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Aphrodisiac Sweet Potato Sex Bomb Brownie Bites

A treat for you and your loved one...

My girl, ya know what’s missing in your kitchen today? Some of these sexy dark chocolate brownie bites. Every now and then (especially in my luteal phase) I start to crave a little bit of decadence, a little bit of mouth pleasure, and a little more magnesium too. Raw cocoa is one of nature’s superfoods and it’s here to make you feel so GOOD.

Did you know there is actually scientific evidence showing that dark chocolate (without sugar) is a powerful antioxidant which by consuming can help to improve your hormones, reduce bloating, and soothe the spirit?! (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4696435/)

Eating a little dark chocolate is also a perfect way to spark a little playfulness with your lover before heading to the bedroom.

If you don’t believe me, make them for yourself and let us know how it goes.

Recipe

Ingredients:

1 medium large sweet potato (cooked and mashed)
1 egg (or substitute a “chia egg”: 1 Tbsp chia seeds + 2 Tbsp water, stir, and let sit for 5 min)
½ cup almond butter
⅓ cup coconut flour
⅓ cup coconut oil (or ghee)
¼ cup raw cocoa
5 pitted dates (you can also use coconut sugar or maple syrup)
½ cup raw cocoa chocolate chips
1 tsp ceylon cinnamon
1 tsp celtic salt
1 tsp vanilla bean
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp Ashwagandha
Optional Add ins: ½ cup of Raspberries (fresh or dried) ½ cup crushed macadamia nuts

Directions:

In a food processor add your mashed sweet potato, dates, spices, and almond butter. Process until smooth.
Meanwhile in a medium saucepan melt your oils and the raw cocoa on low
Once the oils have melted, transfer your ingredients from the food processor to a large mixing bowl, add your egg, flour, and remaining ingredients and mix well with a fork. Slowly pour in the oils. You want your mixture to be pretty thick, so you may need to add a tiny bit more oil or coconut flour depending on what your consistency is.
Lastly, mix in the chocolate chips and any other optional add ins (like nuts or berries)
Transfer to an 8 inch pan lined with parchment paper, bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Let cool for about 2 hours before serving

Special Ingredients We Used

Raw Cocoa Chocolate Chips from Hu Gems Chocolate

Sun Potion Ashwagandha

Sun Potion Anandamide

Sprouted Almond Butter from Better Almond Butter

Ahara Ghee

Use promo code THESHAKTISCHOOL at checkout for 10% off your order at Ahara Rasa.

The Best Beauty Secret: Clean Water & Why We Need It

Clean water is essential for good health. All of our cells need water to survive. It helps regulate our body temperature, flush out toxins, keeps our skin clear, and we literally cannot live without it. Dr. Jack Kruse, who is a highly respected neurosurgeon, CEO of Optimized Life, a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and Age Management Medicine Group, has likened water to

“life’s battery”

He says, “It keeps our body energized and our systems functioning properly. Good water increases our exclusion zone (EZ), or the area where energy transfers take place for cell functioning, thus improving blood flow and our redox potential. The bigger the exclusion zone, the better the energy transfer.”

Basically, having clean water is how we reduce oxidative stress and it gives our cells energy, so it's essential to our biological thriving.

Have you ever poured a glass of water from the tap and thought, “yuck, what the heck is this?” I know I definitely have. Unfortunately, for many of us, our tap water is some of the most tainted we could consume. Not only is it unpleasant to drink, it’s loaded with highly toxic chemicals like fluoride, chlorine, bromide, and many other narley substances that can cause some major damage to your health. The U.S. Geological Survey tested water in nine different states across the United States in urban and suburban areas. This survey found traces of 85 different man made chemicals! Among these were household and industrial chemicals, pesticides, medications, and many other hormone disrupting pharmaceuticals. One of those being birth control. Remember our recent blog on estrogen dominance? If there’s traces of birth control in our water supply then we are definitely being affected by some unwanted estrogen disruptors.

These super harmful chemicals are overloading our country’s water supply leaving tap water, and even some filtered bottled water, basically toxic and wreaking havoc on our health. Some of the big offenders are fluoride and chlorine. Unfortunately, fluoride is a highly toxic chemical compound that can cause cancer, neurological impairment, lower IQ in children, and cause learning disorders. Chlorine is another and even more common chemical found in our water supply. Not only is it in our pools (where we soak it up through our skin) but, like fluoride, it is also found in city tap water. Exposure to chlorine can cause cell wall damage, autoimmune disorders, asthma, allergies, and many other detrimental health concerns.

How do I test my water?

There are a few different ways to go about testing your water. A very quick and simple way is to visit the website below, plug in your zip code, and see what’s lurking in your water. This site should give you plenty of information to feel well informed about what’s in your water and it also provides a helpful chart to help determine which filters are best for certain chemicals. Another option is to purchase the Allora Water Test Kit. This kit seems to be one of the best and most affordable water test kits on the market. It’s not too expensive and will give you a much more thorough analysis of your water. If you are drinking from a well, this is the kit I would recommend.

City Tap Water Resource: https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/search-results.php?zip5=11233&searchtype=zip

Allora Water Test Kit: https://www.alloratestkits.com.au/shop/

Where can I get clean water or what are the best filters for my tap?

Spring Water

Spring water is some of the best water for your health and is also the tastiest. It is harvested from natural or artisanal mountain springs where the water rushes over rocks, crystals, and is exposed to a diverse natural ecosystem making the water full of minerals that are vital to your health. It can be difficult to find a local spring, but in many rural (and even some urban) areas they are out there. If you do find a spring, make sure that you test it first. You can also purchase spring water at most local grocery stores, but an even better option would be a spring water delivery service.

Reverse Osmosis Filter

Drinking water that has gone through a reverse osmosis filter is going to be your number one healthiest option when it comes to installing a filter in your home. Contrary to many other filters, reverse osmosis filters get rid of most all the chemicals and pesticides from dirty tap water (even glyphosate). This is our favorite reverse osmosis filter. It’s easy to use and doesn’t cost nearly as much as converting your entire home.

Our favorite reverse osmosis filter: AquaTru Reverse Osmosis Filter

Should I add minerals to my water?

Yes! After filtering your water, you've gotten rid of the toxic chemicals, but you’ve also gotten rid of any good minerals that were in the water (if there were any). The best way to remineralize your water is simply by adding some celtic sea salt. You can also remineralize by adding some quinton waters or trace liquid minerals.

Check these out:

Celtic Sea Salt

Quinton Waters

Trace Liquid Minerals

What about Hydrogen tablets?

Yes! It has been shown that adding hydrogen tablets to your water can help to prevent, reverse, or alleviate many health conditions due to its ability to function as an antioxidant or an anti-inflammatory. It has also been proven to increase your energy metabolism. We love to use hydrogen tablets especially while traveling, during stressful times, or after intense exercise.

Save with code SHAKTI for 10% off molecular hydrogen tablets: Vital Reactions Hydrogen Tablets

We love doing what we can to help make a difference in support of cleaner lands and water supply. If you are in a giving mood and would like to donate to a good cause, the Thirst Project is doing amazing things all around the world to help supply different communities with healthy drinking water. Just $25 gives one person safe, clean drinking water for life!!!

Donate for Clean Water: https://www.thirstproject.org/donate/

And, as our good friend Karen always says,

“Go drink water and be nice to people.”

References

Fatty Balls Recipe

In Ayurveda, fat is seen as an important nurtient because of it's role in keeping the body lubricated and hydrated. All the doshas can benefit from adding fat to their diet. You don’t want too much, but you don’t want too little either. Fat helps to fuel your brain, aids in keeping your internal organs functioning optimally, and it also helps to keep your hormones in balance.

Did you know that the human brain is made up of 60 percent fat?

A recent study from the National Library of Medicine, found that fatty acids are among the most crucial molecules that determine your brain's integrity and ability to perform. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20329590)

As always, we love getting our nutrients through whole food sources. So, when it comes to fat we are looking at things like: avocados, avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, organic pasture-raised egg yolks, raw nuts and seeds, and even dark chocolate. Certain fats you want to avoid are things like: highly processed vegetable oils, butter and other meat products that aren’t organic and grass fed, non-organic nut/seed butters, and any other processed trans fats from foods like packaged baked goods, margarine, and fried foods.

In addition to fueling your brain, boosting your mood, and keeping your organs lubricated, fat is also an incredible source of energy and will keep you full for longer. That’s why these “fatty balls” are my favorite go-to snack when I’m in a hurry and need an extra boost. (if kept cool, they're a great snack for hiking/physical activity because they're filling and give you energy 😉

These are SO easy to make, contain only the healthiest ingredients, have no sugar, and are stupid good.

Fatty Balls Recipe:

Ingredients

1 cup coconut shreds
1/3 c. coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup coconut butter
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pepitas
1/2 cup walnuts (brazil nuts or macadamia nuts work great too)
1/2 cup almonds
2 tbsp cacao nibs
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cardamom
1/3 c. almond milk (optional)

*optional add ins: chia seeds, marine (or grass fed beef) collagen powder

Directions

This recipe is super simple to make. All you need is a food processor or a high powered blender.

* Place all ingredients in your food processor. Pulse or blend on high until they reach your desired consistency. We like ours to be pretty well blended with maybe a few crunchy chunks here and there.

* After making the batter, you may need to let it firm up just a bit in the fridge in order to form your balls (usually takes about 10 min). After that you are ready to form the balls into any size you like. Keep in mind the size you want and where you'll be consuming them.

* This is our favorite part of the process: toppings! It’s easiest if you put the toppings in small bowls in order to fully cover the balls. (Don’t you love how many times we've used the word balls?) We use either cocoa nibs, hemps seeds, or cinnamon (sometimes all three). But, feel free to get creative. Crushed rose petals or shredded coconut works well too.

* After you’ve topped your balls, place them in the fridge (or freezer) again and let them get a little firm — now they should be ready to eat! For best consistency store them in the fridge or your cooler bag when on the go.

The Secrets to Healthy Ovulation Part 2

Estrogen Dominance: Signs you may be estrogen dominant
& What to do about it

Estrogen is an essential component of being a woman. It's because of estrogen that we ovulate, that we have breasts, that we have a libido, and that we maintain healthy bones and muscles. Estrogen is not the enemy. It actually regulates over a thousand genes in our bodies (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3783169/).

So, you don’t want to have too little estrogen, however, when we have too much estrogen, and not enough progesterone, it can cause a lot of unwanted symptoms.

Unfortunately, we are operating in a time where estrogen is at an all time high. Living in our environment today we are constantly surrounded by xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogens are endocrine disrupting chemicals that mimic estrogen in our bodies. Xenoestrogens are in artificial fragrances, pesticides, plastics, unfiltered tap water, non-organic meat and vegetables, birth control, the list goes on... In our modern industrial world, it's difficult to escape the toxic overload of xenoestrogens.

Why don’t we want to have excess estrogen?

An overabundance of estrogen can lead to a number of problems in women (and men). If not treated it can cause things like hormonal cancers, thyroid dysfunction, autoimmune disease, candida overgrowth, and even obesity. And, as we age it becomes increasingly important to make sure your estrogen is as balanced as it can be.

Common Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance:

Depression or Anxiety
PMS
Menstrual problems (heavy bleeding or light bleeding)
Sore, swollen, or fibrocystic breasts
Uterine Fibroids
Weight gain (usually in the hips/thighs/abdomen)
Loss of libido

Estrogen is metabolized through different pathways in the liver. If these pathways are blocked it can start to cause a lot of the negative side effects mentioned above. When it comes to balancing estrogen, your liver health is key. And, in order to keep your liver happy you have to make sure that your nutrition is dialed in, your stress levels are in check, and you’re getting an adequate amount of sleep. Other common causes of estrogen excess include: Perimenopause, impaired metabolism, and obesity.

Why don’t we want to have excess estrogen?

Reduce your exposure to xenoestrogens: check your personal care products carefully, avoid the use of plastics, buy organic, drink clean water, take walks in preserved lands!
Exercise to maintain a healthy weight
Get off hormonal birth control
Reduce inflammatory foods like cow’s dairy (cow’s milk causes your estrogen receptors to be hypersensitive)
Limit your consumption of alcohol
Incorporate more ways to decrease your stress: meditation, grounding in the forest, and limiting EMF exposure
Maintain healthy gut bacteria: Avoid antibiotics and eat in a way the supports your microbiome
Eat to support the liver: greens, cruciferous vegetables, sprouted grains and legumes, healthy fats, and organic sources of protein.

Our favorite supplements for lowering estrogen:

Calcium D-Glucarate

Iodine

Banyan Breast Care Balm

Women's Support Tablets

“Healing begins when we start to live the life we really want to be living.” — Dr. Claudia Welch

It’s amazing what can happen when we choose to be open to healing. It can be difficult to stay positive, inspired, or creative when our health is feeling out of whack or weakened, but sometimes we get stuck with a “dis-ease” in the body when we aren’t truly embodying the life we are meant to be living. One of the most powerful medicines can simply be to choose the life you know you are meant to be living out. Maybe that looks like taking a sabbatical to work on the book you’ve always wanted to write, maybe it means quitting your office job to pursue wellness coaching, or maybe it simply means allowing yourself to eat that french croissant at your favorite bakery. Whatever the thing is, before you buy the next supplement, make sure to check in and ask:

“Am I getting in the way of living my best life?”

How to do a Wintertime Cleanse

A Guide to Feeling Healthy After the Holidays

(beetroot pizza recipe included)

December brings on many indulgences (eggnog, cheese, pie, the list goes on). It can often make the start of the new year feel like you’re trudging through sludge while your digestive system is trying desperately to get back on track. As we finish up the holiday season, January is an ideal time to detox, but the fact is it’s still a busy time of year, it’s cold outside, and the long dark days can make the idea of cleansing somewhat unappealing and in most cases untenable. This is why it’s essential that we follow an Ayurvedic approach to cleansing as we move through the winter months.

While most of us don’t live in the appropriate environment to do a super strict cleanse, this specific detox is all about focusing on lots of cooked vegetables, whole grains, legumes, some fruit, and digestive herbal teas while limiting high amounts of animal products, high quantities of oil, salt, processed foods, and sugar. The main objective is to get your digestive system working properly and optimally.

This wintertime cleanse does have some elimination restrictions. Try to limit or eliminate the following:

coffee, alcohol, gluten, added sugar, processed foods and processed oils.

Really try to challenge yourself to completely take these foods out of your diet for the month. However, we also recognize that completely eliminating certain foods or favorites doesn’t always work for some people (and can be triggering), so if that’s you try to at least minimize these certain foods. It may be helpful to instead focus on the foods you can enjoy instead of focusing on the foods you can’t have.

Here is a sample menu of what your food intake my look like during this type of cleanse:

Morning Beverage:

If you are feeling like you really need a reboot, try having a cup of hot water with a little ginger and lemon or if you aren’t giving up caffeine completely, enjoy one cup of green tea with oat or nut milk.

Breakfast:

Warm porridge- cooked (pre-soaked for easier digestion) with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom. If you want to add fruit or a few nuts make sure to cook them with the oats for easier absorption.

Lunch:

Cooked Quinoa with turmeric, steamed carrots & spinach, topped with Avocado

Mid-day Ginger Tea

Dinner:

Sprouted brown rice with a small amount of ghee and mung bean stew

Post Dinner Beverage:

Dandelion tea, ginger tea, or Magnesium Calm for additional digestive/stress support.

It can be fun to eat in a new way. Just avoiding using excess oils or animal products can lead you to finding new ways to be more creative in the kitchen. As you can see this cleanse isn’t super restrictive. It just focuses on eating plants and revving up your digestive system. Check out this extremely healthy plant based pizza recipe! You may find that eating clean is easier than you think.

Beet Root Pizza

Canva - Beetroot Dough, Vegetables and Sprouis Pizza, Healthy Fast Food on Slate (1)

Ingredients:

1 head raw cauliflower

2 medium beets (raw & peeled)

¾ cup almond flour

¼ cup coconut flour

4 eggs

1/2 tsp sea salt and black pepper

1 tsp oregano

*You'll also need parchment paper

Directions:

Place cauliflower and beets in a food processor and blend until it turns into a fine rice texture. (You may have to pre-chop the beets a little bit). Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the flour and spices.

Mix well with your hands and then add in the eggs.

Whisk until everything is nice and combined. It may be a little wet, but you should be able to form it into a ball.

Next place on a lined (with parchment paper) baking pan and spread out evenly with your hands.

Bake in the oven at 400°F for 15-20 minutes or until slightly golden and firm.

Remove from the oven and add your desired plant based toppings

Place back into the oven for another 10 minutes and then it'll be ready to enjoy

Need more support?

Download our digital cleanse guide for step by step instructions on how to do an Ayurvedic cleanse. Use the promocode WinterCleanse at checkout for 30% off!

Channeling Your Inner Dolly

What Dolly Parton can teach us about Acceptance, Fame & Feminine Wisdom

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season we thought it would be nice to offer you a cozy read into the life and lessons from one of our favorite Shakti Mamas, Dolly Parton. If you're anything like our team, then you're probably up-to-date with the popular new podcast: Dolly Parton’s America {LISTEN HERE}, and if not then we just did you a favor (start from the beginning with episode 1).

It’s a remarkable and inspiring look into Dolly Parton’s life, career, and her impact on the South and beyond. However, what’s even more interesting to note about the series is how incredibly full of SHAKTI this woman is and how she sings to tell about it.

As mentioned in The New York times, Dolly Parton is the “saucey grandmother” of our time. She is accepting of all, she is confident, incredibly kind, and I can feel her nurturing ways just by listening to her music.

Dolly Parton is a force to be reckoned with. She grew up in the backwoods of Tennessee with her family of twelve. They were so poor that it is said her father paid for her birth with a bag of cornmeal! But, this didn’t seem to stop Dolly from going after her dreams.

Dolly Parton is a woman that embraces the fire of the feminine.

Struggling to find her way in the male dominated entertainment world, she eventually would go on to achieve more number one hits than any other female artist, of all time. And, she did this all while making friends with “the church ladies and the gays”.

Dolly has always been about acceptance and in reference to her popularity in these two (usually opposing) communities: the religious christian community and the gay community, she has stated,

“God tells us not to judge one another, no matter anyone’s sexual preference or if they’re black, brown, or purple. And if someone doesn’t believe what I believe, tough shit.”

It is so refreshing how candid Dolly Parton is. She doesn’t try to be anyone else but herself. She is proud of her roots yet she doesn’t try to hide or cover up any of the negative aspects of the troubled South. And, somehow she is able to speak her truth while still being steeped in a loving and compassionate state of being.

April 1989, New York City, New York State, USA --- Dolly Parton --- Image by © Edie Baskin/Corbis

So, what can Dolly Parton teach the modern woman in Ayurveda school?

*To be a force

*Accept everyone despite their differences

*Be fully Yourself

*Live More in a state of Joy and Thanksgiving

*Never give up

Dolly says it best in the lyrics of the song Light of a Clear Blue Morning,

“I can see the light of a clear blue morning
I can see the light of a brand new day
Everything is going to be alright
Everything is going to be okay”

Image credit: 1st image Andy Warhal, 2nd image Illustration by Matthieu Bourel; photograph by Michael Ochs Archives, via Getty Images

Adaptogenic Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Holiday Treats with a Twist

Tis’ the season for gifts and treats, and who doesn’t love something slightly sweet and with a crunch!?!

This is almost too simple to even call a recipe, but a buttery crunch + dark chocolate + sea salt is a damn good combo, that’s why we want to share it anyway.

Like with our special holiday Pumpkin Pie blog, we want to offer you an alternative to the usual sweet snacks on the holiday table.

This recipe is simple and will fill the room with a little extra joy once you take your first bite. These also make a superb travel snack when you’re headed to the in-laws. With adaptogens like Maca Powder and Ashwagandha your hormones will thank you for this magnesium rich raw cocoa delight. Here’s How it’s Done:

Holiday Treats with a Twist

What you will need:

2 chocolate bars (we used the Crunchy Caramel and the Signature Dark)
½ tsp Ashwagandha Power
1 Tbsp Maca Powder
2 Tbsp Cold Pressed Coconut Oil
¼ cup shredded coconut for topping
1-2 Tbsp Coarse Sea Salt for topping
Parchment paper
1 large bag of gluten & grain-free pretzels (See products below for the exact ones we used)

Directions:

In a medium sized pot add your coconut oil and set on medium-low heat. (You can also do this with a double boiler, but this method seems to work well)
Break up your chocolate bars and add them to already heated pot
Once the chocolate is completely melted, add the spices and the adaptogens (with the heat turned off)
Stir generously until the chocolate is nice and smooth
Add the pretzels in one handful at a time
Using tongs scoop them out (shaking off any excess chocolate and place them onto the parchment paper
Next sprinkle any toppings you like (we did coarse sea salt and coconut flakes)
Transfer into the freezer for about an hour

Happy Holidays ! !

Special Ingredients that we used:

Ashwagandha Powder from Banyan Botanicals

Maca Powder by Healthworks

Dark Primal Chocolate Bar by Eating Evolved

FitJoy Gluten/Grain-free Pretzels

Holiday Gift Guide

Tis' the season to love and to give. As we live the darkest days of the year, we all become little Santas in our own right. Making things cheery and bright with our spirit. Our entire society is based off the goodwill of neighbors and giving. Do onto others as you would have done onto you. This is where the social contract begins.

I want to touch on giving, because our culture is obsessed with shopping. Can we not buy so many presents this year? Maybe just a few. Treat your mom and your closes relatives with thoughtful presents, that's it.

Below you'll find curated love from our whole team. With love and so much joy, Merry Yuletide and Happy Hanukkah!!

Charitable Giving

There are a couple of special organizations that I want to introduce you to. They will make your heart leap with joy in a lasting way like no Amazon shipment can:

The Grandmother's Council: represents a global alliance of thirteen indigenous grandmothers whom through prayer and education offer healing for our Mother Earth and protection for the indigenous ways of life.

Thistle Farms: offers natural bath/body/home products. Your purchase directly supports women who have survived trafficking, prostitution and domestic abuse. They are made by survivors and support survivors.

She's The First: they provide support to girls who will be the first in their families to graduate from high school. 2/3 of the world's illiterate adults are women. We must spread education to women in all parts of the world to ensure equality and the survival of our species.

Compassion Collective: they support motherless children. It started in 2016 to help displaced and orphaned Syrian children and they now have a program to help homeless American youth.

For The Readers

Check out our curated library of our favorites reads on yoga, Ayurveda, health, motherhood and more!

The Gift of Learning

Give the gift of knowledge and wisdom with Lineage of Love Gift Cards, or pay for a friend's Ayurveda School tuition.

Gift 1 to 12 month of the our movement, yoga and holistic lifestyle membership with Lineage of Love Gift Cards.

A year-long deep dive into the heart of women's healing traditions with Ayurveda School. If you'd like to gift someone the tuition for this program, please write us at [email protected].