Laura Forte Fitness

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More on the Superfood Series – Cacao (raw chocolate) is #2!

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I was jumping up and down when I read that CHOCOLATE was David Wolfe’s second superfood!!  This shouldn’t be too hard after all!  All chocolate is made from cacao beans.

The cacao bean has always been and will always be Nature’s number-one weight loss and high-energy food.  Cacao beans are probably the best-kept secret in the entire history of food.

This is AWESOME!! The only caveat is that cacao mixed with refined cane sugar actually draws minerals OUT of the body, causes blood sugar disorders, and lowers the medicinal content of the cacao beans.

Good news though – you can still get your chocolate fix without the refined cane sugar found in most chocolate bars!

Health Benefits of Cacao

  • Contains the highest concentration of antioxidants of ANY FOOD IN THE WORLD (by weight, cacao has more antioxidants than red wine, blueberries, acai, pomegranates, and goji berries COMBINED!!)
  • Also contains the highest concentration of magnesium (heart health and brainpower)
  • Iron – has 314% RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) in 1 ounce serving of cacao
  • Cacao is a rich source of Chromium, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Vitamin C, Omega 6 fatty acids, Tryptophan, Serotonin, and Fiber

Here’s how to purchase REAL cacao beans at the store (Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, etc. have them)

  1. Buy raw cacao beans (nibs) – you can sprinkle these on dessert or frozen yogurt.  You can also mix them with goji berries, hempseed, almonds, etc. to make a trail mix.
  2. Get cacao powder (not cocoa powder) – you can put this in your smoothie or morning coffee.
  3. Cacao butter – you can make all sorts of desserts with cacao butter.

CACAO RECIPES

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Goji Berries – Superfood #1

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Get ready for your very first superfood… GOJI BERRIES!!!

You might have heard some buzz about these berries on Dr. Oz or on the news.. and it is for good reason!!  Goji berries are the most nutritionally-rich berry on the PLANET!!!

Here’s a list of some of the advantages you get from eating GOJI BERRIES:

  • Boosts immune system
  • Improves eyesight
  • Anti-aging properties (nicknamed the longevity fruit)
  • Complete protein source (has 19 different amino acids)
  • Contains more than 20 trace minerals (zinc, iron, copper, etc.)
  • Loaded with vitamins (B2, B6, Vitamin E)
  • One of the highest antioxidant rich foods on the planet (2 – 4 times the amount of antioxidants than blueberries)
  • Stimulates the production of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) naturally (only known food to do this!!!)
  • Supports neurological health (help our bodies produce choline which combats free radical damage linked to Alzheimer’s disease)
  • Keeps vital organs healthy (helps with digestive problems and liver detoxification)

Are you excited about goji berries yet?

So what exactly IS a goji berry and where can I get them??

A goji berry is a deep red, dried fruit about the same size as a raisin and tastes similar to the combination of a cranberry and a cherry.  You can get them at your local organic food store (Whole Foods, etc.).  There are lots of ways to eat them.. you can steep goji berries in tea, add them to trail mixes, or toss them into your smoothie or Greek yogurt.

Goji Berry Recipes

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Brand New Superfood Series!!!

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Have you walked through Barnes and Nobles and seen some books with the title ‘Superfoods’ on the cover?  I was curious about these foods – what made them so special?  I dug a little deeper and found out some AWESOME INFO that I wanted to share with you!!

David Wolfe (dubbed the nutritionist’s nutritionist) wrote an amazing book on Superfoods.  Here are 7 golden nuggets from his book – and what YOU need to know about superfoods!!!

1. Superfoods have more than a dozen unique health benefits, not just one or two.  They are actually a cross between a food and a medicine, and THE most nutrient-rich foods on the planet.

2. Superfoods will make it easier to achieve your ideal weight, diet, and food habits. By eating more superfoods, you will get more nutrition with less eating.

3. Superfoods should be eaten raw to retain their nutrients – this way they don’t lose the vitamin content, enzymes, etc. that could be diminished by cooking.

4. Organic fruits and vegetables are great and very much needed in our diet, but they don’t come even CLOSE to the nutritional content in superfoods.  By eating these specific foods, you can guarantee you will get the necessary nutrients to be healthy, boost your immune system, and give you double the energy.

5. Most modern American diets are nutrient and mineral-deficient by nature – our metabolism slows and it is much more difficult to lose the weight.  Foods that are low in nutrition don’t give us much energy – so it’s even HARDER to get in the gym and burn the calories.

6. By eating superfoods, you can kick start your sluggish metabolism and train your body to be more efficient, give you more energy, and burn calories to finally be able to lose that excess weight!!

7. David Wolfe names 10 superfoods that you can incorporate into your diet at home.  You will have much more energy, less cravings, boost your immune system, and feel much healthier!!

 

I will be doing a series on superfoods and give you a new food each week with the health benefits and a few recipes for each one!!

 

Take Action: How will you incorporate superfoods into your diet?


Stay tuned for the very first superfood and recipes coming soon!!!

To your health!!

Laura

P.S – Are you on our newsletter? Click here to receive fitness tips, workout videos, and healthy recipes!

So many trail mixes.. which one to choose??

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Hi Everyone!!

You walk into Fresh Market, Whole Foods, or your local grocery store and you see bins and bins of different trail mixes.  All of them look delicious – but are they all created equal??

The answer is simply, no.  Here are my rules for choosing the best trail mix!!

1. Look at your labels!! Many trail mixes contain loads of sugar, preservatives, and unnecessary ingredients.  My rule of thumb – the less ingredients, the better. When you look at the ingredient list and it is a full paragraph of ingredients that you can’t pronounce, put it back!  Choose a trail mix that has dried fruit, nuts, and seeds.

2. Avoid empty carbohydrates. Avoid trail mixes that are loaded with lots of crackers, puffed wheat, pretzels.  These are empty calories and will not give you as much energy as choosing a trail mix with more nuts and fruits.

3. Not all nuts are created equal. Almonds are my favorite nuts to add to my trail mix.  Peanuts and cashews are MUCH higher in fat content and do not have as much nutritional value.  Nuts are a great source of protein and fiber – but don’t go overboard!  Even almonds have a moderate percentage of healthy fat.

4. Stay away from sweetened fruit. Naturally dried fruit is sweet enough!  Some trail mixes add cane juice or treat fruit with sulfur dioxide.  Keep it simple and choose a trail mix that does not have these ‘extra’ sweeteners.

EASY recipe for making your own trail mix at home!!!

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BRAND NEW RECIPE BOOK!!!

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Hey Everyone!!

I’m so excited to share with you a recipe book that I have been working on for quite a while.  The book has recipes that I make for myself on a daily basis, that both taste AWESOME and are low calorie, smart choices!!  I included 33 of my favorite recipes for all different meals.  You will find…

  • Power Breakfast Recipes
  • Nutritious Smoothie Recipes
  • Low Fat Dinner Recipes
  • Healthy Dessert Recipes
  • and so much more :)

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