Under the Microscope – Maca.

Superfood Maca is native to the mountains of Peru and is cultivated as high as 4300 meters above sea level. It has been used for over 3500 years and legend claims that during the peak of the Incan empire, the warriors consumed maca before going into battle to ensure super strength and stamina.  On return from battle however, Incan soldiers were prohibited from using maca in order to protect the women from their insatiable sexual desires. Maca is renowned for providing strength, endurance and enhanced libido.

So what is maca?

A member of the cruciferous  tribe  such as kale and cabbage, maca is abundant in potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, iron, sodium and phosphorous and also contains trace minerals which includes iodine, zinc, selenium, bismuth, copper, magnese, tin and silicon. It is also rich in vitamins B1, B2, C and E.

Maca has the ability to stabilise and balance the body’s glandular – hormonal system, nervous system, cardiovascular system and musculature. This makes it great for managing hormones, stress, thyroid and your mood in general.
According to David Wolfe, maca is great if you suffer from:
Anaemia
Chronic fatigue
Depression
Infertility and sterility
Lack of libido
Malnutrition
Menopausal symptoms
Menstrual discomfort and disorders
Poor memory
Stomach cancer
Stress tension
Tuberculosis

How to use it and where to get it?

Seeing as maca is a superfood it can be used in greater quantities than other medicinal herbs.  It has also found to be safe to use long term. You can purchase it online or at most health food stores in dried, raw, organic food. Look for the real deal and only buying from the root, not other parts of the plant.

Use a tablespoon in smoothies, juices, nut milks, tea or coffee, or add to your raw chocolate treats.

Here’s a recipe to get you started:

Blend 2 frozen bananas

2 fresh bananas

3 medjool dates

200mls of filtered water (or your favourite nut milk)

1 heaped teaspoon of maca root powder

Sprinkle with cacao nibs.

David Woolfe also claims that maca has a special relationship with cacao so use them together regularly to experience the culinary sensation 🙂

Reference: Woolfe, D. (2009). Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future.  

Breakfast Ice-cream

Ice-cream for breakfast? You can eat it all day long on a high raw, plant based diet

For the base blend: 3 frozen and 1 fresh banana with 1 tablespoon of almond butter and a heaped teaspoon of cacao powder

On the top blend 2 frozen bananas, 3 soft dates and 1 vanilla pod.

And for an extra health kick, drizzle some black strap molasses.

Black strap molasses will give you b vitamins, iron, calcium, magnesium, and great hair 🙂

Eat it guilt free 🙂

Note: Always make sure you use really ripe bananas (spotty skins) to ensure sweetness and optimal digestion.

Mini Chocolate Cakes

One of the things that I love about this lifestyle is that you can eat chocolate, ice-cream and dessert at any time of the day, whilst losing weight and feeling healthy.  It is also nice to be able let your kids eat decadent foods that you know aren’t full of rubbish.

These chocolate mini cakes are easy to make.  No dehydrator required, just a food processor and/or high speed blender.

Base:

1 cup of almonds

1 cup of soft dates

1/4 of cup of shredded coconut

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla.

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and process until the mixture  holds together. (add a teaspoon of water if needed).  Press a tablespoon of mixture into muffin tins.

Middle:

1/4 cup coconut butter (not to be confused with coconut oil)

1/4 cup raw almond butter

1/4 cup coconut nectar.

In a clean food processor blend together the ingredients for the almond fudge until well blended. Add mixture to your bases and clean your food processor for the chocolate icing.

 

Top:                                                                                                                             

1 cup of soft dates

1/4 of a cup of coconut oil

1/4 of a cup of cacao powder

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla.

Blend until smooth and spread icing over cupcakes.  Place in the freezer to set.

Licking the spoon is mandatory. 

Yields 9

 

 

 

 

 

Smoothie Bowl

Move over green smoothies, smoothie bowls are the new black. You’ll need your blender, large bowl, spoon and…

1 tablespoon of Maqui Berry Powder
1 handful of organic baby spinach
1 cup of raspberries
3 frozen bananas
Some water or coconut water for desired consistency
Blend well and top it off with hemp seeds, cacao nibs and raspberries.

We use maqui berry powder in our smoothies often. Whilst you may of seen goji berries or acai berry powder used in many recipes, maqui berries are less known.

Maqui berries grow wild in Chile and Argentina and are one of the richest sources of antioxidants in the berry family. They are a beautiful vibrant purple colour, which comes from a pigment called anthocyanin.

Research indicates that consuming anthocyanin rich foods may protect against high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and have anti-cancer properties.

 

 

Pretty in Pink

I wasn’t sure how this would turn out but I was pretty pleased with the result.

Another super simple smoothie. Sweet and easy to digest.

Blend
1 cup of frozen raspberries
4 bananas (2 of them frozen)
The juice of 1 small beetroot.

Enjoy 🙂

Mint Chocolate and Caramel Swirl

I’ve made a variation of this before which you can find here http://rawkiwi.org/2014/02/28/caramel-chocolate-bites/

For the chocolate section I used 1/2 teaspoon of alcohol free peppermint essence instead of vanilla. For a different effect I used a tooth pick to mix small spoonfuls of caramel through the chocolate base. The caramel is seriously good. Full of fat but really good.

 

If you are looking to add even more sweetness to your day, this should hit the spot.

Juice

1 ripe pineapple.

3 celery sticks.

1 cucumber.

🙂

Life Changing.

If you are looking for motivation  to make a change for the better then read Livian’s story.  Having been diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder and facing cancer twice she took control of her health by adopting a plant based diet. I am constantly inspired by those whom take control of their lives instead accepting another outcome, and Livian is truly one of these people.

 

 

“My name is Livian and I am a vegan”….geez those are words I never thought I would hear myself say!

My journey began when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2011. I was in the middle of my radiation treatment when I started paying more attention to what my friend Nicole was saying about listening to your body, and healthy eating.

My interest was piqued so I thought I would talk to her some more. She would often send me articles and written information about “eating clean”. I thought I would give it a go and convinced myself I could just try it slowly, and see what I thought. As hard as I tried, I would often “fall off the wagon” and I couldn’t understand why. I then realised I wasn’t ready. I mean really ready.

That was until October 2012. I had come home from a family holiday in Queensland. I felt bloated and tired. I was unhealthy, seriously overweight and very unhappy.

It was like a light bulb went off and I thought, ”I can’t do this anymore, what if the cancer comes back?” I wanted to be here for my kids!. That day on 4^th October, 2012, I believe was when my life really began.

I started reading all I could on the internet and I started picking the brains of my friend Nicole. I can’t tell you how many texts were exchanged at all hours of the night and from there I started slowly withdrawing each of my vices. First to go was red meat; then fish; white meat; eggs; milk then cheese. With each food I withdrew from, I sought Nicole’s advice and added something in its place.

Instead of rice – I discovered the beauty of Quinoa! Instead of cheese in my salads, I got the same “creamy fix” from avocado! I discovered lentils (home made lentil patties are a great meat substitute) Nicole turned me onto the divine heaven that is medjool dates inside strawberries! Banana and spinach smoothies; blueberry and frozen bananas (as ice-cream) – the list goes on.

Nicole also put me onto the book “Skinny Bitch” which was a real “A – HA!!” moment. She promised me I would never look back after I read that book, and she was right. This book was pivotal to changing my attitude about what I was putting into my body. This book plus “Raw Kiwi” was a real “one two punch” a life saving partnership for me!!

I found that as a result of following the principles of “Raw Kiwi” and changing to a vegan lifestyle, not only have I been able to become more in tune with what my body needs, I am healthier. I have lost 23 kilos (50 pounds) and have lost 4 dress sizes.  When I last went for my oncology check ups in December 2013, my Oncologist  (apart from being amazed at how great I looked and she almost didn’t recognise me!) said that my bloodwork was the best since I first got Thyroid Cancer in 2007 (yeah I’ve been around the Cancer mulberry bush more than once).

I think another factor in the success of my health, is that I never felt like I was on a “diet”.  I never felt hungry (if anything – I felt so full!) and for me, this was more of a lifestyle change.  The winning prize being a healthy me!

I have a rare genetic syndrome which means that I will have a lifelong fight with cancer but by becoming a vegan, I feel like I am giving my body the best chance at fighting each cancer that dares crosses my path!

Thank you Nicole from the bottom of my heart. I feel like you have given me my health and my life back!  And for this, I will eternally be grateful.

 

Livian x

 

 

 

May 2012                          June 2012

 

 

October 2013

 

March 2014

 

 

 

 

Green Smoothie – Protein Packed

I finally purchased some Sun Warrior protein powder. I’ve never really been into protein powders but I needed the vanilla flavour for a chocolate recipe that I am making. In the past most of the powders I had used were soy based and left a really strong after taste.
Sun Warrior is raw whole grain brown rice protein powder. It is gluten free, soya free, dairy free and 80% protein.
The vanilla flavour is really lovely and makes for a filling smoothie.

For this smoothie:

Blend
1 scoop of protein powder
At least 1 cup of water
Baby spinach
1 tablespoon of grounded chia seeds
Bananas (frozen or unfrozen and as many as you care for)
1 probiotic capsule  (I used Truflora).

It helps to blend the water, protein powder and spinach until smooth and then slowly add the rest.

Don’t forget to share with any little people in the house. Kids love green smoothies and the sooner you can make them a regular part of their lives, the better 🙂

 

Caramel Chocolate Bites

 

The base:

Chocolate Fudge

1/2 cup coconut butter (Different to coconut oil and often used in raw treats).
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
1/4 cup of coconut nectar
1 tsp vanilla

The top:

Almond Fudge

1/4 cup coconut butter
1/4 cup raw almond butter
1/4 cup coconut nectar
1 tsp vanilla

Line a 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 loaf pan with baking paper. Allow for excess baking paper to hang over the edge.

In a food processor blend together all the ingredients for the chocolate fudge until it is fully blended and has a thick consistency. Pour into the prepared pan, smooth out and set aside.

In a clean food processor blend together the ingredients for the almond fudge until well blended. Spread smoothly over the chocolate base.

Place fudge the freezer to set up. Once solid, remove from pan by lifting up the baking paper. Peel off paper and cut into equal pieces.

Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

 

Dessert for every meal

One of the best things about eating this way is being able to eat dessert for breakfast (lunch and dinner) and knowing it’s good for you.

To make this delicious chocolate sauce you will need:
5-6 medjool dates
1 vanilla pod
1 heaped tablespoon of cacao powder (or carob)
1 teaspoon of Acai berry powder
1/2 cup of filtered water.
Blend until smooth

In a mason jar, spoon in your banana ice-cream (made from 1 banana and 4 frozen bananas) and layer it with sauce.

Simply delicious 🙂