There is something special about mint tea, but Moroccan mint tea is on another level. Ask any Moroccan and they will tell you that drinking mint tea is almost like a national occupation! Mint tea is served several times throughout the day and is a foundation of Moroccan hospitality. Moroccan mint tea differs from regular mint tea that you find in Western countries. The mint leave steep alongside green tea, which is typically gunpowder tea.

Gunpowder tea comes from southeast China, in the Zheijang province. This type of tea dates back to the Tang Dynasty, which was in power from the 7th to 10th century. The English name of “gunpowder tea” is believed to come from the fact that the tightly rolled tea leaves resembled gunpowder pellets. The tea, however, is a bright golden color that has a subtle hint of smokiness and clean aftertaste. You can usually find loose leaf Moroccan mint tea that you can steep in a tea bag or infuser. Some teapots have built-in infuser nowadays, so use that if you have it!

Once you boil water, pour it over the tea and steep for three minutes. Remove the infuser or tea bag from the water after three minutes, and then add a small handful of mint, allowing it to steep for a few more minutes. Pour the tea into different mugs with a single sprig of mint in each mug. You can enjoy the tea unsweetened or sweeten it with raw agave nectar or stevia. Try it both ways and see which one you like better! Ideally, pour the tea over ice because the weather is quite hot, but if it’s cooler than enjoy the tea warm.

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We can’t just give you a plain Jane smoothie in this day and age. It has to wow your taste buds! This key lime pie smoothie, which is 100% raw vegan, is incredible indulgent, but you can enjoy it without worrying about sugar intake. Unlike the classic pie, this smoothie is gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and only sweetened with a little maple syrup. You can, however, adjust the sweetness level to your desired taste.

The secret ingredient in this smoothie is, believe it or not, the avocado. It creates a luxuriously thick texture that makes this smoothie seem more like a milkshake. Just make sure that the avocado is not firm and underripe, or too mushy and overripe. You want the avocado to be just right, just like the porridge was for Goldilocks. An under or overripe avocado can dramatically change the flavor profile of this smoothie. It won’t taste like key lime pie, we can tell you that!

Although this key lime pie smoothie is sweetened with grade A maple syrup, you can use a different natural sweetener if you like. Raw agave nectar or alcohol-free stevia drops can be great options to sweeten your smoothie, especially if you are trying to remain keto.

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At any given moment, there are millions, perhaps billions, of people who want to lose weight or cut down on calories. In an effort to be healthier, many people switch to artificial sweeteners, which are commonly in pudding, candy, jams and jellies, diet soft drinks, and dairy products. While the zero-calorie or low-calorie aspect may seem enticing, consuming artificial sweeteners may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.

The study followed more than 100,000 adults for about a decade, making it among the largest to date to identify heart-related problems with sugar substitutes. The BMJ noted that artificial sweeteners increased the overall risk of any form of cardiovascular disease by 9%. Consuming artificial sweeteners increased the risk of stroke by 18%. Additionally, the participants in the study experienced an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease, which refers to a group of conditions that affect blood flow to the brain.

The BMJ Study

At the beginning of the study none of the participants had a history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Nobody was diagnosed with either of these conditions during the first two years of the study. Over these initial two years, participants completed five food questionnaires, which revealed that 37% of them consumed artificial sweeteners. Those who did consumed an average of 43 milligrams (mg) per day. That is roughly the amount in one tabletop sweetener packet. People with the highest artificial sweetener consumption ingested about 78 mg per day, while participants who consumed the least took in 7.5 mg per day.

Over the course of the study, there were 1,502 cardiovascular events, including strokes, heart attacks, clogging of blood vessels, and more. There were also medical procedures that had to restore blood flow in the obstructed arteries or veins. According to researchers, the annual absolute risk of cardiovascular disease was 314 cases per 100,000 people among the participants who didn’t consume artificial sweeteners. The number of cases increased to 346 for people who took in the most artificial sweeteners. 

Were Risks Higher Based On Different Sweeteners?

The study concluded that the risks of cardiovascular disease increased if participants consumed certain sweeteners. The consumption of aspartame, which is in NutraSweet and Equal sweeteners, increased the risk of stroke by 17%. Acesulfame potassium, sold under names like Sunett and Sweet One, was linked to a 40% increased risk of coronary heart disease. 

Because this was not a controlled study, the primary goal was not to determine if artificial sweeteners directly caused cardiovascular episodes. The results may have been skewed by the poor recollection of participants, regarding what they ate and drank. 

Is It Safe To Consume Artificial Sweeteners?

It’s natural for people to turn to foods or beverages with artificial sweeteners if they want to control blood sugar or lose weight. Unfortunately, this way of thinking is not healthy for the brain, heart, or body in general. Artificial sweeteners have been around for more than 100 years, though, originally found in the Sweet’N Low sugar substitute in 1879. Since then, researchers have found other artificial sugar substitutes like sucralose, aspartame, stevia, and xylitol. 

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, controversy and artificial sweeteners have gone hand in hand. There have been warnings and concerns about type 2 diabetes and weight gain, but results are varied and inconclusive. Despite concerns from health officials, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers the consumption of artificial sweeteners safe. The caveat is that people do not exceed the acceptable daily intake for each sweetener. For example, the FDA says that a 132-pound person could consume 23 packets of sucralose (in Splenda) before exceeding the daily limit. 

The more artificial sweeteners you consume, the more you increase your risk of certain health disorders. As the study found, the participants that consumed more artificial sweeteners experienced higher rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. An occasional sweetener may not ruin your life, but regular consumption, especially in excess, may compromise your overall health. The general recommendation: limit your consumption altogether because foods that contain artificial sweeteners also contain other harmful preservatives, toxins, and chemicals. Consider switching to natural options like stevia, allulose, and monk fruit for better long-term health.

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The ketogenic diet requires people to severely cut back on sugars, starches, processed foods, and high-carb foods. Continuing to eat these foods will kick the body out of ketosis, and your quest to lose weight will remain difficult. It can be confusing to navigate the right path that will keep your body in ketosis, especially when it comes to sweeteners, which should still be used in moderation. There are, however, sweeteners that are extremely low in net carbs and calories.

The Role Of Sweeteners On Keto

The most important thing to remember about sweeteners, in relation to the keto diet, is to always use them sparingly. You aren’t about to load up on stevia just because it is on the keto-approved sweetener list. Sweeteners can easily raise blood sugar and kick the body out of ketosis, but a little monk fruit in your fat bomb coffee recipe will be just fine.

A Quick Guide To Sweeteners

When it comes to the sweeteners (the few that you can have) that you put into your body on the keto diet, it is integral to educate yourself on their various forms. The three big types of sweeteners to be aware of are broken down below.

Artificial Sweeteners

As the name suggests, artificial sweeteners are synthesized and do not originate in natural sources. Originally used to sweeten foods and beverages without adding calories, artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose are not healthy for the body, and they can increase your risk of metabolic syndrome. Even though these are actually marketed to people on the keto diet, we recommend avoiding them for an overall healthier body.

Sugar Alcohols

Derived from sugar, sugar alcohols typically contain half the amount of calories as white sugar. They are comprised of sugar and alcohol molecules, and they act like dietary fiber. The most common types of sugar alcohols include glycerol, maltitol, erythritol, and sorbitol/glucitol.

Natural Sweeteners

Unlike artificial sweeteners, natural sweeteners are derived from natural plant sources. The most popular natural sweeteners include raw honey, monk fruit, grade A 100% maple syrup, coconut sugar, and stevia. Not all of these sugars are low in carbohydrates, meaning that only a select few are keto-friendly.

One last thing to remember is that one must aim to only consume 20-30 grams of net carbs per day to remain in ketosis. You can keep your net carb intake down by eating high fiber foods like non-starchy vegetables. Try these keto-approved sweeteners to keep your body in ketosis.

Stevia

Stevia is considered to be a nonnutritive sweetener, meaning that it contains little to no carbs or calories. It contains about 5 grams of net carbs per 100 grams, which is a lot of stevia. You probably will never use that much at once in your life. This is because a little goes a long way, due to the fact that stevia is 200-400 times sweeter than cane sugar. Not all stevia products are created equal, so opt for the most natural products when available.

Monk Fruit

Extracted from the monk fruit, monk fruit sweetener contains powerful antioxidants known as mogrosides. These antioxidants can help stimulate the release of insulin, which may improve the elimination of sugar out of the bloodstream, aiding healthy blood sugar management. It is a keto-friendly sweetener that has a glycemic index (GI) of zero, yet it is 300-400 times sweeter than cane sugar. When you purchase monk fruit extract, make sure that it isn’t mixed with molasses or can sugar, because that can increase that calorie and carb content.

Yacon Syrup

Yacon syrup is naturally derived from the root of the yacon plant. Containing a high percentage of prebiotics, yacon syrup works to increase beneficial bacteria in the digestive system. It measures as 1 on the GI scale, and can be found in many health food stores, as well as online. When using it, you only need about a teaspoon.

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Talk about deliciousness, people! These semi-raw vegan s’mores are bit-sized delights that are just as delicious, if not better than the real thing. You get that gooey marshmallow inside from a classic s’more and the luscious melted chocolate, all on top of a homemade graham cracker inspired cookie.

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The reason why many people try cleansing is so that they can flush toxins and residual waste from their bodies. When left in the system, these toxins can wreak havoc on the body in the long run. One of the worst toxins you can put in your body is sugar. Cleansing forces you to cut all of the bad sugary foods, like soda, alcohol, candies, and pastries, from your diet. All of these are detrimental to the body, and as such, are best avoided before, during, and especially after cleansing.

While reducing the consumption of sugar can help you drop pounds, improve your overall health, and even aid with healthier skin, not all sugars harm the body. There are some natural sugars that help provide not only a sweet taste, but also nutritional benefits for your body.

Organic, Raw, Unfiltered Honey

If you are fresh off the Full Body Cleanse, you may want to consider organic, raw, unfiltered honey, due to its high amount of antioxidants, and its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Don’t get regular honey in a plastic bear. You want the good stuff, so opt for the organic, raw unfiltered kind.

Stevia

This plant-based sweetener doesn’t trigger an insulin response, making it safe for diabetics. It is also non-caloric and doesn’t cause cavities.

Coconut Sugar

This can be a good alternative for those who consumed a lot of table sugar before cleansing. Organic coconut offers vitamins and minerals, but it has a very low impact on your blood sugar levels.

100% Pure Maple Syrup

When it comes to the aftermath of cleansing, choosing the natural stuff makes all the difference. This natural sweetener that comes from a maple tree has 10 times more calcium than honey, and it contains significant levels of manganese and zinc. Just make sure that you buy organic 100% pure maple syrup and avoid the heavily processed maple syrup varieties out there.

Monk Fruit

Like stevia, monk fruit is an all-natural, calorie-free sweetener. It is safe for diabetics, it contains anti-inflammatory properties, and it is rich in antioxidants. Beware, though, because monk fruit tends to be blended with added sugars that decrease its nutritional value.

Like any form of sugar, you don’t want to consume these natural sugars in excess. Remember, there are always natural sugars in fruits!

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We know that people who take part in the Full Body Cleanse drink more water and tea than they have ever consumed in their entire lives, but there are other options out there. While you can make detox waters or freshly made juices, sometimes it is nice to kick back and sip on a refreshing glass of homemade lemonade. How do you make homemade lemonade without it being bad for you, though?

Most people are familiar with the classic lemonade recipe: water, sugar (or simple syrup), and lemon juice, which may be processed, from concentrate, or filled with added sugars. Making a healthy lemonade just means that you use a cleanse approved sugar alternative, e.g. raw agave syrup, stevia, or pure grade A maple syrup. You can also use seasonal ingredients to add a little pizazz to your standard lemonade.

Vitamin C, probably the most important nutrient in lemons, helps nourish the skin and fight free radicals in the body. Lemons also contain electrolytes, which help to keep you hydrated. Additionally, adding lemons to your diet is beneficial for achieving balanced pH levels in the body.

As we’ve said before, you can consume a wide variety of foods/beverages if you are willing to think outside the box. We want to help you discover the possibilities of the raw diet because you may enjoy them so much so that you bring them back into your life after cleansing.

We know that each person is going to change the recipes we provide in this article because some prefer sour to sweet or vice versa. That is perfectly acceptable, but here are three lemonades you should make while you are cleansing.

Recipe #1: Simple Strawberry Lemonade

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon filtered water
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¾ cup raw agave syrup
• ½ pound fresh strawberries, thinly sliced
• Fresh mint leaves (optional)

Instructions:

• Combine everything in a large pitcher and stir for several minutes. You don’t want the agave to settle at the bottom.
• Refrigerate for a couple hours to let the flavors intensify.
• Serve chilled or over ice. 

Recipe #2: Classic Lemonade with Stevia

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 quart filtered water
• ½ teaspoon stevia extract

Instructions:

• Mix all of the ingredients together in a large pitcher.
• Refrigerate for a couple hours before serving.
• It will stay fresh for several days. 

Recipe #3: Lavender Lemonade

Ingredients:

• The juice of 4 medium lemons
• 9 cups filtered water
• 2 tablespoons fresh lavender flowers
• ¾ cup raw agave

Instructions:

• Boil one cup of the water and steep the lavender in this cup for 3-4 minutes. Strain the mixture and let it cool.
• Add the lemon juice, water, lavender water, and raw agave to a large pitcher and stir well.
• Serve chilled or with ice. You can also top it with fresh lemon slices.

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There are too many artificial sweeteners and refined sugars on the market! This has led to a rise in sugar consumption and increased calorie from sugar intake. Americans consume roughly 400 calories a day from added sugars. Most of these sugars are considered to be safe for consumption, according to the FDA, but there are many side effects that people endure by ingesting these products.

Consumption of sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, or saccharin can lead to headaches, shrunken thymus glands, poor liver and kidney function, and even mood disorders. If a person stops consuming diet soda, which typically contains aspartame, they can go through withdrawal symptoms, experience fatigue, or develop temporary insomnia. Additional side effects of refined sugar consumption include:

• Tooth Decay
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Heart Disease
• Poor Cognitive Function
• Certain Types of Cancer

Where there is bad, there is also good. Many natural, healthy sweeteners exist and they are much better for you than things like high fructose corn syrup or other artificial sweeteners. Replacing 130 grams of refined sugars a day (average American intake) with natural sweeteners can boost your antioxidant consumption! Try replacing your typical sweeteners or refined sugars with some of the following options.

Stevia

Stevia is one of the only sweeteners allowed while performing our cleanses. It has been used in South America, where it originated, for hundreds of years to support healthy blood sugar levels. Stevia is about 200 times sweeter than sugar and is available in liquid form, powder, or dissolvable tablets. Stevia is ideal for sweetening drinks or dressings.

Dates

If you like to bake or make ice cream, you are going to find yourself using a lot of dates. They are rich in potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, and vitamin B6. Your body easily digests them and they help to metabolize proteins, fats, and carbs, while also helping to reduce cholesterol levels. When buying dates, make sure to buy the ones that have no added preservatives or sugars. They are sweet enough.

Blackstrap Molasses

Organic blackstrap molasses is incredibly nutritious and a great sweetener for things like tea, coffee, desserts, or even marinades. Rich in calcium, iron, vitamin B6, selenium, potassium, and copper, organic blackstrap molasses is a much healthier alternative to refined sugar or brown sugar.

Agave

Agave nectar is a great natural sweetening agent for those looking to avoid commercial sweeteners or refined sugars. It is best to get raw agave nectar because it is unrefined and free of additives. This is another sweetener that we allow people to use while cleansing. It is also about 1.5 times sweeter than regular sugar, so go easy at first.

Raw Honey

Raw honey has some pretty amazing health properties, and has been used as an herbal remedy for many different conditions. Raw honey helps to fight free radicals in the body while also helping to promote healthy gut bacteria. One tablespoon of organic raw honey has a lower glycemic index than one banana. Look for organic raw honey from local beekeepers in your city.

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So you’ve finally bought into the juice and smoothie craze, and you’re ready to make some healthy diet and lifestyle changes. Sometimes you need more than a blender or juicer to make your smoothie lifestyle a little easier. We aren’t saying that you can’t get by with the basic essentials, but you can sometimes be a little more motivated with some exciting smoothie accessories. Make a healthy change with some of the following juice and smoothie accessories!

10 Juice and Smoothie Accessories

1. Smoothie Tumbler

One of the best things about smoothies or juices is that you can take them as an on-the-go breakfast. If you are rushing around the house in the morning and don’t have the time to relax and enjoy your smoothie, a smoothie tumbler will change your life. All you have to do is blend or juice, pour, and head out the door with a stainless steel smoothie tumbler. It keeps your drink cold and it is BPA-free!

2. Glass Straw

Plastic straws contain harmful chemicals, which you can absorb by drinking through them. Think about getting a glass straw (stainless steel straws work as well), which is 100% reusable, and it is better for you and the environment.

3. Citrus Juicer

Investing in a juicer is not cheap, but a citrus juicer is a great kitchen accessory to have. Whether you have lemons, grapefruit, oranges, or limes, you can use a citrus juicer to freshly juice citrus fruits instead of buying sugar-laden, from concentrate juices in the stores. Citrus juice adds a lot of vitamin C to your smoothies and it gives it a distinct flavor!

4. Juice & Smoothie Book

While the Internet is an endless resource for juice and smoothie recipes, sometimes it is nice to buy a good old-fashioned cookbook. This helps you get your proportions right and it is always accessible. It also usually has an index with key ingredients, so you can find a recipe that calls for kiwis or spinach instantaneously!

5. Fruit and Vegetable Cleaner

Because a lot of fruits and vegetables are coated in pesticides or waxes, a simple rinse doesn’t really do the trick. This is why it is more beneficial to buy organic produce. If you don’t want to buy organic, you can purchase a fruit and vegetable wash that is USDA certified organic. A wash like this helps to remove 98% of residue, waxes, or pesticides. holding residue and contaminants than water alone.

6. Clear Liquid Stevia

Smoothies and juices are naturally sweet if you add fruit, but liquid stevia is good to use if you want them a little sweeter. With stevia, a little goes a long way, so don’t go crazy with this stuff. This is great for green juices or smoothies. It is way better than dumping a lot of sugar in your drink. You can also use this to sweeten some herbal teas.

7. A Great Blender

While the VitaMix is the king of kings when it comes to blenders, you don’t have to get one in order to make smoothies. There are tons of blenders, one great one being the NutriBullet, which is a very affordable option that can make a variety of smoothies, sauces, soups, dressings, or other creative ideas that have to do with blending.

8. Superfoods

When you add superfoods to your smoothie mix, you get a whole new world of nutrients. There are tons of superfoods out there, kale, garlic, and spirulina being three of them. There are also tons of clean, plant-based protein powders out there, which can add more sustenance to your smoothies.

9. Vintage Clear Mason Jar

Sometimes it is nice to have one or two cups that are solely designated to smoothies and juices, just in case you don’t wash it thoroughly and decide to put iced tea in there, only to realize that your tea is filled with some smoothie residue. You can purchase glass mason jars that have reusable lids with stainless steel straws. These are also great if you want to send your kids to school with smoothies!

10. Silicone Steel Ice Cube Tray

Freeze your juices and smoothies in ice cube trays for safe storage or for fun presentation. During the week, it is hard to find the time to get ingredients and make a bunch of smoothies. Instead, prepare a huge batch of your favorite smoothies on a Sunday night and fill your ice trays up with them. Using silicone ice cube trays makes popping them out so easy. You can put them out, throw them in the blender, and add some water and you’ll be good to go!

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Many people love to bake, but most dessert recipes are overly sweet, loaded with butter, and often times very fattening. We think that unhealthy ingredients are what make the dessert delicious. Believe it or not, these ingredients have substitutes that can make your baking ventures much healthier.

There’s nothing wrong with changing your approach to dessert. To keep your insides running smoothly, you don’t want to clog your system with things like oil, dairy, butter, and flour. A lot of these things can be difficult for the body to process, which can lead to digestive problems, a slow metabolism, or even arterial build-up. Try the following baking substitutes to revolutionize your desserts.

Mashed Avocados for Butter

This may sound like an odd substitution, but avocados have fewer calories and a lot more nutrients than butter. Avocados are filled with omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and can be eaten many different ways. This is a one to one ratio swap, when it comes to baking. If the recipe calls for 1 Tbsp. of butter then use 1 Tbsp. of mashed avocado. One thing to keep in mind is that your batter will have a green tinge. This works best with cakes and cookies. Remember to reduce the oven temperature by 25% and increase the baking time to help the dessert cook evenly.

Bananas for Butter

In case you are opposed to eating avocados (they are amazing, so why would you be?), bananas are another great substitute for sugar. Bananas are naturally sweet and add a dense, creamy texture, as well as their signature flavor. It is a one to one ratio swap, but make sure the bananas are mashed. These go great in cakes, breads, and muffins. Using bananas may reduce cooking time by 25% so pay attention to your baked goods.

Cacao Nibs for Chocolate Chips

Cacao nibs are a great superfood and they are loaded with nutrients, unlike chocolate chips, which have tons of sugar and processed ingredients. Since they don’t have any sugar, cacao nibs are slightly bitter, but the great thing is that they have a minimal fat content. This is also a one for one ratio swap. It works best with any recipe that calls for chocolate chips.

Stevia for Sugar

Stevia is awesome. It’s one of the only sweetener’s we okay for people on our cleanses. It doesn’t have any calories and is plant-based. 1 Tbsp. of sugar equals about 1.5 packets of stevia. Given this equation, 1 cup of sugar in a recipe would call for 20 packets of stevia. This cuts down 800 calories for a dessert recipe that calls for 1 cup of sugar. Since stevia is 300 times sweeter than sugar, you may need to play around with measurements. Try using stevia in cookies, cakes, muffins, or dessert bars.

Black Beans for Flour

Black beans are rich in folate, fiber, potassium, and can help support heart health. For these reasons, in addition to the body’s ability to digest beans more easily than flour, black beans are a great flour substitute. Puree dried black beans, not the ones in a can. It is a one to one ratio and works best with cookies or brownies.

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