Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this is not a medical advice.
Almonds a rich source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, monosaturated fats (the healthy kind), protein, dietary fiber, vitamin E, and other potent antioxidants. Controlled trials have shown that eating almonds (and other types of nuts) can decrease inflammation, promote healthy blood vessels, and reduce insulin resistance. Meta-analyses have found that eating nuts is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, stroke, cancer, and certain types of infections.
Avocado is loaded with nutrients and dietary fiber. Avocado contains fiber which is a complex carbohydrate. It has been reported that fiber increases microbial diversity, prevents constipation, helps manage weight, regulates blood sugar and aids with gastrointestinal distress.
https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/healthy-and-delicious-avocado.html
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29902436/
Activated nuts just means nuts soaked in water for long periods of time, like 7-12 hours.
Grains, flour, legumes, nuts, and seeds all have a protective coating. This coating inhibits the absorption of nutrients and can often cause inflammation.
For optimal absorption of nutrients, it is important to soak all grains, flours, legumes, nuts, and seeds prior to cooking.There are a few reasons people activate nuts, legumes and grains: a) it can reduce phytates, b) thereby increasing bioavailability of nutrients within these foods, and c) the foods can be gentler on the digestive system.
Soaking nuts activates their nutrient value and helps you digest them better!
We activate all nuts used in our recipes.
Bananas contain vitamin B6 which is a B vitamin. Research shows that vitamin B6 is important for brain development, immune system function and skin collagen production.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6651795
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24191156
Beets, along with spinach, carrots, and cabbage, are a great source of nitrates (not to be confused with nitrites). Nitrates are compounds that convert to nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide opens up your blood vessels, which helps lower blood pressure and heart rate, and stimulate blood flow. Beets are great for your heart, your gut (lots of fiber), and your brain.
Blueberries contain antioxidants that can fight oxidative damage and defend against free radicals. Shown to help support the gut flora in the digestive tract, some studies have even linked Blueberry consumptions to mood and cognitive improvements.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16053243/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12517117/
Cashews are good protein source. They also loaded with good (unsaturated) fats which not only good for your heart but also for the myelin sheath of your brain. Most importantly, cashews are high in copper and magnesium. Magnesium organizes nerve activity; it can help with depression, anxiety and sleep. Copper helps convert dopamine to norepinephrine and serotonin into melatonin, all are crucial compounds for mood regulations.
Fermented cashews, used in most raw cheesecake recipes.
Fermentation is the process of introducing healthful cultures (probiotics, bacteria, and sometimes yeasts) into vegetables, seeds, or nuts, and letting them naturally ferment the food to create a probiotic bomb that will propagate healthful intestinal flora.
Fermentation in case of nuts (in raw vegan cheeses) make the oils readily available and easily digestible for the body. It also eats up all inorganic salts (turning them into organic minerals), and simple carbohydrates (such as sugars).
Probiotics assist the body’s naturally occurring bacteria to reestablish themselves.
Regularly consuming fermented foods as part of ones diet is widely known to have powerful anti-aging properties, and keep the immune system strong enough to ward off diseases.
We use high-quality L. acidophilus probiotic to ferment our cashews.
L. acidophilus is a specific probiotic strain from the Lactobacillus genus. Lactobacilli are generally known to support digestion, enhance the immune system, and reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal disorders. Lactobacillus acidophilus, one of the most well-known probiotic species, has been studied for its multi-mechanistic role in human health and has been linked to pathways associated with immunity, blood sugar regulation, cholesterol metabolism, and more.
Read more about benefit of probiotics here:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4006993/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26786971/
Coconut Meat contains medium chain triglycerides which are a class of fatty acids. Medium chain triglycerides are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. They decrease intestinal inflammation, altering your gut environment to help beneficial bacteria thrive. Research shows that essential fatty acids nourish your brain, enhance gut health and decrease inflammation.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26177664/
Dates are a sweet and delicious source of natural sugars and fiber, with high concentrations of potassium and vitamin A, among other vitamins and minerals. Although sweet, they have a low glycemic load—meaning that when eaten in moderation, they should have a relatively mild impact on blood sugar levels. The health benefits of dates are plentiful, but here are just a few: Boost Energy, Strengthen Bones, Relieve Constipation, Promote Heart Health, Reduce Inflammation.
Ginger contains gingerol which is a polyphenol. Gingerol reduces inflammation and improves digestion.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3785436/
Grapes contain resveratrol which is a polyphenol. Resveratrol supports healthy mitochondrial functioning by stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis, a process in which mitochondria increase in mass and produce more energy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5883375/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20083859/
Hazelnuts contain fiber which is a complex carbohydrate. Research shows that fiber increases microbial diversity, prevents constipation, helps manage weight, regulates blood sugar and aids with gastrointestinal distress.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15173415/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29902436/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28230737/
Inulin (taken from the nutritious Chicory Root) is an excellent dietary component to help enrich beneficial microbes within the gut. Broken down and fermented to create Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs), Inulin promotes gut microbial stability, reduces inflammation levels in the gut ecosystem, and even supports intestinal cell health.
Lemons contain dietary fiber, which helps lower our blood sugar levels and aids in digestion. Lemons are also high in the Vitamin C that can help fortify our immune system; citric acid that promotes kidney health, and many antioxidants could help bolster our cardiovascular system.
Limes contain vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin E, folate, niacin thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus and protein. Lime also contains flavonoids, which are composites that contain antioxidant and cancer fighting properties. It helps prevent diabetes, constipation, high blood pressure, fever, indigestion, as well as improve the skin, hair, and teeth.
Maqui berries are very rich in anthocyanins, which are purple pigments with very high antioxidant activity. Anthocyanins have excellent natural anti-inflammatory properties meaning they can help treat nearly every form of chronic disease from heart disease and cancer to arthritis and diabetes. These antioxidants also help prevent cholesterol from being oxidized in the body which reduces the risk of heart disease like atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.
Pineapple contains bromelain which is a proteolytic enzyme. Bromelain helps breakdown proteins into amino acids.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08820130802083622
Pumpkin contains Vitamin A (beta-carotene) which is a carotenoid. Beta-carotene is a precursor for Vitamin A. It has been reported that beta-carotene can enhance cell proliferation and defend against infection.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24598882/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20200262/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18046911/
Raspberries contain anthocyanins which are a group of flavonoids. Once flavonoids are metabolized, anthocyanins are absorbed by your body. Studies indicate that anthocyanins enhance diversity of beneficial bacteria, decrease inflammation, promote a healthy metabolism, are neuroprotective and have antioxidant properties.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15605279/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12547288/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22439618/
Strawberries have powerful antioxidant content and do not rapidly boost a person's blood sugar, making them an ideal choice for those who have diabetes, and a safe, delicious addition to any diet. Besides strawberries reduce risk of stroke, cancer; they improve the heart health, increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels, and lower your blood pressure. They can also help better your brain function, and enhance eye and skin health.
Sweeteners
In our kitchen we don't use highly processed GMO white sugar. We prefer alternatives that are not only harmless but offer some benefits as well:
Raw Honey
Coconut sugar
Maple Syrup
Date Sugar
Xylitol
We do not use agave as it is 70-90% fructose, which doesn’t spike insulin as quickly as glucose because your body doesn’t immediately recognize fructose as sugar. But fructose goes to your liver and causes fat accumulation there, damaging your liver and causing inflammation and free radical damage in a way glucose does not. https://www.jci.org/articles/view/37385/figure/6
Walnuts that are a rich source of vitamins C, B, E, as well as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium and zinc. They are good for your ♥️ and your 🧠 amongst other things.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, can protect against cardiovascular disease, boost immunity, promote nutrient utilization and help fight vision loss.