Eat + Enjoy + Restore
Have you ever watched TV with a family-size bag of chips that was half full one minute and empty the next, leaving you wondering how they disappeared so quickly? How about grabbing a piece of candy every time you walk past the candy jar at […]
Were you born in the late 80s or 90s? Just say, “No.” Any of us born in the 80s or 90s had that phrase drilled into our brains about drugs. And honestly, it’s solid advice – saying “No” and being assertive, especially regarding our food […]
In my Green Chia Pudding recipe, I’ve written about copper before, and we’ve talked about it in my Free Facebook Group, The Nourished Life: Nutrition and Wellness (along with other essential micronutrients like Vitamin K2, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and Magnesium.)
To recap, Copper (along with its pal Vitamin C) helps strengthen collagen, vital in bone and skin health, and allows us to produce melanin – which colors our skin, hair, and eyes. So a symptom of a copper deficiency may look like premature aging and graying hair. Copper and Vitamin C also helps regulate our thyroid and sex hormones. Copper, on its own, helps our body convert iron from food into a bioavailable form and allows us to make platelets for blood clotting. Amazingly, this little mineral also helps us eliminate excess serotonin, which can cause symptoms like diarrhea, sweating, irritation, and tremors.
A few years ago, I took the SpectraCell Micronutrient test (one of the testing options I offer to my private clients) and discovered that I was borderline deficient in Copper. Because of this, I increased my daily intake of cacao or cocoa powder. Cacao is a raw and less processed form of cocoa. Besides being high in copper, it’s also really high in magnesium and antioxidants. It was an important food staple of Ancient South American cultures thousands of years ago and was touted for its health benefits and taste. I like to use it in recipes in substitution for premade chocolate chips. Chocolate/chocolate chips have their healthful micronutrient properties diluted based on the cocoa/cacao, milk, and sugar ratio.
Besides cacao, here are some other good sources of copper you can include in your daily food intake:
One of the easiest and most delicious recipes I have been making for years just got better by substituting pure cacao vs. chocolate chips. This pie has been a staple for last-minute potlucks and get-togethers and is one of my husband’s favorite desserts I make. I recommend this recipe to my clients because it only contains three ingredients, tastes better than a store-bought pie, takes about five minutes, and is set in about 1 – 2 hours. You can use any pie crust for this recipe – I love it with this gluten-free Graham cracker crust or this gluten-free homemade crust.
Try this recipe, and let me know what you think in the comments!
As a mom of four, I’ve put to the test several kids and baby products on the market. Right away with my first child, I made the switch to limit the amount of plastic and chemicals that my little one came in contact with. Plastics […]
So now that I’m a mom of four kids ages 6 and under. I’ve had to streamline my meals, grocery shopping, and pantry staples. This has been especially true now that I’ve headed back to working part-time and seeing one on one clients. Gone are […]
If you’ve read my last post, you’ve probably realized that I have been on a pumpkin kick lately. I just can’t help it during the fall. I LOVE pumpkins – whether they be the real thing, ceramic or plastic. Besides being one of the cutest gourds around and easy to decorate with, they have some great health benefits.
Pumpkins are loaded with fiber and immune-boosting vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, lutein, and antioxidants like alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin.
I think there is something to adding nutrient-dense foods to traditional comfort recipes. You get all the benefits from the (fruit, vegetable, or whatever “superfood”) you add, plus the emotional benefit from eating something that you genuinely love and enjoy. This recipe is an easy addition or upgrades to your typical holiday side dish. With this holiday season and all the unknowns that may still entail for 2020, I think it is especially important to incorporate foods that you love, along with foods that bless your body. Check out some of my favorite gluten-free stuffing options below, but honestly, any type of stuffing base would work – wheat, corn, etc. As always, this recipe is easy to tailor for anyone’s needs!
This recipe requires roasted pumpkin- but butternut squash is also a great sub if you have it on hand instead. If you don’t know how to roast a pumpkin or squash, check out my post here.
