Agave, Coconut Water & Blowing Smoke

Agave syrup

& 

Coconut Water

(this years rave)

(and what you didn't know was in the fine print)

.....................

Agave syrup is better than sugar

Try using agave instead of sugar

Agave is natural

Agave is not processed

Agave here, agave there

__

Coconut water has all those nutrients

Coconut water has potassium/magnesium

Coconut water filled with electrolytes

Coconut water better than normal water

Drink Coconut water

__

Have you heard these before?

I sure did, it was not until

I stumbled upon a few articles

on these products that I then

realized that not all of them were

really what they said they were.

Scary.

Some Truth:

Agave: 

most commercially available agave is converted into fructose-rich syrup using genetically modified enzymes and a chemically intensive process involving caustic acids, clarifiers, and filtration chemicals. Here is a partial list of the chemicals many producers use:

• Activated charcoal
• Cationic and ionic resins
• Sulfuric and/or hydrofluoric acid
• Dicalite
• Clarimex
• Inulin enzymes

Agave’s fructose content can range from 55% up to 90%, depending on the processing method used. Agave nectar with 55% fructose is about the same as high fructose corn syrup so there would be no benefit in agave at 55% fructose over sugar.

Coconut water:

Most brands contain either pasteurized or micro filtered coconut water. Pasteurized coconut water is heated, which causes changes in taste and bioactivity, while micro filtered water although not heated, also lacks in original taste and sometimes contains added flavoring to compensate.

The other two major brands(coconut water) tested had only 18 and 59 percent the "promised" levels of sodium. Sodium -- a common electrolyte -- is a key feature in sports drinks, as it can be lost through sweat.

_______________________

After reading these facts

I then realized that we cannot take info

at face value.

I started to search for products

that did not process the Agave nectar

in facilities with the chemicals

and I looked for a coconut water

that was "raw" and not heated.

_________________

What I found to be.....

☑ The best Agave: Madhave Agave in light

or raw 

(http://www.madhavasweeteners.com/organic-agave-nectar/organic-agave-nectar/)

☑ The best Coconut water: Harmless Harvest

(http://www.harmlesscoconut.com/Harmless_Coconut/factsclarity.html)

I hope this was help to someone

because I know this info was for me.

My sources:

http://www.crossfitinvictus.com/coaches/a-closer-look-at-agave-nectar/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/04/coconut-water-not-the-mag_n_918135.html?ir=Food

http://cgsfoods.com/site/?p=116

http://www.ecokaren.com/2010/05/agave-is-no-better-than-sugar/

BEST (vegan) Enchiladas

Being vegan has presented 

many challenges but

within itself many

successes.

First, I want to give credit

to Sheila Wright for

giving this recipe to

me.

Second, I want to thank my

husband for trying 

everything I make good

or bad.

________________________

These vegan enchiladas are really easy,fast, 

and affordable. Best part, its two meals.

When making the enchiladas there are a few parts:

①Tomatillo sauce

②Cheesy sauce (or other cheese replacement)

③Tortilla choice.

⧔We like to use  Sonoma gluten free/natural tortillas

from Whole Foods.

⧔Cheese options are either Daiya mozzeralla(vegan)

or a sauce which will be below.

______________________________

Tomatillo Sauce

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound tomatillos, husks removed and quartered ( I use canned if I don’t have fresh)

½ cup yellow onion chopped

2 cloves garlic peeled

1 cup water

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 ancho chili/or jalapeno

Freshly ground pepper to taste

Saute in olive oil, tomatillos, onion and garlic for 5 minutes. Pour in water, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Place tomatillo mixture and remaining ingredients in Vita Mix container(or blender) in order listed.

Run for 3-4 minutes

After blending, I keep the sauce in a saute pan

to keep warm.

____________________

6 tortillas

2 cans black beans

1 cup rice (make ahead of time)

1 can mild green chillis

1 cup diced black olives

1 jalapeno diced

MIX ALL except tortilla

___________________

Turn oven to 350

Put some on the sauce in the bottom of the baking pan.

Dip tortilla in the sauce, and place a little mixture in and roll up and place in pan. When all 6 enchiladas are in the pan pour sauce over the enchiladas and top with grated vegan cheese or wait to put cheesy sauce on afterwards. Place dish in the oven and cook for 30 minutes uncovered. 

Save some tomatillo sauce to put on afterwards.

___________________

Cheesy Sauce

vegan mayonnaise

Nutritional yeast flakes

water

I usually do about a 2:1 ratio 

of mayonnaise to water then add

nutritional yeast to taste, until it

tastes "cheesy"

Can add more or less of any ingredient 

until it is the right consistency

__________________

After the enchiladas are done add:

tomatillo sauce

cheesy sauce/vegan cheese

avocado

cilantro

tomato salsa 

anything you like!

________________

Bon Appetit!

xoxo

jessica

Rejuvenated Results (a different way)

I want to share with everyone

my results.

these were life changing.

It was not easy.

it took dedication.

There's still more to come.

the greatest part.....

ITS ONLY BEEN ONE MONTH

.

____________________________

Here is what I did:

          ① Cut out all Meats

     ② Cut out Dairy

       ③ Cut out Gluten

④ More Fruit

    ⑤ More Veggies

 ⑥ More water

-essentially vegan, gluten/sugar free-

Here is how I felt before:

            ① Headaches

          ② Gas/Acid

       ③ Hunger

          ④ Insomnia

                        ⑤ Trouble waking up

     ⑥ Mucus

                  ⑦ Lack of energy

____________________________

Here's How I feel now...

i have never felt this good. I wake up

at 8:00. No coffee, no get me up.

I stay up until 10:30 every night

there is no afternoon drop.

Hunger? YA RIGHT. im never hungry

Im full. Im satisfied. 

that means, NO HEADACHE.

let me say it again...

I cannot remember the last time 

I HAD A HEADACHE.

its amazing. 

If anyone knows me... I have always

had gas...

NOPE. no more painful gas in my stomach.

Energy level is over the top...

WHAT IM TRYING TO SAY:

 I have never felt this good in my life,

my head is clear because I am not

looking for the next thing to put in 

my mouth, I am not reaching for

advil when my head starts to hurt.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD.

-I want everyone to feel as good as i do

so this is why i share my journey-

____________________________

The Realities

 If you eat good 95% of the time

the other 5 % will not matter.

(example: on saturday nights

we eat whatever we want for dinner)

Its really hard to eat veggies 

everyday, but its doable.

(example: we eat 1/2- 1lb of carrots

a day for our liver, and we eat apples

before every meal to help metabolism)

Vegan isn't something that anyone

can jump into, everybody needs

certain kinds of foods.

____________________________

I didn't do this to lose weight

but i lost weight

I did this to be healthy

and i feel great

.

Everyone needs to do their

research before choosing

lifestyles

.

These aren't "diets"

This is a mindset.

❤