Coconut sugar is made in a natural 2-step process:

1. A cut is made on the flower of the coconut palm and the liquid sap is collected into containers.
2. The sap is placed under heat until most of the water has evaporated.

Sugar and HFS are refined and do not contain any nutrients, while coconut sugar is not processed and thus keep some of its nutrients. Most notable of these are the minerals Iron, Zinc, Calcium and Potassium, along with some short chain fatty acids, polyphenols and antioxidants that may also provide some benefits although very minor. The key coming is that coconut sugar contains a fiber called inulin, which may slow glucose absorption and explain why coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than regular table sugar. The glycemic index (GI) is a measure of how quickly foods raise blood sugar levels. Glucose is given a GI of 100 and if a food has a GI of 50, then it raises blood sugar half as much as pure glucose. Coconut Sugar is given a GI of 35, which puts it in a lower range. This is much lower than table sugar, which is somewhere around 60.

*Beware that GI can vary greatly between individuals. GI can also vary between different batches of food, meaning that products from other manufacturers might have slightly different effects.

Last spring, my VP of sales Peter and I were at a food show in Chicago.  I love Chicago. The people are incredibly friendly and the vibe has always been so great.  It and San Diego are my two favorite places, so leave it to Chicago to get this whole crazy cookie thing started. While attending a food show and doing some recon, Peter grabbed some breakfast grab and go cookies from another exhibitor that he absolutely loved. He put them in a bag for me to check out when I got back to NY and I threw the bag into my roller bag not knowing what he had picked up for me. Peter has been in the natural food world forever and is a big cookie lover. I really respect his opinion. He has always wanted us to do a healthy cookie as he doesn’t think anyone does it really well. While the idea has been intriguing, I know so little about baking (my heart lies in fruits and veggies and minimally processed foods). That being said who doesn’t love a good cookie! Anyway, show ends and the Blackhawks are just few hours from winning the Stanley Cup that night. My flight back is the next morning.  I get an early night’s sleep and hit the airport from the subway. At the gate I’m standing next to a smiling woman and her son in line, we make some nice chit chat and board the plane. It’s a big plane, but it turns out she and her son are right next to me! Conversation continues and turns to what we do for a living. I do snacks, and it turns out she does cookies. And low and behold we had been attending the same trade show. Chicago is a big town and has lots of trade shows and lots of people flying in and out on a daily basis. My curiosity now is peeked as this is quite an interesting coincidence. Conversation goes back and forth, I glean that she is a single mom, attending her first trade show, going after her dream. Boy does that story resonate with me as I am a little guy, who had just gone thru what she had a few years previously. We hit it off great. She is funny, compassionate and driven. Her name is Lisa and I learn that the company is called ‘Morning Sunshine Breakfast Cookie.’ I also learn that she might be interested in a investor in her business. I tell her of Peter’s vision for cookies and that I or rather LesserEvil might be interested in the future. By the time we arrive in NY we’ve become fast friends and we are going to keep in touch.

The next day I’m back in Larchmont, NY and while unloading my roller bag, I unwrap the plastic bag that Peter told me to take home. Inside are two cookies; both by Morning Sunshine Breakfast Cookie! I am speechless. These trade shows have hundreds of exhibitors. I try them and show my family; we all agree it’s a perfect LesserEvil product. I call Lisa. We launch cookies nationally this month (Feburary 2016)! Only time will tell, but Lisa and I agreed that the universe was trying to tell us something and we agreed to listen.

Himalayan Crystal Salt is over 200 million years old and believed to be the purest salt on this planet. Deep in the mountains, isolated and unscathed from pollution, this amazing salt has been preserved by ice and snow.  There are some amazing benefits to Himalayan Pink Salt and the reason why it should be in every pantry around the planet.  

WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE BENEFITS?

• Aiding in vascular health
• Supporting healthy lungs and respiratory function
• Promoting a stable pH balance within the cells
• Reducing the signs of aging
• Promoting healthy sleep patterns
• Increasing libido
• Prevents muscle cramps
• Increases hydration
• Strengthen bones
• Lowers blood pressure
• Improves circulation
• Detoxifying the body of heavy metals

When using this salt, you’re actually getting less sodium intake per serving than regular table salt.  This is because it’s unrefined and in colloidal form, which makes it easier for our cells to absorb.  With the same 84 trace minerals and elements as our bodies such as sodium chloride, sulphate, calcium, potassium and magnesium; Himalayan salt is one of a kind.  

SALT COMPARISON

Sea salt is still a lot better than your standard table salt, but let’s face it the oceans are getting more polluted every day and causing the obtained sea salt to be over processed.  

Commercial table salt is stripped of all it’s minerals except chloride and sodium.  Next it’s bleached, cleaned with chemicals and then heated at extremely high temperatures.  A synthetic Iodine is then added, which is very difficult for our bodies to take in.   You’ll notice that this table salt doesn’t stick together and doesn’t dissolve in water quickly.  These anti-caking agents prevent the table salt to be absorbed and leads to build up in your organs.  In recent studies, it shows that for each gram of table salt consumed that the body cannot process, our bodies will use up to 20 times the amount of cellular water to neutralize the amount of sodium chloride.   

Using refined table salt is extremely bad for our health and with other salts like sea salt being more and more processed, it’s the right choice to go to the mountains.  Himalayan Pink Salt is pure and unrefined.  Have you added it to your grocery list? 

This amazing salt can be found in your local grocery store.  I wish you a healthy and happy journey.  

Sources for this article: 

http://fitlife.tv/10-amazing-benefits-of-pink-himalayan-salt/

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/himalayan-crystal-salt-benefits/

http://www.himalayanlivingsalt.com/salt_facts.htm

http://authoritynutrition.com/how-much-sodium-per-day/

Sugar is everywhere, and seemingly IN everything. We all know we should limit our consumption, especially children’s, but how do we know where to find it if it’s not obvious? Besides looking at the ‘sugars’ section on the back of a box, there are tons of hidden added and natural sugars in many surprising foods. No one packs lunches their kids lunchbox full of Oreos, but some foods most people would consider healthy or average lunch choices are filled with sugar. A PB&J, applesauce, or whole wheat bread all pack in tons of sugar, and can equal even more sugar consumption than a lunch of Oreos when combined.

Adults are suggested to limit their sugars to no more than 40 grams daily, if following the average 2,000-calorie/day diet. The average child under 12 consumed 29 pounds of sugar per year, wow! The goods news is that children are consuming less added sugar than in 2000, but kids are still getting more sugar, about 16%, in their diets than recommended. Added sugar is a common ingredient in foods like ice cream, soft drinks, breads and processed foods. When you see these ingredients listed, they’re code for ‘added sugar’: malt syrup, high fructose corn syrup, dextrin, dextrose, and maple syrup. These added sugars equal empty calories, increasing the chance of overeating, obesity and health problems in children.

The Mayo Clinic published the following chart to display average sugar intake and calories that result:

*They note, more calories from added sugar come from foods than from beverages. And more added sugars are consumed at home than at school, from vending machines or restaurants.

Sugar overload = Serious health problems: Sugar overload can lead to serious health issues. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and weight gain are just a few of the obstacles children can face if their diet is packed with sugar. Developing high blood pressure as a child greatens the risk of heart disease at a younger age. What’s equally scary is that excess sugar has been known to depress your body’s immunity. 20 teaspoons of sugar a day, the same amount of sugar contained in two average 12-ounce sodas, can greatly suppress the body’s immune responses. Overindulging in sugar causes a drop in the ability of your body’s white blood cells to engulf bacteria.

 It gets tricky with labeling: Unlike ‘fats’, the FDA does not require manufactures to reveal how much sugar is added to their product, and how much of it is natural. Remember to look at the ingredient list. The higher up the sugar or sugar product, the more sugar in the product.

What can we do?

– Sugar is measured in grams; keep in mind 4g is equal to one teaspoon of sugar.

– Use smaller bowls for ice cream and other sweet treats, they’ll take care of the portion control or you.

– Limit portions of desserts. Encourage fruit as a healthy and sweet craving killer. Let children have treats sparingly, not around the clock.

– Cut out sugar filled cereals. They often contain harmful dyes as well. Switch to whole-grain cereals, or oatmeal. Make sure they don’t have added sugar.

– Limit sports drinks, juices, and other flavored beverages and swap them out for water or milk.

– Remember not all sugar is bad. Fruits, milk and starchy veggies all contain natural sugars along with many nutrients. But kids aren’t looking for starchy veggies to fill their sweet tooth craving.

– Remember that the higher up the ingredient in the ingredient list, the more of it there is inside your product. If sugar is listed in the top 3 ingredients, there’s most likely way too much in there.

What do you think? How do you limit your families sugar intake? What do you watch out for? Any tips? Share below for a chance to win a free bag of LesserEvil Snacks!

Sources for this article include:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-blog/kids-and-sugar/bgp-20056149

http://www.parents.com/recipes/nutrition/kids/sugar-shock/?page=4

There’s a lot of buzz around ‘Oil-Pulling’ recently, and the health benefits it can offer. Oil-pulling is a new way of gargling, without the harsh taste of Listerine or other mouth washes. Instead of your traditional thirty second swish and spit, you gargle oil for about fifteen-twenty minutes and then spit out. The entire purpose is to rid your body of toxins, including harmful bacteria and plaque. Oil-pulling is based on an ancient Ayurvedic practice, and is something that’s widely practiced today. Many people are drawn to Oil-pulling as an alternative to modern medicines or techniques. Oil-pulling has been known to cause whiter teeth, better breath, relief from migraines as well as better vision, softer skin, and eczema and arthritis relief.

While this may seem overwhelming or intimidating, it’s pretty simple.  You only need one tablespoon of any pure oil: sesame, coconut, and oil are the most popular. You then keep the oil in your mouth and gargle for around fifteen-twenty minutes, then spit out into a trash can, rinse, and brush your teeth normally.

The main benefit of oil-pulling is that it reduces the amount of harmful bacteria in your mouth. We all know that tons of bacteria lives inside of us, oil-pulling simply gets rid of the bad stuff, including plaque. The bacteria is dissolved from oil-pulling. Many people report feeling refreshed or that their mouth felt very clean after they finished. Others found that they saw an improvement in their overall oral health: they had fresher breath, healthier gums, and whiter teeth.

Oil-pulling is an inexpensive, easy and quick way to better your oral health. There are no downsides to trying this out, and people are really buzzing about this oil-swishing craze. So try it out today and let us know how it goes for you!

]]> http://lesserevillife.com/oil-pulling-the-new-way-to-rid-your-body-of-toxins-and-get-better-skin/feed/ 2 http://lesserevillife.com/25-easy-random-acts-of-kindness-to-do-today/ http://lesserevillife.com/25-easy-random-acts-of-kindness-to-do-today/#comments Wed, 23 Jul 2014 18:18:03 +0000 http://lesserevillife.com/?p=3605 25 Easy Random Acts of Kindness You Can Do Today!

For as long as I can remember, my dad has stressed the importance of giving back. You don’t have to stretch your wallet; it doesn’t have to be money related. A compliment or a kind gesture goes a long way. Try a couple random acts of kindness today and see the good come right back around to you.

Compliment someone to their boss
Leave a nice tip
Anonymously pay for someone else’s meal
Open the door for someone
Let the person behind you in line go ahead of you
Email an old friend and write about your favorite memories
Give a homeless person your doggy bag after a big meal
Write your friend a handwritten letter
Give someone a hug
Send anonymous flowers to someone
Pay the toll for the person behind you
Give a tissue to someone who’s crying in public
Adopt a rescue
Say thank you to a janitor
Help elderly neighbors with manual chores like mowing the lawn
Buy lemonade from kid’s stand
Leave quarters in the candy machine
Volunteer at a community garden
Send a note of appreciation
Thank a veteran
Praise your coworkers
Say ‘good morning’ to a stranger
Help a mother carry her baby stroller up stairs
Offer your seat to an elderly, disabled, or pregnant person
Give a friend a book you’ve finished and loved

Give some of these a go, you’ll see in no time you’re left happier, feeling better about your day, and left with a smile on your face. Share what random acts of kindness you’ve done below!

Sources for this article include:

http://christopherspiewak.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/pay-it-forward-2014-random-act-of-kindness.jpg