Holiday Almond Butter Balls

‘Tis the Season for Sweets, but There’s 15 Reasons to Reduce Their Consumption Have you wondered why you seem most prone to get sick in January or February?  The holiday season is typically a time to indulge in sweets. Did you know, sweets depress the immune system? More reasons to say no to your sweet tooth: Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in your body: causes chromium and copper deficiencies and interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium. 3,4,5,6 Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline, hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children. 7,8 Sugar can produce a significant rise in total cholesterol, triglycerides and bad cholesterol and a decrease in good cholesterol. 9,10,11,12 Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function. 13 Sugar feeds cancer cells and has been connected with the development of cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, rectum, pancreas, biliary tract, lung, gallbladder and stomach. 14,15,16,17,18,19,20 Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose and can cause reactive hypoglycemia. 21,22 Sugar can weaken eyesight. 23 Sugar can cause many problems with the gastrointestinal tract including: an acidic digestive tract, indigestion, malabsorption in patients with functional bowel disease, increased risk of Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. 24,25,26,27,28 Sugar can cause premature aging. 29 Sugar can lead to alcoholism. 30 Sugar can cause your saliva to become acidic, tooth decay, and periodontal disease. 31,32,33 Sugar can cause autoimmune diseases such as: arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis. 35,36,37 Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections). 38 Sugar can cause gallstones. 39 Instead of sugar, you can substitute pure maple syrup or stevia.  Especially with stevia, you don’t need very much.  Try my Holiday Almond Butter Balls.  You’ll see how delicious a small amount of stevia can be.  I recommend Sweet Leaf Vanilla Creme. Read more... Holiday Almond Butter Balls 1 cup creamy or crunchy almond butter (you can substitute cashew butter) 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or 1/4 tsp. liquid stevia 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 Tbsp. virgin organic coconut oil 1/4 cup chopped almonds or walnuts 1/4 cup raisins (optional) 2 Tbsp. ground flax seeds (optional) 1/4 cup ground nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or pecans (can substitute shredded coconut) In a bowl, mix the nut butter, sweetener, vanilla, and cinnamon until creamy. Add the coconut oil and mix well. Stir in the nuts, raisins, and the ground flax seeds, if using. Form the mixture into balls about 1 inch in size.  Roll in ground nuts.  Refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve. Makes 2 dozen balls From my book, The Healthy Gourmet (now out of print) Please Help My Friend Nan Stop Fracking in Washington State My friend Nan needs hep: Do not let fracking happen in Washington State. With your help it can be stopped. She only needs 5 more signers and MoveOn.org will put her petition out to 1000 more people. It's critical that she get at least 500 signatures before she delivers the petition to Governor Jay Inslee.  After doing some research on this issue, Nan discovered that in June 2012 Comet Ridge LTD said it's US subsidiaries are planning to spud an exploratory well in Gray's Harbor area of coastal Washington. It is crucial that we act now before this becomes a precedent for other hydraulic fracturing well sights in Washington. Can you please forward this email to five of your friends right now? With your help, my friend can win this campaign! Share this link Thank you for taking a stand on this important issue.   Help here! Best Holiday Gift Book for the Health Nut on Your List The Juice Lady’s Big Book of Juices and Green Smoothies (It was just recommended by theBlot.com)   Make Your Purchase Start the New Year Out Right! I invite you to join me in Sedona, AZ January 9-11 for our Jumpstart 2014 Conference.  Don’t miss this opportunity to cleanse and rejuvenate your body and be inspired with two days of exceptional classes.  Read more . . .