#labelchallenge

[salafiera]

Did you know the average American consumes about 152 pounds of sugar each year, which equates to roughly 22 added teaspoons of sugar per day, with children consuming about 34 teaspoons each day!!? ___ #treatyoself to the gift of health this year! If you must consume sugar, make sure it is organic dark chocolate (and be sure to turn the label around and check if they are adding any additional sugars or ingredients, such as soy and wheat, because #labelchallenge) ___ Opt for a cocoa content of 70% or greater (I usually shot for 85%)​, which tells you how much of the bar, by weight, is made from pure cacao beans! Generally the higher the percentage, the more intense and less sweet the chocolate will be (unless you forgot to check the label and find out they are actually adding sugar back in for additional sweetness… not #briannaapproved) _____ Throughout its history, chocolate, also referred to as “the food of the Gods”, in fact, during the 14th century, the Aztecs and Mayans even used cacao beans as currency; It is said that the Mayans and Aztecs valued cacao for its mood enhancing and aphrodisiac properties _____ Cocoa contains about 380 known plant compounds and nearly 400 polyphenols, that have been linked to a variety of health benefits, which include improved endothelial function, cardiovascular support, neuro-protective benefits and increased antioxidant activity _____ Dark chocolate is full of organic compounds which function as antioxidants, which include polyphenols, flavanols and catechins. One study even found that cocoa and dark chocolate contained more antioxidant activity, polyphenols and flavanols than other fruits they tested, which included blueberries and Acai berries ______ Cocoa is high in resveratrol, a potent antioxidant known for its neuro-protective effects. The resveratrol in cocoa can cross the blood brain barrier, which allows it to deal with inflammation in the Central Nervous System _____ One 2012 meta-analysis found that eating chocolate could reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by 37% and your stroke risk by 29% ——- #briannaapproved #valentinesday #darkchocolate #cocoa #antioxidants #flavanoids #yougoglenncoco #galentinesday (at SusieCakes Bakery) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt3hz2Cn_Lr/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=a7z38cukstz6

[salafiera]

Did you know that raw honey has been used by humans for over 10,000 years for as a natural healing remedy !? Honey that is heated above 118° Fahrenheit is considered pasteurized and is no longer raw honey ___ The process of heating honey destroys many of the valuable nutrients raw honey has to offer; the filtering process removes most of the pollen grains suspended in raw honey, this eliminates any value the honey may have had in helping to reduce allergy symptoms __ Organic honey does not mean it’s raw... make sure we are adhering to the #labelchallenge and checking to see if it’s truly raw and that there are no additional sugars added to the honey ___ Raw honey contains bee pollen, which can act as a natural antihistamine during allergy season and is alkaline forming, unlike processed honey, which is acid forming; it also contains all 22 amino acids, along with enzymes, carotene, protein, antioxidants and vitamins A, D, and E. Bee pollen contains high levels of zinc, copper, magnesium, potassium and folic acid ___ Honey contains pre/pro biotics that help the growth and activity of Bifidobacteria, a healthy gut bacteria, which can support community digestion and healthy bowel movements; raw honey has inherent anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, which can support overall immune health __ If you were looking for a natural pre-workout take a tablespoon of raw honey with a dash of Himalayan salt and organic cinnamon and feel free to mix in some coconut oil and raw cocoa powder … Mix together pop in the freezer for 15 minutes. #briannaapproved #rawhoney #honey #enzymes #functionalmedicine #guthealth #naturalenergy #Bvitamins (at Mandaluyong)