healthy habits

I'm all about the healthy living. It's mostly because I have struggled with digestive health issues due to my Celiac disease and all that has come with that. Lately I've been on a bit of a cleanse, because even though I've been gluten, sugar, processed food, and dairy free for quite a few years, my symptoms have not gone away. Between chronic stomach pain, bloating and skin inflammation, I've pretty much had enough. So I've been living on bone broth and healthy treats that keep me full enough, but also help to detox my body and my heal it at the same time (also these recipes are super good for anti-aging and skin health if you are looking for a natural beauty routine). That means lots of bone broth and detox smoothies. This particular smoothie recipe I found is for liver and heavy metal detox, but I'm pretty sure that in general it's just super healthy and not gross like many people would assume for a veggie smoothie. These chocolate treats are also my current biggest vice because I'm a chocolate addict, but because they are high in fat from almond butter and coconut oil, they keep you full, and give you energy. And they taste SO good. SO GOOD. And they're super low in sugar, and are great if you're on a ketogenic or ketotarian diet :) I also eat a lot of coconut kefir because it's vegan and super high in healthy bacteria, to give you gorgeous skin and a healthy gut. But I don't make it, I buy it from a local company A healthy gut means beautiful skin and a healthy brain. All the important things, non!? 

Recipes below!

Detox smoothie

3/4 of a peeled cucumber
1 celery stalk
1 lemon juiced
a handful of cilantro (aka coriander)
handful of spinach (optional)
a dime size piece of organic ginger (peeled)
water
tbsp of MCT oil (helps to keep you full, and has a ton of other benefits. Look it up)
* You can also add a banana to this if you're good with fruit

Add all ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth! Add water to your liking. I normally use a lot because I don't like it to be too thick and soupy, I prefer it a bit lighter. 

Almond Chocolate Squares

1 cup each coconut oil & almond butter (or any nut butter of your choosing)
*try to use a coconut oil that doesn't have a strong coconut flavour, I find the ones that have a strong flavour just overpower the treat and I don't love it. 
1 tbsp of honey (or more, depending on how you like it)
1 heaping spoonful of cacao powder or cocoa powder (or more, to taste)
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of sea salt
spoonful of Cacao nibs for the top if you're fancy like that. 

Mix nut butter, coconut oil, cocoa, cinnamon and salt in food processor until smooth. It will be runny. Pour into parchment lined loaf pan. Put in freezer for 15-20 minutes, then remove and add cacao nibs and extra sea salt to top of you like, and use a sharp knife to score/cut it into squares. Put back in freezer for another 20 minutes and voila. Done! 

Healing Chicken Bone Broth

Roast 2-4lbs of chicken bones in oven until fully cooked and browned. (Try to use hormone/antibiotic free bones, if not organic) I cook them on 375 for about 45 minutes. 

Remove chicken bones from oven and add to the bowl of a slow cooker (I have the Instant Pot and it's AMAZING. I highly recommend it)

Add cool water until you fill it to almost the max allowable volume. Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and let soak on bones for up to an hour (this helps to pull the minerals from the bones better so that you get the proper gelatinous texture when your broth is done)

Add spices & veggies. I use sage, turmeric, thyme, celery, onion, peppercorn and salt. Add to your liking. For onion and celery, chop roughly including peels and leaves. Apparently they are good for you too!

Turn slow cooker on low for 18-24 hours. 

Once it is done cooking, strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth and put it in the fridge. I put mine in mason jars because that just seems to work best. 

Once cool, you should have a layer of fat on top (scrape off and discard because it's not good for you. The fat is where toxins in the body are stored...ew)

You should have a soupy gelatinous texture when cool. This means you have all the collagen and minerals in it to make your skin and hair beautiful (and it's amazing for anti-aging too.) I f you have digestive issues like me, it'll help to heal the gut as well. 

Warm in a pot and enjoy! I like to have mine in a mug with my green smoothie every morning.