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Jul 31 2020 
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is the ancient Hindu science of healing and rejuvenation that has been around for over 5,000 years. Etymologically, Āyur means life while Veda means sacred wisdom. The purpose of Ayurveda is to restore the balance of the mind and body through the use of herbal medicine, a proper diet, physical exercise, and meditation, among others.
The ancient Hindus had a clear knowledge of the role that plants play in treating and curing diseases while in the west we are just starting to really comprehend that it is whole foods, and not the ultra-processed food-like stuff we find in supermarkets isles, what truly provides our bodies with essential nutrients for life, for good health!
As we have mentioned in previous blogs, with every bite you take you are either healing your body and promoting health, or you are poisoning your body and promoting disease. Once we are aware of what’s at risk, it’s easier to follow a sustainable healthy diet.
The recipe of the day is an AyurvedicDetox Tea that is packed with pure goodness that your body craves! We used Panela Ancient Cane/ Jaggery powder to enhance the flavor and to add an extra nutritional punch! Learn more! Benefits
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of water
- 3 bags of green tea
- 6 packets of Panela Ancient Cane = Jaggery powder
- Sliced turmeric
- Sliced ginger
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- ½ tbsp freshly squeezed lemon/lime juice
Instructions:
- Boil the water.
- Simmer all the ingredients -except the Ancient cane and the lemon juice- for at least 5 minutes.
- Strain.
Add the Ancient Cane and the lemon juice. Stir and enjoy!
We want you to remember that building healthy lifelong eating habits is a choice you can make now and we want to challenge you to make it happen. Do you accept the challenge?
Namaste!
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Jul 25 2020 
Panela: The natural nutritional sweetener
The following article was written by Gayle de Maria, Panela: The Natural Nutritional Sweetener, Agro Food Industry Hi Tech / TKS Publisher Vol 24(6) – November / December 2013 pages 44-48.
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Jul 23 2020 
Boost your Energy
If you are constantly looking for ways to boost your energy levels this post is right for you. A lack of energy can be linked directly to your daily habits, the quality and nutritional value of the foods you eat, the quality of your sleep, stress, dehydration, and underlying health conditions among others. Think about this for a moment, can you pinpoint what could possibly be affecting your energy levels? Is it your diet? A sedentary lifestyle? Stress? Once you find the culprit, come up with a plan to tackle your lack of energy and take action! If you think the cause of your lack of energy is something more concerning and you need to see a doctor, schedule that appointment already. Only you can give your body the love and TLC it deserves! Change your habits, change your lifestyle, change your mindset! You are worth it!
Some of the things you can do to boost your energy levels are: take cold showers, exercise, eat nutrient-dense foods, avoid ultra-processed foods, meditate, develop a bedtime routine, make sure you sleep at least 7 hours, drink plenty of water, drink tea, and drink coffee ( not too much though). We are no experts here, but we share what we know might help, and we do it with love and with the best intentions. For expert advice always contact your primary doctor or your health coach.
Coffee is an excellent energy booster, but a hot coffee on a summer day is not something to crave. That’s why the recipe of the day is a delicious Panela- Iced Latte! Why Panela? Because Panela is a delicious natural sweetener that contains minerals and vitamins, including b vitamins which can help boost energy!
Get busy and make a mouthwatering…
Panela-Iced Latte
Ingredients:
- Ground Coffee
- Packets of Panela Ancient Cane
- Coconut milk
- Ice cubes
Instructions:
- Make an espresso shot on your regular coffee maker (it’s very easy!)
- Serve and add the Panela Packets ( as many as you like), and the ice cubes.
- Mix thoroughly
- Pour the coconut milk
Enjoy this delicious beverage which will cool you down and boost your energy instantly! Stay healthy!
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Jul 17 2020 
Currently on Staycation
This year, many people had to cancel their summer vacation plans due to a pandemic that took the world by surprise. But focusing on the bright side is always the best thing you can do when adversity knocks on your door. Staying at home for summer isn’t that bad, and there are many activities that you can do safely even if your town is still on lockdown, just get creative, have fun, enjoy the present, and be responsible (wear a surgical face mask when needed). Do you need some ideas? Exercise, sunbathe, cook new recipes, play table games with your loved ones, paint, read, learn something new, etc. The list is endless… really!
If you are still daydreaming about Bahamas or Hawaii, we can’t help you teleport there, but our recipe of the day might… It will make you feel amazing, it will nourish your body, and it will cool you down this summer. The ingredients are whole foods packed with nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, healthy fats, good carbs, and protein.
It’s healthy and delicious!
It’s a tropical – paradise popsicle!
Ingredients:
- ½ cup coconut water (substitute with Greek yogurt for some protein)
- 3 – 4 packets Panela Ancient Cane
- 1 peeled orange
- ½ cup pineapple
- ½ cup mango
- ½ banana
- 1 cup spinach
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
Instructions:
- Blend all the ingredients until smooth.
- Taste and adjust if necessary.
- Fold in chia seeds if you decided not to blend these ones with the other ingredients.
- Pour the mixture in the popsicle molds.
Freeze for about 6 hours and enjoy!
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Jul 10 2020 
In-Season Foods
It’s farmer’s market best season and we love it! There is nothing like buying fresh produce straight from the farmer, you get to ask questions, and you get to know where your food is coming from in detail. In other words, you get a better connection with the food you get and consume. By the way, we want to share some news! If you live in Virginia, you can find us at the Community Farmer’s Market in Fairfax. We hope to see all our Virginian friends there, stop by our tent, say hi, and get all your goods! If you don’t live in the area, you can get our product through this website, and if you have questions feel free to contact us, we’d love to hear from you!
Did you know that eating seasonally adds great variety to your diet? It is believed that fruits and veggies that are picked in season are way more nutritious than those that aren’t. If you want to know which foods are in season here in DMV here’s a list: arugula, basil, beets cucumber, garlic, cabbage, carrots, melons, blueberries, and cherries (to name a few).
But because berries are our favorite fruits, the recipe of the day is a delicious and easy to make berries & chia seeds jam.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of organic berries
- 2 packets of Panela Ancient Cane
- 2 ½ tbsp organic chia seeds
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions:
- Place the pot over low medium heat and add the berries and the panela.
- Stir occasionally for a couple of minutes and lower the heat.
- Mash the berries with a fork, and add the lemon juice and the chia seeds.
- Stir often until thickened.
- Remove the pot from the heat and ladle the jam into a glass jar.
- Let it cool and store it in the fridge.
Enjoy!
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Jul 02 2020 
Happy 4th of July!
Hello! We would like to wish everybody a happy and safe 4th of July! This year has been interesting, there is so much going on… but it is important to remain resilient and to keep in mind that faith, a positive attitude and common sense can help us get through all of this.
On a different note… Will you be celebrating the 4th of July this year? What’s on your menu for this weekend? Hotdogs, hamburgers, coleslaw, potato salad, cupcakes? Yummy!
But, as usual, we want to encourage you to opt for healthier options. So today’s recipe is a healthy, and delicious dessert. It’s a Patriotic Popsicle high in protein (Greek yogurt), and high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants ( berries and Panela).
It will help you cool down! It will nourish your body!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- 10 packets of Panela Ancient Cane
- 2 cups of vanilla Greek Yogurt
- 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
- Poppy seeds (optional)
Instructions:
- Mix the Greek yogurt, the panela, and the vanilla bean paste.
- Taste and adjust if needed.
- Fold in the blueberries, the strawberries, and the poppy seeds ( add as much as you want).
- Pour the mixture in the popsicle molds and place the sticks in each mold.
- Place the molds in the freezer for about a couple of hours.
Enjoy!
