Quick Energy

It's the holiday season as I write this entry and, as usual this time of year, most people are looking for some kind of quick energy boost because they're worn out from dashing around like crazed chipmunks trying to get ready for Christmas.

Well, I have a quick energy tip for you today that's a whole lot healthier than caffeine, energy drinks, or prescription drugs!

I learned this natural health energy booster secret several years ago from Carol, a reader of my daily health tip newsletter. Here's Carol's letter from February of 2005:

Spinach Power for Quick Energy

Hi there Chet!

I e-mailed you about this once before, but after reading the recent newsletter about the lady who boosted her energy by eating baby spinach leaves, I thought I would mention it again.

You wrote about how good the baby spinach leaves are, and I agree.

However, I don't think that they taste all that terrific plain, so I put them in a blender with unsalted V-8 Juice, and... WOW... talk about a healthy pick-me-up. This stuff is dynamite!

Sure beats the "cup o' joe" or "liquid candy" cola!

Over the years I've had a lot of readers write in about the quick energy boosts they get from eating baby spinach leaves or from blending them in various concoctions like the one Carol has shared with us.

If you're looking for an energy jolt that's both natural and healthy, give spinach a try!

Chet "Quick Energy" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog

Healthy Fudge Recipe

It's the holiday time of year and if you're like most people, you're thinking about fudge.

Isn't it a shame that most fudge recipes are so sugar-laden and unhealthy? I mean, seriously, it's an insult to life that fudge isn't good for us!

Well, today I want to share a recipe I found on Dr. Ben Kim's amazing natural health site for a truly healthy fudge that you can eat without guilt and without adding a lot of extra pounds to the old waist line.

Easy Healthy Fudge Recipe

By Margaret Chuong-Kim

This easy and delicious fudge recipe calls for protein-rich almond butter and antioxidant-rich raw chocolate powder, making it a decadent treat that is much healthier than conventional store-bought fudge.

Although this fudge is made with all-natural ingredients, it is best to eat only one or two small pieces at a time, as eating honey-rich foods can stress one's blood sugar-regulating mechanisms.

Ingredients:

2 cups almond butter
1/4 cup raw cocoa powder, sifted to remove any lumps
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons liquid honey
1 heaping tablespoon coconut oil, melted (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix until well incorporated.

Spoon the mixture into a pan and flatten with the back of a spoon. Place in the freezer for an hour or so, then take it out to cut into bite-size squares or rectangles. Transfer the pieces onto a plate. Keep these covered and stored in the freezer.

An alternative is to spoon the mixture into candy molds; pop them out when they are thoroughly frozen. They have a chewy texture when frozen.

These must be kept in the freezer, otherwise they will become soft and mushy, to the consistency they were at before freezing. So if you take them out to eat, eat them quickly! Also keep this in mind when cutting the fudge; work quickly.

Adapted from a recipe found in: Raw Food/Real World: 100 Recipes to Get the Glow

Thanks to Margaret Chuong-Kim for permission to share this great recipe.

If you have a healthy fudge recipe you'd like to share, click on the "comment" link below and plug it in!

Chet "Fudge Lover" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog