Sugar & Spice

 

Sugar & Spice

Sugar and spice and all things nice! Don’t these words conjure up images of cinnamon sugar pancakes, doughnuts and Christmas cookies!?

Most people naturally gravitate towards sweeter things and it brings joy to most faces. But the joy can be short lived when it turns into rollercoaster emotions, tantrums, lack of concentration and decreased performance levels. Never mind the exhaustion, feelings of depression, muscle pain and cravings the next day.

Most people think twice before they pay for a ripe, juicy mango or paw-paw. How many of you put the same thought into it when buying a chocolate? Society has moulded us and taught us to have sugar from as young as toddler age. It is a mindset. We grow up on rewards of sweets, prizes are chocolates, special occasions are cakes. What about not totally removing it from your diet and being left with feelings of deprivation and rather looking at healthier alternatives or substituting ingredients?

I’m aware of many adults that enjoy treating children and grandchildren with sugary treats. Why not change the treat to a heathier alternative, a day out somewhere or a saltier snack?

The sad part for me is that many adults and grandparents don’t even eat the sugary treats themselves, but give it to those little ones. What they don’t realise, is that they are doing more damage than harm, creating addiction and associating love with sugar.

Our nation is addicted to processed, refined sugar. What example are you setting as parent and grandparent for the younger generations? Look at all the tv commercials and marketing strategies, who is their target market? I’m not talking about the odd indulgence here and there, I’m talking about cereals, snacks, lunch boxes, milky drinks, toys in the sweets etc.

What many people don’t realise, is that you can re-train your tastebuds into not wanting the same amount of sweetness as usual. Instead of replacing sugar with 1:1 ratio sugar alternative, try to reduce the level of sweetness in order to re-train your tastebuds. Change 3 tsp of sugar in your tea, coffee or breakfast to 2 tsp. You can reduce it to 1 tsp the following week. Things might taste bitter or bland the first week or so, until you realise that you were actually after the sugar and not the food or tea in the first place.

By enjoying whole fruit and increasing your fruit intake, you will be getting the right kind of sugar for your brain. Yes, your brain needs the sugar, but in the correct form. Whole fruit also contains fibre, which helps to fill you up, and it acts as a slow release for the sugar. Remember that different fruit have different sugar levels.

Did you know that refined, processed sugar temporarily disrupts your white blood cells that must fight off sickness and disease?

Did you know that sugar disrupts your hormonal system, which is in charge of most functions and systems in your body? Never mind the havoc that it creates on your emotions.

Did you know that disrupted hormones contribute to bad PMS, skin breakouts, weight gain, aggression, irritation, exhaustion and short temper?

Did you know that Candida overgrowth increases with sugar consumption?

What is the SUGAR ADDICTION CYCLE?

*The sugar in your blood spikes.

*Then you feel good, have energy, speak more than usual, feel confident and have a wonderful time.

*The downer sets in. You feel emotional, tantrums start manifesting, you become demanding.

*Exhaustion sets in, short temper and irritation sets in, a feeling of being “hung over”.

*You need more sugar to feel good and capable again.

A must read is a book called “Sugar Shock” by Connie Bennet. It is such an eye opener and you will be able to identify with it in more than one way.

Cinnamon is warming, comforting and a natural sweetener. Cinnamon is my favourite spice, and is not just made for pancakes and Christmas! It can kick a punch in many areas of the body. The oil can be a very potent oil, so use it wisely.

What can cinnamon oil do for you?

*Anti-inflammatory, eases joint pains

*Anti-microbial

*Cleansing

*Helps with neurological disorders

*Helps to regulate blood sugar levels

*Fights parasites

*Stimulates the immune system

*Alleviates menstrual cramps

*Helps with blood circulation

*Warms the body

*Natural acne treatment

*Natural aphrodisiac

A had a Russian friend in a previous town where we stayed who taught me to drink Cinnamon tea. You place cinnamon sticks in a flask and then cover it with boiling water. You then enjoy it a few hours later. Now I have tweaked it a bit. I use 2 Rooibos tea bags with 2 cinnamon sticks in a litre flask. Let everything infuse and steep for at least 2 hours. Enjoy a quarter to half a cup every now and again. If you have too much at a time, it can dry out your mucous membranes. You won’t believe how sweet it tastes!!

Sugar is addictive, and advertising campaigns are fuel on an existing fire. Break the cycle and don’t let sugar break you. In my next blog, I will be helping you to transition to a sweeter life, without sugar.

If you would like to order my favourite essential oil, you can go to my Ancient Biblical Oils link:

Ancientbiblicaloils.co.za?ref=lizellecillie

AIM’s GlucoChrom helps to support healthy blood sugar levels. This is a unique combination of chromium, bitter melon etc, to alleviate fatigue, irritability and cravings. These natural ingredients make cells more receptive to insulin improving the overall processing of insulin.

AIM’s Barleylife, Just Carrots and Redibeets are all-natural plant powder concentrates packed with enzymes, essential amino acids, anti-inflammatory support, immune boosting to give you a good foundation, especially when transitioning to a healthier lifestyle.

You can order the above AIM products from my AIM store here:

www.myaimstore.com/healthamplified

If you would like to ask me any questions, need advice, would like to book a consultation privately or online, you are welcome to send me an email at healthamplified@outlook.com

Many blessings.

Lizelle

 

 

 

Spinal Treatment

 

Spinal Treatment

This is such an important blog, that I have to run it again.

When I first heard of a spinal treatment, I was a bit sceptical. I’m a firm believer that plants and plant oils have healing properties. But to apply 3 different oils in layers and expect specific results, almost sounded too good to be true.

 

You see, nerves branch out from the spinal column throughout your body. The same as where nerves come together underneath the feet. So certain areas can be targeted in your body by stimulating specific areas in your feet. You are actually just touching the nerves that run to specific organs or areas. Now add an essential oil with specific benefits, and it is medicine that gets transferred to that area.

 

Nerves can have blockages caused by chemicals, toxins and heavy metals etc. If your nerves are “blocked”, and information gets scrambled, then how is it supposed to function optimally?

Now the spinal treatment is done by applying 3 layers of essential oils mixed into a carrier oil.

 

The first oil that you apply, is from the group of oils called a Phenol. This is a cleansing oil. You need to clean out or help the body to remove unwanted substances that are stuck in the cell receptor sights. This is usually a spicy or irritating oil example Cinnamon oil.

 

The second layer of oil that you apply along your spine, is from the Sesquiterpene group of essential oils. This is the “deprogramming” stage. Scrambled or miswritten information gets deprogrammed. It is also an oil that helps to repair damaged cell receptor sights done by chemicals or heavy metals. Chemical substances don't “fit” because they don’t have the same structure, thus causing mild to severe damage. Examples of oils from this category are myrrh and lavender oils.

 

The third and final layer is for reprogramming. This is from the Monoterpene group. After the cell receptor sights have been cleansed and deprogrammed, it is time to reprogramme. This group of oils also tend to inhibit accumulation of toxins, and helps discharge existing toxins from the liver and kidneys. These are mostly citrus, pine and Frankincense oils.

 

In short;

 

Step 1: Cleansing

             Example: Cinnamon oil blend

 

Step 2: Deprogramming and repair/rebuild

            Example: Myrrh oil blend

 

Step 3: Reprogramming

            Example: Frankincense oil blend

 

Method:

 

Make sure that you have a good quality essential oil. Have someone apply 1-3 blended drops of Step 1 along your spine. The area covered should be from the base of your neck down to your coccyx. Then you repeat the process with a step 2 oil. Take in mind that it is not a massage, but an application done with gentle yet firm strokes. Then you apply the 3^rd and final oil blend.

If you don’t have someone to help you with the application, then you can do the treatment by applying the oils in different layers underneath the feet.

 

This spinal treatment can be done once a week for a few months to cleanse, repair and reprogramme nerves etc. Remember that the nerves are there to bring communication between different areas in your body. If there are blockages, then messages can be delayed or misinterpreted. If you have an illness or serious condition, this process can be repeated every 3 days for the first 2 or 3 weeks. Then change it to once a week. Make sure to inhale some of the oil that is left over on your hands, as this helps with the healing process in your body.

 

You will experience detoxifying symptoms within the first few applications. Make sure to rest, drink enough water and eat a predominantly plant-based diet.

This treatment can benefit anyone, because everyone needs proper cell and nerve communication in their bodies. It will help your body to reset itself, combatting sickness, disease, inflammation, digestive issues, tiredness and sluggishness.

 

I think it is time to speed up the “internet signals” in our bodies and improve delayed communication, so that we can all get our work done!

Click on the link below where you will be able to order Cinnamon, Myrrh and Frankincense oil blends to do your treatment.

 

Ancientbiblicaloils.co.za?ref=lizellecillie

 

Blessings.

 

Lizelle

 

Recipe:

 

Dark chocolate hazelnut “fudge”

 

300g hazelnuts

Three quarter cup cocoa powder (organic if possible)

1 cup ground sunflower seeds

1tsp cinnamon powder

2 cups dates (soaked in warm water for 30 min)

Half a cup melted coconut oil

 

-Roast hazelnuts around 20 min at 160 degrees Celsius.

-Remove skins by rubbing nuts together in a clean dish towel.

-Place nuts in a food processor, grind until a fine paste.

-Add seeds, soaked dates (removed from water), cinnamon and cocoa.

-Switch food processor on until ingredients are well mixed and dates are fine. Scrape down sides.

-Add melted coconut oil. Mix until it forms a “dough”.

-Press flat in a sprayed cookie pan, 1cm thick.

-Place in the freezer until solid. Cut into squares before it is too hard.

-Once solid, transfer to the fridge. Keep in an airtight container.

 

Mushroom Mania - Part 2

 

Mushroom Mania

Mushrooms in coffee, tea, hot chocolate, shakes, soap… Yes, you heard me right, it’s Mushroom Mania! I chatted about the wonderful world of mushrooms in my previous blog. Today I would like to introduce you to a product line called Organo.

What makes Organo Gold products so interesting, is an ingredient known as Ganoderma Lucidum. As mentioned in my previous blog, this is a mushroom that is used extensively in traditional Asian medicine that has tremendous health benefits, including increased vigor and stamina. I’m sure that all of you will agree that we all need more of that!

The agricultural and food scientists at Organo and its partners start off with organically grown Ganoderma. Using the latest technologies, they gently dry, sterilize and process the mushroom with its tough, wood-like cap into a fine powder. After the mushrooms have been transformed, they are added to create gourmet coffee, tea, hot chocolate and OGFenix shakes for you.

Coffee connoisseurs will appreciate the robust, yet smooth flavour of quality Arabica and Robusta beans, all enhanced with rich Ganoderma Lucidum. From a classic Black, to the King of coffee, Gourmet Latte, Gourmet Mocha with its cocoa-tinged coffee aroma, or a Café Supreme with Ginseng, Ganoderma and Maca.

With its elegant and sophisticated packaging, you will feel like you are royalty. Individually packaged sachets being the only thing that makes these beverages “instant”. This will impress any guest! Remember, the Ganoderma Lucidum or Red Reishi mushrooms were kept for Kings and Emperors in Ancient China. It is available to you!

For those a little more interested in hugs, marshmallows and hot chocolate, then think of indulging in Organo’s Gourmet Hot Cocoa. A rich Dutch cocoa infused with Ganoderma Lucidum to bring comfort, warmth and a silky smooth texture. An added bonus is a very low caffeine content.

How about an invigorating cup of Organic Green Tea? This flavourful tea combines organic green tea leaves and Ganoderma Lucidum mushrooms.

Red Tea is a revitalizing tea blend with red tea leaves, Ganoderma Lucidum and Cordyceps militaris mushrooms. (Please have a look at my previous blog to find out more about this particular mushroom.) This is not rooibos tea leaves, but a refreshing and uplifting Red Tea to enjoy any time of the day.

For those that take their coffee seriously, then make way for their Espresso range. A very stimulating and sophisticated coffee, all containing the Ganoderma mushroom.

Can’t do caffeine or cutting down? Organo catered for you too! Introducing Espresso Zero. A bold, distinctive aroma to give you the coffee experience without the zing of caffeine, or too much of it anyway.

OGFenix is an exclusive protein shake mix that combines a concentrated whey protein along with vitamins, minerals, pre-biotic fibre and Ganoderma Lucidum. Ideal for people that are on the go, short on time or when off to the gym.

Pure Ganoderma Lucidum is also available in “Spore Powder”, “Mycelium/baby” mushroom, or the mature Ganoderma Lucidum form, all with its own unique benefits and selectively placed in a capsule for you.

With 90% of the world consuming some sort of beverage daily, I’m sure you’ll find one that will work for you. Quite a nice thought to sip on your favourite beverage while benefiting from Ganoderma Lucidum’s extensive list of health benefits.

And last but not least, the Organo Essentials Premium Cleansing Soap Bar. A cold pressed, nourishing soap containing apricot seeds, coconut oil, Ganoderma Lucidum mushroom extract, grape seeds and glycerine to name a few. This exclusive cleansing bar also contains glutathione that is an anti-oxidant able to prevent damage caused by free radicals, heavy metals etc. This helps in brightening and lightening your complexion.

Which one sounds like a winner to you, or do you want to go mushroom manic and try all of them!?

Go to healthbaristajaco.myorganogold.com

If you have any questions, need advice or would like to book a consultation with me, you can email me at:

healthamplified@outlook.com

Blessings.

Lizelle

 

Marvelous Mushrooms

 

Marvelous Mushrooms

A very good friend of mine recently made a very special group of ladies the best mushroom risotto ever! A mushroom is a marvelous vegetable, and can elevate any dish.

 

Button mushrooms, Portobello mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, porcini mushrooms… The list is so varied, each with its own unique taste, property and health benefits. Some people prefer the mild, smooth taste of a button mushroom while others like myself prefer the “meaty,” robust, intense taste of mushrooms that are darker in colour.

 

Our first taste of a truffle was in the Netherlands. It was during a cheese tasting that we could experience the taste of cheese with specks of truffle in. The taste was wonderful, but almost familiar. My husband’s first reaction was, “It tastes like droe wors!” A proudly South African dried meat sausage with spices. I once heard a quote about the truffle being the Mozart of mushrooms. Isn’t that a lovely description!? We’ve had truffle infused olive oil during an olive tasting in Cape Town, South Africa before. But truffle specked cheese was next level for us!

Back home I found a “truffle pesto” at a very affordable price. I think it has more cheese, cashews and olive oil in and about 1% truffle. But it was definitely a step closer to tasting the true truffle. I’m probably unleashing the foodie in you, right!

Let’s get back from foodie heaven into the bare ground…

Ganoderma Lucidum, also known as the “king of herbs”, is seen as the powerhouse of mushrooms. This is a large, dark mushroom with a glossy exterior and a woody texture. The latin word lucidus means “shiny” or “brilliant and refers to the varnished appearance of the surface of the mushroom.

For thousands of years, Ganoderma lucidum has been recognized by practitioners of traditional Asian medicine as the highest ranked mushroom for its potency. In China, the Ganoderma lucidum is also called Lingzhi, whereas Japan the name is Reishi or Mannentake. This mushroom has been used for over 2000 years and was documented in ancient scripts.

Their long brown stems and orange-coloured caps make them a spectacular sight, but because these grow on wood in heavily forested areas, they can be hard to see.

The different components of the Ganoderma mushroom that are used for different benefits are the spores (seeds ready to pollinate), the Mycelium (baby or early harvest) and the lucidum or cap part of the mushroom. This is also known as the mature mushroom and is usually harvested at its peak of maturity, around 8 months of age.

While the mushroom themselves can be eaten fresh, it is also common to use powdered forms of the mushroom or extracts that contain these specific molecules.

Now for my favourite part, the health benefits:

·    Reishi can affect the genes in white blood cells, which are very important for your immune system.

·    May alter inflammation levels.

·    Increases the activity of white blood cells also called natural killer cells.

·    These natural killer cells fight infection and cancer in the body.

·    Improves lymphocyte function, and is an excellent addition for athletes that are exposed to stressful conditions.

·    Improves overall vitality and vigor in both male and female.

Another fantastic beneficial mushroom is the Cordyceps Synensis and -Militaris mushroom. These long slender stemmed mushrooms have been used for centuries to treat fatigue, sickness, kidney disease, low sex drive, aging, asthma and depression. It also helps with improved liver function as well as athletic performance.

Supplements and products containing the Ganoderma lucidum or Red Reishi and Cordyceps extract have become increasingly popular due to their many health benefits.

The actual mushroom is not freely available in the fruit and vegetable section of your local grocery store. That is why it is put in capsule or powder form so that everyone can access it and enjoy the benefits.

There is however not enough reliable information about the safety of taking cordyceps if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

With mushrooms being kept for emperors, kings and only the elite few in ancient times, why not tap into the full benefits where you can also be able to experience the vigor and vitality that was once reserved for royalty.

Look out for my next blog where I’ll be sharing a bit more on this interesting topic!

You can have a peak at some products containing these mushrooms so long…

healthbaristajaco.organogold.com

Blessings.

Lizelle

 

The link between your emotions and disease part 3

 

THE FINAL TRILOGY

THE LINK BETWEEN YOUR EMOTIONS AND DISEASE
(Part 3)

I will be elaborating a bit further in this final article on the link between your emotions and disease. Yes, it has been a touchy subject for some of you. But you cannot always just cover a sore with a plaster and forget about it. It can become infected and inflamed.

Let's take off the plasters, clean out the wounds, and add a loving touch to it. You don't want a breeding ground for germs. Some of your emotional pains and burdens are buried so deep in an attempt to forget about it and cope. It is time for it to surface, I know you can do it!

You might be reacting in a certain way in situations, only thinking that you were out of line afterwards. Why? An emotion, word, smell, person or something that you saw might have triggered a deep emotion connected to the "sore, infected" spot. Once the wound is cleaned, which can be painful, it won't hurt anymore. The "pussiness" won't surface in the form of rage, anger, resentment or bitterness as soon as it is touched on or triggered anymore. It will change the way that you react to circumstances.

You might be sitting with sickness and disease in your life, not knowing where it came from or why it is manifesting. Even something as small as a rash or as big as eczema. Your body is telling you that something is not right. Are you going to put a plaster on it in the form of cortisone cream, or are you going to dig a little deeper?

Bad memories secrete toxic chemicals in your brain. These can make you sick. Good, healthy memories secrete good chemicals that lead to healing and optimal health. One of the deepest buried memories with the deepest heartache is abuse. This can lead to many sicknesses, allergies and auto immune diseases.

Abuse can come in many different forms:

• Emotional
• Verbal
• Physical
• Sexual

These can all have a massive impact on your behaviour. With this comes feelings of guilt, fear, anxiety, resentment, stress etc. Who broke your heart? Were you covered and loved as a child? Did you feel safe and nurtured?

 

Abuse can lead to perfectionism and obsessive, compulsive disorders. Do you have a drivenness to perform? The underlying issue might be that you only experience love based on achievement. Were you only "seen" and "loved" when you performed well?

The starting point is forgiveness. This is not about the other person, but for you to be set free from a life of  being in prison.    Forgive the other person and yourself. Release the different emotions that you experienced and let it go. Ask God to fill you with His love, joy, peace and Presence. Only God can truly heal your heart, but you need to learn to forgive and release. No heartache is too deep for God to heal, renew and restore.

The person that abused you might have had a similar experience, being left with rage, anger, fear, anxiety, guilt and abandonment that was never dealt with. This can form a vicious cycle. You have the power to break that cycle by forgiving, releasing and receiving healing. You can change a whole bloodline by standing in the gap with forgiveness. Never mind getting freed from whatever disease has been caused by it. How many broken, abusive relationships are in your family line?

Many fathers react in a certain way because of how their fathers treated them. How were their relationships with other fathers? Were they absent, maybe abusive, cold or irritated? Where and how did they receive love? A new framework or mindset needs to be created in order to bring total restoration.

Remove the plasters and clean the wounds through a process of forgiveness, releasing those emotions, and asking God to come and fill you with His love, joy, peace and Presence. Aerate those wounds today and get rid of unnecessary sickness and disease in your life.

Lizelle

RECIPES

"Toffee apple" rings

Red apple slices cored.(leave the skins on.)

-Oven 140 degrees Celsius.
-Pack a single layer on a baking sheet with baking paper on.
-Bake for half an hour, turn apple rings over, continue baking another half an hour until crispy.
-Or spread a thin layer of honey on the rings and dip in cinnamon and chopped nuts halfway through the baking process.
-Place back in the oven.
-Keep a close eye on the apples the last 15 minutes of baking time to prevent burning.
-Remove from the oven and let it cool. It will become a little more crispy and toffee like.
-Store in a container. It might soften a bit like dried apple rings.

Rich dark chocolate ice cream(serves 4)
Avo in ice cream???!!! You will be surprised at the consistency it creates! Try it...

50ml-100ml cocoa powder
1 Cup coconut milk
1 Large avo or 2 smaller ones
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
Sweetener choices vary according to desired sweetness;
option 1: 2 Tbsp coconut sugar and 2 Tbsp raw honey
option 2: Xylitol to taste
option 3:Soaked dates

-Blend until smooth and creamy.
-Place in the freezer overnight in an airtight container.
-Thaw slightly before serving.(about 20 min)
-Garnish with sprinkled nuts. 

Lienke's broccoli pasta
Broccoli is not usually at the top of any child's menu! This one was created when our youngest was helping me with dinner from what was available in the kitchen. And it was a huge hit with her!

 

 

1 Head broccoli broken into florets

1 Large punnet cherry tomatoes
1 Small plastic cup tomato paste
Olive oil
Pink salt
Quarter tsp Paprika
1 tsp wholegrain mustard
Gluten free pasta (we used elbow corn pasta)
Avo to serve.

-Cook the pasta according to packet instructions.
-Place broccoli, tomatoes, tomato paste in an oven pan with the rest of the seasoning.
-Drizzle with olive oil and salt.
-Grill until tomatoes start to shrivel, mix every now and then.
-Remove from the oven and cover with foil.
-Switch oven off and place pan back into the oven for 10 min.
-The broccoli stems will soften as it steams.
-Serve on the pasta with avo on top.