Articles with the health benefits Tag

Hi, y’all!

Hope you enjoyed my last post (on the health benefits of blackstrap molasses). It’s actually quite delicious in smoothies and oatmeal.

As I was weeding through emails tonight, I came across one from Diane Ferraro. Her email touched my heart. As a survivor of domestic violence – and someone who has found such significant healing and peace through yoga – I knew I had to share her message with y’all.

I’ve blogged about yoga several times before. And Diane’s email hit really close to home for me, as I’m a survivor of domestic violence myself. Yoga also helps me cope with living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. It truly grounds me….

Here’s the press release included in Diane’s email:

Contact: Diane Ferraro                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office: 347.457.6823
Cell: 917.376.1302
Email: diane@littlefloweryoga.com

LITTLE FLOWER YOGA JOINS NATIONWIDE YOGATHON Raising Awareness and Prevention Efforts around Domestic Violence

Yoga is widely credited for effectively reducing stress, improving concentration skills, and developing a healthy and holistic approach for personal development.

By offering yoga to children, Little Flower Yoga is providing a resource that children can use to help them as they navigate through some of the most challenging developmental stages they will ever face, and a tool they can access for the rest of their lives.

To learn more or become involved in this fundraiser with Little Flower Yoga
visit http://www.littlefloweryoga.com/special-events/peace-by-peace-yogathon.

Yoga teachers and studio owners can sign up as ambassadors and hosts by May 1; yoga students may join the cause starting May 1st. Participation is simple and as a community we can make a tremendous impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors.

1.      http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/DELTA/
2.      http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/

###

If you would like more on this topic or to schedule an interview with Jennifer
Cohen Harper, contact Diane Ferraro at 347.457.6823 or
diane@littlefloweryoga.com and feel free to visit www.littlefloweryoga.com

What about you? Have you tried yoga? Does it bring you peace? Strength? Joy? Have you found healing through yoga?

Hi, y’all! How are my fantabulous readers doing?

Did you catch the winner of the PeopleTowels giveaway? Be sure to check out their site (www.peopletowels.com) and also see if those awesome reusable hand towels are sold at a location near you!

And I’m excited to bring a guest post to you today. She recently shared freelance business tips on my writing blog, Writing the Cyber Highway (How to Stay Pumped When Working from Home), and today she’s bringing “Berry Good News” to you. Make Maria feel welcome, y’all! (She’s also recently discovered how wonderful fresh, raw juices really are!)

Berry Good News

By Maria Rainier

Hear ye, hear ye, listen up berry lovers! Berries have become the top of the “fruit” chain due to new research that has revealed berries to fight and prevent multiple diseases. Sweet, tart and tantalizing, berries are as good for you as they are good. Here are a few of the top of the top when selecting which berries to buy.

Blueberries

They’re little, they’re plump, they’re sweet and no, they aren’t smurfs. Blueberries are the cancer fighting super fruits that have become the heroes of the berry world. Delicious and worth every over priced penny, blueberries contain unique properties that help to lower blood pressure, prevent nerve aging, fight cancer, strengthen your heart and the list goes on and on. Most recently, the antioxidants in blueberries have been proven to neutralize free radicals and protect the body against chronic diseases.

Cherries

Ok, so they aren’t a berry, exactly, but these tiny tree topping fruits are also topping the list of super fruits. The highest levels of anti-oxidants and highest amounts of iron found in any fruit, cherries have been found to significantly lower cholesterol and blood sugar and insulin levels. Cherries have been proven to stimulate the regeneration of red blood cells and cure anemia. Not bad for tiny, red berry wannabe.

Blackberries

Excellent sources of soluble fiber, vitamin B1, B2, E and C, blackberries are a circulatory systems dream! Nutrients found in these bubbly little berries have been proven to prevent cardiovascular diseases, dementia and multiple cancers. More powerful and effective than apples or strawberries, blackberries are gaining popularity in the health world and make a mean cobbler!

Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education, researching the best paying engineering degrees and what it means for the gender wage gap. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

Thank you for sharing your berrylicious enthusiasm and wisdom, Maria!

Berrylicious Blending

Check out my Berry Blackstrap Smoothie Recipe. I LOVE this combo!

Or my Blueberry Blackstrap Bomb Recipe

Giveaway Reminder

You can still enter my NuNaturals Giveaway — FOUR of you will be lucky winners!!! ENTER HERE!!

Photo Credits:

Cherries

Blueberries

Blackberries

Disclaimer: The information in this post isn’t meant to diagnose or treat illness. Consult your licensed physician for medical advice.

Happy Monday, y’all!

Hope you had a fantabulous and blessed weekend!

I’m thrilled you’re so excited about my Black Grass Smoothie Concoction. Can’t wait to find out how you like it!

And now for the Meatless Monday theme…

Why Meatless Monday?

I’ve been mostly meatless for the past several years (everything from 100% raw and not eating meat at all, to high-raw and having a little salmon, tuna, or small amount of local bison), but I’ve never joined in on the “Meatless Monday” movement. No time like the present, eh?!

Besides, I’ve been really enjoying Recycle Your Day’s Meatless Monday posts for a while now. I’m going to do my best to participate each Monday!

At first, I thought I’d have to skip my first Monday because everything I thought of was either a) boring or b) something I’ve already posted about – such as:

• Tuna Fish-Less Salad
• Chicken-Less Salad
• Spiralized Veggie S’ghetti

I know a lot of you have heard read me singing the praises of my latest favorite drink (Rainbow Grass) a LOT lately, right? If not, you can check out my post about it (and nab the free recipe here).

Check out the benefits of chard!

“If vegetables got grades for traditional nutrients alone, Swiss chard would be one of the vegetable valedictorians. The vitamin and mineral profile of this leafy green vegetable contains enough "excellents" to ensure its place at the head of the vegetable Dean’s List. Our rating system awards Swiss chard with excellent marks for its concentrations of vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron, vitamin E, and dietary fiber. Swiss chard also emerges as a very good or good source of copper, calcium, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, protein, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc, folate, biotin, niacin and pantothenic acid.” – WH Foods

So, I’ve been drinking the Rainbow Chard – but I haven’t been eating it. Of course, I’ve eaten it before (a lot) but I’ve been consuming it via jar – and my fave, eco-friendly, glass straws – so far this year. Best thing? It’s growing in my garden! Fresh, raw, heirloom, organic rainbow chard. YUM!

And as I pondered how I’d wow y’all with a fantabulous Meatless Monday recipe, it happened: I was struck with the inspiration for…

Raw Rainbow Wraps

Tuna Fish-Less Salad plopped in to a chard leaf

Rolled Up & Ready to Eat!

Wanna bite?

Raw Rainbow Wraps Recipe

Ingredients:

• Rainbow Chard leaves (freshly washed)
• Tuna Fish-Less Salad

Directions:

1. Fill rainbow chard leaves with Tuna Fish-Less Salad.
2. Wrap and roll like a tortilla.
3. Enjoy!

Note:

I added a tad bit more water to this batch of Tuna Fish-Less Salad than I did when I posted about it before. It would have been easy to fix that (just add a little more ground flax and/or sunflower seeds) but I decided I liked this consistency a lot and it was great for oozing in to the crevices of the chard leaves. Yum!

You could also fill these beauties with any of the following yumilicious creations…

Jalapeno Hummus

(Click HERE for free recipe.)

Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus

(Click HERE for free recipe.)

Chicken-Less Salad

(Click HERE for free recipe.)

Meatless Monday Questions:

1. For those of you who aren’t vegan or vegetarian: Do you like to sometimes have meatless meals – or even entire days?

2. And for those of you who ARE vegan or vegetarian: What’s your favorite meat(less) inspired meal?

3. Do you participate in Meatless Monday? Do you allow yourself to eat a little meat (if it’s clean/local/organic, etc.) or do you just eat meat like you always have and don’t really think about it?

4. Would you try any of these recipes? And what do you think about the Rainbow Chard Wraps? These are yummy, quick and easy to make, and fun to eat! Are you inspired to try them? Have you ever tasted rainbow chard? What do you think about the benefits of chard, listed above?

5. Have you ever eaten raw rainbow chard? Did you like it or hate it?

Chime in… I just love your juicy comments!

References:

WH Foods: Swiss Chard

Hi, y’all!

Sorry to make ya wait so long today for this recipe. I tweeted about drinking a black smoothie this morning and a lot of you were really intrigued. Thanks for the interest! I hope it lives up to your expectations.

I’m a HUGE fan of blackstrap molasses (did you guess that as one of the “black” ingredients??)! Not everyone likes blackstrap molasses – or has even tried it – but if you love black licorice, I just know you’ll love blackstrap molasses! It reminds me of black licorice for some reason. I especially notice a distinct black licorice flavor when I add two tablespoons to water – or to my smoothies.

Believe it or not, I’m actually NOT a fan of blackberries (the other black ingredient). I always choose a different berry (blueberries are my all-time favorite!) but this recipe (title and all) popped in to my head – and I just had to try it!

The main reason I don’t care for blackberries (not even cobbler!) is because of the little seeds that get in my teeth. It’s annoying, I think.

I should’ve blended a few more minutes because I did have some seed action happening in my smoothie – that’ was my fault, though.

Lovin’ my Simple Elegance GlassDharma straw!

And I’m really sad that my photos don’t do my black smoothie justice. For one, it was a dark, rainy day and two, I don’t have a fancy shmancy camera – or photography skills! LOL So please forgive me and I hope you can tell just how dark the smoothie is….

Remember my Blueberry Blackstrap Bomb? I thought some of y’all might guess blackstrap molasses as one of the ingredients for this one – but you didn’t!

It. Was. Delish!

But it wasn’t today’s Black Smoothie!

I still plan on writing an in-depth post on blackstrap molasses, it’s health benefits, and why I drink it all the time. But here’s a snippet of information for you:

“Blackstrap molasses is an excellent source of manganese and copper. It is a very good source of iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. In addition, blackstrap molasses is a good source of vitamin B6 and selenium.” – WH Foods

And this tidbit of information might give you the boost you need to gobble up some blackberries….

“Blackberries are notable for their high nutritional contents of dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid – a B vitamin, and the essential mineral, manganese.

Blackberries rank highly among fruits for antioxidant strength, particularly due to their dense contents of polyphenolic compounds, such as ellagic acid, tannins, ellagitannins, quercetin, gallic acid, anthocyanins and cyanidins.

Blackberries have an ORAC value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of 5347 per 100 grams, including them among the top-ranked ORAC fruits. Another report using a different assay for assessing antioxidant strength placed blackberry at the top of more than 1000 antioxidant foods consumed in the United States.” – Wikipedia

Black Grass Smoothie Recipe

(Serves one)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 4 ice cubes
• 1 scoop Amazing Grass wheat grass
• 2 Tablespoons blackstrap molasses
• 1 cup frozen blackberries

Directions:

Toss above ingredients in to your blender and blend ‘em up until you have a rich, smooth consistency. Enjoy!

 

Note:

If you love black licorice, this is the smoothie for you!

Hated it!

I LOVE the Simple Elegance (aka Shorty) glass straw for my smoothies in these short glass jars – perfect combo! And they’re available in package deals in my Raw Shop!

Oh. My. Gosh. My black smoothie was SO good and I’m SO glad I followed my crazy brainstorm and made it! It was rich and creamy and smooth and delicious – AND it was also energizing and very fun to drink!

What about you: Do you love blackstrap molasses? Hate it? Ever tried it? Does it remind you of black licorice? What about blackberries? Do you love ‘em or hate ‘em? And do you try new smoothie (or other) recipes? Or do you stick to your old, tried-and-true concoctions? Do you like black licorice? Did you eat it as a kid? I did – and have always loved it!

Did you miss my review of Aurorae’s Yoga Sport Sweat Towel? You can read it HERE.

References:

Wikipedia: Blackberry

WH Foods: Blackstrap Molasses

Hi, y’all! Hope your day was fantabulous! Mine was: I made chocolate avocado pudding today!

I’m going to share the recipe, but first I wanted to play catch-up …

So glad you’re loving my Rainbow Chard + Butter Bean Soup. Let me tell you, it was even more delicious than it looks in the photos!

And I’m excited over all the buzz about my post on the health benefits of flax seeds – and why I love ‘em!

And I love that you’re all so excited over Glass Dharma’s eco-friendly straws. I really enjoyed reviewing them and hosting a giveaway, too!

I know, I know, you want to get to the chocolate avocado pudding!

Last time I made it (read all about it here), I used agave as an ingredient, but as I mentioned before, I’ve cut agave from my diet (I’m almost finished with the explanation post, promise!).

And ended up with this…

A Twitter follower inspired today’s recipe when she asked for a chocolate avocado recipe and I sent her to my version – then had to tell her I don’t use agave anymore. “What would you use now?” She asked.

Enter: Tropical Traditions Canadian, Raw, Wild, Unprocessed Honey!

You’ll be seeing an in-depth review of this SWEET, raw honey in just a day or so – plus something special for y’all!!!

Do you know that avocado is chock-full of nutrition and health benefits?

Check it out:

• vitamin K
• dietary fiber
• potassium
• folate
• vitamin B6
• vitamin C
• copper

Health benefits:

• promotes heart health
• promotes overall health
• increases absorption of carotenoids from vegetables
• combats oral cancer
• and more!

Wow.

And did you know I used to detest avocado? I wouldn’t eat it for YEARS. Never ate it as a kid. Didn’t eat it most of my adult life. I’d say I never tasted an avocado until about 5 or so years ago. Seriously! Can you believe it? And now I could eat ‘em every single day. Yum!

I love how when we start incorporating healthier foods into our diets, our body literally CRAVES them – LOVE it!

Fun Fact!

“The avocado is colloquially known as the Alligator Pear, reflecting its shape and the leather-like appearance of its skin. Avocado is derived from the Aztec word “ahuacatl”.”—WH Foods

Forgot to snap a photo of the frozen nanner that was in the blender but this is what it looks like all blended up…

And it comes out looking like this:

My goodness gracious, it was DELISH!!! I was SO happy with this!

And now, what you’ve wanted since the beginning of this post  – the recipe!

Chocolate Banana Avocado Pudding with Raw Honey

(serves one)

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon raw honey, melted (I used Tropical Traditions)
• 1 banana, frozen
• 1/2 avocado (it was a big one)
• 1 tablespoon certified organic cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons almond milk

Directions:

Toss all ingredients in to your blender or food processer and blend all the ingredients together ‘till they’re creamy and smooth. Enjoy immediately!

Your Turn

Have you tried experimenting with avocado chocolate pudding yet? How does your version differ from mine? Does avocado gross you out? Or do you live for its creamy, decadent texture? And can you believe how many nutrients can be packed into chocolate pudding – when you make a healthier version?! What’s your favorite way to eat avocado? What’s your go-to chocolate dessert recipe?

Oh, and be sure to stop back by soon – I also got happy with hemp in the kitchen and whipped up something off the top of my head! And it was GOOD.

OpenSky Alert!

I love freshly ground flax SO much, I’m selling whole flax seeds so you can grind your own. That’s right: You can buy organic flax seed in my OpenSky shop – for only $7.49 per pound!!!

Shipping info:

“We will ship orders anywhere within the United States and Canada. At this time, we do not ship to other locations. When your order ships, you will receive a shipment notification via email that will include your tracking number.” – OpenSky

Reference:

WH Foods: Avocado

I usually always mention that I’ve tossed freshly ground flax into my smoothies, oats, or whatever else I’m eating and I’ve been a HUGE fan of these amazing little seeds for years now. I thought I’d share with you WHY I adore them so much…

Check out the nutrition:

• omega-3 fatty acids
• manganese
• dietary fiber
• magnesium
• folate
• copper
• phosphorus
• Vitamin B6

(To my knowledge, there is no nutritional differences between the brown flax seeds or the gold – I just seem to prefer the brown.)

Fun Fact!

“Flaxseeds have a long and extensive history. Originating in Mesopotamia, the flax plant has been known since the Stone Ages. One of the first records of the culinary use of flaxseeds is from times of ancient Greece. In both that civilization and in ancient Rome, the health benefits of flaxseeds were widely praised.” – WH Foods

Health Benefits

Organic flax seeds are known to be fantabulous for our health.

Check out this amazing list…

Organic flax seeds:

• promote bone health
• have anti-inflammatory properties
• fight against cancer, diabetes and other disease,
• help prevent and regulate high blood pressure
• lowers cholesterol
• fights prostate cancer growth
• helps lubricate dry eyes

Attention menopausal women:

Flaxseed Reduces Hot Flashes Almost 60%!! (source)

I love mine freshly ground. Not only does grinding the flax bring out the nutty, delicious flavor, whole seeds simply pass through your system so it’s best to grind them.

I promote buying whole flax seeds because you don’t know how long the ground flax has been sitting on the shelf and this way, you’re the one who grinds your flax each time and you know when it was ground.

Note: I grind my whole flax seeds up in a coffee grinder. You can keep leftover freshly ground flax in the freezer but I’d only store a small amount as fresh is always best!

I add freshly ground flax to:

• smoothies
• oats
• stir-fry
• rice dishes
• salad
• veggie burgers
• and more!

This salad was made with: lettuce, carrots, celery, tomato, dates, corn, peas, spinach, pumpkin seeds and drizzled with coconut oil.

Why I Love Them

I love freshly ground flax seeds because they truly do add a rich, nutty flavor to whatever smoothie or food you add them to.

They’re yummy, filling, and I love getting fiber in this way.

They’ve been instrumental in my own battle with inflammation, from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia (more on that in a future post).

Come on, what’s not to love about the nutritious AND delicious combo freshly ground flax offers?!

And you can buy organic flax seed in my Raw Shop – for only $7.49 per pound!!!

Shipping info:

“We will ship orders anywhere within the United States and Canada. At this time, we do not ship to other locations. When your order ships, you will receive a shipment notification via email that will include your tracking number.”

Do you love freshly ground flax seeds? Did you realize what a powerful addition they were to our diet? Do you love their nutty flavor? If you’ve never tried them, will you give ‘em a chance now? Let’s talk!

Reference:

WH Foods: Flaxseeds

Photo: OpenSky

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Thank you to www.tropicaltraditions.com for sending samples!

Note: For my 100% raw purist readers, this product is not raw. The coconut is only dried, but the peanuts are roasted. In my opinion, it’s totally worth the splurge, though!

You might remember a Tropical Traditions review and contest in the past here at Healing with (Raw) Juices…. Well, the folks at Tropical Traditions are so very kind and generous, they’ve sent more products for me to review – and give to you!

First up….

Organic Coconut Peanut Butter

Ingredients: Organic Dried Coconut, Organic Roasted Valencia Peanuts

Health Benefits of Dried Coconut

So, we know that fresh, raw coconut (and its oil) is fantabulous for our health, boasting benefits like: colon health, skin health, battling candida, promotes skin elasticity, healthy for your heart, and so much more. Coconut oil is also nature’s richest source of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs)!

But what about the dried coconut that’s used in this coconut peanut butter? I thought you might be curious about dried coconut if you weren’t familiar, so I swiped the following information from an article on the Tropical Traditions site: The Truth about “Raw” Dried Coconut

Dried or "desiccated" coconut is an established industry in the Philippines, with the largest companies being established back in the 1920s to handle the booming candy bar industry in the US. The Philippines produces most of the world’s dried coconut products, and has had a reputation of producing a very high quality product for many years. The meat of the coconut is high in protein, and fresh coconuts have a very short shelf life, especially in the humid tropics.

In the conclusion of this article, they state:

Raw coconut is very healthy and is best consumed from fresh coconuts within 24-48 hours of harvest. For those of us living outside the tropics, dried coconut is the next best thing. However, be careful where you purchase your dried coconut and investigate thoroughly to be sure it was processed according to industry standards to avoid potential contamination.

So, from my understanding, while fresh, raw coconut is ideal for optimum health benefits, dried coconut (when correctly processed) is next in line. That makes a gal feel good about gobbling up her coconut peanut butter for sure!

From the Tropical Traditions FAQ page:

While whole coconut does contain coconut oil, you would have to eat more by weight to get the equivalent amount of pure coconut oil.

Whole coconut contains more than just oil. It would include things like fiber, protein and sugar (natural sugar).

Some people could be allergic to whole coconut, and not be allergic to coconut oil, for example, because coconut oil does not contain protein. If you are trying to restrict sugar from your diet, you do have to account for the natural sugar in whole coconut as well. As to fresh coconuts, most coconuts you find in U.S. grocery stores are transported many miles and are no longer fresh. A freshly harvested coconut does not have a long shelf life, especially if the outer husk is removed down to the brown shell. Hence, many coconuts in U.S. stores may already be moldy. This is especially true for “young” immature coconuts. The best place to eat fresh, raw coconuts is in tropical climates where they grow, and right after they are harvested. Those outside the tropics might be better off eating dried coconut.

From the site:

Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Peanut Butter is made from organic peanuts and organic coconut. Two ingredients: nothing else! No fillers, no binders, no sweeteners, and no preservatives.

The peanuts are 100% organic Valencia peanuts grown organically by family farmers in New Mexico and Texas. Grown in the dry climate of the southwestern United States, these peanuts are certified organic and free from aflatoxins.

The dried coconut is certified organic coconut meat from the Philippines from coconuts that are grown with no fertilizers or pesticides. This premium dried coconut contains no additives or preservatives, and is not sweetened.

Unlike most dried coconut on the market, our dried coconut products are not treated with sulfites to keep them white.

Together, these premium organic roasted peanuts and the premium organic dried coconut are ground together to make a delicious and nutritious spread!

Nutrition Information

Low, low carb, people!

Coconut Peanut Butter = Yummy to the Tummy!

I have seriously, wholeheartedly enjoyed every smidgen I’ve eaten of this yummy stuff. (I still have some left in the jar, but it’s a secret – don’t tell anyone!)

You might remember when I used coconut peanut butter as a fantabulous ingredient in my:

Coconut Peanut Butter Honey Overnight Oats

Or when I spruced up my banana soft serve with some coconut peanut butter and ended up with:

Coconut Peanut Butter Cream

You’ll notice that above in the overnight oats, the coconut peanut butter actually took on a creamy consistency, but in the coconut peanut butter cream (banana soft serve with cream of coconut added), when I drizzled the coconut peanut butter over it, it was “runny” (which is a good thing, in my opinion!) but then it hardened up. And boy, was it FUN to eat that way! LOVED it!

Here’s what Tropical Traditions has to say about the consistency situation:

Note: In warmer temperatures the oils will separate at the top of the jar. Simply mix them back in. If refrigerated, this product will become hard and difficult to spread. It is recommended to store this product out of the light in a cool place.

Other ways I enjoyed my coconut peanut butter:

• straight off the spoon
• drizzled over my salad like a dressing (it was sooooooooooooo good when it ran into the crevices of the kale!

This would also be fantabulous drizzled over raw cakes or cookies, or to make hardened candy. I’m sure it’d taste awesome in a smoothie, too!

 About Tropical Traditions – The Company

From the site:

Brian W. Shilhavy, BA, MA
Brian earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible/Greek from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and his Master of Arts degree in linguistics from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. He is currently the CEO of Tropical Traditions, Inc.

Marianita Jader Shilhavy, BS, CND (Certified Nutritionist/Dietician in the Philippines) earned her bachelor of science degree in nutrition in Manila. Understanding the nutrition of Filipino foods, Marianita worked for over eight years as a hospital dietician and nutritional counselor in the Philippines.

In 1998 Brian  and Marianita returned to the Philippines with their three children and renovated Marianita’s old family farmhouse. By this time the coconut industry was severely depressed due to the negative U.S. campaigns against tropical oils in the 1980s and 1990s. Coconut farmers could no longer support their families on the income generated from harvesting coconuts.

The Tropical Traditions Line of Organic Foods and Healthy Products

Later, when our  family was forced to leave the Philippines, we had to adapt our eating and lifestyle from living in a rural agricultural area of the Philippines, where we had access to a local public market and fresh farm goods produced in our community and the areas surrounding it, to buying food on the shelves of stores where we had little or no knowledge of those who produced the food. As we settled back into life in the United States, I sought out healthy food sources that I felt we could trust to meet the nutritional and health needs of our family.

Finding good food sources and healthy products is an ongoing endeavor, and the products sold through Tropical Traditions are the products I have trusted to meet the needs of my own family. I won’t sell you products that I won’t use personally or give to my own children. With meats and dairy products, it is not enough to simply be "organic." We believe that animals raised on pasture are preferable to animals in feed lots eating organic grains and organic soy, and so we give preference to animals raised on grass and sunshine, and farmers practicing sustainable agriculture.

How are Products Chosen for Tropical Traditions?

We have a strong commitment to family farming and organic standards. But the organic label is not enough for us. We research and find out where the products are produced, and how they are produced. We find that some organic standards too loose for our trust, so we look beyond what is claimed on a label. We find out as much as possible about those who provide the products. And if a certain quality of product does not exist, we will work with others to produce that product and offer it to our consumers. We did that with Virgin Coconut Oil in the Philippines, and we are working on several other products both here in the US and outside the US that we plan to introduce to you soon.

We want you to feel safe when shopping in our online store, so we have a commitment to you to not sell anything that is harmful to the best of our knowledge. All of our foods are either certified organic or meet quality standards that are equal to or higher than organic certification. This is quite different from most health food stores, where you have to be "on your guard" as most of them offer conventional products right alongside organic products, because they want to offer a full selection of products to compete with regular grocery stores. We would rather offer fewer products, and stick to our high standards, so that you can feel safe when shopping here.

Tropical Traditions is constantly adding more products to offer its customers as we move forward and find people producing products that meet our high standards. We are already working with farmers to be able to drop ship products directly to your home from the farm. In time, we will also setup regional centers where you can pick up local food produced close to your community. In early 2006 we launched our Healthy Buyer’s Club that allows individuals and families to purchase bulk retail products for a significant savings. Join us today as we seek to restore traditional ways of producing healthy food and healthy products!

Pros

There are too many pros to mention, in my opinion!  I love the taste and that it’s so versatile. You can eat it so many different ways and it’s so fun to use as an ingredient!

Coconut is good for us and while peanut butter may not be everyone’s cup of tea, for those of you who love it like there’s no tomorrow, this is a great way to enjoy “peanut butter” while also sneaking in some added nutrition and fiber.

Cons

As always, the things I look out for on the “negative” aspect of my reviews are 1) price and 2) that it’s truly a Raw Juice Girl-worthy, healthy product.

As you can tell, I’m totally in favor of this product!

Warning: This stuff is highly addictive! It’s just soooooooooooo delicious – and knowing that it is actually good for you, makes you want to indulge even more!

Verdict/Grade

I think this product deserves an A+ because it’s delicious, fun, and is so cool that it is half coconut, half peanut butter! I also love the consistency and that it’s such a fun addition to desserts and other foods. Love, love, love it!!!

Want some for yourself?

Enter my Tropical Traditions contest: click HERE.

(for U.S. and Canada residents only – sorry international readers!)

If you can’t wait for the contest, you can nab a deal on this golden treat – it’s currently 50% off of its regular retail price of $14.99!

Referral Option

If you’d like to join the Tropical Traditions Healthy Buyer’s Club, visit www.healthybuyersclub.com/orderform.cfm

And enter Raw Juice Girl’s User ID number: 4845073

By following these steps, you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy.

Your sponsor (that’d be me! ) will receive a coupon for a complimentary gift to redeem on their next order.

You may view the current complimentary gift being offered here: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com//referral_program.htm

Further instructions can be found here.

Thanks again to www.tropicaltraditions.com!

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Updated to add: This contest has closed and a winner has been chosen. Thanks!

Thank you to www.ohnuts.com for sending a one-pound bag of raw pecans for me to review, as well as a bag for me to send to one of you (lucky) readers.

Tell me you didn’t honestly think I was ONLY giving away those ginormous, delicious (RAW) macadamia nuts.

And I still have lots more raw goodies up my juicy sleeve – I work hard for you all!

And, like a crazy blogger, I’m launching a SECOND contest:

What You’ll Receive

ALL you need to do to enter this contest, is leave a comment saying what your favorite way to use pecans is, or why you absolutely MUST win this bag of raw pecans from www.ohnuts.com.

BUT… If you want to put in a little extra effort….

(and receive a LOT of extra entries – aka chances to win) keep reading…

Numerous ways to get extra entries!

Note: The reason I ask you to leave a comment for EACH, SEPARATE entry is because I enter the total number of comments at random.org once the contest has ended.

• Become a fan of Oh!Nuts on Facebook. Leave a comment (on their page) saying Raw Juice Girl sent you. Then, come back here and leave a comment to let me know you did that.

• Become a fan of Raw Juice Girl on Facebook. Leave a comment saying you did.

• Follow Healing with (Raw) Juices on Facebook’s Networked Blogs. Leave a comment saying that you did.

• Do you use Twitter? Tweet about this contest and then leave a comment with your Twitter name. You can swipe this tweet:

 @RawJuiceGirl is giving away a ONE pound bag of RAW pecans. Visit www.healingwithjuices.com to enter now!

Then, leave a comment that you did – with your Twitter name or status link.

FOR EVEN MORE ENTRIES: Re-tweet this contest as many times as you like and come back and leave a different comment for each time you want – no limit on how many! Get those extra entries, folks!

• Do you Plurk? Plurk about this contest and leave a comment with your Plurk URL.

• Share this contest on your blog, linking back to this post. (The pingback will be counted as an extra entry.) If you don’t see your pingback, just email me at healingwithjuices at gmail.com and let me know. It may have gone to spam for some reason.

• Follow @OhNuts on Twitter. Leave a comment, saying you did.

• Follow @RawJuiceGirl on Twitter. Comment, saying you did.

• Add me as a friend on Wellsphere . Leave a comment saying that you did.

• Add me as a friend on RawFu. Leave a comment saying that you did.

• Add me as a friend on Give it to Me Raw. Leave a comment saying that you did.

• Subscribe to Raw Juice Girl’s YouTube channel. Leave a comment saying that you did.

• Are you a Stumbler? Stumble and review any post you want to–just leave the link to your SU review in (its own) comment.

• Do you have a Digg account? Digg one of my posts. Take your pick. Come back and leave a comment on this post with a link to your Digg post.

• Leave a comment on the review post:  Oh!Nuts (Raw) Georgia Pecans Review. Come back here and leave a comment letting me know you did that.

• If you share this contest on Facebook or some other social media account, I’ll accept that as an extra entry. Just share the link to this contest on that site and leave the link here in the comments to let me know you did.

• Follow me or friend me on any of the social media sites for an extra entry. If you follow or friend Lisa (or me) on more than one social media site, simply add an extra comment sharing that you did.

NOTE: Please leave a comment for each entry (tweet, plurk, etc.) because each comment will be counted as a number when I enter the total number of comments at Random.org once the contest ends. (Don’t just say “thanks for the contest” or something like that–I do not publish those type of comments because they seem like spam and aren’t fair to the other contestants who leave a thoughtful, genuine answer.) Thanks!

This contest is open to EVERYONE – 0h, and I’ll be using Random.org to choose the winner.

Contest ends Sunday, February 1st. I’ll accept comments until midnight. (Central Time). Winner will be posted the next morning.

That gives you ONE  week to get your entries in. Hurry and spread the word. The more entries you have, the higher your chances of winning a one-pound bag of these beauties!!!

Let the contest begin!!!!

Updated to add: This contest has closed and a winner has been chosen. Thanks!

Another Contest

You can also enter my OTHER contest for a one-pound bag of raw macadamia nuts. Get those entries in! <—That contest has ended and a winner has been chosen for it, too. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I received a one pound back of raw macadamia nuts from Oh!Nuts to review. They also agreed to sponsor this contest. They provided a one pound bag of raw macadamia nuts for you to enjoy. I am responsible for shipping costs on this contest.

Due to the Federal Trade Commission’s ruling, I must always make you aware of when I receive free samples. I have always done that in the past (see my Reviews page and read my full disclaimer there) and will continue to do so.

And, most importantly, I have NOT been paid to write this review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are from me and of my own free will.

I’m glad you enjoyed my review of Oh!Nuts (RAW) Macadamia Nuts – and that you’re having fun with all the numerous ways to get extra entries in on the contest to win your very own one-pound bag!

Now, on to those…

Big (RAW) Georgia pecans!

Just look at those beauties!

And like I’ve mentioned before: Don’t fear those healthy fats – our bodies need ‘em!

You’ll know your lacking in healthy fats when your hair is brittle and your skin is dry and your eyes are dried-out and giving you a fit all the time, etc.

Health Benefits of Raw Pecans

So, what’s a raw pecan good for – no, not baked, sugary pecan pie!

Well, besides being filled with healthy fats, pecans contain potassium, zinc, vitamin E, and vitamin A. Talk about promoting healthy skin and fighting infections!

Pecans may help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. They are heart-healthy, filling, delicious and so good for us!

  Nutritional Information

If you’ve been looking for a yummy, low-carb snack or ingredient, you only have to count 3 carbs in each serving of raw pecans!

How did I enjoy these jumbo Georgia pecans, in the raw?

• by the handful
• on top of salad

What can I say? Sometimes I’m just boring.

Of course, I wasn’t selfish – I shared some, too. And I was a sad gal when I saw the bottom of the empty bag. Too bad it wasn’t a magical bag that could just replenish itself!

About Oh!Nuts – The Company

As legend has it, a number of the Klein’s friends who heard the idea said you could go nuts trying to name a store like that. In their excitement, the Klein’s thought their friends said "Oh Nuts" instead of "Go Nuts" and proceeded to throw caution to the wind—and themselves into designing a 15×15 retail space into a warmly cozy experience that would become their flagship store.

While their products were both dairy and non dairy, their first Oh Nuts hand a definite dairy dynamic if for no other reason than the fact they used milk crates as display shelves.

Though as these shelves were displaying absolute freshest selections of imported and domestic nuts, dried fruits and confections, they quickly realized that consumers liked their fresh approach to retailing.

And while the milk crates were eventually replaced by more conventional retail displays and shelving, and the flagship store welcomed an even more impressive sibling less than a year later, one thing that didn’t change then—and won’t ever change, is the Klein’s approach to retailing "Keep It Fresh," "Keep It Fun," "Keep It Phenomenal."

Today, the Oh Nuts brand is a nationally recognized one stop shop for everything in dried fruits, nuts, chocolates, candies, related confections (both finished products and raw ingredients,) custom and pre-configured gift baskets for any occasion, (real or imagined)—even hard to find items like sugar-free and organic products—become remarkably easy to find when you enter the world of Oh Nuts.

Pros

Some things I loved about this bag of raw Georgia pecans is that the nuts came in a resealable bag.

I love the giant size of the pecans, that they’re whole, and that they’re really delicious!

You could do a gazillion things with these raw nuts: make raw desserts, crusts, eat ‘em alone, add ‘em to veggie or fruit salad, etc.

If you have a Vita-Mix or other equipment, you could even make your own raw pecan nut butter. YUM-O!

These raw pecans are KOSHER – for those of you who find that important.

Honestly, what’s not to love about a giant raw pecans that are loaded with nutritious health benefits?

Cons

As I’ve mentioned before, one of the biggest cons I try to look out for when writing reviews (other than if it’s honestly a healthy/worthy product – and these are), is cost. I realize price is a huge factor for most of us, and is the biggest reason people tend to shy away from raw foods.

This one-pound bag costs $8.99 per pound (plus shipping) but if you buy in bulk, cost per pound goes down with each additional pound your order. (That’s a plus!)

And although these raw pecans are indeed RAW, they aren’t organic, in case you’re sensitive to that aspect.

That’s really the only “cons” I have to share. I genuinely loved the pecans and also the correspondence with the company itself.

Verdict/Grade

I’ve decided to give these raw pecans a  B+ (same as the macadamia nuts) and here’s why: Although I love ‘em and they’re raw, they aren’t organic. They ARE Kosher Certified, though. And that’s a bonus for a lot of us.

The company seems to be doing a fantabulous job. If you want to see all the other fantabulous products they offer (and they DO offer organic products, they just aren’t all raw), visit: www.ohnuts.com .

What’s your fondest memory of eating pecans? Did you (or your grandparents) have a pecan tree in your yard when you were growing up? Do you have one now? Do you wish you did? Since I grew up in the South, I guess I have to admit my fondest memory of pecans are eating the pecan pie my grandma made from scratch. She also made coconut cream pie, but that’s a story for another day.

Want some raw pecans for yourself?

Click HERE to enter the Contest!

Another Contest

You can also enter my OTHER contest for a one-pound bag of raw macadamia nuts. Get those entries in!

Disclaimer: I received a one-pound bag of raw pecans from Oh!Nuts to review. They also agreed to sponsor this contest. They provided one-pound bag of raw pecans for you to enjoy. I am responsible for shipping costs on this contest.

Due to the Federal Trade Commission’s ruling, I must always make you aware of when I receive free samples. I have always done that in the past (see my Reviews page and read my full disclaimer there) and will continue to do so.

And, most importantly, I have NOT been paid to write this review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are from me and of my own free will.