If you haven’t already noticed I LOVE cacao, maybe even more than Cacao God David Wolfe.
Cacao (raw chocolate) is a potent antioxidant, which contains chemicals that can actually enhance your physical and metal well being. This includes alkaloids, proteins, magnesium, beta-carotene, leucine and lysine, just to name a few.
Cacao also promotes cardiovascular health by helping dilate blood vessels, reduce clotting, improve circulation, regulate heartbeat and blood pressure, lowering LDL cholesterol, and reducing your risk of heart attacks or stroke.
Not only is it good for you it taste divine!
Tip: Try adding a tablespoon of cacao to your morning smoothie. Seriously delicious!
Or you can make these fun Raw Cacao Fudge Bites.
These are super easy, quick and ridiculously delicious! Great for an afternoon pick me up.
You can make a large batch and store them in a glass container in the freezer for ages.
What you need:
- 2 cups walnuts
- 2 1/2 cups medjool dates, pitted
- 1 cup cacao powder
- Pinch of sea salt
What you do:
- Soak dates in warm water to soften for 5 minutes. Whilst dates are soaking add walnuts, cacao and salt to food processor and blend until finely ground.
- Add dates and blend until combined. The mixture should resemble cake crumbs but when pressed will easily stick together.
- Place mixture into fun ice cube trays (like these) and into the freezer.
- Freeze for at least 1 hour.
Enjoy!
For more recipes using cacao, check out my healthy choc chip cookies, cacao balls, energy bliss balls, or my seriously delicious raw goji + ginger chocolate fudge.
Winter is hard for me. I am a beach lover. I live exactly two minutes walk from the famous Bondi Beach. I am obsessed with the sensation of the sun on my skin! I am a surf appreciator and, generally, an outdoorsy kind of gal.
Although the thought of packing up and heading into the European summer sun (like some of my friends) is extremely enticing, it’s not really an option for me this year – not with owning my own business, and all.
With Europe off the cards, here are the top five things I do to make winter a little bit more bearable.
Give them a go!
1. Dry body brushing
This is so important—especially over the winter. It stimulates your lymphatic system and also helps remove dead skin cells. For excellent “how to” instructions and a list of more benefits on body brushing click here.
Tip: Get into the habit of doing it every morning before you jump into the shower, just like brushing your teeth!
2. Move your ass
Even though it’s dark and chilly outside, I still wake up at 6:30a.m. and do some form of exercise. Whether its, yoga, walking or light weights, I get my ass moving every single day.
Tip: Make yourself do some form of exercise each day, even if it’ a thirty-minute walk or a half hour on the treadmill, get your butt moving.
3. Sunlight
Because Australia gets so much sun, no one considers Vitamin D deficiency a problem. However, Vitamin D deficiency is a common condition that affects a significant number of Australians who are unaware of it. According to a study released in Health magazine on January, 16, 2012: “Nearly one third of Australian adults are suffering vitamin D deficiency according to a study involving more than 11,000 adults from around the country.” Click here to find out more.
Vitamin D is vital for our health because it insures we have the right amount of calcium circulating in our bodies. It does this by influencing how much calcium we absorb from our foods. Hence, the reason Vitamin D and calcium are so important for building and maintaining strong and healthy bones. Last winter I was scarily low in Vitamin D so now I make sure I get 15- 20 minutes of direct sunlight on my skin every day.
Tip: If you work in an office and struggle to get your Vitamin D for the day, eat your lunch outside in the sun, or walk to and from work, if you can. Don’t expect that sun through office windows will get you sufficient Vitamin D. Studies have shown that only a small percentage penetrates glass.
4. Meditation
Meditation eases stress, calms the mind, and brings you back into the present moment. I practice meditation every morning before doing my exercise and body brushing.
Tip: If you’re ‘time poor’ (or use that as an excuse) try simply sitting for ten minutes. Once you start to feel the benefits, you will naturally want to increase your time.
5. Eat with the season
It’s so important to eat with the season. Our bodies crave different things in winter, like warm, hearty dishes. So don’t deprive your body of what it naturally desires.
Tip: Shopping at your local farmers’ market will not only ensure you’re getting what’s in season but also the freshest produces possible.
Got any more tip’s to help us through the winter?
I just finished reading Sarah Wilson’s brand spankin’ new I Quit Sugar Cookbook. It’s an extension of her brilliant eight-week I Quit Sugar eBook.
I quit sugar about a year ago and feel bloody fantastic! I have fewer mood swings (although my bf might disagree), constant energy, clear glowing skin and eyes, and no more cellulite. (Yes, ladies, you heard me right! You can actually get rid of cellulite – by quitting sugar!)
We are all well aware that sugar is seriously detrimental to our health. Right? And I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it’s actually poison. It stops us from knowing when we are full, and leaves us wanting more and more. It puts so much stress on our digestive system and adrenal glands, plus our bodies aren’t too sure what to do with it when it enters our system. Best we just quit!
Sarah is genius!
Everyone should get their hot little hands on this book. It’s not about deprivation (YEAH!) or limitation (DOUBLE YEAH!) but more about embracing Mother Nature’s natural sweeteners like stevia, cinnamon, and honey.
If you would like to purchase the I Quit Sugar Cookbook click here. Or click here to get Sarah’s 8-week I quit Sugar program.
I think the photo’s say it all, my mouth is watering.
Let me know how you go and make sure you reach out to me if you need any help or support whilst you quit.
Love Melissa
Images via I Quit Sugar Cookbook, shot by Marija Ivkovic.
Bright and Bubbly twenty-six-year-old Lola Berry is this week’s Friday Friend. Lola is currently gallivanting around London (her instagram photo’s are seriously making me jelly) but when she isn’t doing that she’s based in Melbourne and works as a nutritionist.
She describes herself as a “quirky” Australian with simple goals. Lola wants to inspire as many people as possible to live the best lives they can.
As well as being a nutritionist, Lola is the author of Inspiring Ingredients. Another of her books is due to be released this September – ekkkkk so excited!
Lola is fortunate to have filmed all over the world. She has her own television and web series and regularly appears on the Morning show. She uses these opportunities to spread her message.
Lola started her blog to give people access to health information in an interesting and enjoyable format. She says, the internet is a great medium for educating people about good health strategies. The fact that it can be accessed all over the word makes it a powerful medium. I couldn’t agree more.
Lola’s manifesto is to inspire as many people as possible to live the best lives they can. She adds, “Believe it or not, food has a huge impact on the way we live. It nourishes and feeds every system of the body and when we consume the right foods… [the result is] feeling great.”
Lola’s future plans include “spreading the message on a global level.” This will involve travel, filming, and her new book out in Oz in September. She also has loads more projects planned for overseas.
Lola’s favourite affirmation is: “Spread your wings and live the dream.” Her favourite song is George Harrison’s Here comes the sun. She says, “Some days are tough for everyone, and it’s nice to know that even when it seems like there’s no light on the darkest day of winter the sun will eventually shine through.” She feels Harrison’s song addresses this feeling and that’s why she is so fond of it.
Connect with this little ball on energy on facebook, twitter or on her blog.
Peace, Love and green juice.
“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being “in love” which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.”
― Louis de Bernières, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
A beautiful dear friend reminded me of this quote yesterday which sparked an in-depth conversation about love. Her interpretation of love is this, ”loving one another should be like two trees standing next to each other, not touching but with their roots entwined deep under the earth but above they are separate beautiful individuals whose branches blow and sway with the breeze. Occasionally their branches touch and meet but they are free to choose their personal rhythm but always with the knowledge of their deep rooted connection. Because if they become entwined above and below the earth one will surely wither into the shadows and eventually die.”
For me this rang true, for so long in past relationships I would become intertwined with my partner and accustomed to their rhythm. My flow, rhythm, authenticity would be swept away. I was consumed. Suffocated. This made me sad. How long had I not been swaying to my own beat? I realized something a few months back, I was doing it again ekkk.
So I took space.
Space to reconnect with myself, my dreams, passions and desires. The old me would of freaked out. But I didn’t, I held space for myself to reconnect. It was magical! So much clarity, choice and wisdom filled my heart. I was back. Me again. Phew. I’d missed me.
So what now? I am kinda freaking out – to tell you the truth. How do I stay connected with who I am being (my truth) and be with someone else? Tough questions. Can I do it? I ponder on this question and realize there is nothing to do but trust. Trust that everything is perfect exactly the way it is. There is nothing to fix, change or improve just be.
If you haven’t already read I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson then I highly recommend you do. This book is great, easy to ready and really informative. But most importantly easy to follow, it’s not about starvation or deprivation, in fact Sarah gives you an abundance of options to help keep your sweet tooth happy.
Click here to purchase this amazing book.
This week’s Friday Friend is the beautiful Sarah Wilson. Sarah is a journalist, a TV host and a blogger who presently lives in Bryon Bay (jealous!).
I met Sarah about 2 years ago at the holistic gym we both train at called Origin Of Energy. We have continued to bump into each other around Bondi and at different events since then. She is a super cool, down to earth kinda gal.
Here’s a bit of background on Sarah:
As a long-time journalist, Sarah has had a varied career as a restaurant reviewer and opinion columnist. During the past decade her work has appeared in eleven different publications. She has served as editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, a host of Masterchef Australia and Eat Yourself Sexy on Foxtel.
Sarah calls herself “an antsy, impatient, tenacious person who’s been striving all my life and am yet to arrive.” Recently, she has come to terms with this status.
Sarah started her blog as an experiment. She wanted to try out the blogging process. She is a natural with her journalism background and her love of sharing ideas and thoughts. From her writing experiences she is able to access excellent information sources. Sarah feels a responsibility to share her knowledge and expertise with others.
Sarah has been blogging for over three years now. Blogging has become her main source of income (which I think is pretty cool). She regards blogging as her career.
Sarah is lucky to have already fulfilled a lot of her big dreams at age thirty-eight. Still on her bucket list are: building her own house, having children and “finding stillness.”
Future plans include: a two-month overseas trip. It is her first holiday in eight years!
Sarah’s favourite affirmation is: Where the mind goes, the energy flows.
If you haven’t already read Sarah’s latest e book I Quit Sugar then I highly recommend you do. This book is great, easy to ready and really informative. But most importantly easy to follow, it’s not about starvation or deprivation, in fact Sarah gives you an abundance of options to help keep your sweet tooth (or teeth) happy.
Click here to purchase this amazing book.
Plus guess what? Sarah is about to launch her I Quit Sugar Cookbook (ekkkk, so excited). I’ll be running a competition so you may be able to win one YAY!
I am so excited to introduce the amazing Jessica Ainscough (AKA The Wellness Warrior) as this week’s Friday Friend. Jessica is a writer, a blogger, and a health coach (like me).
Almost four years ago Jess was diagnosed with a very aggressive, rare form of cancer called Epithelioid Sarcoma, in her left hand and arm. After having a high dose of chemo pumped through her arm following scans showed that she was, thankfully, clear of cancer. Unfortunately, less than a year after she went into remission, the cancer had returned. The medical experts Jess called “scary men in white coats” told her that her only chance for survival was to have her arm amputated at the shoulder. Jess decided to take matters into her own hands. She politely refused surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Jess decided to forego what she called: “the slash, poison and burn method offered to me by the medical profession.” Instead she took responsibility for her illness and her body’s health. Thus began her search for natural, alternative cancer treatments that would heal her body.
Jess quit her magazine job in Sydney, gave up “back-to-back parties” and started a life of relaxation and meditation. Instead of “champagne, canapés and late night Lean Cuisine”, Jess became “a carrot juice guzzling, lentil-loving vego.” She moved back to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland to live with her family. There she devoted all her time and energy to restoring her health.
Jess has just completed two years of intense detoxification and nutritional treatment in the form of Gerson Therapy. For the past two years, she has drank hourly juices, done multiple daily coffee enemas, eaten a strict basic vegan diet and dedicated every waking hour to getting well! A true Wellness Warrior!
The Wellness Warrior was born a few days before she went to the Gerson Clinic. At first, her aim was to share her journey with friends and family. However, over time her blog has grown into a hub for natural wellness information and inspiration. Jess says her blog has been her “online sanctuary over the past two years. It has been a therapeutic outlet, as well as a source of motivation.”
Jess dreams of spreading The Wellness Warrior message. She wants to inspire and empower people to take control of their own health and happiness.
Jess’s upcoming plans include: “whatever the universe has in store for me to help me get my message out – whether this is through books, speaking, or something else.” She admits: “I’m just excited to be able to leave the house now!”
Jess’s favourite affirmation is: “Only good lies before me. Life loves me.”
Jess is an ambassador for The Warwick Foundation, a charity that supports young adults living with cancer. This is an amazing charity, and the only one of its kind in Australia. If anyone would like to donate or read more, you can check it out here.
Personally knowing Jess I can say she truly is such a beautiful soul and inspiration. I thank the angel’s daily that ours paths have crossed.
Connect with The Wellness Warrior on facebook, twitter or over at her blog.
Last year I was lucky enough to see the amazing Marianne Williamson speak at a Hay House event. I was blown away with all the speakers that shared their stories, but something about Marianne’s message really resonated with me. It stuck! One of the most amazing things she said was:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others”.
WOW, powerful huh!?!
This really hit home for me. So often so I ‘play small’. I still now sometimes have the tendency to do so. But why do we do this? Like Marianne says, to not make others feel uncomfortable or insecure. Crazy, huh! I am sick of playing small. Small sucks. Big time!
So here’s to committing to no longer playing into this ‘small’ business. Cheers to living a massive, fruitful, abundant life always.
I was absolutely blown away, over the moon excited to be one of Polly Noble’s ‘women who inspire her’ in her latest interview with Lisa Clark from Sassyology. I am so grateful to have come across this incredible human and thank the universe every day for all my healing soul sisters.
Lisa Clark is the brainchild behind Sassyology - another kick ass female that is doing her part to help women discover, align and combine their sassy super-powers.
Check out Polly’s interview with Lisa Clark from Sassyology below.
<3<3<3<3<3
There are many reasons to dig Polly Noble.
She’s an author, she does make-life-better work and she’s a two-time cancer survivor. Having been diagnosed twice by the age of 28, she went on a kick-cancer’s-ass mission to heal herself naturally. Now, if ever there was a story to make you think twice about the food you eat and how changing it up can make you happier and healthier, this is it.
Polly is sassy-fication in action. She’s a one-woman powerhouse inspiring and motivating others to create health and happiness and quite frankly, she kicks ass. She also does it whilst looking ridiculously glam and gorgeous. I want the recipe for that smoothie, pronto.
Describe yourself in a tweet…
Self-confessed juice junkie, healthy heroine, author, kick-ass cancer survivor who loves all things animal print and heart-shaped hoping to leave the world a better place than when I found it. Mum to one cute Maltipoo Mimi!
I’ve just finished your book – AMAZING – for those that don’t know, can you tell us about how your cancer journey began?
I was diagnosed with cervical cancer aged 24; a 3cm tumour which had already spread to the surrounding lymph nodes in my pelvis. There’s no cancer in the family, no pre-disposition, no idea why! I had conventional treatment which shrunk the cervical tumour but it came back in my lymph nodes in my neck.
What convinced you to choose the healing path that you have?
Over the course of 7 years since I was first diagnosed, I have read a lot of books, researched various cancer treatments and studied at The Institute of Integrative Nutrition. And what I discovered was that my body was in dire need of detoxification and super nourishment. I believe you have to address the underlying issues and cause of disease in order to really heal once and for all whereas conventional treatment only treats the symptom. And it’s not just about what you eat, it’s what you drink, what you think and how you are living your life. Two books that were instrumental in my belief the body can heal itself are “You Can Heal Your Life” and “The Journey”. These two women healed their own cancers by dealing with the emotional root cause and looking at what was really going on under the hood!
Reading your book has given me a much different perspective as to how I’d deal if I, or a loved one was diagnosed with cancer, do people come to you for advice and what do you say?
Everyone’s journey is different. For some, going down the allopathic route is the only way, for others they prefer an integration of the two. I always say that you have to make your own decision based on the information you have at the time. I wish I had known 7 years ago what I know now as I may have not chosen to have chemo and radiotherapy but unfortunately I didn’t, so I have to accept that. Only you know in your heart what you are capable of and what’s right for you so as much as loved ones will have an opinion about what you should do, you have to trust your own intuition, be selfish and do what’s right for you. Once a diagnosis hits, it has to be ALL about you!
What are your biggest life lessons?
Wow. Big question. Through my own mistakes and life experiences I would say the following:
To always follow your heart – it always knows best.
To always speak your truth.
Only do what makes you happy.
Crying, anger, joy, laughter and vulnerability are what make us human. Feel the feeling and let it go.
What, if any, are your daily spiritual practices?
I’ve recently started doing Morning pages again ( http://pollynoble.com/2012/04/why-journalling-is-good-for-you/) which help me to bust through the blocks and deal with the moany, bitchy part of me that wants to complain about stuff. Meditation is also super important for me as this gives me space to connect to my true essence and be reminded that Im more than my body and more than my mind. Drinking juice is also a spiritual practice for me because it’s my medicine!
You recently went to visit John of God – can you tell us why you went and a little insight into the experience?
It was a very last-minute and random decision to go but I went because I had a flare up on my neck that I felt I needed help with. It was a very interesting experience and still one that I’m pondering on and it certainly was an eye-opener!I’m always open to trying new paths and I figured it couldn’t hurt!
Your story, and the work you do now, has had a huge impact on how I think about health, what are your 5 make-life-better tips you could give SASSY readers about the importance of looking after our bodies and our health?
- Eat consciously. A clean, green diet is where it’s at in terms of optimum wellness. Flooding your cells with vitamins, minerals, enzymes and super-sexy oxygen boosts immunity, improves mental clarity, positivity and improves energy levels.
- Move your ass! Exercise helps the body flush out the toxins, kick-start the immune system and get the lymph system pumping. Whether you are a yoga bunny, kickboxing fanatic or just prefer a leisurely stroll, get your body moving!
- Practice stillness. Everything exists within a larger context. The chair you’re sitting on, the computer you are reading this on, the glass you are drinking from. It’s all stuff. Stuff exists within space. Take time to notice the space around the stuff and the stillness that is omnipresent. Take time to tune in to it and let it be your guide. In the stillness, you’ll find that peace exists.
- Deal with the mind monkeys. The fear and uncertainty around your illness can often be paralyzing, so it’s important to manage them and realize you are not your thoughts. Drop the fear-based thinking and choose positive and loving affirmations instead.
- Get some Zzzzzz! Sleep is essential for health because when we get enough quality sleep, our body repairs and renews itself helping it to work at optimal level. Without enough sleep, your immune system gets a battering and your body struggles to carry out it’s functions to keep you well.
What’s your absolute truth?
That every choice we make defines our experience of life. That nothing is permanent and that everyone is making it up as they go along!
What 5 songs would be on a Polly soundtrack to life?
Heart and Soul – Gary Go
Take Me Home – Country Roads – John Denver
The Show – Lenka
Give Me Everything – Pitbull
Firework – Katy Perry
What’s your life motto?
Go green, get clean.Become a green juice junkie!
Quick fire, slightly frivilous round: What’s your favourite:
Movie: How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days
Food: Pancakes!
Hang out: Saf Restaurant London
City: New York
Beauty item: Mascara
Book: Apart from mine?! ;o) Anything by Martha Beck
Album: Right now, it’s Birdy by Birdy
Who are your Daring Dames and how do they inspire/motivate/kick yo’ butt?
Kris Carr who is doing an amazing job of living well with Stage IV cancer and writing bestselling books. Gabrielle Bernstein (http://pollynoble.com/2012/04/gabrielle-bernstein-rockin-the-uk/) who is a modern day cool cat teaching us how to live fearlessly. My healing soul sister, Jessica Ainscough who continues to amaze me with the love, balance and wellness she exudes as she heals her cancer naturally. Melissa Ambrosini, who inspires me through her Instagram photos to have more FUN and see my friends more! Marie Forleo who motivates me to think big, play big, and be unapologetically me.
What does being SASSY mean to you?
It means being yourself at all times, confident, cool, happy in your own skin and not afraid to make a fool of yourself for the sake of FUN!
To check out the awesomeness that is Polly or to buy a copy of her book, go visit her site.
