7 Health Benefits of African Superfruit Baobab

Here at Holistic Wellness we believe in always adding in a variety of foods and switching things up on a regular basis! So, I was shopping the other day and was looking for a new superfood to try out… something packed with a ton of nutritional benefits and easy enough to throw into my morning smoothie.  

I came across this superfruit called Baobab. A bit of a funny name, but besides the funny name I thought I’d do a bit of research on this African super fruit.

I have travelled to Africa and have a special place in my heart for this divine country!  I soon learned the Baobab is one of Africa’s most recognizable trees and this is where the baobab fruit grows. These trees are around 200-500 years old (some even reported of being 1000 years old!) and are often referred to as the “Ancient Tree of Life.” 

From my research, I discovered 7 health benefits of this magical little fruit:

  1. 6 times more potassium than a banana.
  2. One of the highest antioxidant levels than any fruit in the world- more than goji berries!
  3. Source of prebiotics promoting growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.
  4. Contains 14 essential vitamins and minerals.
  5. High in Vitamin C, Magnesium, Manganese, B1, B2, B3, B6, Iron and amino acids.
  6. Excellent source of dietary fibre.
  7. Contains twice as much calcium as milk.

Baobab3

Not sure how to use this superfruit?

I bought it as an organic fruit pulp powder. This makes it super easy to add into smoothies, juices, salads, dressings, yogurts, ice cream or cereal. Sprinkle it in and voila, this superfruit will help protect against free-radical damage, boost the immune system, balance mood, increase energy, stress and help achieve healthy glowing skin. The powder also has a lovely sweet flavor to it, which makes a great addition to any of your smoothies, juices or dressings.  

A few questions to consider when purchasing the Baobab fruit pulp powder:

◦   Is it certified organic?

◦   Is it certified fair trade?

◦   Has it been heated or sprayed during the drying process?

◦   Has it been dehydrated naturally?

◦   Is there any added ingredients (especially sugar!)?

◦   Are there any fillers added?

◦   Is it packaged in its most purest and raw form?

◦   Has it been sustainably harvested?

◦   Has it been ethically produced?

Superfoods are packed with super high nutritional content, and adding several superfoods into your diet can contribute in improving your overall health and wellness.  

Now, go get your superfruit on!

 

Stephanie xo

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Foods to Eat to Lose Weight!

Dieting does not need to be difficult!

We do a very good job of complicating weight loss and diet regimes.

I think it’s safe to say that we ALL KNOW how important it is to eat fresh, whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, good quality meats and heart healthy fats.

Following this type of diet is a whole other story 🙂

In my quick video below, I share tips to starting a diet protocol and offer up my approach to weight loss.

If you’re struggling to eat right and lose weight and would like to re-vamp your diet and get SEXY, STRONG and HEALTHY, let’s work together! I can help to give you the right tools and strategic plan specific for your goals and body type.

Click HERE to choose the BEST program that works for you!

In the meantime, enjoy the video below! 🙂

 

 

Health & Abundance,
Samantha 🙂

 

 

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A Note on Fat and Why You NEED to Make THIS Bacon recipe!

Bacon is good!

I’m sure you never thought you’d hear a nutritionist say that!?

Now you know I’m all about quality. When I say bacon, I don’t mean the generic kind you buy at just any grocery store that is loaded with nitrates and sodium.

I’m talking bacon that is free of all chemicals, preservatives, pesticides and herbicides. That kinda bacon. Go get your hands on that kinda bacon and get to cooking up this delicious recipe!

You will love the blend of salty and sweet in this delicious mix! Fall provides us with such an array of amazing, nutrient rich vegetables and not to mention, a variety of incredibly tasty apples. This recipe helps you utilize all that goodness into one pot!

I served this up with some roasted chicken thighs for a delicious and nutritious dinner.

Now…a quick note on bacon, and fat! You see, our bodies NEED fat. I don’t advise eating bacon everyday, as it is a saturated fat but still a GOOD fat as saturated is NOT the enemy! Fat and ‘high’ cholesterol foods, such as eggs, are needed for hormone development, cell membranes and most importantly, your brain!

In the paleolithic era, dating back tens of thousands of years ago (caveman styles), their diets were comprised of 75% fat (from fatty fish, meats, wild vegetables, eggs, nuts, seeds), whereas today, our fat intake is a mere 20%! Thats a huge difference.

Fatty fish and fish oil, coconut oil, hemp seeds or hemp oil, nuts, seeds, grass fed meats and grass fed butter; these are all superior choices of fat! I highly encourage you to include them in your diet.

Now…let’s eat some bacon! (although the picture may not do this recipe justice, I swear it’s delicious!)

Roasted Root Veggies with Apple and Bacon
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Ingredients
  1. 3 slices organic nitrate-free bacon
  2. 3-4 cups Brussel sprouts, cut into 4
  3. 1 medium sweet potato, diced and skin left on
  4. 1 apple, diced (I used a fuji apple)
  5. 1 tsp dried oregano
  6. 1 tsp dried rosemary
  7. 1 tsp chili flakes
  8. sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. In a large cast iron pan, cook bacon slices over medium-high heat. Once bacon is cooked, set aside. Reserve grease.
  3. In the same skillet over medium-high heat, sauté sweet potato for 5 minutes in bacon grease. Transfer sweet potato to a large baking dish, add in chopped brussel sprouts, sprinkle with dried herbs, chili flakes, sea salt and pepper and roast for 25-35 minutes, until sprouts are slightly golden.
  4. About 10-15 minutes into roasting, add in chopped apple. Make sure not to overcook. In the last minute, dice bacon and stir into pan. Season with additional salt and pepper if necessary.
  5. *Alternatively, if your cast iron pan is large enough, you can add your brussel sprouts to the pan and roasted them with the sweet potato in the oven.
  6. Serve immediately on it’s own or along the side of a main dish.
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/

*recipe inspired by multiplydelicious.com

 

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Health & Wellness Expo! Attend Workshops & Seminars for FREE!

Hi Everyone!

I am SO excited to present next weekend at the Wellness Expo in Mississauga!

Are you attending?? I sure hope so! I’ll be talking about The Qualitarian Advantage: Choosing Quality Foods for a Quality Life!

In this seminar, you’ll learn how dangerous food chemicals are wreaking havoc on your body and learn simple and effective nutrition and lifestyle strategies that will improve your overall health, detoxify your body and energize your spirit!

I can’t wait to share all this information with you!

I would love for you to attend and come show your support!

Single day passes are only $5! That gets you into the expo + allows you to attend yoga classes and MY nutrition workshop!

I’ll be speaking on Sunday September 15th from 2:15-3:30pm.

Hope to see you there!! 🙂

 

Tathaastu Wellness Expo 8.5x11

 

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Detox Made Easy! Simple Tips to Starting a Detox

Detox! Everyone is doing it!

Detox is such a buzz word and by far, it is the number one thing most of my clients ask me about!

In my video below, I share tips for starting a detox protocol and why you don’t necessarily need a store bought detox kit to give you a kick start.

Plus, I discuss the role of your liver in the detoxification process and what you can do to support the health of your liver!

Have you detoxed before? Are you thinking of starting a detox? I would love to know your past experiences with cleansing.

Please share your comments below, on my Facebook page or connect with me via Twitter!

If you like this video, please check out my YouTube channel and subscribe!

Look forward to hearing from you! 🙂

 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIwsI-wo__k

 

Health & Abundance,
Samantha 🙂

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ONLY $40! DETOX YOGA+NUTRITION WORKSHOP-THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5TH

DETOX YOGA+NUTRITION WORKSHOP

IN THIS 2.5 HOUR WORKSHOP, SONI WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH A ROCKIN’ DETOX FLOW, CLEANSING ALL VITAL ORGANS AND SAMANTHA WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS DETOX!

FROM WHAT FOODS TO EAT TO WHAT FOODS ARE WREAKING HAVOC ON YOUR SYSTEM AND SLOWING DOWN THE DETOXIFICATION PROCESS. PLUS WE’LL DISCUSS SUPPLEMENTS, RECIPES, AND HELP YOU DESIGN A PERFECT DETOX DAY!

TIME WILL BE ALLOCATED AT THE END TO ANSWER ALL YOUR YOGA AND NUTRITION QUESTIONS.

JOIN US JUNE 5TH FROM 6-8:30PM FOR ONLY $40!!

SPACES ARE LIMITED!

SIGN UP HERE – holisticwellness.ca/events/

Location – Inspire Yoga City Centre Suite 202 – 626 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. (Just half block east of Mavis)

Mississauga, Ontario 905-848-YOGA (9642)

 

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SIGN UP TODAY! SPRING DETOX YOGA + NUTRITION WORKSHOP

Early Bird special ends TODAY so sign up as spaces are limited!

 

Location: Inspire Yoga – City Centre Suite 202 – 626 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. Mississauga, ON. 905-848-YOGA

 

Here’s what we’ll cover in this 3 week workshop:

  • Happy Healthy Digestion – learn how to properly combine foods, beat the bloat, gain energy and build and nourish your cells
  • Detox From Head to Toe – learn which foods help to cleanse your whole body, support the health of your liver and give you vibrant glowing skin
  • Debunking the Diet – understanding what foods assist in weight loss, debunking diet myths and helping you to customize your own weight loss protocol

Plus, enjoy a Rockin’ Yoga Class – get your sweat on, increase mobility, get a deep stretch, detoxify, become aware of your body and gain confidence!

SPRING CLEANING


CLICK THIS LINK TO SIGN UP NOW AND SAVE!

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3 Week Holistic Nutrition & Yoga Program. Sign Up NOW!

Spring Cleaning Yoga & Nutrition Program is Here! In this intensive 3 week course we will cover…..

  • Happy Healthy Digestion – learn how to properly combine foods, beat the bloat, gain energy and build and nourish your cells
  • Detox From Head to Toe – learn which foods help to cleanse your whole body, support the health of your liver and give you vibrant glowing skin
  • Debunking the Diet – understanding what foods assist in weight loss, debunking diet myths and helping you to customize your own weight loss protocol

Plus, enjoy a Rockin’ Yoga Class – get your sweat on, increase mobility, get a deep stretch, detoxify, become aware of your body and gain confidence!

Sign up below before May 10th for a $20 savings!

LocationInspire Yoga – City Centre Suite 202 – 626 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. (Just half block east of Mavis), Mississauga, Ontario. 905-848-YOGA (9642)

SPRING CLEANING

Take advantage of our special early bird discount price before May 10th and save $20! Sign Up Now!

 

Choose Your Sessions



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A Sneak Peek into My Library….

Image 2I love books. In fact, it’s more than love really. I’ve had to get a handle on my book spending allowance this year as it’s starting to get a little out of hand! Wait a minute…who am I kidding! Book allowance!? I never had one! As you can see in the picture, I own quite a few books. Funny thing is….that’s just one small section of it! There are books piled up under my desk, beside my desk, shoved in my sock drawer, and 3 more bookshelves at my parents home, full of em.’ I never realized how many I actually had until I moved in with my boyfriend last June. To this day, I’m still moving in my books! I think it will be a never ending process. One day I picture having a beautiful big library with floor to ceiling shelves and one of those ladders that rolls around the room from shelf to shelf. The room will be filled with flowers, have a massive window so the bright sun can shine in, and the coziest couch nestled right in the middle. It will happen one day, but the reality of the matter is that I live in a condo and I have limited space. Although….the empty microwave that I never use is looking like primo real estate right now! And it doesn’t help that I live right across the street from Chapters! I can see it from my friggin’ window!

My shelves are full of cookbooks, spirituality books, yoga and strength training texts, biographies, health and wellness books, and more and more cookbooks! And trust me when I say I’ll be adding to this fine collection, cause that is exactly what it is! A collection. My collection of memories, experiences and wisdom all laid out right before me.

I studied at the University of Toronto, specializing in religion and minoring in english. Ugh…english. I gotta be honest…I disliked MANY of the novels we were expected to read, and would find myself dosing off to sleep in the back corner of the room. I barely made it through that minor with a 60% average. Then after graduating I found myself following my heart and pursuing my passion to study nutrition. I sat at the front of the room, received high 90’s in almost every course and read every textbook cover to cover. Yup…that was me! An honour student, a brown noser! It’s amazing how engaged you can be and excited to pop outta bed in the morning, rushing off to school to study something you know you were meant to study. I honoured my need to pursue my degree in nutrition and I am so thankful for listening to that inner voice. The knowledge and wisdom I gained from studying nutrition allows me to now honour my body in a way that fuels me physically, mentally and emotionally. For that, I am forever grateful.

So what books do I recommend? For cooking? Spirituality? Nutrition? There are SO many.

Here’s what’s currently on my reading list, or in other words, some of the books I’ve picked up from my library in the past month or so, sat with on my couch and had a really good read while enjoying a warm cup of tea. I so look forward to my evenings and weekends and those few hours I get to sit on the couch and flip through a book. It’s very therapeutic for me.

COOKING:

Fast Flavours by Chef Michael Smith– I find myself referring to this book almost weekly now
Make it Paleo by Bill Staley & Hayley Mason – over 200 grain free recipes, plus awesome desserts!
The Whole Nutrition Cookbook – by Alissa Segersten & Tom Malterre– gluten free, dairy free & egg free recipes
Big Vegan – by Robin Asbell – too many vegan recipes to count!
Sweet Potato Power by Ashley Tudor – if you love sweet potato, you will LOVE this book!

SPIRITUALITY:

The Law of Divine Compensation by Marianne Williamson
May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer

NUTRITION:

Eat Well, Age Better by Aileen Burford-Mason
The Detox Diet by Elson M. Haas
The Hormone Diet by Natasha Turner

YOGA:

The Path of the Yoga Sutras by Nicolai Bachman
Yoga Cures by Tara Stiles

I would love for you to share your reading list with me! I’m always interested in a good book!

Happy Reading!

Health & Abundance,
Samantha xo

 

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