Homemade nut butter is just the way to go, folks. You only need two ingredients and a food processor to make a smooth and creamy nut butter that is free of preservatives and other unnecessary ingredients. Unlike store bought brands, this macadamia nut butter is free of palm oil, lectins, peanuts, and added sugars. That means that this nut butter is raw vegan, Whole30-approved, Paleo, grain-free, gluten-free, keto, and sugar-free. The subtle hint of sea salt perfectly complements the robust macadamia nuts.

Is homemade macadamia nut butter better than store bought varieties? While both are great options, making your own allows you to control the ingredients and blend until you reach your desired consistency. Perhaps you enjoy a nut butter that is just between chunky and smooth. Maybe you like nut butter to be velvety smooth, and you can have control over that when you make your own. Plus, homemade macadamia nut butter is nearly identical in price as the store bought version. Depending on which stores you have access to, you may or may not always see macadamia nut butter available. If you find raw macadamia nuts, though, you can transform them into a luxurious butter.

You will need a food processor for this recipe because a blender just won’t cut it. To achieve a smooth nut butter, you will probably have to blend for three to five minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides periodically. Just keep blending, scraping down the sides, and blending again until you achieve a smooth consistency. Once you are satisfied, spoon the butter into a container, seal the lid, and refrigerate. Use when ready.

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Have you ever had sudden, painful cramps that just don’t seem to go away? One potential cause is that you are low in potassium. Low potassium levels can also cause muscle weakness, fatigue, muscle spasms, tingling, or numbness. Heart palpitations or skipped heartbeat can be more severe symptoms of low potassium levels. 

It’s possible to fight leg cramps and other issues that stem from low potassium levels by simply increasing your potassium intake. The amount of time it takes to correct low potassium levels depends on how low they are. 

Symptoms Of Low Potassium

The only real way to know if your potassium levels are low is to take a blood test. You will get a more accurate reading of your levels via this route. That said, there are a few telltale symptoms of potassium deficiency that you should be aware of. These symptoms include:

• Muscle cramps, twitching, or severe weakness
• Heart palpitations
• Constipation
• Tingling and numbness

If potassium levels are very low, you may need to take a potassium supplement, or get an IV to elevate them back to a normal range. The quickest way to increase potassium levels in emergency situations is via an IV, which should be administered by a professional in a controlled setting. One report found that an IV can raise potassium levels within 20 to 30 minutes. If you have borderline potassium levels after a sweaty workout, you can use various foods to help bring them back up quickly. Continue reading to learn what foods and drinks may help you do that. 

Sip An Electrolyte Drink

Electrolyte-rich drinks can help replenish minerals, vitamins, and water lost via sweat or periods of diarrhea and vomiting. Not all electrolyte drinks are high in potassium, though. And you should not simply resort to sugary sports drinks to replenish electrolytes, as the preservatives, dyes, and added sugars do more harm than good. Coconut water, for example, is a great electrolyte-rich beverage, but make sure to buy one that is free of added sugars. 

Drink Some Orange Juice

Just as we said previously, the quality of the beverage matters. Many store bought orange juices contain added sugars and preservatives. Go directly to the source by juicing oranges! One cup of orange juice provides nearly 500 milligrams (mg) of potassium, which equates to 11% of the recommended daily intake (RDI). Orange juice may be a convenient way to raise potassium levels, but it tends to be high in sugar. You can also eat oranges to get the same nutrients, plus the fiber that will help the body absorb the natural sugars more slowly. You would need to eat two oranges to get the same amount of potassium as one cup of OJ.

Eat A Banana

This is a classic potassium-rich food, so eat a banana or two next time you are dealing with leg cramps. One medium banana contains 422 mg of potassium, and the potassium in bananas can increase levels within 30 to 60 minutes, per a 2012 health journal. In one study, researchers tested whether eating one or two bananas would increase potassium levels in adult athletes prone to leg cramps. Although there were mild increases in potassium levels in both groups after 30 to 60 minutes, the time it took to increase levels would not benefit an athlete experiencing cramps during competition. To avoid cramps, health experts recommend consuming potassium-rich foods regularly, especially before exercise. 

Eat Some Watermelon

Researchers note that one wedge of watermelon has 320 mg of potassium, making it a great choice for raising potassium levels. Watermelon is also a water-rich fruit (91% water), so it helps to enhance your hydration efforts. It is also rich in vitamins A & C, magnesium, and offers some iron and calcium. According to research, eating watermelon after a workout can help replace water, magnesium, and potassium that you lose via sweat. Drinking watermelon juice after a workout has been associated with reduced muscle soreness after 24 hours. 

Consider Supplementation 

If you consume all of the aforementioned items and your potassium levels remain low, you may want to consider a potassium supplement. Before you start supplementing, consult your healthcare professional to determine whether the supplement is right for you, and to understand proper dosage. The potassium you get via diet and what you supplement should not exceed the RDI, unless directed by your doctor.

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Anyone in the mood for a….mocktail? This delicious creation is going to change your holiday party game. Whether you are hosting a party or attending one, you can make this tasty beverage and enjoy yourself without the extra sugar and calories that come with traditional alcohol beverages. This is also an excellent drink to enjoy if you are a friend of Bill W (a person who belongs to the Alcoholics Anonymous program, for those who didn’t get the reference).

This refreshing non-alcoholic beverage hits all the rate notes. It is sweet yet tart and bright with a festive finish. It hits all the right notes for special holiday occasions. You can celebrate the holidays or ring in the New Year with this refreshing beverage. Planning a dry January? This drink is perfectly suited for your newly sober lifestyle. You can even drink this with your kids, so long as you let them drink sparkling water.

Although the cranberries are optional, we encourage you to incorporate them into your beverage. The reason for this twofold: they make the drink more visually stunning and they add a subtle tartness to the drink. Plus, fresh cranberries are loaded with antioxidants and have a limited window of availability in grocery stores. You can even add fresh pomegranate arils to your drink for added visual appeal. Finally, make sure that you choose 100% pure pomegranate juice, as many store bought varieties can contain a lot of added sugars. Cheers to your health!

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You won’t believe how much better this homemade cranberry juice is than the store bought varieties until you try it for yourself. You can adjust the sweetness to make this the beverage the perfect combination of sweet and tart. Plus, you get to utilize fresh cranberries, which most people avoid when they are in season. That is a sad reality because cranberries have a very limited season, usually from mid-September to late-November or early-December. The point is that you have about two months to use these flavor and nutrient bombs, so get them while the gettin’s good.

There are different types of bottle cranberry juice. The best variety to purchase is the 100% pure cranberry juice, which does not contain added sugars or preservatives. That juice only contains cranberries and the natural sugars in them. Cranberry juice cocktail, for example, can contain nearly 30 grams of sugar in an eight-ounce serving. That doesn’t include the other preservatives and chemicals that that juice cocktail contains.

Fortunately for you, you can avoid all of that if you just make your own cranberry juice. Unlike a traditional juice recipe, this juice comes together with the aid of your blender. First, you will blend the cranberries and water until smooth. Once you do that, pour the blended cranberry mixture through a cheesecloth or fine mesh sieve and strain it into a bowl. Make sure to squeeze all the pulp to get as much liquid out as possible. Once you do that, add that strained liquid back to the blender withe the remaining ingredients, blend, and then serve over ice when ready.

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If you are new to cashew milk, you are in for a serious treat. A lot of people enjoy almond milk or oat milk because they are readily available in stores. Making your own nut or seed milk is a very easy process. You just need a blender, a cheesecloth or nut milk bag, and something to store the liquid in. While a nut or seed milk is just two ingredients (the seed/nut and water), sometimes it is nice to add a little more flavor. You can do this by adding certain spices, agave nectar, or dates. In the case of this cinnamon date cashew milk, you get hints of spice from cinnamon and a richer, sweeter flavor from the dates. It’s perfect for your smoothie or to just enjoy as is. You can even put it in your coffee once you finish cleansing!

Cashew milk can be a little expensive in the stores, but you can save a little money when you make your own. Plus, making your own cashew milk means that you get to avoid thickeners, emulsifying agents, added sugars, and processed ingredients. It is better than any store bought cashew milk you will ever buy! With a whole cup of cashews in this recipe, you will incorporate some healthy fats and fiber into the nut milk. Using raw cashews not only makes this nut raw vegan, but it also helps you control the salt and flavor. If you do not have a strong blender, soak your cashews in water for a couple hours before blending. Just make sure to discard the soaking liquid before blending the cashews with the rest of the ingredients.

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The great thing about a food processor or high-speed blender is that you can transform two frozen ingredients into a delicious sorbet. Frozen bananas are no match for the power of these appliances! The best part about making a sorbet solely from fruit is that it doesn’t contain any added sugars, syrups, flavors, or dairy products.

Some sorbets (not all) incorporate dairy to yield a creamy consistency. By adding frozen banana, you don’t have to worry about the creaminess factor. Frozen banana helps create a smooth, creamy consistency, while also providing enough sweetness. If you find that the kiwi flavor is a bit to tart or intense, you can blend in a touch of raw agave nectar or maple syrup to sweeten the sorbet. If you do not enjoy the tartness of kiwis, consider golden kiwis instead. Will golden kiwis change the color of the sorbet? Yes, absolutely, but they have a sweeter flavor than green varieties.

It’s pretty incredible that you can enjoy a dessert just by blending together two ingredients. This banana kiwi sorbet is a much healthier alternative to store bought pints, quarts, or gallons. You don’t even want to look at how many grams of sugar per serving these store bought varieties have! Instead, make this healthy, raw vegan dessert this summer and enjoy it during warmer weather.

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Unlike whole foods that provide essential nutrients, ultra-processed foods are devoid of nutritional value. They typically contain lots of sugar, salt, and additives that can be very harmful to the body. Statistically, people who eat lots of ultra-processed foods, such as deli meats, sugary cereals, and packaged foods, might not live as long as people who avoid these foods. 

That point was recently highlighted in a new 30-year study that connected ultra-processed meat, poultry, and seafood in ready-to-eat meals to a 13% greater risk of early death. Researchers looked at data collected for more than three decades on nearly 75,000 women and 40,000 men. The data started when participants were at least 40 years old and had no history of heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. Every two years during the course of the study, participants shared information about their health and completed detailed questionnaires about eating habits. 

At the end of the study, a total of 48,193 people passed away. Study authors observed that the participants who consumed the most amount of ultra-processed foods were 4% more likely to die during the study than people who held better diets and consumed fewer amounts of ultra-processed foods. These foods, which include soda, potato chips, sausages, and candy, contain added sugars, excess sodium, and unhealthy fats. These ingredients negatively affect the function of major organs and systems in the body, which may explain why their consumption is associated with shorter lifespan. 

What Are Ultra-Processed Foods?

These foods are the most processed and usually come in packaged form. They are almost entirely made of substances extracted from fats, sugars, proteins, and oils, or synthesized in factories and labs with few ingredients that come from natural sources. Corn, for example, is available to purchase in the produce section of a grocery store. You can also purchase it in canned or frozen form, or even as kernels to make popcorn. Corn chips in the snack aisle, however, are ultra-processed, usually containing trans and saturated fats, hydrogenated oils, and excess sodium.

Some Ultra-Processed Foods Have Higher Risks Than Others

One of the things that researchers discovered during the study was that not all ultra-processed foods harm the body equally regarding longevity. Study authors noted that ultra-processed meat, poultry, and seafood in ready-to-eat products increased early risk of death by 13%. Ultra-processed foods and sodas with added sugars or artificial sweeteners increased early risk of death by 9%. Ice cream and other dairy-based desserts were associated with a 7% higher risk of early death. 

Avoid Processed Meats And Seafood…If You Want To Live Longer

It is difficult to translate the early risk of death into a specific number of months or years. The researchers didn’t indicate this because there is not simple math conversion for mortality risk to lost years of life. If your goal is to live longer, study authors advise you to steer clear of ultra-processed foods, or avoid them as much as possible. Consider the quality of the ultra-processed foods you consume and examine the ingredient lists and nutritional profiles. Reading these labels may inform you about the risks of eating these types of foods. 

It is better to build your meals around whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and lean protein choices. Eating these healthier foods and avoiding ultra-processed may help the body function more optimally, and potentially reduce your risk of early death. Just remember that the quality of your diet can either support or harm your health.

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“If you like piña coladas
And gettin’ caught in the rain.
If you’re not into yoga
If you have half a brain…”

If you want to escape and get lost in that song about drinking piña coladas, then you are going to love this recipe. The overly sweet, rum-filled beverage takes a healthy turn, leaving syrup, canned juice, and alcohol behind. For this recipe, you only require two ingredients: pineapple and coconut milk. These pineapple coconut popsicles just feel right to eat now that the sun is shining a lot more! We don’t know how you feel about store bought popsicles, but you can feel good about giving your kids these homemade ones.

The cheap popsicles contain artificial food dyes, added sugars, and “natural” flavors that aren’t so natural. Even the more expensive varieties can contain a decent amount of added sugars. Why worry about ingredients when it is very inexpensive to make your own popsicles at home. There are silicone molds with reusable plastic handles readily available, so you can make them regularly. Plus, if you get those, then you don’t have to get popsicle sticks.

You cannot beat the freshness that you get from these pineapple coconut popsicles. The coconut milk gives them a creamy texture, and it also is a perfect match for the fresh pineapple. You can cube your pineapple and freeze it overnight, or you can blend fresh cubes with the coconut milk. If you use frozen pineapple chunks, the time it takes for the popsicles to solidify in the freezer is less than if you use fresh pineapple. Consider which route you want to take, but there is one important step you cannot avoid: enjoying these tasty vegan desserts!

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When you adhere to a raw vegan, you need snacks that fill you up and taste good. You don’t want to eat snacks that taste bland or drink beverages that taste like lawn clippings. We strive to provide all of you with recipes that have incredible depth of flavor. The worst thing you can do while cleansing is eat tasteless or boring meals and snacks. Not only does that make you disinterested in raw vegan foods, but it also increases your likelihood of cheating with unhealthy foods.

These homemade fig bars are filling and unlike store bought versions, they do not contain artificial flavors, preservatives, or added sugars. You know the ones, right? The brand name rhymes with Schmig Toopins. Separately, figs and almonds are nutritious snacks that you can enjoy any day of the week. Each of these foods provides a unique set of nutrients that can help you meet your daily nutritional needs. Together,

Now, you won’t be using fresh figs for these fig bars, though. You’ll use dried figs, and we recommend that you get dried Smyrna figs for optimum flavor. The kiss of citrus that you get from the orange zest in every bite is simply wonderful. And the best part about these fig bars is that you don’t get the inevitable sugar crash that comes from store bought varieties. The reason for this is because these contain fiber, healthy fats, and protein without the added sugars that cause blood sugar spikes. Just don’t go crazy on them because they aren’t low in calories.

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How is a two-ingredient chocolate truffle even possible? How could such a truffle be raw vegan? We have two ingredients that will explain: raw cacao powder and dates. This heavenly combination is the perfect combination of sweet and bitter. Because the raw cacao powder is unsweetened, it retains that classic bitterness from dark chocolate. Each bite is wonderfully balanced, but careful not to eat too much of them. Dates contain a lot calories and sugars and even though the sugars are natural, keep that in mind as you enjoy these desserts.

Dates are incredibly useful on the raw vegan diet. You can use them to sweeten smoothies or dressings, or incorporate them into desserts. We love Medjool dates, but make sure that they don’t contain any added sugars or preservatives. Typically, you have to buy dates in bulk. If you are worried that you won’t use them, you can pit the dates and then freeze them to keep them fresh for longer. When ready to use, you can soak the frozen dates in warm water before blending to ease that process.

Blitz these two ingredients together in a food processor until you achieve a smooth paste. The only thing left to do is form the mixture into small, bite-size truffles, and place them in the freezer to harden. You can enjoy them as is, or you can elevate them to the next level by dusting them with more raw cacao powder. We suggest that you dust the truffles instead of rolling them in raw cacao powder. You will likely end up with too much powder on the truffles. Use a mesh strainer to dust them and make sure to rotate them as you do it for an even coat.

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