Raw Chocolate - My Personal Favourite
Graduate, Karen Howard, is the official ‘chocolatier’
of Indigo Herbs in Glastonbury.
Over many months of
focused trial and error, Karen has developed the
ultimate raw chocolate recipes,
including a Pure chocolate and several herbal
chocolate combinations. In Pure Passion Karen
added Mucuna pruriens, an Ayurvedic mood enhancing
herb, and Tynanthus paneurensis, an Amazonian
aphrodisiac; in Pure Goddess she combines
Shatavari, an Ayurvedic herb to provide stamina
and deep seated energy reserves and Maca, a herb
known to provide nutrient support for the nervous
and hormonal systems; and in Pure Hero she
supports the needs of men’s hormonal chemistry
with Ashwagandha, a stress relieving herb,
Gokshura, a herb that supports stamina and bone,
flesh and cartilage building and strengthening and
Kappikachhu, an Ayurvedic mood enhancer that
supports positive thinking. She also offers Pure
Energy and Pure Life and a ‘Make Your Own’ Kit, so that
you can learn how to make delicious Raw Chocolate
of the highest quality for yourself.
Raw Cacao, also known as Kakaw, or by its Latin name,
Theobroma cacao, originates from South America, where
it was early recognized to induce feelings of
euphoria. Raw Cacao is high in antioxidants,
tryptophan, sulphur, chromium, magnesium and iron. It
also contains Dopamine (lack of Dopamine
linked to addiction and introversion - increased
Dopamine associated with ability to experience
pleasure), Phenylethylamine (known to
mimic the brain chemistry of a person in love),
and Serotonin (a natural mood
enhancer and appetite suppressant). In fact, Raw
Cacao contains more than 300 chemical compounds
and is considered a ‘superfood’ due to it’s
extremely high ratio of nutrient to calories. Due
to its rich nutritive qualities it is a natural
relaxant, mood enhancer, supports the growth of
beautiful shiny hair, glowing skin, strong nails,
and is a natural liver cleanser. It also supports
the work of the pancreas. Its high magnesium
content is wonderful for supporting balanced brain
chemistry and hormonal function. Cacao contains
both Anandamine, a neurotransmitter
that is know to create blissful states, and enzyme
prohibitors that decrease our bodies ability to
break down Anandamine. What this means is that we
achieve a blissful state when we eat Cacao that
LASTS. Think about it. Delicious, nutritious,
blissful...and it lasts.
Nectar of the Gods in my opinion, and the Mayans
agreed. They believed that the Plumed Serpent gave
cacao to the Mayans along with a plethora of other
highly nutritious superfoods. The Latin name for
cacao means ‘Food of the Gods.’ Well, there is a lot
to learn about the properties of cacao, but the best
place to begin is with personal experience. Try some
of Indigo Herbs raw chocolate, and find out for
yourself just how blissful eating the highest quality
pure raw chocolate can be.
Spring Discount through End of March
March 2012
DISCOUNT
Enrol
now for summer and autumn classes and receive a 10%
Discount
Class options
include:
Iridology Level 1 and
2
Healing Diets
Teacher Training
Naturopathy and the
Elements
Living Foods
Gourmet Vegetarian
Cooking
Superfoods
Vegan Baking
Flower Essence
Training
10 Tips for Winter Fasting
1. Use hot water bottles to keep your core warm. If you tend to cold extremities, then rest your toes on hot water bottles as well.
2. When you fast it is so important to rest, and where better than in the cosy warmth of a hot bath. As the water cools, add more hot water. Candle light, a good book, relaxing meditation, and essential oils all add to the experience. When you are ready to get out bundle up in towels warmed on the radiator and get under the covers with a hot water bottle. Lovely ♥
3. Wear cosy socks and comfortable layers. Bundle under the covers. Create an oasis of cosiness where you have all within arms reach and can relax in warmth and peace.
4. Drink warm water with a touch of cayenne and ginger. I like to gently simmer water with grated ginger in it and then add a small amount of cayenne to the mix after taking it off of the heat. There is the view that cayenne and ginger added to water would prevent you from reaching the basal metabolism rate of fasting, and this is a consideration if you are following a strict fast for serious health reasons. Otherwise, enjoy the warm pleasure of ginger and cayenne for winter fasting.
5. Sunbathing, even in winter, is a wonderful and important part of fasting. However in winter, when you sit out in the sun, you will need to bundle up extra warm. Avoid losing core heat. Take your hot water bottle and feather comforter outside with you.
6. As with all fasting it is best not to be busy with work and child care. If you aren’t able to take a complete break while fasting, then juice fasting may be a better choice than a complete fast. Juice will provide energy to keep up with daily life, and if juice fasting you are less likely to feel easily cold during winter fasting.
7. Relaxed stretching will keep your lymph and circulation moving, and is a natural way to heat up your body. However, when water fasting your energy can be low, so only do movement exercise if it feels comfortable and easy for you.
8. Hot Stone Massage. I add this one because it is my secret fantasy to get endless divine bodywork while undergoing a fasting retreat. Sigh.
9. Cosy up with someone you love ♥
10. When you are ready to break your fast, do so with warm alkaline broth. Yum!
Academy of Healing Diets with Bonny Casel
‘The English Riviera’ - Torquay, Torbay, Devon
The Healing Diets Teacher Training is part of the Naturopathy, Master Iridologist and Master Herbalist Diploma programmes, or can be studied separately. Students who wish to undertake a Healing Diets Diploma can speak to Bonny directly to discuss the curriculum and requirements.
