Bottling Intuition and a New Agave Report

To think I was using Agave Nectar to sweeten my raw chocolate pudding!

Okay, my health intuition must be set on a nice, clear

"channel" right now, because....... Well, let me explain:

(1) I've had flax seed in my house for a while, and apart from putting a handful in a smoothie I made for my son a few weeks ago, the seeds have just been here, sitting. I would think to use them every now and then, but wouldn't. What was up with that if they're so healthy? Intuitively, something must have been going on.

So, Mila (a fabulous source of Omega-3's) ends up coming into my life in such a divine way, at which time some hard and unknown-to-me facts about flax came with it -- information about folks experiencing some thyroid issues from the consumption of too much flax. And how a part of the flax seed doesn't fully digest. Now, by no means am I an expert on this information (so please don't consider me so), but I know someone who has my attention about this matter (next to Mila Expert Dr. Coates, that is), so I've asked this person to write a related article for BottlingHealth.com and Pear Magazine. Stay tuned for that!

When Mila came to me along with the flax facts I had not been aware of, I connected with the reason why I probably had been, for the most part, staying away from the flax in my home. It had to have been my intuition at work. Now, I realize that some/many may disagree with this no-to-flax theory, and that's fine. But, as with everything else in my life, I simply move as I feel led. For me right now, that's moving with Mila and not Flax.

(2) Just as I had been avoiding my home supply of flax, well, when I recently ran out of Agave (which I typically prefer to Honey), I gravitated to a raw Honey when it was time to replace the "raw" Agave I typically get. I just figured I had a taste for something different at the time. So, these past few days, I've been using Honey to sweeten some Yogi Tea I recently purchased, as well as adding a squirt of it to my son's smoothies. Then, yesterday and this morning, Honey has complemented my Strawberry Crunch so well. As I ate that tasty food, I tried to visualize the Agave in place of the Honey, but somehow could taste that, Honey, not Agave, was what was supposed to help the sunflower seeds stick to the strawberries and give this dish an added kick.

Then, just moments ago, around the time of posting my Strawberry Crunch (with Honey) recipe, an e-mail from my friend Angela Elliott arrived, announcing her new web site. Her "Agave Nectar" link spoke to me, so I clicked on it....surprised to see the words, Just say no to Agave! Now I can't help but wonder if this is why I, intuitively, have NOT wanted Agave lately. Hmmh?

Yikes! But I've Recommended Agave to Family and Friends

I then had to take a deep breath, because my friend Shannon recently purchased Agave upon my recommendation, and other family and friends have done the same. I quickly pulled out my copy of Angela's "Alive in 5" book and was reminded that "Agave" is one of the ingredients listed in the book's "Raw Food Pantry" section. "Hmmh, until now, Angela (and many others) must have been misled like me," I figured. I'm sure that if and when Angela does a reprint of her book, readers won't see "Agave" recommended for their pantry the next time around.

Fortunately, I've done a blend of yoga and pilates for 11 consecutive days, so I know that's helping to keep my emotions balanced at the moment about this issue. There's a part of me that could easily freak out in my head, knowing that I've turned folks on to Agave.....and, now, this new information doesn't hold this sweetener in a good light. But, I inhale and exhale and am reminded that we live and learn.....and just as Mila has replaced Flax for my family, Raw Honey will continue to replace Agave at this time!

You know, now that I think about it, I don't think Jinjee and Storm (my mentors and friends) have ever been major Agave supporters. I should have listened to them in the first place. They know their stuff, they do! My intuition is confirming that, too! ;-)

Be Well.

Penny

P.S. Picture above of the Raw Chocolate Pudding made during my time at the Living Foods Institute last summer.

Bottling a Fresh Juice Breakfast

From this:

To that:

For Today's Breakfast!

Ingredients: kale, parsley (a little), beet, lemon, apple, Mila (that little scoop on the side in the top picture)

I juiced the ingredients in the order above (I stirred the Mila in with the juice). I always juice apples last because the force of the juice extracted from them helps push through more of the juice from the greens, etc.

Bottling Caleb's Favorite Smoothie once again!

I often make a smoothie for my son to hand to him as soon as he gets in the car when I pick him up from school. At that time of day, he's typically ready for something to eat, so the smoothie is a tasty, healthy alternative and a nice distraction from something not as healthy at that time.

One day this week, after making Caleb's smoothie and heading out to pick him up, it occurred to me that I should have also made one for Tyler, a friend of Caleb's who has been interested in trying a BottlingHealth.com smoothie. However, I wasn't sure if I would see Tyler when I picked Caleb up, so I kind of let the thought go. But, of course, as soon as I pulled up for Caleb to hop in the car, who should be standing right next to him? So, I quickly pulled the mason jar out of the cooler bag and said, "Caleb, I made this for you, but if you want to give this one to Tyler, I can make another one for you as soon as we get home." Caleb was happy to share with his buddy, and so we did.

"Shake it before you drink it," I called out to Tyler as I was driving away.

By the time we arrived home, Caleb noticed Tyler had called. When Caleb returned the call, Tyler told him that he enjoyed the smoothie. "That's the one I drink the most," I heard Caleb say.

"I drank the whole thing," Tyler said to me when I spoke to him. He had let his parents sample it, too; they said they really enjoyed it as well. I told Tyler that not only did the smoothie have bananas and strawberries in it, but Mila, too. "You got a whole lot of nutrition in that drink," I said.

The recipe:

~ 2 bananas

"Of the soft fruits, bananas are second only to strawberries when it comes to overall mineral content," says Jay Kordich in "The Juiceman's Power of Juicing," The high potassium in bananas benefits the heart and muscular system, he says.

~ 5 strawberries (with stems)

Wonderful source of "vitamin C and natural sugars that cleanse the system," Kordich explains. They are also "high in potassium and iron, which is good for strengthening the blood. The sodium content makes them a valuable tonic for nerves and for keeping glands healthy...What I value most in strawberries," Kordich continues, "is the presence of elagic acid, which reduces and often neutralizes the damaging effects of the carcinogen PAH found in cigarette smoke." So Kordich says that if you should happen to find yourself exposed to secondhand smoke, to pop a few strawberries in your mouth to help dissolve the PAH.

~ 1 scoop of Mila

3,000 Omega-3's and 5 grams of fiber per serving as well as an ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) of 844 per serving.

~ A little water

~ Ice

~ Honey, to taste

And The Winner Is...

BottlingHealth.com is excited to announce the winner of our first Mila contest. Although we didn't have many people participate in our debut contest, we applaud Tracy, Nelly, Shelly and Tee for taking a chance at winning a bag of nutritious Mila. We'll keep you posted about other Mila contests we may offer in the future. In the meantime, if anyone would like to order a bag to sample, you can do so here -- where you can also get the scoop about Mila.

Now on to the drum roll.......And the Winner is...

TW Pouncy

Congratulations, Tracy!!! Please contact us at penny@bottlinghealth.com to claim your prize. We look forward to hearing from you.

Bottle this Strawberry/Banana/Mila Smoothie

If you have seen the Smoothies/Juices page of BottlingHealth.com, you would have read that my son's favorite smoothie is strawberry/banana. Or, if you read this article, you'll have read the same. I wish I could say my boy is in love with the Green Smoothie like his dad (and his friends, Christian and Dalton), but that's just not Caleb's reality at this time. If I make the Green Smoothie sweet enough, however, yes, Caleb will drink it, but it's simply not at the top of his smoothie choices the way it is for his dad. So, I just try to work with him where he's at...

In any event, when I really "nail" a smoothie (any kind) for Caleb, it certainly warms my Mommy heart. And even though I can't always successfully disguise the greens in smoothies I make for him, I can disguise Mila very well, folks. And, when you learn the amazing nutritional content of Mila, an all-raw whole food, well, that's enough to send any Mommy into Mommy-bliss land after your child consumes it. It has:

"700% MORE OMEGA-3’s than Salmon
500% MORE CALCIUM Than Whole Milk
200% MORE IRON Than Spinach
100% MORE POTASSIUM Than Bananas
1400% MORE MAGNESIUM Than Broccoli
100% MORE FIBER Than Bran Flakes
500% MORE PROTEIN Than Kidney Beans
300% MORE SELENIUM Than Flax Seed
800% MORE PHOSPHORUS Than Whole Milk
MORE ANTIOXIDANTS Than Blueberries
MORE FOLATE Than Asparagus
MORE LIGNANS Than Flax Seed
MORE DIETARY FIBER than Flax Seed"

After adding a full 13-gram scoop of tasteless-Mila to Caleb's strawberry/banana smoothie today, he said, "This is the best one I think you've made in a while. My mom's really becoming a raw-vegan chef," he exclaimed as he walked by with the mason jar in hand. Now, it's not that he tasted the Mila, because that has no taste, however, that was his way of saying the strawberry/banana/Mila smoothie was just that good. To really test the quality of the smoothie, I asked, "Should I make one like this for Tyler (his friend from school)?" "YES," he answered with great emphasis. Oh yeah, that was confirmation this was an "on fire" type of good. ;-)

Tyler? Caleb had mentioned that Tyler had visited BottlingHealth.com and, at school, asked him if the smoothies really do taste good because his mom was going to make one for him. Caleb told him that most of them do, but I should have had my husband telling Tyler about the Green Smoothie -- not Caleb. ;-) At work, my husband has turned several folks on to the Green Smoothie. Caleb's more so my strawberry/banana advocate. In any event, since I also want Caleb to have the opportunity to share his favorite smoothies with his friends (instead of always my favorites), we'll start Tyler off with the strawberry/banana one. (It's coming soon, Tyler, and your mom may just win a bag of Mila to add to smoothies she makes for you at home. I see she entered the contest.) ;-)

The recipe I used today for Caleb's Strawberry/Banana/Mila Smoothie:

~ about 5 or 6 strawberries (with stems on; I've got to get the greens in when I can)
~ 2 bananas
~ a little water (not too much --just enough to get the ingredients to mix around)
~ 1 13-gram scoop of Mila
~ a couple handfuls of ice, which then made it need....
~ a good squirt of honey (to taste)

Delicious! I even poured myself some in a fancy glass for myself!

Enjoy!


P.S. My friend, Melissa, over at LoveRawLife.com has a Sun-Sational Smoothies recipe e-book special going on until March 15. Check it out!

Bottling this Whole Food Clinical Study

Mila, a high quality chia seed, recently went head to head with a popular cholesterol-reducing drug -- and "the study concluded that the raw whole food, Mila, matched the leading statin drug in its ability to lower both LDL and systolic blood pressure." Read the full article here about this clinical study done at The University of Texas Health Science Center. Way to go, Mila! :-)

Want to hear from the expert who has researched Chia for years and years? Click here!

Mama Mia -- I'm Bottling Some Mila!

Heartfelt readings to every raw foodist I know personally (or not) and ANY one else who is reading this at this moment. Thanks so much for stopping by! I am totally honored that you took a few moments to be here! I am so grateful for your time!

Well, I have got some news that I am absolutely thrilled to share...(Can you feel my heart beating with excitement? I just took a deep breath to slow it down!) ;-)

Have you heard of Mila? If not, I am sooooooo excited to introduce you to this highest quality all-raw chia seed that has:

"700% MORE OMEGA-3’s than Salmon
500% MORE CALCIUM Than Whole Milk
200% MORE IRON Than Spinach
100% MORE POTASSIUM Than Bananas
1400% MORE MAGNESIUM Than Broccoli
100% MORE FIBER Than Bran Flakes
500% MORE PROTEIN Than Kidney Beans
300% MORE SELENIUM Than Flax Seed
800% MORE PHOSPHORUS Than Whole Milk
MORE ANTIOXIDANTS Than Blueberries
MORE FOLATE Than Asparagus
MORE LIGNANS Than Flax Seed
MORE DIETARY FIBER than Flax Seed"

I know that chia is quite popular in the raw-food community and is often added to smoothies and such, but how many are aware that not all chia is created equal?

So, when using a less-than-optimum quality of chia, it's not surprising that we're not getting the level of Omega-3s that we think we're nourishing our bodies with! However, Mila -- also referred to as "The Miracle Seed" and "chia rediscovered" -- is the best of the best, hands down, when it comes to chia.

Thanks to Dr. Wayne Coates and his tireless chia research efforts for about the past 18 years, we have come to learn all of this amazing information about the benefits of Mila. To provide the body with OPTIMUM benefits, Mila is grown "within a band approximately 23 degrees north and south of the equator, that is, from The Tropic of Cancer to The Tropic of Capricorn," Dr. Coates explains in the November 2008 issue of "Your Business At Home" magazine.

Another question that Dr. Coates answers in that interview is: "Besides the amount of Omega-3, how does generic chia seed differ from Mila?" He explains: "Generic chia is generally a lower-quality seed. Where it is produced, how it's produced and how it is cleaned are all aspects that must be considered when judging the chia quality. There are generic chia seeds out there that are quite dirty, which means they contain weed seeds or plant parts, both of which degrade the quality of the overall product."

I tell you, having this optimum quality chia (Mila) in my home seems to be making my kitchen (and me) vibrate at another level. I LOVE Mila!!! And I love that it's great for anyone! It has universal appeal, so to speak, and inspired me to come up with my own slogan for it: -- "Changing Health In America" (and beyond) is what Chia has become to mean to me!

If you are wondering if Mila is truly raw, well, let me let the Mila guru, Dr. Coates, answer that for you. He explains: "Traditional grinding methods heat the seed through friction, which produces oxidation. Oxidation causes oil seed rancidity, decreasing the shelf life of the ground seed. Mila is not exposed to heat and can be kept unopened for years without becoming rancid, since naturally occurring antioxidants in chia make it last longer. The ancient Aztecs knew this and traded in both whole seeds and ground chia," says Dr. Coates.

Mila can be mixed in with just about any food and it doesn't alter the taste because of how virtually tasteless it is! For instance, my husband, who ordinarily quickly detects any addition I've blended into his favorite kale/banana smoothie has not at all picked up on the addition of Mila to his green drinks. He simply sees the pretty bag of Mila sitting on the kitchen counter, but he has no idea that a scoop of the finely sliced chia in the bag is ending up in his daily smoothies. Shhh! Don't tell him. (He'll find out soon enough, though, when he reads this.) ;-)

I quickly decided that I didn't just want to purchase Mila to nourish my family, but I also wanted to very much be hands-on with LifeMax, the company with "vision" that has blessed us with Mila by way of Dr. Coates' research. LifeMax is convinced that the Omega-3s, protein, fiber and the many forms of goodness in Mila will change health, globally.

LifeMax is also interested in helping folks reach financial health and has, therefore, created a very easy-to-operate direct-sales system for Mila distribution. You can create a wonderful home business on the 'shoulders' of LifeMax, and the company will ship the product for you, so you certainly don't have to be worried about that. You'll get your own website with a non-complicated tracking system and so much more! Basically, you'll spread the word about the benefits of Mila and the backend of the "office" will do the rest.)

With all of my heart, I believe in Mila -- and I believe in LifeMax -- and I believe Mila is an optimum whole raw-food product that health educators and such should strongly consider educating themselves and others about while adding it to home kitchens, web sites, retreats, restaurants, stores, etc. Mila needs to be everywhere! Every home needs a bag of Mila. Mama Mia, let's bottle some Mila, folks! ;-)

For more information about sampling a bag of Mila, click here. Then, click on "Order Product Now" at the top right of the page. Or, if like me, you clearly know you want to be a Mila distributor, visit the "Become A Distributor" section which is also located on the top right.

Let's take this next and wonderful step to making this world even healthier -- one bag of Mila at a time! By the way, a bag of Mila is designed to last about a month -- you only need a scoop a day (the scooper is provided in the bag)!

To clarify, you can simply order Mila for your home AND/OR sign up to get it distributed into the home of your readers, customers, family, friends, etc. What a great way to spread health and wealth.

A Big Mila Hug to you!

Feel free to post a comment or question here or e-mail me at penny@BottlingHealth.com

Much Love,

Penny
http://www.bottlinghealth.lifemax.net/

"Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others." Habakkuk 2:2