Gut-Healthy Homemade Lattes with Gut Power Drinks

I introduced Gut Power Drinks into my diet in 2020 when I started experiencing some uncomfortable and frustrating tummy issues (constipation, indigestion, pain after eating, etc), and it’s been a part of my routine since then. Gut Power Drinks is a research-backed blend of some of the highest quality prebiotics and probiotics to create a healthy microbiome. In addition to a well-balanced diet (plus exercise, sleep, and stress management, of course), Gut Power Drinks has been instrumental in eliminating my tummy issues. 

Here are my two favorite ways to incorporate Gut Power Drinks into my daily routine. Follow the links below and use the code “HUNGRYHALEY” at checkout for a discount! 

1. Creamy Dark Chocolate Mocha 

2. Iced Vanilla Latte 

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What you’ll need: 

Hand-held frother 

Freshly brewed hot coffee 

Iced coffee (homemade or store-bought) 

Sweetener of choice (I use honey) 

Non-dairy milk or creamer of choice 

Gut Power Drinks Coffee

Gut Power Drinks Cocoa 

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Creamy Dark Chocolate Mocha 

1 scoop Gut Power Drinks Cocoa mix
6 oz brewed hot coffee (strong is best, in my opinion) 
4 oz non-dairy milk of choice (I also love unsweetened almond milk)
1 tbsp. Dark chocolate chips (dairy-free, preferably) 
2 tsp honey or maple syrup 
½ tsp vanilla extract 

1. Gently heat the non-dairy milk on the stovetop or in the microwave, then stir into the brewed hot coffee. Stir in the dark chocolate chips and blend for a few seconds with the frother until the chocolate chips have melted and dissolved. 

2. Add the sweetener and vanilla extract, and blend again for a few seconds. 

3. Finally, add the Gut Power Drinks Cocoa mix and blend with the frother until a good amount of foam develops on the top. Enjoy! 

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Iced Vanilla Latte 

1 scoop Gut Power Drinks Coffee mix
4 oz filtered water, room temperature 
4-6 oz cold brew 
2 oz non-dairy milk or creamer of choice 

1. Add the Gut Power Drinks to a large mason jar with the 4 oz of filtered room temperature water. Blend with a hand-held frother or shake vigorously until dissolved. 

2. Stir in 4-6 oz of cold brew and blend again. Add the non-dairy creamer, if using. 

3. Drop a few ice cubes in and enjoy!

If you try Gut Power Drinks, let me know what you think! I swear by these mixes, guys. I wouldn’t be sharing anything gut-health-related if it wasn’t backed by science or something I would include in my own routine. Even if your gut health is “okay” or you’re not noticing any symptoms of gut imbalances, these pre- and probiotic blends can still be very beneficial. 

Thanks for reading, and thanks for supporting me! Make sure to tag me in your Gut Healthy Homemade Latte creations :)

Chocolate with a Purpose: JOJO's Chocolate

This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small compensation. All statements are my own - I love and support JOJO’s Chocolate, and want to say thank you for supporting my blog in return!

“You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy chocolate, and that’s pretty much the same thing.”

— Jodie Jones, Creator of JOJO's Chocolate

Yes, yes it certainly is.

During one of my visits home in college, as I peeked into the pantry to see what snacks Mom and Dad had gathered since my last visit, Mom insisted I try some of this new chocolate she’d found. On the resealable bag stamped boldly with “JOJO’s” were the claims “kick the craving!”, “low-sugar, high-protein” and I rolled my eyes. Will it even taste good? Can’t I just satisfy the craving rather than “kick” it? I questioned, but I bit into a bar studded with crunchy, salty pistachios and tart dried cranberries anyway (I’ll never turn down free dark chocolate). 

It was creamy and rich, just like chocolate should be. It was sweet enough to satisfy the sugar craving without overwhelming your taste buds with pure sugar. Actually, JOJO’s doesn’t even add sugar to their chocolate - instead, they sweeten it with stevia. I know, I know - you’re imagining that unpleasant aftertaste it leaves on your tongue. I hate it, too, which is why I avoid stevia and was skeptical about it in this chocolate. Trust me, though, when I say the stevia flavor is as undetectable as the spinach flavor in a fruit smoothie! 

Now on an almost-daily JOJO’s Chocolate kick, my favorite is the Peanut Butter Delight, with the Raspberry Dream following closely behind.

Who is JOJO, and what’s so good about her chocolate?

JOJO’s story is pretty amazing. A breast cancer diagnosis and bout of treatment led this mother to realize that, in order to live a longer and healthier life with her family, she needed to make some changes. Beginning with her diet, she felt the need to find healthier alternatives for her sweets cravings - specifically, chocolate. She spent some time in the kitchen coming up with a homemade chocolate recipe so that she could control the ingredients and amounts of each to satisfy her cravings and bring nutritional benefits. Her son, Sterling, came alongside her - he needed something sweet, too - and helped her adapt the chocolate recipe to fit his paleo lifestyle. 

These rich, creamy, bittersweet bars are the final product of their hard work, and they’re low in sugar, high in protein, and packed with antioxidants. And, of course, I had to do my research so that I provide evidence behind these claims we so often see on food labels. If chocolate is going to claim to be healthy (and delicious), I’m going to need to see the facts.

So, healthy chocolate, huh? Here’s the research!

Flavanols

Maybe you’ve heard it before - chocolate is a rich source of antioxidants. Specifically, a group of antioxidants called “flavanols” found in cocoa butter acts to neutralize free radicals throughout the body and help prevent oxidative stress, which has been linked to inflammatory and ischemic diseases, hypertension, neurological disorders, and many other negative outcomes (1). Regular consumption of flavanols has been shown to reduce blood pressure (2) and some metabolic markers, such as total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, blood triglycerides, and blood glucose levels (3). For my grandma’s benefit (the biggest chocolate fan I’ve ever known), the good news is that these flavanols have been shown to improve cognitive function in elderly populations (1).

Stearic Acid

If you’re wondering, “uh… what?” let me explain. Stearic acid is a specific type of fatty acid - a long-chain saturated fatty acid found in both animal and vegetable fats, and it is one of the three fatty acids found in cocoa butter (oleic and palmitic acid being the other two). Unlike other saturated fats, however, stearic acid has been shown to exhibit no effect on cholesterol levels (5, 6). Though it is still a saturated fat that, in cocoa butter lives next to two other saturated fats that do affect cholesterol levels, since stearic acid makes up one third of the fat composition of cocoa butter, it’s nice to know that at least that amount is beneficial for our bodies.

Complete Protein

This isn’t necessarily a snack I’d call “high-protein”, but compared to other chocolate bars, this one definitely takes the gold for protein content. JOJO added hemp protein to her recipe, which on its own, is a plant-based and therefore incomplete protein, but along with the generous sprinkling of crunchy, salty nuts on top of each bar, JOJO made these bars a source of complete protein.

Proteins are made up of small building blocks called amino acids. Of the 20 total amino acids, 9 of them are essential - meaning our bodies cannot synthesize them, so we must consume them in foods or supplements in order for our bodies to meet daily protein requirements (7). Animal sources of protein, like meat, dairy, and eggs, are typically referred to as higher quality because they contain all 9 essential amino acids, while plant-based sources of protein contain less than all 9 and are therefore lower quality proteins. Don’t let this stop you from consuming more plant-based proteins! By combining multiple plant-based protein sources, the body can obtain all 9 essential amino acids to carry out metabolic needs and help stimulate muscle growth (8). 

Low Sugar

The high-protein and low-sugar content work together to satisfy chocolate cravings without the negative side effects of a super sweet snack. In a study investigating the effect of a high protein diet for 5 weeks (30% protein, 30% fat, 40% carbohydrate) on the blood glucose levels of those with type 2 diabetes, researchers found that the increase in protein paired with the slight reduction in carbohydrates (compared to a diet recommended for the general population composed of 15% protein, 30% fat, and 55% carbohydrate) did result in a small but significant reduction in blood glucose levels (3). Given that JOJO’s Chocolate also leaves the sugar out of the equation, the common spike and crash in blood sugar levels after consuming a sweet snack is not a concern here.

Where can you get your hands on some JOJO’s?

Head over to the JOJO’s Chocolate online shop and be sure to use the code “HUNGRYHALEY10” for 10% off your purchase!

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References:

1. Lobo, V., Patil, A., Phatak, A., & Chandra, N. (2010). Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 4(8), 118. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.70902

2. Hooper, L., Kay, C., Abdelhamid, A., Kroon, P. A., Cohn, J. S., Rimm, E. B., & Cassidy, A. (2012). Effects of chocolate, cocoa, and flavan-3-ols on cardiovascular health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 95(3), 740-751. doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.023457

3. Desideri, G., Kwik-Uribe, C., Grassi, D., Necozione, S., Ghiadoni, L., Mastroiacovo, D., . . . Ferri, C. (2012). Benefits in Cognitive Function, Blood Pressure, and Insulin Resistance Through Cocoa Flavanol Consumption in Elderly Subjects With Mild Cognitive Impairment. Hypertension, 60(3), 794-801. doi:10.1161/hypertensionaha.112.193060

4. Mastroiacovo, D., Kwik-Uribe, C., Grassi, D., Necozione, S., Raffaele, A., Pistacchio, L., . . . Desideri, G. (2014). Cocoa flavanol consumption improves cognitive function, blood pressure control, and metabolic profile in elderly subjects: The Cocoa, Cognition, and Aging (CoCoA) Study—a randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 101(3), 538-548. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.092189

5. Hunter, J. E., Zhang, J., & Kris-Etherton, P. M. (2010). Cardiovascular disease risk of dietary stearic acid compared with trans, other saturated, and unsaturated fatty acids: A systematic review. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 91(1), 46-63. Retrieved June 02, 2020, from https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/91/1/46/4597175.

6. Denke, M. A. (1994, December 1). Effects of Cocoa Butter on Serum Lipids in Humans: Historical Highlights. Retrieved June 02, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7977142/

7. Recommended dietary allowances (10th ed.). (1999). Washington DC: National Academy Press.

8. Berrazaga, I., Micard, V., Gueugneau, M., & Walrand, S. (2019). The Role of the Anabolic Properties of Plant- versus Animal-Based Protein Sources in Supporting Muscle Mass Maintenance: A Critical Review. Nutrients, 11(8), 1825. doi:10.3390/nu11081825

9. Gannon, M. C., Nuttall, F. Q., Saeed, A., Jordan, K., & Hoover, H. (2003). An increase in dietary protein improves the blood glucose response in persons with type 2 diabetes. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 78(4), 734-741. doi:10.1093/ajcn/78.4.734

California Lavash Whole-Grain Flatbread

This post is sponsored by California Lavash - all opinions stated are my own. Thanks for reading and supporting my blog!

It’s no surprise I love to bake. And if it is a surprise to you, well, it must be your first time here, so welcome! Anyway, I love to bake, but the thought of baking bread kinda’-sorta’-really terrifies me. I’ve tried once before, and instead of a beautiful, fluffy, golden brown loaf, I think I pulled a football made from flour out of my oven. I haven’t tried anymore homemade bread since then.

Bread is one thing I’ll leave to the experts, like the bakers of California Lavash. This family of bread-makers, located in the town of Gilroy in Central California, uses traditional baking methods and simple ingredients to produce whole-grain lavash, naan, and pita the way their family has done so for years. All ingredients are vegan, non-GMO, and free of artificial preservatives.

If you didn’t already know, I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to nutrition, so you can bet I check the ingredient list on most packaged foods when I’m grocery shopping. Several store-bought breads are made with whole-grain flour (one of the first ingredients on the list, where it should be!), but several of those also contain different modified versions of sugars, gums, and other preservatives to keep them on the shelves for longer periods of time. These won’t kill you (at least I think they won’t?), but it’s best to consume as few of these as possible and as many whole foods/ingredients as possible, don’t you think? I’m not exaggerating when I say I was amazed when I looked at the ingredient list on the California Lavash package - just whole-wheat and wheat flour, water, oat fiber, yeast, oil, and cultured yeast. Each of those ingredients serves to produce the flavor and structure of this flatbread, and because the grains are in their whole form, the ingredients also serve nutritional benefit. Win, win.

Lavash is a bit different from other breads - it doesn’t boast many air bubbles and isn’t shaped in a loaf form. Instead, it’s… well, flat, as the name “flatbread” implies. I’m a firm believer in fluffy, yeast-risen bread, but lavash deserves some love, too. Though it doesn’t rise, it still comes out of the oven light and airy and yields itself to several possibilities for both the creative cook and the quick-and-easy eater. Keep it as is fresh out of the package for a veggie-packed wrap with hummus, or bake it with your favorite sauce and toppings for a twist on thin-crust pizza. Slice it into smaller squares and bake those into chips (sweet or savory!) or taco shells.

Because it’s free of preservatives, the flatbread is best stored in the fridge for immediate use, and in the freezer for longer-term storage. Click here to visit the website, and select “store locator” to find them near you, and stay tuned for a lavash-chip recipe coming later this week!

PaleoValley Pasture-Raised Turkey and Grass-Fed Beef Sticks

This post is sponsored by PaleoValley and contains affiliate links - all opinions stated are my own. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog! 

If I could time-travel, my first mission would be to rewind sixteen years, befriend six-year-old Haley and snatch the Slim Jims from her hand in exchange for these PaleoValley turkey and beef sticks. I don't follow a Paleo diet now, nor did I back then, but the paleo-ism of these bars isn't the sole reason I appreciate them. 

I'll give you a quick run-down of this company's story, and then let you read the rest here. Chas and Autumn are a husband-and-wife team who set out on a mission to heal Autumn's IBS, and along with two other close friends, launched PaleoValley to promote the importance of nutrient-dense foods. Today, they sell not only turkey and beef sticks, but also vitamin and mineral complexes, superfood bars, and superfood powders. 

These turkey and beef sticks are what my six-year-old self desperately needed. Okay, they're more than that, but I just had to give that little side-note to make sure you know that child-Haley loved anything that involved sausage and snacks, and these bars are a close combination of the two. 

For the beef sticks, PaleoValley uses 100% grass-fed and finished beef. What many beef buyers might not know is the importance of looking for grass-finished beef - grass-fed cattle may be fed diets containing grains and other supplements during their last few months, whereas grass-finished cattle are fed nothing but grass for their entire lives. And if you must know some benefits of grass-fed beef, consider higher quality nutrient profiles and potentially less methane-gas-impact on the environment (1). Nowadays, most of us are likely aware of grass-fed beef in the grocery store and hopefully purchase that over its not-as-pretty grain-fed twin when we want to grill up some cheeseburgers, but how about when it comes to snacks, when we're looking for something quick and easy? PaleoValley saw that need and took initiative to make sure a grass-fed snack-able beef stick for those of us who just love them. 

And for the turkey sticks, PaleoValley uses turkey meat from only pasture-raised turkeys. If you're like me, you weren't exactly clear on the difference between "pasture-raised" and "free-range", as they've seemed to be two of the buzzwords used in reference to meat and egg production these days. According to Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC), farmers are required to give their birds 2 square feet per bird and outdoor access when weather permits in order to receive the Certified Humane Free-Range seal. To receive the Certified Humane Pasture-Raised seal, farmers are required to give their birds 108 square feet per bird and outdoor access year-round. The difference is clearly in square footage, and within that, food differs as well - free-range birds eat processed grain and supplemented diets, while pasture-raised birds are free to eat a variety of greens naturally growing on the pasture without any chemicals or pesticides (2,3). 

Both the beef and turkey sticks are naturally fermented, yielding gut-friendly probiotics to aid in digestion. Each stick has 6-7 grams of protein and as little as 1 gram of saturated fat (which is typically much higher in beef products). Organic spices are used to bring exciting flavors like cranberry orange, summer sausage, and garlic. 

Are you ready to give these a try? Head to the online store and use "HH30" at checkout for 30% off your purchase! And remember, I only promote companies/products here on my blog whose mission and values I whole-heartedly support. PaleoValley is paving the way for more environmentally friendly and humanely raised animal products, and as a former vegan, I hold those as high priorities when I make food choices. So, here is a delicious and convenient way for you to do the same!

1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/is-grass-fed-beef-really-better-for-you-the-animal-and-the-planet/2015/02/23/92733524-b6d1-11e4-9423-f3d0a1ec335c_story.html?utm_term=.f5a01fd8acb2

2. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pasture-raised-turkeys-expensive_us_59dfa0fde4b0eb18af06ff13

3. https://certifiedhumane.org/free-range-and-pasture-raised-officially-defined-by-hfac-for-certified-humane-label/

Purity Coffee

This post is sponsored by Purity Coffee. Everything stated is my own opinion. Thanks for supporting my blog and making the healthiest, most delicious coffee around town! 

Let this be the debut of my inner coffee-lover. I've been drinking the magic stuff for almost three years, but not until I discovered Purity Coffee did I really begin to educate myself more on the drink we all know and love! 

What is it? 

Coffee... duh. I'm not trying to sound like your favorite salesperson here, but Purity Coffee really isn't the same stuff as what's on most grocery store shelves nowadays. Their whole process - from harvesting to roasting to packing - ensures that buyers receive the healthiest version of coffee available. It's also:

• organic: uses methods that recycle, conserve biodiversity, and balance local ecology. 
• almost defect-free: "speciality coffee" is the highest standard of coffee, and therefore contains the fewest defects. 
• mold-free: is frequently lab-tested to ensure no traces of mold and/or mycotoxins exist in the beans. 
• sustainable: "an integrated system of plant and animal production practices that will last over the long term" (according to the website).

My opinion:

I'm no "coffee-snob", so I've never really been one to toss a cup of coffee because I didn't like the taste (that only happened once). A medium-dark roast is my go-to, simple as that. When a representative from Purity Coffee assured me I'd taste and feel the difference most just by drinking it, I felt unsure, but I went with it. 

Aaaaaaand she was certainly correct. It just tastes... cleaner, fresher, richer, more robust. The biggest difference I noticed was feeling way less bloated after drinking it, a side effect I always ignored after drinking other coffee. I'll be honest - the taste didn't convince me that this is a life-changing cup of coffee (like I said, not a coffee-snob over here), but I felt mentally and as a result physically better drinking it, knowing what is going into my body is pure (pun intended), boasting maximum health benefits and reaping no potential consequences. 

Why Purity?

I don't buy into the "coffee is bad for you" campaign. Sure, it can raise cortisol (aka stress hormone) levels, but that only becomes harmful when stress levels elsewhere in life are through the roof and sleep is not happening like it should. I've got my stress under control, for the most part, and I get enough sleep. I enjoy coffee. Up until recently, I've never seen it as a "superfood" or a "bad food"... until now. 

I researched Purity Coffee and had no idea that coffee beans have higher levels of antioxidants than my favorite fruits - berries! Say whaaaat? Think about how many Americans drink coffee regularly - quite a few, huh? A cup of coffee is much more convenient and sometimes easier to get our hands on than a cup of berries, aaaaaand it's packed with many more antioxidants! Purity Coffee has the highest antioxidant level of all coffees at a roast level that produces the lowest level of acrylamide. Some coffees compared may have a higher level of antioxidants, but they also had a higher level of acrylamide. 

HALLELUJAH.

Aside from providing the body with antioxidants, coffee has also been shown to boost physical and brain performance, as well as metabolism, and decrease the risk for depression.

Where to buy?

Online! When you checkout, be SURE to use "hungryhaley" to receive a discounted price on any order. Here, you can purchase by the bag or subscribe and receive a shipment size of your choice and frequency. 

Thanks for reading, and I hope you found this information helpful in making your next coffee decision!