Sat 27 Nov 2010

Africafe Coffee

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Many people taste their first cup of Africafe when they visit Tanzania.  While it may be a big company in that country, the rest of the world really doesn’t know it exists.  Despite this, there are a lot of people who think that Africafe coffee is the best tasting coffee they have ever had.  Even people who say they don’t like instant coffee still think it is wonderful.  In addition, a lot of their products are organic instant coffee, which can be hard to find sometimes.  The good thing is that you can buy it online now, so you can bring the taste of Tanzania into your home whenever you want.  Here is what you need to know about Africafe.

Africafe Pure Instant Coffee in a 100 gram tin.

$9.90

Africafe Pure Instant Coffee in a 50 gram tin from Exclusive Gourmet Coffee.

$5.95

Africafe 3 in 1 Pure Instant Coffeemix in individual serving sachets that include a blend of sugar and powered cream. 10 sachets in a package.

$9.95

Africafe Pure Ground Coffee in 50 gram serving package from Exclusive Gourmet Coffee.

$5.95

Starbucks Africa Kitamu Coffee, Ground, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3)

$20.00

Caranda Coffee Kenyan AA Whole Bean Coffee, 16-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2)

About Africafe Coffee

This coffee is made by a company called Afri Tea and Coffee Blenders.  Run by the government of Tanzania for decades, it was sold to a private company.  Afri Tea and Coffee is a quality brand, and is one of the only companies that gets locally grown coffee and tea and processes it locally.  The result is a quality organic instant coffee that is certified.  Most of its products are certified organic, even though the front of the tin just says “Pure” on it.

Types of Africafe Coffee

Africafe produces a whole line of different coffee and tea products, and you can find some of their organic coffee online.  While all of them are available in Tanzania and other African countries, many of them aren’t found in the rest of the world.  Fortunately, you can get both their instant coffee and ground coffee beans online.  Africafe instant coffee comes in either 50 gram, 100 gram, or 250 gram tins.  They also sell a 3 in 1 coffee, which includes sugar and powdered cream as well.  It is actually really hard to find certified organic 3 in 1 coffee packs, so if you are looking for them, this is a great choice.  Ground Africafe coffee beans are also certified organic and come in 50 gram pouches.

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Fri 26 Nov 2010

Organic Coffee Online

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Coffee is literally everywhere these days.  You can get it in bags at the supermarket, in a cup at the coffee shop, convenience store, or even the gas station.  In fact, you really never have to walk more than a block or two in any city or town in the world these days without seeing coffee in some form or another.  Despite this abundant supply, many people actually prefer to get their coffee online.  Why?  Simply because ordering organic coffee online is the best way to get the best selection for the best price.  In addition, it is actually the only way to buy certain specialty coffees that are impossible to find in local stores for most people.

Our Bestselling Organic Coffee

Artisan Handcrafted Organic, Private Reserve Diamond 100% Pure Kona Coffee, Pure Luxury, 8 Oz Whole Bean

$24.95

Cameron’s Organic French Roast Whole Bean Coffee, 32-Ounce Bag

$12.50

Cafe Altura Organic Coffee, Sumatran Dark Roast, Whole Bean, 32-Ounce Bag

$9.95

Coffee People Organic K-Cups for Keurig Brewers (Pack of 50)

$20.99

BackCountry Coffee Roasters Organic Cowboy Mud Blend, 16-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2)

$9.95

Hawaii Roasters Organic 100% Kona Coffee, Whole Bean, Medium Roast, 5 Lb

$169.99

Yuban Organic Medium Roast Ground Coffee, 11-Ounce Cans (Pack of 3)

$15.04

Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee, 3.53-Ounce Jars (Pack of 6)

$47.81

Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Brazil, Dark Roast, Ground, 16-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3)

$29.53

Volcano Dark Roast, Organic Kona Hawaiian Coffee, 8 Oz, Whole Bean

$11.95

Cafe Altura Organic Coffee, Regular Roast, Ground, 12-Ounce Cans (Pack of 3)

$21.60

BuyWell 100% Fair Trade Organic Single Origin Sampler: Peru, Guatemala, Sumatra, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3) WHOLE BEAN

$24.99

Coffee People Tree Hugger Fair Trade & Organic for Keurig Brewers, 24-Count K-Cups (Pack of 2)

$23.00

Coffee People Extra Bold Organic, Dark Roast Coffee for Keurig Brewers, 24-Count K-Cups (Pack of 2)

$23.00

Coffee People Kona Blend Island Style, Extra Bold K-Cups for Keurig Brewers (Pack of 50)

$22.00

Hawaii Roasters 100% Kona Coffee, Medium Roast, Whole Bean, 16-Ounce Bag

$29.99

Getting specialty organic coffee online is the biggest reason most people shop for it this way.  Local coffee shops and large supermarkets usually have dozens of choices, but when it comes to organic coffee, a lot of people find that they don’t have so many to choose from after all.  Searching for organic coffee online is actually very easy, and it is a great way to connect yourself with organic coffee that is grown all over the world.  Here are some of the best choices for buying coffee online that you would be hard pressed to find at local stores.   You can also get organic instant coffee online, which is pretty hard for some people to find, even at health food stores.

The first type is Kona coffee.  Getting Organic Kona coffee online is a lot easier than finding it in stores, since most stores only sell the conventional kind.  The Kona area, on the Big Island of Hawaii has dozens of small, family owned coffee farms.  Many of these farms produce exceptional organic coffee, but since they are small farms, their coffee isn’t distributed around the world.  Whether you want just a 1 pound bag or an organic coffee gift box to send to a friend, there is a large selection available on Amazon.  The same thing is true with other locations, such as Costa Rica, Panama, and Tanzania.  You can find all of these coffees online easier than you can in stores.

The second reason many people choose to shop online is because they know they can get the best price that way.  A very popular type of coffee these days is the K-cup, or coffee pod, which are little individual sized cups that fit into a single cup coffee machine.  If you have a Keurig machine, look for organic K cups online.  If you have a Senseo coffee machine, look for coffee pods.  There are a huge variety of organic coffee pods online.  Choose from famous brands like Newman’s Organic, Diedrich, or get a mixed box that has a few different types in it and try them all.

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Fri 26 Nov 2010

Organic Instant Coffee

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While most of the world’s great coffee experts would tell you that instant coffee is awful tasting stuff, the truth is that many, many people drink it and love it.  You might wonder how the experts can think it tastes awful while a million other people think it is great.  The reason is because the average person is a lot less picky and is satisfied a lot easier.  What this means is that a decent organic instant coffee will satisfy most people just fine.

While there is definitely something to be said about making coffee the slow way – grinding the beans and then brewing them up in a coffee machine or espresso machine, a lot of people simply don’t have the patience or time for this.  They would rather open up a jar, scoop out a spoonful of instant organic coffee and simply put it in a cup of hot water.  You can do this in about 15 seconds.

The Most Popular Organic Instant Coffees

Native USA Organic Instant Freeze-Dried Coffee, 1.75-Ounce Jars (Pack of 4)

Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee, 3.53-Ounce Jars (Pack of 6)

$47.81

Coffee People Organic 96 Count K-cups

$49.99

Newman’s Own Keurig Single-Serving Coffee Pods/K-Cups ; Organic Special Blend

$53.99

Mount Hagen Organic Instant Regular Coffee, 25-Count Single Serve Sticks (Pack of 4)

$22.82

Coffee People Kona Blend Island Style, Extra Bold K-Cups for Keurig Brewers (Pack of 50)

$22.00

Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Decaffeinated Coffee, 3.53-Ounce Jars (Pack of 6)

$45.09

Africafe Pure Instant Coffee in a 100 gram tin.

$9.90

Coffee People Organic K-Cups for Keurig Brewers (Pack of 50)

$20.99

Coffee People Extra Bold Organic, Dark Roast Coffee for Keurig Brewers, 24-Count K-Cups (Pack of 2)

$23.00

Newman’s Special Blend Extra Bold (24 K-cups) Keurig

$14.99

Keurig 15555 Newman’s Own Organic Special Blend K-Cups Extra Bold Coffee

$9.38

One problem is that until fairly recently most of the instant coffee available was not organic.  This means that it was most likely sprayed with pesticides and processed with chemicals.  Fortunately you don’t have to drink this stuff anymore, and there are a few really good companies that focus on selling organic instant coffee.  Here are the most popular ones.

By far the biggest of the instant organic coffee brands is Mount Hagen.  Their coffee is certified organic, from highland coffee farms, and is 100% Arabica coffee.  The good thing about Mount Hagen organic instant coffee is that it is available in a few forms.  You can get a jar of regular instant coffee, or you can get organic decaf instant coffee.  In addition, it also comes in a box full of instant single serve sticks, which eliminates the need to guess and measure with a spoon.  Simply tear the top off and pour it into water.

Another popular choice is Africafe.  This coffee comes in a metal tin, and if you saw it on the supermarket shelf, you would most likely just walk right past it.  The container is pretty plain looking, but it gets rave reviews from coffee drinkers.  Africafe instant coffee is grown in Tanzania, is certified organic, and has the advantage of being grown in the location where coffee originated.  Many people find out about Africafe coffee when they are in Tanzania, and are delighted to find out that they can get it back home as well.

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Wed 24 Nov 2010

Unsweetened Dried Cranberries

Posted by under Dried Fruit, Food
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Most people these days have tasted dried cranberries before.  The problem is that nearly all of the products sold in stores are sweetened.  In fact, there is a pretty good chance that if you ask someone how cranberries taste, they will say they are sweet.  The truth couldn’t be further from this though!  Cranberries in their natural state are very, very tart and sour, which is the reason why it is so hard to find ones that are not sweetened.  Most people are just not prepared to eat something that sour!  For this reason, nearly all of the dried cranberries that you can get contain sugar, since this lets people munch them like raisins without puckering up.

Having said that, there are a few alternatives available for people who really want to eat cranberries in their natural state.  Some people want them to mix in with breads or cookies.  Other people mix them in with naturally sweet dried fruit such as raisins and apples.  Stay away from conventional brands like Ocean Spray if you don’t want all the sugar.  Here are a few unsweetened dried cranberries if you don’t want all that sugar mixed into your cranberries.

Our Most Popular Dried Cranberries and Cranberry Juice Concentrates

Eden Organic Dried Cranberries, 4-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 5)

$15.64

Freeze Dried Cranberry Powder

$20.95

Dried Organic Cranberries

$9.25

Newman’s Own Organics Cranberries, 4-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 6)

$16.80

Bob’s Red Mill Dried Cranberries, 16-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4)

$44.92

Made In Nature Organic Cranberries, Dried and Unsulfured, 4-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)

$22.98

100% Pure Cranberry Concentrate 16 Ounces

$14.58

Cranberry Juice Concentrate – Natural – 16 oz.

$11.99

Mountain Sun Antioxidant Power, Pure Cranberry, Unsweetened, 32-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 3)

$24.00

Eden Foods has natural dried cranberries that are infused with apple juice concentrate in the drying process to make them a bit less sour.  This is one of the only dried cranberries available without all the sugar.  Even health conscious companies like Bobs Red Mill and Made in Nature put sugar in their cranberries.

As an alternative to unsweetened dried cranberries, you can get this freeze dried cranberry powder, which is simply dried cranberries in a powder form.  Add a little bit of this cranberry powder to nut milks or smoothies to balance out the sourness.

One of the easiest ways to include unsweetened cranberries in your diet is to get pure cranberry juice.  There are lots of them available, and if you get a cranberry concentrate you can add just a little bit to a glass of water for a dose of antioxidants.  Getting the unsweetened cranberry juice is usually going to be your most inexpensive option as well.   You can Buy Natural Cranberry Juice Concentrate Here.

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Wed 24 Nov 2010

Organic Decaf Coffee

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For many reasons, some people prefer drinking decaf coffee to regular coffee.  For those few people these days who don’t know what decaf coffee is, it is coffee that contains very little, if any caffeine.  The reason why people want to drink it is simple:  Many people love the taste of coffee, and they have been drinking it for years.  Why give up something you love when there is an alternative?  Drinking organic decaf coffee even at night won’t keep you awake!  Here are some things you need to know about organic decaf coffee so that you can make an informed choice.

The Best Types of Organic Decaf Coffee

Jeremiah’s Pick Coffee Organic Water Processed Decaf Whole Bean Coffee, Dark Roast, Round & Robust, 10-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3)

$21.09

Marques De Paiva Decaf Medium Roast Organic Ground Coffee, 10-Ounce Bags (Pack of 4)

$24.94

BackCountry Coffee Roasters Organic No Trace Decaf, 16-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2)

$22.50

Chill Out, Water Process Decaf, Certified Organic Coffee Pods, 24 Pods, From Aloha Island Coffee

$26.95

St. Ignatius Gourmet Coffee St. Edmund Campion, Shade Grown Organic Decaffeinated Roast Ground, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3)

$25.97

Seattle’s Best, Organic Twilight Coffee, Ground, Decaf, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3)

$24.26

Newman’s Own Special Decaf Coffee Keurig 96 K-Cups

$64.99

Certified Organic Coffee House Blend Whole Bean Decaf – 10 oz,(Green Mountain Coffee Roasters)

$6.99

Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Decaffeinated Coffee, 3.53-Ounce Jars (Pack of 6)

$45.09

While only a few short years ago it was pretty tough to even find organic decaf coffee, these days it is widely available in many forms.  You can get whole beans or ground beans in one pound bags.  You can also get organic decaf coffee pods that will fit right into a K-cup coffee maker or a Keurig coffee machine if you want single use packs.  If that isn’t simple enough for you, you can even get organic instant decaf coffee, which requires only a spoon and a cup of hot water to make!  Take your pick from the best selling coffees below.

What is Organic Decaf Coffee?

Organic decaf coffee, like any other organic product, doesn’t contain harmful chemicals or pesticide residue.  Most people are unaware of the process that coffee beans go through to get from the farm to your mug.  Only organic coffee beans come from coffee trees that are not sprayed with pesticides, and after they are picked, the beans are not treated with chemicals.

One thing consumers need to know is that it is one thing to drink organic coffee, but organic decaf coffee is a different story.  The reason is that nearly all of the decaf coffee in the world is produced using harsh chemical solvents.  You see, coffee beans naturally contain caffeine, and this caffeine needs to be taken out.  This is where the chemical solvents are used, since this is by far the easiest and most efficient way of doing it.  There is an alternative though, and this is where organic decaf coffee beans come from.

The alternative to the chemicals is to use something called the Swiss Water Process, which removes nearly all of the caffeine from the coffee beans using only pure water.  This is a slow and tedious process, but the result is a decaf coffee that is free of chemicals and tastes great.  Although most people are unaware of this little tidbit of knowledge, it is important.  Many health experts agree that if you are going to drink decaf coffee, it is well worth spending a couple of dollars extra to get organic decaf coffee beans made using the Swiss Water Method.

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Wed 24 Nov 2010

Organic Sun Dried Tomatoes

Posted by under Dried Fruit, Food
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Many people love the taste of sun dried tomatoes, and they are great added to lots of foods.  Toss them on salads, sprinkle them over pasta, or put them into your sandwich to bring it to life.  Like other dried foods, most sun dried tomatoes have sulfites or other preservatives in them to preserve their color, flavor, and make them last longer.  There are a few different kinds of organic sun dried tomatoes available.  Here are some of the best ones:

The Best Organic Sun Dried Tomatoes

Emperor’s Kitchen Organic Sun-Dried Tomatoes, 6-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)

$24.46

California Sun-Dry Sun Dried Tomatoes (Julienne Cut), 3-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 6)

$18.45

Mediterranean Organic Sundried Tomatoes In Olive Oil, 8.5-Ounce

$6.49

Mediterranean Organics Organic Sundried Tomatoes ( 12×3 OZ)

$55.43

Tribest SJ018B Organic Sun Dried Tomatoes No Salt 8 Oz

$19.55

Pomorella Organic Sun Dried Tomato Spread, 4.5 oz.

The most common organic sun dried tomato products are simply packages of the naturally dried fruit itself.  There are lots of brands that sell them.  Another popular option is to get a jar of organic sun dried tomatoes in olive oil.  These are generally going to be softer than dry ones, since they have been sitting in oil for a while.  Sometimes it can be pretty tough to find organic sun dried tomatoes in stock, so you might have to get the next best thing, which is tomatoes that are sulfite free.  Look for packages that say natural or sulfite free on them if you don’t want to eat this preservative that is added to keep the red color.

About Organic Sun Dried Tomatoes

There are a few things that you should know about what makes organic sun dried tomatoes different from conventional ones.  First of all, it starts with the tomatoes.  Only organic tomatoes are used, which means they are not sprayed with chemical pesticides and other harmful substances.  The next thing that you have to look at is how the tomatoes were dried.  There are a couple of ways to do this, and one way is natural and the other isn’t.  Despite their sun dried name, many tomatoes are actually not dried in the sun at all.  Instead, they are laid onto trays in enclosed rooms and exposed to ethylene gas, which makes them go limp and dry out.  Tomatoes dried this way are inferior to those that are dried naturally in the sun, preferably near where they were grown.  Most good organic sun dried tomatoes say right on the package that they are naturally sun dried, so look for this.  In addition, make sure you read the ingredients on the back of the package or jar as well.  If it is organic, it should have an ingredients list that looks something like this:  Organic sun dried tomatoes, Sea salt, and not much else.

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Wed 10 Nov 2010

Organic Cocoa Powder

Posted by under Chocolate, Food
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Until just a few years ago, most people never really knew that you could eat raw cocoa.  Things changed fast though, and you can now see organic cacao nibs on health food store shelves around the world.  Organic cocoa powder in its purest form is simply the cacao seeds that have been crushed into a powder.  This is chocolate in its simplest form.  Here is what you need to know about organic cocoa powder, including where to get it, and the nutritional benefits of cocoa powder.

Where to Buy Organic Cocoa Powder

Frontier Cocoa Powder, Dutch-process Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified™, 16 Ounce Bag

This is one of the best cocoa powders, and is processed using the Dutch method.  Fair trade, certified organic, 1 pound bag

$12.99

Navitas Naturals Organic Raw Chocolate Powder, Cacao Power, Mayan Superfood, 16-Ounce Pouch (Pack of 2)

Navitas Naturals makes sure their organic raw cacao comes from certified organic growers in Peru.

$25.56

Rapunzel Pure Organic Cocoa Powder, 7.1-Ounce Packages (Pack of 3)

Rapunzel pure organic cocoa is simple and tasty.  Add it to drinks, desserts, and other recipes for a healthy treat.

Cocoa Powder Organic 12 Ounces

Now Organic Cocoa Powder is a great product as well.  In addition to being healthy and natural, it is inexpensive as well.

$5.32

Certified Organic, Raw Cacao Powder, From Peru 1#

This 1 pound bag of raw cacao grown from farms in Peru is natural, raw, and ready for you to add to drinks and food.

$12.95

Dagoba Organic Chocolate Fair Trade Certified Cacao Powder 8 Ounce

In addition to being certified organic, Dagoba organic cocoa is also certified fair trade.  This is a good choice from a great company.

$8.99

Native USA Organic Cocoa Instant Powder Mix, 14-Ounce Tins (Pack of 4)

For those of you looking for a something that you can just put into a cup of hot soymilk or other beverage, the Native USA instant cocoa powder is a good choice.  Perfect for camping or simply enjoying at home.

Foods Alive Organic Cacao Powder, 8 Ounce Bags (Pack of 2)

This is another great choice for Organic cacao powder.  Foods Alive organic cacao powder is minimally processed and in its raw form to retain maximum nutritional benefits.

$18.30

These days, it is pretty easy to find organic cocoa powder on health food store shelves.  While this may be true, many people have also learned the hard way that many health food stores charge very high prices for specialty items like this.  Buying online is a great option, since you can take your pick among various brands and products quickly and easily, and whatever you buy will be delivered right to your door, often free of charge.  Here are some of the best raw organic cocoa powder products:

How to Use Organic Cocoa Powder

Unlike other conventional chocolate products that are full of sugar and other sweeteners, organic cacao powder doesn’t contain anything else.  While it is indeed good for you, by itself it doesn’t taste a whole lot like a chocolate bar!  The best thing to do is to add some organic cocoa powder to food and drinks.  Here are the most popular ways to use this healthy chocolate powder:

  • Mix it into smoothies
  • Stir raw organic cacao powder into hot soy milk, rice milk, or nut milks for a tasty hot cocoa drink
  • Blend it into cake mixes for healthy chocolate without added sugar or flavorings
  • Sprinkle it onto desserts

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Wed 10 Nov 2010

Organic Brazil Nuts

Posted by under Food, nuts
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It is no secret that nuts are one of nature’s most nutrient rich foods.  Although they are small, they sure pack a big punch.  In recent years, nuts have gotten a lot of attention, and Brazil nuts are definitely among them.  While you can get both kinds, it is always best to go organic, since doing so ensures that the Brazil nuts that you buy don’t contain any harmful substances added during processing.  Here is what you need to know about organic Brazil nuts, including nutritional information and the best place to buy them.

Where to Buy Organic Brazil Nuts

Bergin Nut Company Brazil Nuts Whole Raw, 16-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2)

$17.31

Woodstock Farms Organic Brazil Nuts, 10-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2)

Bora Bora Island Brazil Nut Almond Energy Organic Bar, 1.4-Ounce Bars (Pack of 12)

$14.99

Certified Organic Brazil Nuts, 16oz

$16.95

Klein’s Naturals Brazil, Raw Shelled, (Pack of 6)

$29.10

Brazil Nuts, Raw, Shelled, Organic, 5# Bulk

$59.00

One of the best places to buy organic Brazil nuts is Here on Amazon.  The reason why is because they offer the biggest choice of products all in one place.  This lets you compare them easily and choose the one you like best for the best price.  Of course, you can buy organic Brazil nuts at health food stores, but many of these stores mark up their prices by a huge amount, and the result is that you, the customer ends up paying a lot more than you need to.  Buying them on the internet is a good way to find the best deal quickly without having to drive all around town.

Brazil Nuts Health Benefits

Like other nuts, Brazil nuts are very rich in antioxidants, which have been the focus of many recent studies in reducing the risks of cancer and heart disease.  Other popular foods that contain antioxidants are acai berries, blueberries, and green tea.  The difference with organic Brazil nuts is that they contain the nutrient selenium, which is not found in many other foods and is something that many people don’t eat enough of.  In order to get the maximum health benefit from organic Brazil nuts, it is important to consume them in moderation.  Though they are small, they pack a big punch, so a few a day is all that is needed.  You can combine them with other types of nuts like walnuts, almonds, and cashews if you like.  Since each organic Brazil nut contains about 160% of your daily selenium needs, you don’t need to eat too many.  If you are worried about Brazil nut selenium poisoning, you only really risk adverse effects if you get in the habit of eating 8-10 or more of these nuts every day.

One thing that many people get concerned about is that they see that Brazil nuts have a lot of saturated fat in them.  While this is true, the type of saturated fat that is found in organic Brazil nuts and other types of nuts is actually a healthy fat when eaten in moderation.  Nuts contain what are called healthy fats, which help you.  Processed foods and animal fats, on the other hand, contain saturated fats that don’t help you.

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Mon 27 Sep 2010

Earth Vegan Shoes

Posted by under Vegan Shoes
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While many shoe companies have been pretty slow to put out vegan shoe options, others have seen opportunity in this area. One such company is Earth Shoes, which boasts quite an impressive line of vegan shoes. This company is not exclusively vegan, and does produce non-vegan shoes as well, so you need to make sure what you are buying is what you want. They have a good range of products as well, ranging from dress shoes to boots to sandals to comfortable walking and running shoes. Here is a review of the most popular Earth vegan shoes.


Earth Vegan Glide

earth glideThis is your casual, walk-around-town everyday shoe, and comes in both mens and womens sizes. Like many other Earth shoes, the glide features Kalso negative heel technology, which shifts your weight onto your heel a little more than normal shoes, which helps to strengthen leg muscles and reportedly burns more calories when walking than wearing normal shoes.  Take a look at the Earth Vegan Glide here at Zappos.


Earth – Elite Vegan Boots

For women looking for a stylish vegan boot, the Earth Elite is a great choice. It comes in 6 earth elite vegan bootgreat colors, has a 14 inch high, waterproof upper, and is certified vegan. Unlike many other womens boots, which put fashion before comfort, this boot is well endowed with comfort features like reinforced arch support, a soft microfiber lining to prevent rubbing, and it also has the negative heel technology mentioned above.  See all 6 styles of Earth Elite Boot Here at Zappos.


Earth Prestige Vegan Footwear

earth prestigeThe Earth Prestige is a stylish womens shoe that comes in 5 different color choices. It has a vegan patent upper that looks sleek. Earth shoes tries really hard to make sure that their shoes are as comfortable as they can be. It also features a negative heel, meant to tone and strengthen leg muscles while you walk. See the Earth Prestige Vegan Shoe Line Here.  See the Earth Prestige Vegan Shoe Line Here.

Other Earth Vegan Shoes


Earth Lazer Vegan

For a more casual shoe, take a look at the Earth Lazer, which is a slip on style and comes in brown and black. This shoe is designed for comfort and packs light and easily.

Earth Kinetic Vegan

The Kinetic is similar to the glide, but it is a bit more of an all around exercise shoe. It is designed to provide ultimate comfort for people on the go, whether it is walking through town, a forest, or playing tennis. There aren’t too many vegan athletic shoes, and this one has a negative heel as well, which makes it popular among people who have come to love this new technology. See them here.

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Sun 22 Aug 2010

Healthy Chocolate

Posted by under Chocolate, Food
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Is chocolate healthy? This is one popular question indeed, and there is in fact a simple answer.  Due to its anti-oxidants, the chocolate is indeed healthy, but the catch is that this is only true before other ingredients are added to it.  Another health claim of dark chocolate (not milk chocolate) is that it lowers blood pressure.  Chocolate comes from the cacao tree, and the pods of this tree with the seeds inside them are processed into various products.  In its purest form, cacao has a bitter taste, hence the addition of sweeteners by most manufacturers.  It is at this point where chocolate usually takes a turn from being healthy to being unhealthy.

Conventional chocolate bars from big candy companies can be full of artificial sweeteners, flavors, oil, and other ingredients that you don’t really want to put in your body.  On the other hand, in the last decade health food stores all over have started selling cacao nibs, both raw and roasted for people to use.  They definitely don’t taste like a chocolate bar, but the crunchy, nutty flavor of them is great mixed with lots of things.  If you still want a sweet chocolate bar that is healthy in small doses, your best bet is to get a dark chocolate with a high cacao content:  Good quality dark chocolate will say right on the label the % of cacao in it.  This percentage includes both cacao solids and cacao butter.  Generally, the higher the percentage of cacao, the stronger and more intense the chocolate flavor is going to be.  Experiment a bit, and see which one you like best.  A healthy dark chocolate is going to be much better for you than a milk or white chocolate.  If you are looking for a gift for someone, make sure you check out our vegan gift baskets, filled with vegan cookies and other healthy treats.

Healthy Raw Chocolate

Although the vast majority of the chocolate eaten throughout the world is roasted and processed with heat, in recent years raw chocolate has gained a bit of a following.  You can now get raw cacao nibs (small pieces of the cacao seeds), raw cocoa powder, raw whole cacao beans, and of course processed raw chocolate bars mixed with other natural sweeteners and ingredients to make it taste good.
You Can Buy Raw Chocolate Here.

Xocai Healthy Chocolate

One of the highly publicized producers of healthy chocolate these days comes from the Xocai brand.  They produce a range of products that have chocolate as a main ingredient, mixed with acai berries, blueberries, and other ingredients that give an antioxidant punch.  Make sure you look at the ingredients before you buy, since some of their products (such as the Xocai Activ drink) contain dairy. Find Them Here.

Healthy Chocolate Cake

If you are a vegan or vegetarian and are trying you hardest to stick to a strictly healthy diet, you are probably well aware of how hard it can be to find a piece of healthy chocolate cake that you can feel good about eating.  As far as healthy chocolate cakes go, you pretty much have two options:  1) You can buy a piece at your local health food store for $5 per slice, or 2) You can make your own.  If you want to make your own healthy chocolate cake easily, I suggest getting one of the Vegan Friendly Cake Mixes Here.  This Vegan Chocolate Cake Mix is gluten free as well.

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