More often than not, they lead to even more questions.

Narrowing it down to the subject of digestive health, the following questions are often asked by those experiencing the dreaded information overload syndrome, as a result of reading a little too much about this subject:

• What foods can I eat to improve my digestion?
• Is fiber good for digestion?
• Are good bacteria really helpful for the digestive system?
• How do I increase the good bacteria in my digestive system?
• What supplements should I take to improve my digestion?

All of the above questions are valid of course, but in order to reduce the risk of info overload syndrome, why not we go slow on this topic and begin zeroing in our focus on the first basic step for attaining healthy digestion?

Hint: Regarding the last question, you do not have to take “supplements” to dramatically improve the quality of your digestion. A single supplement is all you need to accomplish this purpose.

The First Step: Meal Plan Creation

A meal plan is such a criminally underrated tool for promoting eating habits that are healthy and sustainable.

Putting together and maintaining a meal plan seems like a lot of work, but that’s actually far from the truth.

With a meal plan, all you really have to do is take a quick gander at it, and then write down the digestion-friendly meals that you wish to eat for the next few days or for the entire week, on the empty spaces of the plan.

What digestion-friendly meals should I write down on the plan?

Morning: You can’t go wrong with a smoothie shake that’s jammed with a variety of digestion-boosting ingredients.

A smoothie shake is ridiculously easy to prepare and makes for a terrific breakfast fix, especially for those who are often pressed for time in the morning.

There are countless of recipes for making digestion-friendly smoothies available online, and one of the winners is the vanilla cinnamon berry smoothie shake recipe.

This particular recipe calls for just a handful of ingredients, most of which are good for the digestion including cinnamon, avocado, berries, and kale.

Lunch: Asparagus roasted with Dijon mustard is a nice lunch meal for the digestion.

Asparagus, after all, contains prebiotic properties which act as fuel for good bacteria in the digestive system to thrive on.

Other recommended digestion-improving lunch dishes are roasted chicken breast with sauerkraut, grilled salmon with kimchi, and roasted artichokes with grass-fed beef.

Artichokes, kimchi, and sauerkraut are all splendid for the gut and overall digestion.

Dinner: You might want to keep things light when it comes to dinner, so go with soupy dishes such as bone broth which is renowned for its ability to heal the intestinal barrier.

Other light soupy options that work wonders for the digestion are cauliflower masala soup, Thai coconut turkey soup, and ginger-turmeric carrot soup.

The Second Step: Keep the Stress Away

Believe it or not, stress can instigate a negative effect on your gut health.

Think about it, do you ever feel queasy whenever you’re about to face an extremely stressful situation?

Indeed, the health experts are spot-on when they claim that our emotional condition is linked to our digestive health.

Keeping stress away isn’t easy, but you can stack the deck in your favor by participating in stress-relieving activities that you genuinely enjoy such as running, dancing, lifting weights, meditation, boxercise, yoga, drawing, painting, and whatever it is that floats your boat.

Bonus Step: Take in Some Digestive Enzymes

This was pointed out earlier, but it bears repeating, just in case.

Try a digestive enzyme supplement.

As the name implies, digestive enzyme supplements have been specifically formulated to improve the quality of your digestive health.

Check this one out.

Your digestive system will thank you for it.

The post 2 Steps to Improving the Quality of Your Digestion appeared first on mindbodytrust.

This Tea is called Rooibos, and it is indigenous to South Africa. It is fast becoming known for its ability to improve bone health, encourage weight loss, and help ward off many different types of cancers.

What is Rooibos Herbal Tea Used For?

In fact, its health benefits are so great that it is fast climbing the Super-food ranks and will soon be battling it out in the heavyweight ring with those all-important green and black teas.

The reason it is rated so highly is primarily down to the huge amount of antioxidants it contains, which help fight off free radicals, oxidative stresses on the body, and many different types of illnesses and diseases.

Rooibos tea can help keep your heart in tip-top condition while helping improve your skin and bones.

Benefits Of Rooibos Tea

Rooibos tea has the capabilities to help reduce inflammation and remove oxidative stresses from the body.

One of the main antioxidants found in the tea is Quercetin, which can help treat a plethora of conditions and illnesses, ranging from Type 1 and Type II diabetes, lower high-cholesterol levels, treat allergies such as hay fever, assist with CFS, or chronic fatigue, and ward off cancerous cells.

Rooibos contains copious amounts of this antioxidant, thus is beneficial for the relief of symptoms associated with them.

#1: Improves The Condition Of The Heart

Rooibos is known to be great for improving the health of the heart. This lies in the addition of flavonoids such as Chrysoeriol, which actively helps reduce high blood pressure. It also helps with improving blood circulation and reducing the levels of bad cholesterol.

Studies have shown that rooibos help by managing the amounts of hormonal activity, which occurs in the adrenal gland.

Another antioxidant rooibos contains called asphalthin, which is not found in any other food or drink source. This antioxidant helps with both improving the blood flow to the heart and reduces inflammation of the vascular system.

#2: Therapeutic For Diabetes & Could Help Prevent It

In tests, rooibos has been shown to have a positive impact on diabetes and cancer. In fact, it has the potential to not only help treat diabetes but also prevents it from developing in the first place. This is also true with several types of cancer.

The fact that these benefits can be obtained by drinking a simple cup of tea is impressive in itself.

#3: Could Have Potential For Preventing Cancer

This ability stems back to the antioxidant quercetin. Many physicians commonly prescribe a supplemental form of it to help with treating cancer.

It is known to assist with the suppression of tumors and their growth by interfering with the mutation of cells in the body. It is also seen as being an immune system booster, which means it has the potential for helping treat other conditions such as HIV, arthritis, and lupus.

#4: Assists With Digestion

Rooibos tea is an ideal way to improve the optimal health of the digestive system. It can help mitigate stomach pains, cramps, and bloating. As the tea contains specific nutrients which prevent the digestive tract from spasming, it can help alleviate diarrhea.

#5: Helps Improve Bone Strength

There are plenty of bone-boosting nutrients contained in rooibos tea, which range from calcium, fluoride, and manganese. As rooibos improves the rate of osteoblast activity, it can help improve bone mass and strength.

It also helps with increasing the bone mineral content, therefore conditioning the skeletal system from head to toe.

#6: Can Help With Weight Loss

Green tea is a well-known weight loss supplement, and rooibos tea is no different. The flavonoids contained in the tea help burn body fat, which leads to weight loss. Burning body fat is what you want with weight loss versus merely dropping water weight.

If you are looking to shed a few pounds, then introducing rooibos into your daily diet can really help.

#7: Can Help with Treating Allergies

As Rooibos helps strengthen the immune system, the body is better able to fight off allergens. This is again down to the antioxidant quercetin, which helps block the signals from immune cells, which are responsible for bringing on the allergy symptoms.

#8: Encourages Youthful Hair & Skin

Rooibos is a rich source of AHA’s, which are well-known for their potent anti-wrinkle properties. These acids have a positive impact on both wrinkles and hair follicles.

Their protective abilities allow the hair follicles to produce stronger and healthier hair, which contributes to a healthier and more youthful appearance.

Rooibos Teas’ History & Nutritional Data

If you are looking for a way to truly benefit your body via excellent nutrition, you definitely want to add Rooibos tea into your daily routine.

The tea contains no calories, no caffeine, and has a very low tannin content. Rooibos is a part of the legume family, and is commonly referred to as ‘Red Bush tea.’

The reason it acquired this name is down to its red, brush-like form. The tea is only grown in a single location in South Africa, which is in the mountainous region located next to the cape of good hope.

What About Antioxidants?

Inside rooibos tea, there are 50% more of those beneficial antioxidants that are known to be in green tea. The fact that there is no oxalic acid in rooibos tea means that it is a fantastic alternative for those who are afflicted with kidney stone issues.

Rooibos is a much-loved beverage across the whole of South Africa, and one which they have been consuming for many centuries. Anyone who has ever tried rooibos will tell you that its light and delicate flavor is one which you will savor time and again.

We have to thank DR. P. L.F Notier for the popularity of the brew, as if it were not for his research and promotion of the tea, it would most likely still be a well-guarded secret of South Africa.

How To Make A Cup Of Rooibos Tea

As rooibos tea contains very few tannins, you will never experience the bitterness that is commonly found with steeping a green or black tea for too long.

It lends itself to a natural sweetness unlike no other tea, and it is just as good to consume cold as it is hot.

When making yourself a cup of rooibos, you want to aim for a heaped teaspoon of the tea p[laced inside a tea infuser.

Following this you want to use freshly boiled, steaming hot water and pour it over the mix. Allow it to sit and steep for a good 10-minutes and then sweeten with an organic and natural sweetener, such as Stevia.

Rooibos Tea Cautionary Advice

There is some evidence that rooibos tea may have a slight detrimental impact on the fertility of men who consume the beverage en-masse over an extended period of time. This is only typically seen in those who drink large quantities of the brew.

In regular daily servings, rooibos can actually help sperm to become much more concentrated.

There are also specific physicians who believe that rooibos may have a negative impact on those afflicted with liver or kidney disease, and also those who suffer from cancers of a hormonal nature.

Rooibos may also interfere with chemo treatments undertaken as part of cancer treatment. It is for these reasons that you should discuss the long-term use of rooibos with your doctor if you suffer from any of the above-noted conditions.

The #1 Way To Lose Weight Drinking Red Tea

Thousands of people are are dramatically transforming their bodies, changing their lives, and becoming the healthiest versions of themselves… just by drinking red tea.

And you could be one of them…

Fortunately, our friend, Liz Swan Miller, has put together an extensive guide that not only inspires ‘detoxees’, but also empowers them to shed POUNDS of useless fat from their bodies in a high-quality, safe, and credible way.

It’s called, The Red Tea Detox.

Stop relying on exhausting diets and miserable(bland) meal plans.

Check out her guide and learn how to melt away 41 lbs of fat by drinking this red tea, starting today.

The post 8 Amazing Benefits Of Rooibos Tea {w/Fat loss Guide} appeared first on mindbodytrust.

Who doesn’t love dessert?

The Vegan Diet is nothing new. More importantly, it’s becoming one of the most popular diets today.

To kick start your weight loss goals this year, we’ve thrown together our top 30 best vegan recipe collection. Save this list and feel free to share it with your friends and family.

Also – Don’t forget to leave us feedback or any suggestions of what we should add to this list!!!

Happy dieting

1. Raw Vegan Donut Holes

How about oats in donuts? Dessert for breakfast with dates as well? You will also get you healthy daily dose of fats with the cashews included, previously rinsed for more health benefits. A pinch of the Himalayan salt full of minerals that regular salt lacks. Then some more healthy fats like coconut oil and a healthy sugar substitute – maple syrup. All scented with luscious vanilla.

Find the recipe here: This Rawsome Vegan Life

2. Easy Vegan Hot Chocolate

Snack time. Why not warm up with healthy dessert in a glass? Vegan hot chocolate with vegan marshmallows. The almond milk for proteins, raw cocoa for antioxidants. Also, sea salt and vanilla to enhance the flavor and healthy sugars with Medjool dates. Add ginger for better digestion and cinnamon to regulate blood sugar.

Find the recipe here: It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken

3. Carrot Cake Cupcakes w/Whipped Coconut Cream

Your palate will thank you for these healthy cupcakes. The carrot pulp will add freshness and instead of sugar use dates. For the fats use walnuts. Then add some oats for fiber and coconut oil to get the best fats even more. Some nutmeg and cinnamon to warm you up and raisins for vitamins. The whipped cream of cashews and coconut will burst with more nutrients and flavors.

Find the recipe here: This Rawsome Vegan Life

4. Almond Butter & Jam Sundae

Super fast and easy to prepare. Just toss in frozen bananas to be satiated, some protein of peas. Then some healthy and fatty coconut milk and a bit of vanilla for magical taste. There is more – chia seeds for good digestion and berries for vitamins and minerals. Health-bomb made in a minute!

Find the recipe here: This Rawsome Vegan Life

5. Chia Seed Pudding (Vegan and Gluten Free)

In the winter time, you need a soothing creamy dessert? Orange pudding with cocoa taste? Yes, please. Toss some chia as well and blueberries to digest this all well, add orange zest and vanilla beans for that cozy winter aroma Lastly add Goji berries for a boost of nutrients.

Find the recipe here: My Whole Food Life

6. Mixed Berry Parfait (Vegan Gluten Free)

When you are a parfait-lover, make it with berries, and you got the perfect vegan parfait. Be creative, add strawberries too. Use healthy sugar like maple syrup and sea salt for a flavor to remember. Healthy fats with pecans and…more vitamins with blueberries and blackberries. All mixed with coconut whipped milk and vanilla extract.

Find the recipe here: My Whole Food Life

7. Pumpkin Coconut Mousse (Vegan and Paleo)

A different type of mousse if you need to skip chocolate flavors. Healthy pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and vanilla for aroma. Add maple instead of sugar and nutmeg and ginger for amazing smell and better digestion. Some cloves, healthy fats with coconut whipped milk and that are all you need. Whip the milk and toss the rest!

Find the recipe here: My Whole Food Life

8. Raspberry Coconut Mousse

So, you like coconut, and you like raspberries? Combine them for a refreshing mousse. Whipped healthy coconut full-fat milk and fresh raspberries for vitamins and minerals. Also more raspberries for decoration and skip the sugar – add maple syrup instead. Dig in as soon as it is done, of course!

Find the recipe here: My Whole Food Life

9. Papaya Cream Popsicles

If you crave something ice-creamy or frozen, make popsicles of papaya! Good and healthy calories with the same taste as store-bought popsicles – perfect! There is more to this like coconut milk for the fats and lime juice for taste and vitamins. Then vanilla for amazing smell and some honey to give you instant natural-sugar energy.

Find the recipe here: Oven Love Blog

10. Coconut Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

No bake cookies? Anytime! Coconut shreds that we all love, agave for healthy sweetness or some honey. Coconut oil for a daily dose of fats and salt and vanilla for better taste. With perfect sauce of coconut oil with cocoa to get antioxidants and honey for sugar substituting – can cookies get better than this?

Find the recipe here: Oven Love Blog

11. Coffee Cake (Paleo, Vegan, GAPS)

You want a healthy vegan cake, but you also love coffee. Read on! With the coconut flour, you make the whole aroma magical, and the sea salt will enhance the sweetness of the honey. The cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and cloves will burst as piñata of tastes. Skip the eggs to make it vegan, crispier and better! The coconut oil will add the fats. Lastly squash puree and nuts for creamy/crispy bites and date sugars!

Find the recipe here: Oven Love Blog

12. Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites

Perfect for guests, the best finger-dessert of one bite. Coconut shreds and coconut oil for good fats and maple or honey as natural sugars. Then vanilla for good scent with dark chocolate which keeps the heart healthy and some good fats as pecans for decoration. A healthy vegan version of store-bought brand bars and bites.

Find the recipe here: Oven Love Blog

13. Banana Truffles w/Chocolate Cookie Dough Split

Who does not love cookie dough? Moreover, the one with banana and chocolate? We all do. With added cashews, you get good fats and with the coconut flour the perfect aromatic crumbliness. You get sugars due to the dates and flax meal is for good digestion. Pinch of salt and this healthy dough is ready for enjoying.

Find the recipe here: The Colorful Kitchen

14. Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bites

Nobody refuses PB and chocolate. Moreover, this is vegan, bite-size so make it anytime! The vegan cream cheese is a pure delicacy, and the PB is the best fat here along the coconut butter. Agave will sweeten this up with the chocolate chips and best for last – vanilla scent extract.

Find the recipe here: The Colorful Kitchen

15. Chocolate pudding

Warm up in the winter days with a super-tasty vegan pudding of chocolate and bananas for fiber. The avocado is for healthy fruit fats plus some almond butter (yum!). Cocoa for a healthy heart and Himalayan salt for more minerals we lack. Sprinkle vanilla and with the whipped coconut cream. Hazelnuts for nut fats and pomegranate arils and chia-raspberry jam you get best of sugars and vitamins in one serving.

Find the recipe here: Oh She Glows

16. The Big Vegan Banana Split

Creaminess from bananas, fats from whipped coconut milk and antioxidants from cocoa and chocolate-y flavor. Vanilla scent and minerals from Himalayan salt. Sugars from dates and vegan ice cream (yes, please!). Chia jam (digestive delight) and more fats from almonds. Freshness from cherries and granola clusters for crumbliness. A heavenly vegan creamy-crumbly delicacy.

Find the recipe here: Oh She Glows

17. Oven-Roasted Cardamom Plum Jam

You can dig right in with a spoon or use it as spread or glaze. However, this is the healthiest plum jam ever! Sweet due to maple syrup, refreshing due to lemon juice. Aromatic with the vanilla and cardamom – healthy vegan jam ALL would adore, for breakfast, snack or sweet dinner!

Find the recipe here: Gourmande In The Kitchen

18. Cherry Lime Probiotic Popsicles

Popsicle time again. It has cherries, coconut (water and kefir both!) and lime juice! Imagine those flavors and nutrients together! The lime zest would make you want another Popsicle with minerals and vitamins, good sugar and healthy aromas all in one vegan frozen dessert. Make more of these; you would grab the second one.

Find the recipe here: Gourmande In The Kitchen

19. Raw Chocolate Fudge Hearts

Vegan or non-vegan, fudge chocolate is an all-time favorite. The cashew fats keep your heart healthy along the cocoa powder and organic coconut oil. The maple replaces white sugar, and the dates add more sweetness (natural sugars are always good even in larger amounts). The glaze is just as healthy; coconut oil and shreds and maple syrup.

Find the recipe here: The Colorful Kitchen

20. Cranberry Pear Crisp

How long have you not tried pears in a healthy sweet snack? With raspberries too? Make this now and add oats for fibers and energy, maple for a sweet taste. Then healthy coconut organic oil, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice for aromatic burst and coconut four if you like this dryer. Now grab the spoon!

Find the recipe here: Vegan Family Recipes

21. Healthy Caramel Dip

You do not need to buy toffees when you crave that taste. Make a caramel-flavor vegan DIP at home! Does it get any better? The dates would make it ultimately healthy sweet, and some vanilla caviar will make it smell amazing. The sea salt will enhance the ‘caramel’ taste. Of course, the good fats would be there from the coconut oil.

Find the recipe here: Vegan Family Recipes

22. Mint Chocolate Mousse

Every person adores chocolate mints, but what if you get the same flavor and in mousse form? Perfect! Coconut cream for consistency and good fats for the heart and cocoa powder for taste and healthy heart as well. Vegan chocolate chips for more sweetness and mint organic extract for that minty-addictive aroma.

Find the recipe here: Vegan Family Recipes

23. Pecan Pie Energy Bites

For getting energetic instantly, you can have these as both dessert and energy bites for metabolism boosting due to dates for good digestion and good sugars and pecans for healthy fats. The oats are for fibers and maple for replacing sugar. Cinnamon will regulate blood sugar and add aroma too. Sounds flawless and healthy!

Find the recipe here: Gluten Free Vegan Pantry

24. Coconut Whipped Cream

Unexpected guests and you wanted to try something creamy with coconut anyway? Fast and simple, vegan and healthy. Good fats from coconut cream of full fat and vanilla to make the smell pop better. Add a natural, healthy sweetener per your choice (maple or Stevia is prefect). So simple, vegan, tasty and healthy!

Find the recipe here: Diet Taste

25. Healthy Chocolate Truffles

Heavier or too sweet desserts like classic truffles can be vegan, lighter, but will taste the same as those non-vegan truffles from markets. You get the good fats from coconut oil and the sugars from date paste. Antioxidants come from the cocoa and aromas of gingerbread spices. You can eat these as much as you want, unless you are on slimming diets – these are addictive!

Find the recipe here: Diet Taste

26. Vegan Raspberry Cheesecake

Yes, a vegan cheesecake for any time of the day with refreshing raspberries on top and sea salt cookies of dark chocolates that keep the heart in great shape. Then good fats from cashews and coconut oil and lemon juice for vitamins. A bit of salt and vanilla for aroma enhancing and coconut shreds (no harm in the healthy decoration on top) and agave to make it healthy-sweet.

Find the recipe here: The Colorful Kitchen

27. No-bake Chocolate Macaroons

When impatient to bake regular macaroons opt for these chocolate no-bake rounded ones. Creamy from the bananas, sweetened with maple syrup and coconut shreds. The good fats come from coconut oil, antioxidants from the cocoa powder and aromas from sea salt and vanilla. However, with chia seeds added this is the perfect digestive vegan macaroon you will have ever.

Find the recipe here: Oh She Glows

28. Chocolate Blender Pudding

Who said chocolate pudding could not be healthy and vegan at the same time? Made in seconds too. Sweet from the dates and chocolate shavings along coconut shreds with some dates too. Scented with vanilla and sea salt (full of minerals), cocoa for the chocolate taste and healthier heart. With the almond milk, banana and avocado you get a mix of protein, carbs, and good fats as well.

Find the recipe here: Oh She Glows

29. Coconut Apricot Sorbet

When you need a fruity vegan, ice-creamy treat, why not sorbet with coconut healthy cream and apricots for vitamins? Apart from apricots, the healthy sweetness is added with agave as well and coconut shreds. Some lime juice for aroma and vitamins – good as a snack, dessert or even as a light healthy-sweet dessert in between meals!

Find the recipe here: Oh She Glows

30. Chocolate Cake Batter Smoothie

Yes, you can have cake batter of chocolate in the form of a vegan smoothie anytime you need a healthy dessert. Almond milk for the proteins and oats for fibers and good digestion. Banana and chocolate chips for sweeteners and vanilla with cinnamon for amazing scent. Some carob powder for healthy substitute of flours and cashew butter for a daily dose of good fats for the heart.

Find the recipe here: Oh She Glows

The post The 30 Vegan Dessert Recipes That Will Rock Your World appeared first on mindbodytrust.