Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Power to the Raw Cocao Powder



Cocao
Raw cacao is made by cold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans. The process keeps the living enzymes in the cocoa and removes the fat (cacao butter).
Cocoa looks the same but it’s not. Cocoa powder is raw cacao that’s been roasted at high temperatures. Sadly, roasting changes the molecular structure of the cocoa bean, reducing the enzyme content and lowering the overall nutritional value.
What are the health benefits of raw cacao?
* Lowers insulin resistance.
* Protects your nervous system: Cacao is high in resveratrol, a potent antioxidant also found in red wine, known for its ability to cross your blood-brain barrier to help protect your nervous system.
* Shields nerve cells from damage.
* Reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease.
* Reduces your risk of stroke.
* Reduces blood pressure.
* Reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease: The antioxidants found in cacao help to maintain healthy levels of nitric oxide (NO) in the body. Although NO has heart-benefiting qualities, such as relaxing blood vessels and reducing blood pressure, it also produces toxins. The antioxidants in cacao neutralise these toxins, protecting your heart and preventing disease.
* Guards against toxins: As a potent antioxidant, cacao can repair the damage caused by free radicals and may reduce the risk of certain cancers. In fact, cacao contains far more antioxidants per 100g than acai, goji berries and blueberries. Antioxidants are responsible for 10% of the weight of raw cacao.
* Boosts your mood: Cacao can increase levels of certain neurotransmitters that promote a sense of well-being. And the same brain chemical that is released when we experience deep feelings of love – phenylethylamine – is found in chocolate.
* It is rich in minerals: Magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper and manganese.
If cacao is more beneficial than cocoa because it’s raw, what happens when we cook it?
Very good question and we’re glad you asked… unfortunately, there is no science on whether or not heating raw cacao destroys its antioxidant level making it more akin to its heated and processed cousin cocoa. BUT we figure if you start off with the product in its raw form, it has to be more beneficial than starting with an already heated and processed equivalent.

This post is sponsored by 
rozzybjerkspice.com
www.facebook.com/rozzyjerkspice

rozzybjerkspice@gmail.com
The Natural Life Facebook Group for more info on
Natural Foods 




Monday, April 11, 2016

Allspice Amazing Benefits



All Spice 
Common Names
Allspice, Jamaica pepper, clove pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, turkish Yenibahar,pimento.
Properties
Carminative, anti-diarrheal, rubefacient, aromatic, digestive stimulant, digestive tonic, antioxidant, antiseptic, anesthetic, analgesic, anti-dontalgic, anti-fungal, nervous system stimulant, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, tonic.

Allspice comes from the dried berry of the Pimenta dioica, a tropical evergreen tree of the Myrtaceae family that grows from 22 – 43 feet high on the average. The shrubby, slow-growing pimenta has glossy leaves that are leathery and elliptical-shaped; and the aromatic tree produces small, white blooms in the spring and summer; followed by clusters of pea-sized brownish green, spicy berries in the fall. The immature berries are dried and ground to produce allspice. Allspice was named due to its scent, which is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Pimenta was given its name by Spanish and Portuguese explorers, who thought the dried berries looked like peppercorns, and called them “pimenta”, or pepper. The leaves, berries, and oil are used, not only for health and medicinal purposes, but also for spices, flavoring, and fragrance. The wood of the tree was also used to make aromatic walking sticks and umbrellas in the 1800’s, leading to over-harvesting followed by strict controls to prevent extinction. The pimento tree is native to the West Indies, the Caribbean Islands, Central and South America, and Mexico. It is grown commercially in Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad, Cuba, and Honduras.

Allspice is widely used as a carminative, to prevent or relieve flatulence. It is used as both an aromatic stimulant and as a tonic for the gastrointestinal tract and digestive system, to treat vomiting, stomach ache, diarrhea and indigestion; along with digestive disorders such as dyspepsia and colic, and is known to improve the appetite. The essential oil in Allspice is a tonic for the nervous system, and has been used to treat nervous exhaustion, hysterical paroxysms, neuralgia, and convulsions. When used externally, Allspice warming effects are used to relieve chest infections, arthritis and rheumatism, bruises, and muscle aches and pains. Allspice has been used as a natural herbal remedy fever, colds, flu, diabetes, menstrual cramps, and heavy menstrual bleeding. Allspice extracts have antioxidant, antiseptic and anesthetic properties, and usefulness in fighting yeast and fungal infections.
Allspice is a natural source of beta-carotene, vitamins A, B-1, B-2, and C, niacin, thiamine, and riboflavin; along with the minerals iron, potassium, magnesium, selenium, and manganese. Its active elements are methyl eugenol and caryophyllene, resin, tannin, sugar, quercetin, glycosides, and sesquiterpenes; and it contains metabolites of homovanillic and homomandelic acids, malic and gallic acids, lignin, and bonastre. Another active constituent is the phenol eugenol, which is used by dentists as an antiseptic and a local anesthetic for teeth.

allspice is the main ingredient in Rozzy's Caribbean Jerk Spice Blend.
You can tell by the dark Rick color the rich scent 
taste and texture 
Have a little Allspice often

Sincerely 
Rozzy 
www.rozzybjerkspice.com 




 

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Glossy Eyes

 

What are glassy eyes- The term generally refers to an appearance of listlessness in which the eyes are unfocused and without lustre.

Sometimes people with elevated thyroid levels or Graves' disease may have a stare, wide-eyes, or glassy eyes in appearance.

Some Common Causes of Glassy Eyes Include:

  • Viral conjunctivitis can also cause a slight redness of the eyes and a glassy appearance from tearing. Adenovirus is a major cause of viral conjunctivitis.
  • The herpes virus, such as that which causes chickenpox or shingles, can also affect the eye.
  • Various types of allergies can also cause the condition.
  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can cause many physical and psychological symptoms including glazed eyes.
  • It is also said that glassy eye is caused by not blinking often enough, causing your eyes to become "dry" and lifeless.
  • Taking drugs which affect the central nervous system, and even some medications, can give your eyes a glassy look as you tend to blink less frequently if the drug is actually depressing the nervous system. And most people know that marijuana often results in glassy and red eyes...
  • Glassy eyes is one of the criteria for determining if a person is drunk while driving. Alcohol depresses the nervous system, and affects the eyes functions, such as size control and blinking.

Treatment:

  • Placing a couple of Visine or Rhoto eye-drops in your eyes can take away some of the glazed look fairly quickly.
  • You can also try using of natural tears 4-6+ times/day to assist with your natural tear production.
  • If you are concerned about having glassy eyes your doctor can diagnose the cause and take measures to address it. For example, if your doctor diagnoses you have hypoglycemia, then treatment would involve raising your blood sugars levels, and finding what's the cause of the condition itself.
Discussion & Questions: To discuss this information with others Click Here to use our comments section. If you want to ask a specific question you can do so in our Disability Q&A Community.
Sincerely 
Rozzy 


Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Turn your leggings into trendy crop tops ✂️

Turn your leggings into trendy crop tops with one tool you already have around the house 
Hey, Ladies Do you have a few pair of leggings  in your wardrobe? If so we want to show you how you can upcycle your old leggings and give them a second life. As soon as you cut one of them you will do the same with the others. It is highly addictive :) 
Sincerely
 Rozzy 
Stay updated follow my blog for things that matter 
❤️
Sincerely

You can add trimmings jewls frindges  and such for unique fashion tops of your own creation 
Have fun
Rozzy 




 

Saturday, January 9, 2016

The Amazing Navy Bean



What an Amazing Bean 
Here are the facts about the Almighty Navy Bean 

Navy beans are an excellent source of cholesterol-lowering fiber, as are most other beans. In addition to lowering cholesterol, navy beans' high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal, making these beans an especially good choice for individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. When combined with whole grains such as brown rice, navy beans provide virtually fat-free high quality protein. But this is far from all navy beans have to offer. Navy beans are a very good source of folate and manganese and a good source of protein and vitamin B1 as well as the minerals phosphorus, copper, magnesium and iron.

A Fiber All Star

Check a chart of the fiber content in foods and you'll see legumes leading the pack. Navy beans, like other beans, are rich in dietary fiber. Soluble fiber forms a gel-like substance in the digestive tract that combines with bile (which contains cholesterol) and ferries it out of the body. Research studies have shown that insoluble fiber not only helps to increase stool bulk and prevent constipation, but also helps prevent digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis.

Lower Your Heart Attack Risk

In a study that examined food intake patterns and risk of death from coronary heart disease, researchers followed more than 16,000 middle-aged men in the U.S., Finland, The Netherlands, Italy, former Yugoslavia, Greece and Japan for 25 years. Typical food patterns were: higher consumption of dairy products in Northern Europe; higher consumption of meat in the U.S.; higher consumption of vegetables, legumes, fish, and wine in Southern Europe; and higher consumption of cereals, soy products, and fish in Japan. When researchers analyzed this data in relation to the risk of death from heart disease, they found that higher legume consumption was associated with a whopping 82% reduction in heart attack risk!

Navy beans' contribution to heart health lies not just in their fiber, but in the significant amounts of folate and magnesium these beans supply.Folate helps lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is an intermediate product in an important metabolic process called the methylation cycle. Elevated blood levels of homocysteine are an independent risk factor for heart attack, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease, and are found in between 20-40% of patients with heart disease. It has been estimated that consumption of 100% of the daily value (DV) of folate would, by itself, reduce the number of heart attacks suffered by Americans each year by 10%. Just one cup of cooked navy beans provides 63.7% of the recommended daily intake for folate.

Navy beans' good supply of magnesium puts yet another plus in the column of its beneficial cardiovascular effects. Magnesium is Nature's own calcium channel blocker. When there is enough magnesium around, veins and arteries breathe a sigh of relief and relax, which lessens resistance and improves the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Studies show that a deficiency of magnesium is not only associated with heart attack but that immediately following a heart attack, lack of sufficient magnesium promotes free radical injury to the heart. Potassium, an important electrolyte involved in nerve transmission and the contraction of all muscles including the heart, is another mineral that is essential for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Navy beans are ready to promote your cardiovascular health by being a good source of this mineral, too. A one cup serving of navy beans provides over 700 mg of potassium, making these beans an especially good choice to protect against high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.

Navy Beans Give You Energy to Burn While Stabilizing Blood Sugar

In addition to its beneficial effects on the digestive system and the heart, the dietary fiberfound in navy beans helps stabilize blood sugar levels. If you have insulin resistance, hypoglycemia or diabetes, navy beans can really help you balance blood sugar levels while providing steady, slow-burning energy. Studies of high fiber diets and blood sugar levels have shown the dramatic benefits provided by these high fiber foods. Researchers compared two groups of people with type 2 diabetes who were fed different amounts of high fiber foods. One group ate the standard American Diabetic diet, which contained 24 grams of fiber/day, while the other group ate a diet containing 50 grams of fiber/day. Those who ate the diet higher in fiber had lower levels of both plasma glucose (blood sugar) and insulin (the hormone that helps blood sugar get into cells). The high fiber group also reduced their total cholesterol by nearly 7%, their triglyceride levels by 10.2% and their VLDL (Very Low Density Lipoprotein—the most dangerous form of cholesterol) levels by 12.5%.

Iron for Energy

In addition to providing slow burning complex carbohydrates, navy beans can increase your energy by helping to replenish your iron stores. Particularly for menstruating women, who are more at risk for iron deficiency, boosting iron stores with navy beans is a good idea—especially because, unlike red meat, another source of iron, navy beans are low in calories and virtually fat-free. Iron is an integral component of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to all body cells, and is also part of key enzyme systems for energy production and metabolism. And remember: If you're pregnant or lactating, your needs for iron increase. Growing children and adolescents also have increased needs for iron. A one cup serving of navy beans provides 24% of the daily recommended intake for iron.

Copper & Manganese—More Help with Energy Production Plus Antioxidant Defenses

Navy beans are a very good source of manganese and a good source of copper, trace minerals that are essential cofactors of a key oxidative enzyme called superoxide dismutase. Superoxide dismutase disarms free radicals produced within the mitochondria (the energy production factories within our cells).

Copper is also necessary for the activity of lysyl oxidase, an enzyme involved in cross-linking collagen and elastin, both of which provide the ground substance and flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints.

As explained above, iron is primarily used as part of hemoglobin, the molecule responsible for transporting and releasing oxygen throughout the body. But hemoglobin synthesis also relies on copper. Without copper, iron cannot be properly utilized in red blood cells. Fortunately, Mother Nature supplies both minerals in navy beans.

Maintain Your Memory with Thiamin (Vitamin B1)

Thiamin participates in enzymatic reactions central to energy production and is also critical for brain cell/cognitive function. This is because thiamin is needed for the synthesis of acetylcholine, the important neurotransmitter essential for memory and whose lack has been found to be a significant contributing factor in age-related impairment in mental function (senility) and Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is clinically characterized by a decrease in acetylcholine levels.

Protein Power Plus

If you're wondering how to replace red meat in your menus, become a fan of navy beans. These hearty beans are a good source of protein, and when combined with a whole grain such as whole wheat pasta or brown rice, provide protein comparable to that of meat or dairy foods without the high calories or saturated fat found in these foods. And, when you get your protein from navy beans, you also get the blood sugar stabilizing and heart health benefits of the soluble fiber provided by these versatile legumes. A cup of navy beans provides about 15 grams of protein.

Description

Navy beans are small, pea-sized beans that are creamy white in color. They are a mild-flavored bean that is dense and creamy.

If you know like I know the Navy Bean  is good to go weekly 
Be it Pie,Soup ,Dip ,or Spreads 
Get to know and enjoy this amazing bean  
And yes do try my amazing pie 
Message me for more info 
Sincerely 
Rozzy 
Rozzy's Amazing Bean Pies 




Thursday, January 7, 2016

Sesame seed for hair growth and over all health

Tired of grey or thinning hair here is help 
In traditional Chinese medicine black sesame seeds are used to stimulate hair growth and restore hair color. This is not surprising considering that black sesame seeds are loaded with copper and zinc. Copper is essential for the proper functioning of the body, including healthy hair growth. An inadequate intake of copper can cause hair loss and thinning hair. Copper is also believed to intensify hair color and delay graying of hair. Zinc, on the other hand, plays a role in the production of new hair cells and the maintenance of the oil-secreting glands of the scalp that make hair shiny.
Enjoy
Eat your way to beautiful hair
Sincerely 
Rozzy
Queen of Shea 

Source: http://www.healwithfood.org/hair/foods.php#ixzz3viORVj5E

The amazing benefits of paprika

What is paprika good for? Here is a list of the top 8 nutrition facts and health benefits of paprika:

1) Rich source of vitamin B6. Paprika is a rich source of vitamin B6, or pyridoxine. Vitamin B6 increases the amount of oxygen transported to cells in tissues and organs, especially during more intense physical activity, resulting in better resistance to physical effort. Moreover, it helps break down carbohydrates and synthesize glycogen, thus ensuring good energy levels. A good intake of vitamin B6 can efficiently prevent tiredness, lethargy and even depression episodes.

2) Reduces inflammation, swelling and pain. Paprika boasts excellent anti-inflammatory properties which is why it helps relieve swelling and pain associated with inflammatory and even autoimmune disorders. For instance, arthritis sufferers often use paprika both internally (as food seasoning) and externally (massage cream or poultice) to stimulate circulation and reduce painful swelling. The biologically active component responsible for these health benefits in paprika is capsaicin.

3) Impressive blood pressure-lowering effects. Capsaicin is a powerful natural compound found in paprika which was shown to have blood pressure lowering effects. Regular but moderate consumption is said to beneficially affect the circulatory system, relaxing blood vessels.

4) Helps protect and improve eyesight. The bright red color of paprika indicates the presence of potent natural compounds called carotenoids. Studies show that paprika is an incredibly rich source of zeaxanthin, a carotenoid with both antioxidant and vitamin A activity. Zeaxanthin is physically found in the center of the retina, in an area called the macula lutea and regular consumption of foods containing it, paprika especially, is believed to offer protection against cataract and macular degeneration (loss of central vision).
Basically, zeaxanthin offers antioxidant protection and support to cone cells, a form of eye cells responsible for sharp, clear vision and color distinction. Paprika also contains great amounts of vitamin A proper and lutein.

5) Stimulates digestion. Apparently, eating paprika stimulates the production of saliva and gastric acid, two essential components of good digestion. Both saliva and gastric acid help break down food in view of good nutrient absorption and energy production.

6) Excellent laxative properties. Only 100 g of paprika provides us with a staggering 34.9 g of dietary fiber. Although it is not advised to eat great amounts of the spice at once, especially if hot, regular consumption of either paprika or bell peppers for example can contribute to a better management of constipation by adding fiber to your diet.

7) Helps prevent hair loss. Paprika appears to counteract hair loss. The good amounts of iron in paprika help oxygen reach hair follicles, while other compounds stimulate scalp circulation, thus promoting hair and scalp health and reducing hair loss.

8) Improves sleep quality. As mentioned above, paprika boasts great beneficial effects on the nervous system. One of these is supporting the production of melatonin, also known as the sleep hormone. Melatonin regulates sleep cycles, ensuring quality sleep and improving various sleep disorders.

Overall, paprika is a healthy spice with a variety of amazing health benefits, provided it is consumed with moderation. I admit it ranks high among my favorite spices and I kind of prefer sweet paprika over hot paprika. How often do you use paprika ?