Sunday, April 28, 2013

Brain Healthy Decadence


Cacao Hazelnut Brain Bliss

Nearly all of the ingredients in this decadent spread are beneficial for brain function. Check out the notes below for more information!

*2cups Hazelnut Butter
1/3 cup cacao
1/3 cup coconut oil
20-30 drops Hazelnut Stevia (if you only have plain liquid Stevia that should be fine)
pinch of salt

Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend.
Enjoy as a fruit dip, spread or the way I like it….by the spoonful!

Hazelnut butter
1lb raw hazelnuts.

Preheat oven to 350°
Roast for 10-15 min on a sheet pan.
When cool, place in food processor with a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth.

Benefits of Hazelnuts:
 Hazelnuts are rich in vitamin B6 which is necessary for nervous system function. In addition,B6 is necessary for the creation of myelin, the insulating sheath of the nerve that increases the speed and efficiency of electrical impulses, allowing the nervous system to operate optimally. What's more, vitamin B6 is instrumental in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters serotonin,
melatonin, and epinephrine.

Benefits of Coconut Oil:
There are numerous benefits of coconut oil (too many to explain here).
“There's another substance that can feed your brain and prevent brain atrophy. It may even restore and renew neuron and nerve function in your brain after damage has set in.
Ketones are what your body produces when it converts fat (as opposed to glucose) into energy. And a primary source of ketone bodies are the medium chain triglycerides (MCT) found in coconut oil!

Coconut oil contains about 66 percent MCTs.”


Benefits of Cacao:
“Flavanols may act on the brain structure and function directly by protecting neurons from injury, improving metabolism and their interaction with the molecular structure responsible for memory researchers said. Indirectly, flavanols may help by improving brain blood flow.”