope you enjoy these as much as we did😀

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

5 Ways To Get Better Sleep Naturally

5 Ways To Get Better Sleep Naturally 
I keep hearing people complain about not sleeping well or not being able to get to sleep at night. This isn't a problem that I've had regularly but when I have it has been a nightmare! I require LOTS of sleep and I am kind of fond of it too. Did you know you lose weight while you sleep?!? That means if you are not sleeping well you are actually hindering any weightloss efforts you may have been trying to achieve. Good sleeping habits are a necessity of overall good health.

There are many different reasons why you may not be getting a good nights sleep but that's the topic of another post. Here I am going to share with you my top 5 tips for perfecting the art of a good nights sleep. I hope these tips will bring you to a restful sleep and end the nightmare of tossing and turning while bringing you into the colorful world of dreaming.
 

1.) Sungazing: Did you know gazing at the sun at sunrise and sunset each day will boost your melatonin and serotonin? These feel good hormones will not only help you get a better nights sleep but also help with weightloss!!

2.) No caffeine or stimulants after noon. If you are relying on stimulants such as caffeine to get you through your day these can affect you all the way up to bedtime and wreak havoc on a good nights sleep! Enjoy your cup of joe in the morning but cut out all caffeine after noon for a great nights sleep.

3.) Magnesium, magnesium, magnesium! Did you know over 90% of the population is deficient in magnesium? This magnificent mineral not only helps you to sleep better but helps with symptoms of anxiety and restlessness too! Take a nice hot bath about an hour before bed time and add at least a cup of Epsom salt (I like adding an entire box!) for a great nights sleep and detox benefits too!! There are also magnesium oils and supplements you can take to help you get that sleep you so desire. If you want to give a DIY a try and make your own magnesium oil here is a link to an easy recipe:

4.) Binaural Beats are a great way to rewire your brain into relaxation. By listening to two different frequencies in either ear the brain actually makes up the difference and changes! You can use binaural beats for more than just relaxation and sleep! Here is a link to one for you to try for better sleep. Remember to always use headphones when listening to binaural beats.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P6izUrS1q7o

5.) Meditation is the best way to handle ALL the stresses of life. If you are feeling overwhelmed I recommend spending 5 minutes sitting in meditation and focusing on your breath. If you make it to 5 minutes without a problem try increasing your time in small increments. Even if you feel as though you are completely failing you will feel better internally. If you are so completely stressed that this sounds too far fetched try a guided meditation video. Here is one that is specifically for sleep but you can try one for stress or anxiety too!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HutgMrYMbfE