The easiest (healthiest) raw chocolate recipe ever

I know we all try to do the best we can with eating right and then Easter rolls around and the shelves are filled with chocolate.Chocolate in the supermarket doesnt usually appeal to me, but I do LOVE raw chocolate. It does tend to be expensive in the shops though. So here’s a really easy raw chocolate recipe that’s filled with goodness. It’s still not an everyday treat but much better than commercial chocolates with all their colour’s and sugars.

¾ Cup Coconut oil

1 Cup raw coco powder

½ Cup Honey (you can use agave instead of honey but I prefer honey)

1/3 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt the coconut oil if it has become solid until it is in liquid form. Then blend in the other ingredients with a hand mixer or blender to combine. Pour the chocolate into molds – or if you don’t have molds silicone ice cube trays work or you can pour it into a tray or baking paper lined dish. Allow the chocolate to set in the fridge until it becomes hard. You can set in the freezer if you’re in a hurry ;)

And of course add in all your favorite extras, goji berries, cacao nibs, dried fruit, sea salt, chili.....

If your dieting or looking at having a lower sugar option you can of course use less sweetener or replace it with xylitol. If using xylitol I would warm up the coconut oil and mix the xylitol into that to melt it in, or you would get crystals in it. However, I do think your are better off with less honey or sweetener rather than replacing it with an artificial sweetener. I would love to hear how you get on with this. Post your comments below :)

These are a few of my favourite (natural) things

E plus High C Deodorant by Aubrey Organic - Its so hard to find a deodorant that is natural, and works, and doesn't have aluminium is it. I love this one, It has quite a distinctive smell to it. Kind of a really classic (read 80's) deodorant smell. Which I love but some people hate. It works! I smell fresh even through that period of time when I was "detoxing" from the super strong high aluminium deodorant I used when flying and living in the super hot Dubai.

Hurraw lip balm! Natural, raw, fare trade, organic lip balms in great colours that taste amazing!!!!! My favourite is the Black Cherry, Its such a lovely colour for every day and tastes fantastic. They have really cool flavours and are affordable which is important.

Dr. Bronner's magic soap. I love using this soap, it comes in lovely flavours that smell great and is really nice and foamy which is quite nice sometimes. Especially when avoiding sulphates (which cause foam in shampoos and body washes) So this is sulphate free, all natural, has lovely organic ingredients. I'm a huge fan of the almond one.





N.O.M body butter - I love their Vanilla and Coconut. Whenever I use it people say I smell like a tropical holiday. It smells amazing. Its really thick and lasts a long time. Probably not for people who don't have dry skin. I have really dry skin and adore it!

Hydrogen peroxide and its many uses

 I was visiting a pharmacy the other day to discuss NUK and I brought the stores entire stock of hydrogen peroxide. Kim the pharmacist seemed a little surprised I would need so much of it and asked what I use it for. So I thought I’d write a little post on some of its many uses.

Beauty

Homemade mouthwash:  

50mL of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide

60mL filtered or bottled water

5 drops of peppermint essential oil (it’s really important this is essential oil rather than fragrance oil)

2 drops of Tea tree essential oil (it’s really important this is essential oil rather than fragrance oil)

Put into a dark glass gar and shake before each use. Please spit out rather than swallow as essential oils and hydrogen peroxide shouldn’t be swallowed.

Cleaning tooth brush and tongue scraper

Pour a little 3% hydrogen peroxide into a jar and dip in your toothbrush head and tongue scraper into the solution. Throw it away after use as hydrogen peroxide deteriorates rapidly when exposed to light.

Hair lightener

Put your hydrogen peroxide into a small spray bottle with either dark glass or dark plastic and spray on your hair and comb through to gently lighten hair. As with any lightening you should use a good mask and shampoo and conditioner on your hair to prevent weakening.

Acne

Use 3% hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball to sweep over acne and spots to kill the bacteria

Colds and blocked ears

3% hydrogen peroxide can be dropped into blocked ears and noses using an eye dropper. You will feel a bubbling sensation as it works its magic unblocking.

Household

Spray cleaner

100 mL 20% hydrogen peroxide

100mL filtered water

10 drops of lemon essential oil

5 drops of tea tree essential oil

Mix up in a dark spray bottle and use to clean around the home. Avoid using on soft furnishings as hydrogen peroxide is bleach. This mix is also really good for using on mould in bathrooms. Spray it on and leave it for a few minutes and it should kill the mould.

Use undiluted on messy clean up jobs in the kitchen. Wipe over cutting boards to kill germs and salmonella.

A capful of hydrogen peroxide can be used in white loads of laundry to lift stains. Can also be sprayed directly onto blood stains and it will lift them out.

Hydrogen peroxide can be poured into a sink of water with your vegetables and fruit to remove harmful chemicals and toxins from their surface.

Mix a little hydrogen peroxide into your watering can and it will help your plants grow stronger and greener.

The awesomeness of technology

As I'm writing this I'm also doing my workout on the treadmill at the gym - away from my computer and internet. Which is pretty awesome, we can now do so much away from the desk. When I look around there are people using iPads to watch TV while they work, personal trainers using tablets to track their clients progress.

The other day I decided I needed a workout timer - it beeps at the time you set it for when doing circuit training. Now in the past I'd have to get online and order one from the states, wait for it to be shipped then work out how to use it. Instead I got on the app store while still at work contemplating my after work training session and downloaded one right to my phone. Now I can have my music playing but there is no worries trying to find a clock to watch as I do my cardio sets - I get a loud beep to change exercise.

The reason this is so amazing is there are now no excuses! I can download a body weight workout to my computer in seconds if I can't be bothered driving to the gym from bodyrock.tv.

I can track my diet and manage my macronutrients wherever I am with myfitness pal.com, no carrying around a notebook.

I can work from the gym; download healthy recipes, read inspirational stories online, check the gym timetable anywhere I am.

Anyway my point is with all this technology we have more information, and for me that means more effective workouts, lest time spent planning and less stuff to cart around – the information I used to write in a notebook and carry around with me is now stored right in my iphone, along with my music, my gym timer, my workout plan and everything else I need. Healthy is becoming super accessible.

Gobble Gobble Protein Bar

So I'm all about getting good quality food and also having a life. So for me if I can chuck it in my bag and go its fantastic. So no suprise I discovered protein bars pretty early in in life.The problem is with protein bars is they are often filled with all sorts of cheap crap protein and presertitaves and all that nasty stuff. Not to mention they can be pretty expensive.So I started experimenting with making my own. And I've got to say so far I'm pretty impressed. I normally do something a little different each week. I make enough to have one a day at work and a couple of extra for the weekend and in case I run short of time to mix up a new batch. The one I made tonight I think is going to be the best to date.

All you need is: 
5 Tablespoons of Cocoa Powder 1
1.5 Cups of coconut 
6 Scoops of Protein Powder 
2 teaspoons of Xylitol 
Whatever extras you want, this week I used; 
Goji Berries Cacao Nibs A handful of Organic raisins 
Mix this together in a big bowel Mean while in a pot melt; 
2 Tablespoons of Natural Peanut butter 
4 Tablespoons of Cream or Cream Cheese ( I forgot to buy cream so busted out the cream cheese tonight and it worked great) 
40g of Butter
40g Coconut oil

Pour this into the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly with your hands (cause it makes it easier to mix)Press firmly the mixture into a lined square tin, make sure you really push it in and try to get it as flat as possible.refrigerate for 20 or so Minutes. I like to cut them into 8 bars and then melt 85% dark chocolate pour a little flaxseed and coconut oil into the melted chocolate and pour it over the bars. This helps keep them together and adds that yummy chocolaty goodness. I then wrap them up and keep them in the fridge. The protein powder I use is the Optimum Nutrition 100% whey, The only reason I use that one is because It was cheap when I lived in Dubai and a good quality. Now I'm back in NZ when my supply runs out I will get something else. I don't normally advocate the use of artificial sweeteners either, or sugar at all. Ideally I would leave the xylitol out, but I do find I crave that sweetness, and sometimes its about finding the lesser of two evils. I hope you like my recipe, its great for all those gym junkies out there who want to eat clean and also avoid a lot of the yucky things found in commercial products.

Aroha
D

I wave my hair back and forth, I wave my hair back and forth

Fighting hair fall is a common discussion for women who live in Dubai. It is my belief that a combination of poor diet, water quality and lifestyle are contributing to the troubles we have with our hair here in the UAE. In the bodys renewal process, most of us loose 50 to 100 hairs a day. and we grow half an inch of hair a month. Hair grows faster in the summer months and slower in the cold winter months. Dubai is the perfect climate for long hair.
Since we usually grow new strands to replace the ones we shed, there is normally no reason to worry about the hair we find in our brush or clogging or drains. Even noticeable thinning and balding are regular parts of life. There are things we can do to encourage growth, protect the hair we have and increase luster and thickness.

Living in Dubai means we don't get fresh organic fruit and vegetables, there are limited quantities that are grown locally which means the majority of what we buy has been shipped, often frozen. This causes a dramatic loss of minerals and vitamins and its also important to think of the carbon footprint that moving great quantities of food around the world entails. However in saying that one of the most important things for healthy hair is a diet high in fruit and vegetables and low in starch. Fruit and vegetables contain flavonoids, many of which are antioxidants which provide protection for the hair follicles and encourage hair growth. Eat plenty of foods rich in biotin, or take a biotin supplement (2,000 - 3,000 mcg daily). Biotin is needed for healthy hair and skin, and may even prevent hair loss in some men. Food sources include brewers yeast, brown rice, bulgar, green peas, lentils, oats, soybeans, sunflower seeds and walnuts. Soy foods may inhibit the formation of dihydrotestosterone, a hormone implicated in the process of hair loss. These are foods such as tofu, soy milk and yoghurt and tempeh. It is really important for me to mention crash diets, fad diets and generally any restrictive type diet will cause nutritional deficencies that are detremental for hair growth.
A Saw palmetto supplement (320- 400mg a day) is useful for both men and women with hair loss
Silicon (orthosilicic acid) is fantastic for hair growth, I prefer to use this in the form of a tissue salt. I've had some really good results using silica tissue salts on hair and nail growth and it is very cost effective.
Getting essential fatty acids is also really important. Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids can be taken as a supplement (4,000mg a day) of fish or flaxseed and evening primrose or borage oil containing 200mg of GLA.
A favorite supplement of mine is Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) it contains the mineral sulphur which helps promote hair development as it is required for the building blocks of protein, which provides stronger hair.
Some simple at home things you can do to help hair loss or just to grow stronger healthier hair include using a wide tooth comb to separate strands when wet. Avoid blow drying as often as you can. Limit dye and bleach use and get 8 hours sleep a night or more, as sleep is essential for hair renewal and growth.
Rosemary oil stimulates hair growth, take a few minutes to massage rosemary oil into your scalp before washing. Following washing make a mixture of bottled water (especially in Dubai, or other harsh water areas) and apple cider vinegar. Sometimes I add sage tea and a sprig of rosemary and pour over your hair as a rinse. The vinegar smell dissipates as your hair dries, but if you really cant stand it rinse again in pure bottled water.
Choose shampoo and conditioner wisely. Natural brands that include silica and biotin are helpful. Avoid sulfates, these are the things that cause bubbles but you don't need bubbles to wash properly. Try to find an all natural pH balanced shampoo and conditioner. A favorite of mine is the Kevin Murphy range. Jojoba oil is fantastic on hair, a few drops massaged through when hair is wet will leave hair soft and shiny when dry. Exercise increases circulation everywhere, including scalp! Reduce stress, shock and grief are related to hair loss. Massage your scalp daily. Drink a lot of good quality water and green tea.
Your hair is expression of self, there is no reason to suffer with lackluster, breaking, falling hair. Even a few simple changes to diet will have a big effect on the quality of your hair.

The red string of fate

There is a chinese proverb about what in western society we would call soul mates.  "there is an invisible red thread that connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place and circumstance, the thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break". I think this is a beautiful and inspiring proverb. Its quite a big thing to say you've met someone you feel tied to, like that red string suddenly went taut. Destiny is an interesting thing, but sometimes things happen we cant explain, people come into your life you feel you've just been waiting for. And the subsequent chaos that undoubtedly follows as you turn your lives upside down to be together becomes irrelevant. But how can you not? See when your are destined to be with someone, try as you might to ignore it, they will invariably end up in your life anyway. Best not to fight it. Best not to try put them out of your mind.
In greek mythology the philosopher Plato has Aristophanes, a playwright present a story on soul mates. He tells that humans originally had four arms, four legs and a single head with two faces, but Zeus feared their power and split them all in half. Condemning them to spend their entire lives searching for their other half.
But how do you know when you've found this other half? The way I see it its when the world seems to stop, everything fades away and all you see is them, and you feel them, like a low grade current running through your entire body connecting you to that person, an irresistible pull, and everything in your life up until that point you met them seems inconsequential. Call me a romantic but these are the moments in time you have to trust the universe and let your heart guide you. Because what is life without aroha?