We are proponents of supporting our body using healthy whole foods. Another way to boost our body’s ability to remain healthy, reduce stress and support good energy is through the use of plant compounds called adaptogens. Adaptogens help balance, restore and protect the
body!
• An adaptogen isn’t something new that was just cooked up in a lab but instead it is something that has been used for centuries in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.
• They help to support healthy energy levels and combat stress and exhaustion.
• Adaptogens work almost like a regulator in that when you are too stressed out they can help to bring you down or if you are too fatigued they can help to give you that boost up that you are looking for.
Some common adaptogens you have probably already heard of and didn’t know how great they were for you:
– Ginseng – probably one of the most known adaptogens. Can assist in improving mental performance and the body’s ability to withstand stress. Some varieties of ginseng have also been known to help lower blood pressure, stabilize blood sugar levels and has an antioxidant effect.
-Maca – helps to promote vitality, helps to elevate low libido and overall energy, while assisting in stress reduction.
– Turmeric – helps to support the body’s natural actions related to detoxification and helping the body to maintain a healthy level of corticosterone. It is also great at helping to relieve inflammation. We love the Tumeric Avenue from Urban Juice Press!
– Reishi (mushrooms) – can help to calm the nervous system, balance out blood sugar levels and strengthen the immune system. We love Four Sigmatic with their healing mushroom blends!
– Raw cacao – is a great addition for any athlete or gym goer’s regular smoothie. It helps to lower oxidative stress, and has a nice serving of magnesium, B vitamins and antioxidants
Our Brownie recipe is here!
Ingredients
-1/3 cup water or hemp milk
-1/3 cup coconut oil
-2 eggs
-1 ½ cups quinoa
-1 teaspoon baking powder
-1 teaspoon salt
-3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
-1 cup honey
-1 tablespoon dried lavender flowers
-1 tablespoon maca powder
-Himalayan pink salt (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9 x 13 inch pan with parchment paper and grease with coconut oil.
Whisk together the water, oil, and eggs in a large bowl.
Then whisk in the flour, baking powder, salt, honey, maca powder, and cocoa powder one at a time!
Once the batter is well blended, add in your lavender. Our the batter into the pan and spread evening with a spatula.
Bake for about 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
(Recipe adapted from Paleo Grubs)
Catch the segment here: http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=843411&binId=1.1487308&playlistPageNum=1
