Alex Malinsky

We've all been there, those days when that sweet tooth just won't let up. Instead of fighting the cravings with all the will power one can possibly muster, why not replace the not-so-ideal stuff with nutrient-rich, whole food alternatives? 

 

All you need is:

House plants create a wonderful atmosphere in any room. Not only do indoor plants create a connection with nature that adds to any decor scheme, but certain plants can also purify the air.

With relaxing aromatic scents and scientifically-proven air purification capabilities, these are the best houseplants to de-stress and purify your home.

Pothos

When it comes to choosing an indoor plant, the pothos checks all the boxes. This vining plant is often called Devil's Ivy because of its tenacity and ability to grow without sunlight. This low-maintenance plant thrives on neglect and practically grows itself.

The pothos is also one of the top contenders of NASA's Clean Air Study, proven to remove toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and trichloroethylene from any room. 

Use the pothos for humidity control, air purification, and to create a calming atmosphere in any room of the house.

Lavender

Lavender has long been used in aromatherapy for its positive effects on stress and anxiety. This perennial plant loves the sun, making it perfect for a sunny window. When the blooming period reaches its end, trim back the plant and dry the petals for dried arrangements, potpourri, and DIY projects.

There are various types of lavender, so what grow lavender do you use for indoor pots? Lavandula latifolia, also known as English lavender, is one of the most aromatic breeds. To grow this type of lavender indoors, you'll need a spacious pot that allows for ample root growth.

Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums are one of the few flowers that proved to be successful in NASA's Clean Air Study, proving to remove benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and trichloroethylene from the air.

These low maintenance plants have beautiful blooms that fade away into stunning foliage. Harvest the seeds at the end of the growing season to plant and experience the loveliness all over again. Storing chrysanthemums and getting them to bloom again is challenging for even the most skilled gardeners.

Snake Plant

Snake plants— colloquially known as Mother-in-Law's Tongue— are another top contender of the NASA Clean Air Study. This plant's unique vertical foliage adds texture to any room, creating an eye-catching design piece that invokes a sense of calm.

While this low-maintenance plant looks like a common house plant, it's lady’sa rare type of succulent. As such, it requires minimal watering and care to thrive. The snake plant is a highly-recommended addition to the household in ancient feng shui practices, as it's said to invoke contentment and prosperity.

Lemon Mint

Lemon mint combines two of the most refreshing scents found in nature: citrus and mint. This versatile herb makes a great addition to the kitchen or bedroom, adding a fresh, calming aroma. Lemon mint is hardy and grows well without proper care and maintenance; place it in indirect sunlight and water once per week.

You can also use lemon mint in cooking and cocktails and deter pests that may find their way into your home.

Peace Lily

The peace lily is another floral winner in NASA's Clean Air Study, purifying all of the same toxins as the pothos, chrysanthemums, and snake plant. Unlike many indoor flowers, the peace lily is a low-maintenance plant and drought tolerant. These plants tend to die from overwatering rather than neglect. To avoid this error, wait until the soil is dry before watering or watch for the telltale sign of drooping leaves.

Keep your peace lily looking fresh by wiping down the leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust. When your plant starts to get crowded, transition it to a larger planter. 

Lady Palm

Many palm plants do well indoors, making them a popular choice for home decor. The lady palm has narrow fronds and a visually appealing fan shape that looks great in a floor planter. Like many palms, the lady palm also purifies the air and adds a sense of cleanliness and calm.

This house plant enjoys bright, indirect sunlight and requires a little TLC to thrive. Plant fertilizer pellets once per year and place in an area with a consistent temperature, avoiding drafts and vents.

These fantastic plants create a calm, natural element in any room and often have both aromatherapeutic or purification benefits. Best of all, these low-maintenance options are accessible to everyone.

Guest author bio

Wendy Dessler

Outreach manager

Wendy Dessler is a super-connector who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition.

Do you love noodles, but they don't exactly love you back? Well, don't fret because these days there are plenty of great grain-free alternatives made from protein-rich legumes like black beans, lentils, chickpeas, and soy, opening up a fresh new world whether you avoid gluten or grains for health reasons, or are simply an adventurous foodie who enjoys "going against the grain". 

This recipe uses black bean noodles, which have a nice earthy taste and bouncy, chewy texture despite having zero gluten. Not only are they rich in protein (a whopping 25 grams per serving!) but they are also loaded with gut-healthy fiber and have more iron than their wheat-based counterparts. They also make for quite the striking, dramatic dish when served with other colorful veggies like sweet potato, cilantro, and red bellow pepper-like in this recipe here. 

And since no noodle dish is complete without a tasty sauce to bring it to life, you'll also find here a quick and easy sprouted almond butter sauce made from Dastony Sprouted Almond Butter, toasted sesame oil, garlic, sriracha, and a touch of maple syrup. It's packed with flavor and spice and its creaminess and subtle sweetness help to perfectly flavor balance the black bean noodles, which can taste slightly bitter on their own. This recipe is customizable, so feel free to swap in/out your favorite veggies (butternut squash for sweet potato, remove the bell pepper, toss in some chopped celery or spinach, etc. Sky's the limit!)

If you follow along with wellness trends and love to geek out on all things nutrition (like us!) then you’ve likely heard about the health benefits of eating dark chocolate. You may have even heard a health expert or two recommend chocolate with a high percentage of cacao  - say  70-80%. Maybe you’ve wondered what that cacao % actually means. Or maybe you're not quite sure what cacao is to begin with, not to mention why you should be eating it. This blog is for you.

To put it simply, cacao is the base ingredient of all chocolate - without it, your favorite chocolate bar could not exist. But chocolate bars aside, cacao actually has a deep and rich history in ancient pre-hispanic cultures along the Yucatán such as the Olmecs, Maya, and Aztec people. Not only was it consumed as a food source, but it was also used as currency, as medicine, and in sacred ritual. The term “cacao” comes from the Olmec word “ka-ka-w”. Its scientific name is Theobroma cacao, which translates to "food of the gods” in Greek.

So what is cacao exactly?

The cacao tree is a tropical plant native to Central and South America. It produces pods about the size and shape of a football, and inside the pod is fleshy, zesty tasting cacao fruit. Inside of the fruit lies the coveted seeds aka cacao beans. While both the fruit and the seeds are edible and have been enjoyed for centuries, only the seeds are used to create modern chocolate. Once harvested, these “beans” are fermented, dried, ground into a paste, sweetened (or not), and used to create chocolate treats of all kinds. The fermented beans can also be processed into cacao powder, or broken into smaller “nibs”, which are often found online or at health foods stores.

Why should we eat it?

Cacao is a true superfood, containing even more antioxidants than fellow nutritional powerhouses like blueberries, pomegranates, and green tea, not to mention a wealth of trace minerals like magnesium, iron, and calcium. Cacao’s rich supply of flavonoids also makes it an excellent food for cardiovascular health, and the higher the percentage of cacao in the chocolate, the more flavonoids it will have. Cacao also contains unique compounds such as anandamide and phenylethylamine (PEA) which stimulate endorphins and other happy brain chemicals like serotonin. Yes, cacao bliss is a real thing.

How to enjoy cacao

To get the most authentic experience, choosing raw cacao is the best way to go. This ensures you get the most health benefits, and you also get to taste the various flavor complexities and nuances of the cacao bean itself. Enjoy raw cacao in:

Rawmio chocolate treats - no additional prep needed, just enjoy your little taste of raw chocolate bliss! Our unique nib-to-bar stone grinding process helps preserve the unique health benefits and properties of the cacao.  

Raw cacao powder  - use it as you would unsweetened cocoa powder for a less processed, more nutrient-rich option. It works well as a 1:1 sub for cocoa powder in brownies, cookies, or in hot chocolate. Cacao powder can also be used in savory recipes like chili or stews to add extra nutrition and an amazing depth of flavor.  

Raw cacao nibs - sprinkle them on smoothie bowls or any other dish you’d like to add a pop of intensely dark chocolate flavor and crunch. Nibs are simply broken cacao beans and the flavor is deep and fruity with a slightly bitter aftertaste similar to coffee beans.

Cacao butter - this is the pure oil expressed from cacao beans. It is wonderfully aromatic and sweet-smelling. This luscious butter is responsible for chocolate’s signature melt-in-the-mouth texture. This is a great ingredient to have on hand if you want to channel your inner chocolatier and make authentic chocolate right at home.

Yes, these vegan cheesecake bars are both delicious and beautiful. They're also vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, (almost) raw, and are completely free of refined sugar. But the benefits don't end there. They also contain billions of probiotics and prebiotics to boost digestion and your immune system. Wait just a minute - a cheesecake that's guilt-free, nutrient-rich, and good for your gut!? You bet!

These bars are packed with nutrient-rich ingredients like raw walnuts and cashews, coconut butter, dates, and berries to energize your body and give you a sweet tooth fix without a blood sugar crash or sugar coma. Adding a teaspoon of Sunbiotics vanilla probiotics to the cake filling means each bar will contain billions of probiotics (1/3 a tsp has 20 billion CFU's!) without changing the flavor of your recipe at all.

Each bite is smooth, dense, and creamy - just like a cheesecake should be. The swirls of sweet mixed berry puree perfectly compliment the zestiness of the lemon and sweet vanilla in the filling. And no baking is required. If you're a raw dessert fan or love cheesecake in general, this is a must-try!

The Recipe

Mixed Berry Probiotic Cheesecake Bars

Makes 1, 8 x 8" square baking pan (6 cheesecake bars)

Ingredients

Cheesecake filling

1.5 cups raw cashews, soaked
1/2 cup full fat coconut milk  
1/2 cup Dastony stone ground raw coconut butter
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 lemon, juiced
1 heaping tsp fresh lemon zest
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 pinches Himalayan crystal salt
1 tsp Sunbiotics vanilla probiotic powder

Berry layer

1.5 cup frozen mixed berries
1 Tbs maple syrup

Crust

1.75 cups almond flour
1 cup raw coconut flakes
3/4 cup Dates
1/2 cup raw walnuts
1 Tbs Dastony stone ground raw almond butter
1 tsp melted coconut oil
2 pinch Himalayan crystal salt

Steps

Line an 8×8 inch tin with parchment paper or cling film.

1. Crust Prep the base by blending all the ingredients together in a food processor until it creates a crumbly, sticky texture. Test it by pressing it together with your fingers. It should bind but not be too wet. If it's too crumbly you can add a tiny splash of water.

2. Press the mixture into the bottom of the tin - make sure it's even.

Filling

1. Place all cheesecake filling ingredients in blender except lemon zest. Blend until smooth and creamy - this may take a full minute to fully blend. The smoother you can get it, the more authentic it will be in texture. Then add zest and blend again briefly. 

2. Pour the cheesecake filling on top of the base mixture and smooth with the back of a spoon.

3. Place frozen berries in pan and place on the stove on low heat. Add maple syrup and let it simmer for just a minute or so. You don't want it to become overcooked as it will lose too much of its water. If you're using fresh berries you can also add those to a blender with the maple syrup and simply blend until smooth.

4. Pour berry mixture over filling, and using a knife or a chopstick swirl the puree around.

5. Cover the tin with foil or cling film and leave to set in the fridge for at least 6 hours, or freezer for at least 2 hours before serving. Can be stored in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for months and thawed before serving. 

When it comes to creating flavorful, delicious meals that are also bursting with nutrition, it’s all about making easy upgrades without any sacrifice. It turns out you can embrace simple, clean eating without having to settle for bland food that leaves you feeling unsatisfied. By incorporating these different ultra-healthy add-ons you can both enhance the flavor of your dishes while simultaneously upgrading their nutritional value and health benefits. These ingredients also happen to help support the body in a myriad of different ways - they can help boost alkalinity, decrease inflammation, increase energy levels, support healthy digestion, and aid in detoxification.

1. Fermented Foods

The gut is more than just the core of our body, it is also the core of our immune system. One of the main ways we can build up a strong immune system is by incorporating fermented and probiotic-rich foods into our daily diet. Things like cultured coconut yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchi, tempeh, natto, miso, and raw apple cider vinegar are all foods that can be incorporated right into your recipes and meals to add a boost of healthy flora. You can also try blending an organic probiotic powder like Sunbiotics into things like smoothies or protein shakes for extra beneficial bacteria for your gut. Your digestion and immune system will thank you.

2. Fresh Sprouts

An easy way to boost your overall vitamin, mineral, and phytonutrient intake is to eat sprouts on a regular basis. They are bursting with life energy! These can be alfalfa, broccoli, sunflower, lentil, or any other sprouts of your choice. You can find them at the health food store, or learn to grow them easily right at home. They’re a rich source of enzymes to help support more complete digestion, and they also contain plenty of potent plant nutrients and compounds that help protect our cells and ward off disease. They’re also a great source of easily digestible plant protein! Toss them on salads, soups, add them to sandwiches, or just munch on a handful as a snack.

3. Unrefined Coconut Oil

The human body needs healthy fats to thrive, and while fat is pretty easy to come by, the type of fat and overall quality is paramount. Unrefined coconut oil is a pantry must-have because it’s full of health benefits and is very stable cooking oil, which can’t be said for most vegetable oils. It is less likely to oxidize or go rancid when heated. It has a smoke point of around 280-365°, and can even be used to saute or roast vegetables. Coconut oil is also a great source of medium-chain triglycerides which have been shown to help boost metabolism, aid in energy production, and help keep blood sugar levels stable.

4. Himalayan Pink Salt

One of the easiest ways to add extra trace minerals to your diet is by swapping out common table salt for a pink Himalayan salt (or another high-quality sea salt like Celtic salt). While both table salt and Himalayan salt are comprised of mostly one element - sodium chloride - Himalayan salt contains up to 84 additional minerals and trace elements - making it a far superior choice. This can be very helpful in balancing electrolyte levels, especially in hot climates or after exercise.

5. Seaweeds

Speaking of mineral salts, seaweeds such as nori, pulse, kelp, dulse, arame, wakame, and kombu are all excellent sources of minerals, including iodine which can help protect the thyroid and may help stimulate weight loss. The mineral salts found in sea salt help build the blood and alkalinize the body. Sea veggies are also very cleansing and have been shown to help rid the body of heavy metals, toxins, and radiation. Try using nori as a wrap with brown rice or quinoa, roasted vegetables, and a yummy tahini sauce, or sprinkle some dulse flakes over your salad, soups, or avocado toast.

6. Fresh Herbs

There’s nothing quite like fresh herbs when it comes to adding flavor to food, yet it’s also easy to walk right past them on the produce rack, while you load up on more staple vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and zucchini. Don’t forget to include on your shopping list cilantro, parsley, chives, basil, and mint - add them to salads or find other creative ways to utilize them as garnishes to your existing meals. They contain plenty of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, chlorophyll, and plant compounds that help boost the immune system.

7. Fresh Spices

If you tend to rely on powdered spices to flavor your food, try subbing some of those for the fresh stuff. Instead of dried ginger or turmeric, try using the fresh roots. They can be finely minced and used in recipes, juiced, or steeped to make fresh tea. You will get even more of the plant’s health benefits because the nutrients haven’t been degraded by heat and oxidation. That’s not to say dried spices are bad. There’s plenty of benefits to using things like dried cayenne which helps boost digestion and has antibacterial properties, and cinnamon which has been shown to help balance blood sugar levels.

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