Superfoods Archives - Jovanka Ciares

Vegan Raw Chocolate Mousse

What do you do when on the go and in need of some fun superfood cacao treat? A raw vegan chocolate mousse of course! I’m making this treat on my Nutribullet so if I can do it on a tiny blender, so can you! Check out the video for my simple (on the go) and totally yummy recipe for a vegan chocolate mousse:

What I love the most about this recipe is that it’s filled with antioxidants, healthy fats, micronutrients and none of the bad stuff in commercial chocolates!

INGREDIENTS

2 avocados
3/4 cup pitted dates
1/4 cup of cocoa powder
Chaga and Reishi mushroom tincture

INSTRUCTIONS

Blend until smooth
Blend until combined

Immune Boosting Herbs

I LOVE herbs and spices, take them with me everywhere I travel, use them for minor ailments and offer them to clients to compliment their wellness practice.

Check out this video of herbs and supplements that have drawn attention from researchers for their immunity protecting properties!

ALFALFA

The extensive root system allows the plant to absorb a high level of nutrients from the soil. It is known to detoxes the urinary tract, purify the blood and liver and have a strong alkaline effect on the body. It also promotes bowel movement regularity and healthy hydration.

ASHWAGANDA

This is an excellent adrenal supportive herb that balances the entire hormonal system. It reduces stress on the adrenal gland and stimulate the thyroid gland activity. It is also known to reinforce immune activity. It can help the body build a line of defense for the endocrine and metabolic systems.

ASTRAGALUS

One of the most potent immune tonics used to improve the lungs, strengthen muscles, increase metabolism, reduce stress and strengthen the genetics. It is also a diuretic and promotes waste elimination as it promotes digestion and adrenal gland function.

BRAHMI (GOTU KOLA)

An Ayurvedic herb that helps boost memory and improve dementia. It also balances neurotransmitters in the brain, reducing stress and improving immunity.

CHAGA MUSHROOMS

Chaga contains the highest amounts of anti-tumor compounds of any herb. It is also high in phytochemicals, nutrients, and free-radical antioxidants, especially melanin. Chaga is second only to cacao in antioxidant content and is a powerful anti-cancer herb.

Have you tried any of these? Let me know in the comments below!

Raw Cacao Energy Balls

These are so easy and so amazing for you I had to share here!

I make these when I’m running out of superfoods, to kind of use them all and the make a big shopping run and get all the new batch of fresh, new supplements. Get the recipe on this video!

Raw {Vegan} Cacao Energy Balls

INGREDIENTS

Cocoa powder
Nuts (1-2 types)
Chia seeds
Cinnamon
Moringa powder
Dates
Chaga mushrooms

*Amounts are to taste

Note: You can also add flax seeds for fiber, hemp seeds for protein, coconut oil for healhty fats. Truly, they are so versatile, you can add whatever you’d like!

INSTRUCTIONS

Blend all ingredients in a high power blender
Using your hands, get a small fist full and make a small balls
Keep them in a bow in the refrigerator overnight.
Enjoy!

Tell me how you like them in the comment section below!

eye wash, triphala for eyes, jovanka ciares

How To Improve Your Vision Naturally

So I work long hours and plenty of those are spend on the computer, writing, creating scripts for videos, researching. SO my eyes get very strained and I think I’m starting to use my eye sight. Went to the doctor who confirmed about a year ago that I was “just a few months away” from needing my first pair of glasses.

Don’t get me wrong, I think glasses are totally sexy but I don’t want to have to rely on them unless I absolutely have to.

Here’s what I did to improve my vision naturally:

As you know, I’m passionate about Ayurveda and so I went to my ayurvedic practitioner and friend Saadia who recommended I use this really popular herb to wash my eyes with. TRIPHALA!

Triphala is an ayurvedic herbal formula that comes in pills and powders and it’s used to support digestion, maintain regularity, assist natural internal cleansing and nourishing the entire body.

I take it regularly and love it. But the thing is awesome enough to help me strengthen my eye sight. Here’s what I did:

Boil ½ teaspoon in 12 ounces of water at low heat
Let it cool off
Drain using a coffee or almond milk strainer
Keep in the fridge for up to a week
Use an eye wash and rinse your eyes for a few minutes
Do it daily for a few weeks and see how you feel.

I can focus better, see smaller print and my eyes don’t get tired any more. It’s fantastic!

moringa tree, moringa benefits, jovanka ciares

Benefits Of Moringa

Have you heard of Moringa? Is the new IT girl in the world of super foods! Check out the video to learn more!

Moringa is a tree native of South Asia but can be grown in the tropics around the world. People in India and Africa have been using Moringa for hundreds of years as medicine and in Ayurvedic and other types of herbal remedies.

The leaves of the plant are packed with nutrition: high protein content, calcium, vitamins C but all parts of the plant to treat anything from lack of mother’s milk to infectious diseases and its use is well documented in Ayurvedic texts.

Here are some of its benefits:

It grows really fast – really great to have a densely nourishing plant that can feed the poor of the world. Places where other nutritious foods may not be readily available, Moringa can be harvested all year round.

It’s high in antioxidants – Really high levels of antioxidants with loads of Vitamin C, beta-carotene and other antioxidants that protect against free radicals, prevent oxidative damage and prevent against premature aging.

It lowers blood sugar levels – This one study found women who took 7 grams of moringa powder daily for 3 months reduced their fasting blood sugar levels by almost 14%

It is packed with nutrients – Check this out, Moringa has:

10 times the vitamin A of carrots

25 times the iron of spinach

9 times the protein of yogurt

17 times the calcium of milk

15 times the potassium of bananas

12 times the vitamin C of oranges

It reduces inflammation – People use it to treat stomach ulcers (where was this when I had ulcers), and protect liver from chronic inflammation. It is also used to treat arthritis.

It can lower cholesterol and protect from different types of toxicity – It is believed that it can protect from some heavy metal toxicity like arsenic and it can even purify the water.

How to use it?

You can use the leaves fresh in your dishes (salads, smoothies) or the powder, which is how I’ve used it. I add it everywhere and even take 1 tsp in hot water to make tea. Tastes similar to green tea., a little earthy but good. You can also get it in oil form.