Paleo Paleo Reviews | Paleomazing

Full Circle Ghee Blog Part 2

Miranda Jade — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 11:00:52 +0000

In my previous blog, I had written up “part one” of my interview series with the one and only Nick Van Nordheim of Full Circle Ghee. He shared with us what makes his ghee so amazing and flavorful, and informed us on some of the processes he uses to make it. If you read the previous blog, you already know how big of a fan I am of this ghee, and how often I incorporate it into my recipes. Being that it fits in with the paleo diet, and has many health benefits, I find this is the perfect ingredient to use! It was a real treat to hear from Nick. Read on for “part two” of my interview and see what he and his company are all about!

Nick’s path has been one of passion and interest in the way our ancestors lived. He was introduced to the principles of Ancestral Cuisine through a close friend and was fascinated with how the process of cooking the ideal meal was something more akin to what our ancestors ate rather than the artificial, sugar laden, and fat phobic food that he had grown up with. He became enthralled with the methods and principles that our ancestral relatives used when cooking to abate disease and nourish themselves. This led Nick down the path of fermentation, and seeking out, or reproducing, those products that were included in their diet. He really focused on the idea of fat and how something so natural was demonized in the American diet, as opposed to the highly processed and nutrient void fats that we were all told were “better” for us. He shared that he, “honestly could not wrap my mind around a product like butter and milk being worse for us than canola oil, which undergoes intense chemical and mechanical processes to be produced”. To him, it seemed dubious at best, and nefarious at worst. This suspicion is exactly what led him to really dive into traditional fats and their methods of production, from how the animals were raised, to how the fat was processed or created. Being the son of a vegetarian, he always opted for the fats that reduced harm to animals, which eventually led him to ghee. He added, “I truly think the path found me, and not that I found it”!

Once again, we have some Q & A’s to follow where Nick has been so gracious to answer some common questions that he receives. Really a great read to find out more about his truly awesome products!

Q: So, what exactly is Browned Butter? Does it have dairy?

A: The Browned Butter is a traditional French product called Beurre Noisette. What differs from the traditional product and mine is the way I produce it. Traditional Browned Butter is made to include the burnt milk solids as a method for to get more flavor into it. I produce the same product but by way of a ghee-type method in which I cook down and filter out all the remaining milk solids (proteins and sugars) leaving just the oil that has all the nutrient benefits and flavor of the original. It is made from the same butter that I use to produce our original ghee, but has a little more care involved to increase the toasted nut flavors as well as removing all of the milk and its major allergens. So, it is in fact dairy-free! I love to use this when I want just that little bit extra flavor and depth in my cooking and baking.

Q: You have a serious passion for your work, and it most definitely shows through. What is it that inspires you to create your products in the way that you do?

A: With all of the Ghee I produce, I try and look back into culinary and cultural history for my inspiration. In my own nutrition education, I found that looking back to our ancestors provided much more satisfactory ingredients and flavors that did not include mass production, excess sugars, and all-around artificial components. My journey through ancestral cooking led me to this glorious Browned Butter and the flavors that came from a completely natural process of heating butter and letting the intrinsic flavors come through. I loved that such a simple product like butter could be changed into something so magnificent and have such depth! In my own trials I found that this product was basically the same as Ghee, which I had already fallen in love with. I started to make the Browned Butter in its traditional manner with keeping the milk solids, but I decided to put it through my filtering process to make sure that they were not included, and I honestly don’t miss the milk solids as all the flavor is in the fat!!

Q: Anyone who has tried your flavored ghee must also experience that perfect harmony of flavors coming across their palate. Where did you get the idea of incorporating a variety of different spices?

A: Keeping this same principle of ancestral cooking in mind, I really looked into more cultural uses of Ghee, in its many forms. Ghee does come from India, but there are many cultures that use the same product made in a slightly different way. For instance, I found that in Ethiopia they make a product called Niter Qibbeh, which roughly translates to, “Spiced Butter.” In the Ethiopian equivalent of making ghee, they introduce spices into the pot to flavor it with whatever they put in there. Traditionally, they use a mixture of spices, herbs, and aromatics but for mine I chose to go the route of an Indian curry blend. In my opinion, the spices and herbs used in Niter Qibbeh were not really known as a flavor profile in our region of Southern California and I wanted to produce something that was similar in process but was something that was more relatable outside of the cultural context. Although the spiced ghee I produce is called “Ethiopian Spiced” it is more reminiscent of a curry flavor that is more recognizable, but I use the name to condone its origins and provenance. In Ethiopia, as in India, ghee is typically produced in the home and has varying tastes from whomever is making the product. Some people may like a little more ginger zing, some may like a little more of the meat cumin flavor, but overall it is the same product. I felt that I could use the same method with my own custom blend to resemble something that everyone could understand when tasting.

I used this same method when I decided to make another flavor, and I landed on the Mediterranean region. In this area, the use of herbs is more common and the Italian Herbed was born to reflect the use of the native herbs and flavors that are common in the cuisine found there. Made in the same process, but with a different flavor profile, I was able to create the Italian Herbed Ghee and produce a flavor that just screams Garlic bread seasoning and pizza! As for other flavors, I have a few ideas, but nothing really concrete as there are a lot of flavors to choose from, but some just don’t do so well heated and are really volatile. I really have a lot to say about ghee and how I came to find such a beautiful product!

Thank you so much Nick for shedding some light on your ghee. Your dedication and passion for your ghee is so refreshing, and I can definitely taste the love and care that goes into your creations.

The post Full Circle Ghee Blog Part 2 first appeared on Paleomazing.

Full Circle Ghee Blog Part 1

Miranda Jade — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 11:00:26 +0000

If you are familiar with my paleomazing website and recipes, you have probably noticed that ghee is something I incorporate in my cooking. There are many reasons that I choose ghee instead of butter, one of the biggest reasons being that ghee is dairy-free, and therefore is a better alternative when cooking to avoid encountering food allergies. It fits within the paleo diet as well as my active lifestyle. I have fortunately been able to talk with Nick Van Nordheim who is the owner of the company Full Circle Ghee, to gather more information on his creations! I use his ghee in my kitchen and in many of my recipes. I honestly have never tasted such unique and clean ghee, and I have used and purchased a lot from his company over the years. His cows, how he raises them and his method to making the ghee is truly different and is evident in the flavor. I’ve heard a similar response from many people who have given it a try.

Along with the wonderful Ghee, Nick Van Nordheim also talked about his Brown Butter. Now, I know what you are thinking, and I too was confused at first. This is NOT butter but is actually Ghee as well. People who are lactose intolerant, who have severe allergies to dairy and even many on the paleo diet will not touch it UNTIL I explain to them it is actually ghee. He has recently assured me they are changing the labeling and this will reflect hopefully this year on his website. You have my word, and his, that this is still a dairy-free product!

After visiting his farm in Sonoma, he has let me in on what it is that sets him and his ghee apart from others, and it really does come down to his farm and cows. All the butter that he uses comes from one small family farm in Petaluma, CA that specializes in raising only ONE breed of cow- -the Jersey Cow. This special breed comes from the island of Jersey located off the coast of Normandy in France, but it is considered part of the United Kingdom. Jersey’s are considered a “heritage” breed and were not typically used in commercial production of milk. They were typically reserved for a family milking cow due to the extremely high quality of the milk specifically related to the fat content it produces- 12%! In comparison, the Holstein cow, the black and white one typically associated with cows, produces around 3-4% fat content, yet produces twice the volume of milk that you would get from the Jersey. This high fat content produces wonderfully rich, creamy, and decadent milk and lends itself to butter production.

The properties that he raises the cows on are located in the Springhill Valley in Petaluma, as well as another property in Tomales, CA. The cows are Certified Organic and are fed a pure diet of grass that is grown on their own properties. Nick made a point in stating, “We do not feed them any corn, grain, or soy and are never slaughtered for meat. The herd is a ‘closed’ herd, meaning there is no inclusion of other breeds and the milk only comes from the Jersey cow.” Oftentimes you will have “mixed” herds which include breeds like the Jersey with mostly Holstein cows; this allows for a slightly higher fat content while maintaining a high yield of milk. He claimed that they “have always raised the pure, single-herd Jersey cow and have no intention of doing it any other way”!

I thought it would be fun to do a little Q & A to get an even closer look and see why Full Circle Ghee is so great and tasty! Here are some of the questions that Nick answered for us!

Q: How is your butter prepared? Why do you need to culture the butter if it is not raw?

A: The butter is made from the cream of the Jersey cows that has been vat- pasteurized, allowing for the cleanliness of the milk to exist. Although the butter is not raw, we do culture the butter before it is churned. The culturing process adds enzymatic activity back into cream that is lost during the pasteurization, and really adds some depth and character to the butter so it doesn’t taste just like a single flat cream flavor.

Q: What does the ghee making process entail?

A: To make the ghee, we start with organic, cultured butter and in stainless steel pots we cook the ghee down to remove the impurities: moisture and milk. The way I choose to make the ghee is at a low temperature for several hours; this ensures that nutrient value of the ghee is intact, avoiding the scalding/burning of the milk, and producing the wonderful caramel and nutty notes that make my product stand out. Often, ghee is made too quickly which contributes acrid and plastic like flavors that are undesirable for the palate, and I’ve found is one of the factors that turn people away from ghee when they try it for the first time. The low and slow cooking process also ensures that all the water has been evaporated in addition to all of the milk being broken down to levels that don’t affect people with milk sensitivities. That is why my ghee is shelf- stable at room temperature for up to a year and has a smoking point of 485 degrees.

Q: I have heard of an “infused ghee” … what is the difference with that one?

A: As for the Infused ghee I make, I start with the plain ghee that has been fully clarified through the process above. This ghee is then added to a mixture of aromatics (onions, garlic, and ginger) with the addition of herbs and spices. These contribute to the flavors that are found in the flavored ghee I’ve made. These are all my own recipes that are blended by hand and are never from pre-made mixes. Also, none of the ghee is made using machines- every jar is started and finished by hand. I do believe that care, compassion, and gratitude are essential for making the best quality of ghee.

Q: Where can I get some of this ghee?!

A: We sell all of the jars for $15 for 8oz and do ship out anywhere in the US for a small fee. Unfortunately, the site is still being built- partially the reason I needed to come to our farm here in Northern California was for the massive number of pictures I would love to have on the site and use for content on social media accounts. I do take website orders at www.fullcircleghee.com If the online shopping is not your thing, and you live in California, I do sell at numerous farmer’s markets throughout this state. We have our products in local farmer’s markets in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside County, as well as a few in the Tahoe area.

Thank you all for following along with part 1 of a 2-part interview series! Also, a huge thank you to Nick for taking time out of your day to share about your ghee! I hope you all give it a try, and you will see just how great it is and how easy it is to use in your favorite paleo recipes!

The post Full Circle Ghee Blog Part 1 first appeared on Paleomazing.

Exciting News For Paleo Coffee Drinkers

Poster — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 06:00:54 +0000

Finding good coffee is not always easy in the US, and if you’ve been to Europe, you know what I mean! Coffee is a great treat for those who eat clean and live an active lifestyle, but I found that most coffee in the US is not friendly towards those with digestive issues. For a long time, I hoped for a good and ethical coffee company in the US, and I’m sure many of you have felt the same way. Well, I have some exciting news for Paleo coffee drinkers!

As many of you may know, I love coffee, but I wasn’t always a big fan of it. When I traveled to Europe, this all changed. During my European adventure I was able to try coffee from all different regions. One thing they all had in common was their delicious taste and none of the weird digestive side effects, as a celiac, I was so accustomed to having from drinking coffee in the US.

I discovered Puro Coffee back home and it immediately took me back to those delicious moments with my cup of espresso in Europe. My excitement for Puro Coffee spread and led to a Press Release all about my raving review of Puro Coffee. By the way, I am now able to acquire this truly European coffee, Puro, and have it delivered right to your door! I am the only one in the USA right now doing this, so let me know if you’d like to try a bag or more for the family.

Now pour yourself a mug of coffee with one of my delicious Soft Cacao Brownie Monster Cookies and please check out the wonderful press release by The PR Group East West and my own unbiased, honest review to learn more about Puro Fairtrade Coffee Company.

The PR Group East West was so kind to spread word about my experience in the coffee world and the benefits of drinking a coffee which is mold-free and mycotoxin-free, like Puro, for anyone, but especially one with digestive issues. By having this press release out there, it not only raises awareness for a gluten-free company that is not very well known, but it also raises awareness for a coffee company who is ethical, environmentally and health-conscious in practice.

You can read the press release in its entirety below and enjoy my own Bulletproof Coffee or Cold Press Coffee recipes for a heathy coffee fix. Enjoy!

The post Exciting News For Paleo Coffee Drinkers first appeared on Paleomazing.

Bare Bones Broth

Rosie Purden — Tue, 23 May 2017 06:00:22 +0000

For ages, bone broth has been hailed as a healing elixir and an ideal way to get nutritious elements into the body and there’s a good reason for that. Bone broth has a number of benefits including supporting the immune system, aiding in healing the gut lining and reducing intestinal inflammation. Many of us have been making our own broths at home as a powerful addition to the paleo diet. Nowadays a number of companies are making it very convenient to enjoy bone broth without having to engage in our own home process. Bare Bones Broth is a company that I was happy to find and I was able try a number of their broths out, both by themselves and in my own recipes.

The broth comes in 5 flavors: beef, chicken, turkey, rosemary & lemon and tomato & spice, and are loaded with nutrients, protein, wholesome ingredients and are free of preservatives – absolutely nothing artificial here! Each flavor also contains no antibiotics, growth stimulants or hormones, and is low carb, gluten free and soy free. If clean eating is your goal, bone broth is a great addition to your diet.

The greatness of this product doesn’t stop at their broth, though. Their packaging is just as fitting to their brand and makes a large impact on our individual health and the Earth. All of their broths are packaged in a BPA-free “spouted pouch” which is unique and convenient, making for an easy-to-pour and easy-to-store broth. The packaging has other great benefits in that it’s constructed in a way that the broth has a 45 day or more refrigerated shelf life without the use of additives or preservatives. They also require 50% fewer resources and energy to create and transport their broth, unlike other broths made in aluminum or glass. This results in less landfill and less fuel consumption – a total win on all accounts!

Bare Bones becomes gelatinous when cold, in fact it’s much more gelatinous than many other broths I’ve tried, which is a great sign as that means more collagen for us to help with anti-aging! I really enjoyed incorporating their flavorful broths into my recipes, as well as sipping the broth on its own. For example, I used the Classic Chicken Broth in my Collagen Butternut Squash Soup (though the broth is definitely an option and not necessary) and my Mediterranean Turkey Breast Crockpot recipe. These recipes are absolutely delicious and such an easy way to get that extra collagen and those amazing nutrients incorporated into my body.

I looked into the company to learn more about the brand and I was able to find some really interesting information. It was founded by Ryan Harvey after experiencing a personal tragedy with his father dying at the young age of 39 and his grandpa dying at a young age as well. Ryan observed that they shared one thing in common: an unhealthy lifestyle. Bound and determined to not go down the same path, Ryan turned to nutrition and exercise to add quality and longevity to his life. Along the way he discovered the wonderful benefits of the paleo diet and lifestyle as well as the healing power of bone broth, and with that Bare Bones Broth was born!

Ryan Harvey, Founder of Bare Bones Broth pictured here with his wife.

If you try Bare Bones Broth please tell me about any recipes that you create with their products. You can send them to me via my contact page.

The post Bare Bones Broth first appeared on Paleomazing.

Work Station Alternative

Rosie Purden — Tue, 09 May 2017 06:00:24 +0000

Unfortunately, I feel we live in a time and culture where sedentary lifestyles are the norm and being in an office or having to sit all day equates to more health problems. Your work helps you survive by providing money, but it shouldn’t put your health at stake. CubeFit wants to help make being at work beneficial on all accounts and I really like this company. This is not me promoting a “stand all-day” apparatus suggesting you do not sit. Read on and you will see how THAT is a huge misconception with scientific evidence to back this very point up and how this work station alternative fits in!

Their vision is to educate anyone who works in an office about the detrimental effects of excessive sitting AND standing. They want to bring a lifestyle of fitness, movement and health into the office and make people’s time in their workplace work for them not against them. This all sounds great to me and works great with my paleo lifestyle! How many of us go to work and sit or stand all day only to find that when the day is over we are too tired to exercise? We don’t really realize it, but that lifestyle takes a big toll on our health. This irks me.

CubeFit is a really cool company that offers a way for us to live a more active lifestyle even while we’re working by using their desk mat. CubeFit was founded by two engineers, a designer and a personal trainer.

CubeFit uses intentional design and innovation to create healthy office products that help people make their office hours work for them not against them!

The Current Reality

The World Health Organization estimates that 95% of the adult population is inactive (meaning they fail to engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five times a week).
80% of Americans suffer from LBP (lower back pain), a condition associated with muscle tightness and inactivity caused by sitting.
Recent studies have found that even vigorous exercise won’t counteract the negative effects sitting for 5+ hours a day has on your body.
Each extra hour of sitting time per day is associated with a 22% increased odds for type 2 diabetes. (results are independent of high-intensity physical activity, like exercise).

Crazy, right? Most office jobs require little activity and a lot of sitting, and when it’s time to go home, you probably just want to relax, which means more sitting! You’re probably thinking, “Ok, so I should just use a standing desk then.” Well, not exactly. Remember, I mentioned this point above. Well, we all already know about “sitting disease” and that “sitting is the new smoking.” But did you know that too much standing is also bad for you? Standing still for prolonged periods of time in one position can:

Compress the spine and lead to lower back problems (wait, we thought it was just sitting that did that?).
Boost your risk for carotid arteries, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis.
Increase risk of cardiovascular problems since your heart has to work against gravity to keep blood flowing.

So if sitting is clearly detrimental, and standing all day is now out too, what’s the solution then?

The Real Solution

A common misconception is that simply standing all day instead of sitting is the complete solution. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Our bodies were designed to be mobile and in constant motion, not stagnant in one position for hours at a time.

Ergonomic expert, Ken Tameling, says the worst thing you can do is stay in one posture and that “any kind of micro-movement is going to give you some value. It doesn’t matter if you’re standing or sitting, if you’re doing it statically, your body wasn’t designed that way.”

CubeFit believes the solution to fighting the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle lies in a combination of sitting, standing, moving, fidgeting, bouncing, strengthening and stretching. To incorporate this into a person’s life, CubeFit created a standing desk that helps people maintain constant motion throughout the day to stay healthy, prevent back problems, and live an overall active lifestyle.

The TerraMat

If you did not read my Review earlier, then when you think of a desk mat, you probably think of a flat rubber pad. The TerraMat is completely different and I found it to be pretty unique. The CubeFit TerraMat takes inspiration from natural terrain, yoga and sports to help you stay moving while you’re standing behind a desk. Since standing still for too long can be just as detrimental as sitting all day, the TerraMat makes it easy to incorporate movement throughout your day while stretching and strengthening, which in turn can promote weight loss. There are over TEN power stances engineered to keep you fidgeting, working out, and stretching throughout the day. This mat is pretty fun to use; so much so, that you may find your family using it as well! So, what exactly do all of the features of the mat help with? The diagram below will show you what you can use to stay moving with the TerraMat and here are some pointers on how I used it:

Anti-Fatigue Mat: The flat space between the massage mounds offers enough room for both feet in a comfortable neutral stance for when you just want to stand “normally”.

Massage Mounds: Help put therapeutic pressure on the arches of your feet and keep you bouncing and moving (this is my favorite feature!).

Power Wedge: Gives you a built-in platform to get a great calf stretch.

Balance Bar: Standing on the balance bar engages your core and offers a platform to do calf raises.

Pressure Peaks: They’re like having your own in-house masseuse work out tension in your feet!

Support Track: Offers additional terrain to vary your stance and a great anchoring support for hip flexor stretches.

The TerraMat in Action

Here are a few examples of how you can use the TerraMat. While the person shown is wearing shoes, you can also go barefoot to get more out of the massage mounds and pressure peaks!

Especially for PaleOmazing readers, CubeFit is extending a generous 15% discount on their TerraMat. Visit their Amazon checkout page and enter the following coupon code in all caps: TINAMAT1 to take advantage of this amazing offer!

Who are the Founders of CubeFit and Why am I Sharing This About Them?

I find that behind every ethical product there are people who wanted to make a difference. The stories I read about the founders are fascinating to me. It seems like every person has a story that draws them to a life change in the field of health, nutrition or in helping others. In this case, it happens to be two husband and wife teams. Check these guys out!

CubeFit is comprised of two husband-wife teams. After both couples experienced their own repercussions of too much standing and sitting, they decided to do something about it and help men and women prevent injuries. They’re friends first, business partners second, and the entire CubeFit team is active and passionate about helping other people lead healthy and holistic lives.

Gerald + Michelle Zingraf:

Gerald and Michelle are Virginia Tech graduates who met on campus during college. Gerald is a mechanical engineer and Michelle is an interior designer with a specialty in dynamic school and workplace design.

A few years into working behind a desk, the valves in Gerald’s left leg started to fail from too much pressure due to prolonged periods of standing. He thought that transitioning from sitting all day to standing all day was the answer, but his time in the hospital told him otherwise. His experience was a big motivator in creating the TerraMat.

Ben + Camille Arneberg:

Ben is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and Northeastern University where he obtained degrees in computer engineering and computer science.

Camille attended Boston University and graduated with a Masters in public relations and nonprofit management. Camille is also a certified personal trainer and suffered a debilitating knee injury during a half marathon as a result of excessive sitting at the office.

These two husband-wife teams are great examples of turning an unfortunate circumstance into something very positive that not only helps themselves, but helps restore exercise and health to several people around the world.

The post Work Station Alternative first appeared on Paleomazing.

Wild Zora – The Original Meat and Veggie Bar

Rosie Purden — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 06:00:18 +0000

I love dried meats; in fact I’ve had a longstanding love affair with the fresh beef jerky my dad used to have sent to us after his hunting trips. It’s tough to beat my dad’s fresh jerky! But I have to say that Wild Zora’s original meat and veggie bars are really the best meal replacement and on-the-go meat snack next to Dad’s. I was happy to locate protein bars that are made out of real food, contain zero chemicals, are gluten free, soy-free and aren’t overly sweet. Plus, they truly align with what I feel is paleo or clean eating. Due to my active lifestyle, they are the perfect snack for when I’m on the run or out on one of my hikes! Plus, if you find that you have a hard time getting in your veggie intake, these bars are a great way to do so.

I love protein and veggies, emphases on the veggies, but who would have thought to combine these in a truly delicious paleo bar? Stick with me because it’s not what you think! I’m not talking about your typical “protein bar” made with tons of processed ingredients and filled with preservatives. Think of beef jerky that isn’t tough to chew and is combined with veggies to create a bar that is minimally processed, delicious, and not a gooey mess. Well, that’s what I found in Wild Zora and their meat and veggie bars. Wild Zora bars are made of 100% grass-fed beef, organic unsulfured apricots and veggies – perfect for a paleo lifestyle. The really cool thing about these bars is that their ingredients are dehydrated, which means that these bars have 3X the nutritional density!

I highly recommend checking out Wild Zora and trying these bars. I like these loads! I got mine on Amazon, but they can also be purchased on their site as well as in many stores. They have a variety of flavors to enjoy and are true to their names, and I must add that the texture of these bars is very nice and quite different than other meat snacks I’ve tried. If you’re a lamb eater like me, you will love the Wild Zora Mediterranean Lamb bars with spinach, rosemary and turmeric. If you enjoy curry, you will love the Wild Zora Curry Masala Turkey bars with spinach, dates and cardamom. They offer many other flavors specifically in their grass-fed beef bar category, however I did not try a number of them as they contain dairy and I don’t do well on dairy.

I researched the company and the ingredients they use, and I love the story of what inspired the company. Zora is a mother who was intent on finding a snack product for her family to enjoy that was easy to chew, nutritious, convenient and fit into their paleo diet. She was shocked to find so many supposedly “healthy” jerky and meat products contained quite a bit of fillers such as agave, rice starch and a variety of other grains, as well as toxins such as MSG, nitrates and nitrites. There was no way she was going to feed any of that to her family! So she set out to create a 100% pure meat and veggie bar containing ingredients such as grass-fed beef, natural lamb, free-range turkey and organic veggies. Their bars are simple and delicious, and align with their promise to “create healthy snacks made from 100% natural meats and organic veggies that are minimally processed, have no artificial ingredients, and still taste great. To make for you only “real food” that we give to our own children, family and friends”. That’s my kind of company.

Wild Zora founder Zora Tabin pictured here with her dog Pooh.

The post Wild Zora – The Original Meat and Veggie Bar first appeared on Paleomazing.

Stand Up Desk with a TerraMat

Rosie Purden — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 07:00:50 +0000

I love being active and staying in motion. It’s actually recommended that we stay active well into our adult years. Thank goodness I love hiking and running after my almost 2-year-old grandson so much! Many of us have “sit down at a desk” jobs and many even live sedentary lifestyles. How about coming home from work and feeling like doing nothing?! How does one keep active and healthy while working at a desk? Luckily, there’s a solution; check out this TerraMat! You can have any desk at all and still work this into your life, which makes becoming more active achievable even during a busy day. I have both a sit and stand up desk and I have now worked this into my routine and life.

I was approached by CubeFit a number of weeks ago to try out their stand up desk mat called the TerraMat. (BTW: BE SURE and see a special they are offering below!) It is a revolutionary product that features an ergonomic design put together by a personal trainer and engineer. These guys really thought of all angles – literally – the mat’s 3D features offer over 11 different possible stances so you’ll never get bored. More important, it will keep your body moving and it is NOT distracting at all while working! In fact, I find it quite the opposite. I found it alleviates those little aches or those mild to more than mild un-comforts one may get after sitting for hours. Most of us seem to forget to get up, take a break, grab a glass of water, move our bodies, etc. We just keep working away intensely on the subject of work while sitting on our bums.

The TerraMat (featured on Forbes and The Huffington Post) is a fascinating product. The mat relieves the burden and pressure from standing all day so you can stand longer without fatigue or aching feet. Thanks to a foam-like material that is 60% thicker than the material used by competitors, the mat’s 3D features help keep you moving and stretching as you stand and burn more calories. How about that? You can actually work out while you’re working! Perfect for my friends that are striving to live the active paleo lifestyle, and for those that aren’t. You can even give yourself a foot massage thanks to the mat’s raised “massage mound”. One of my favorite features.

My husband and I gave this mat a try and we both LOVED it. I cannot sit for very long periods due to spine issues, so a stand up desk is vital and the TerraMat was the perfect complement to my desk. I was impressed with the mat’s quality, durability and how sleek it looks in my office, kitchen and den, or wherever I may be working. It really helped my ability to stand for long periods of time and I was able to move the position of the mat around in 4 ways to have various activities or positions of my feet and legs.

If you’ve ever considered a stand up desk, want to be more active, or simply have a hard time sitting for long periods of time, I highly recommend you incorporate in the TerraMat. You can use it at your kitchen counter or a designated space in your office (if you don’t own a stand up desk). One great point, as far as a purchase, is that if it doesn’t work out for you and you aren’t 100% satisfied the company offers a full money back guarantee.

PaleOmazing readers are being offered 10% off the purchase of a TerraMat! To redeem your discount, simply type in “TERRATEN” (all caps) at their Amazon checkout page. I get no monetary compensation. They just generously offered this to my readers only.

The post Stand Up Desk with a TerraMat first appeared on Paleomazing.

Gluten Free Makeup Line

Rosie Purden — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 07:00:33 +0000

As most of you know I follow a paleo adapted diet and I HAVE TO be on a gluten-free diet due to having the autoimmune disease, termed celiac disease. I have no skin issues and yet I am aging and need to find the highest of quality products not only for my skin on the outside, but for my health on the inside. Araza Natural Beauty caught my interest and I could not help but check into this women-run company and their gluten free makeup line, with sincere heart and soul behind every hand-crafted and naturally sourced product.

The more I read and learn about our skin, the more it deserves respect. With addressing the skin of women and children, we can make changes now that may otherwise become exasperated sometime later by what we buy from stores, on-line or products promoted as “healthy”. It can be tempting to indulge a few bucks into a product that seems to clear up ones skin, but if a year later you find “that one product” had an ingredient that altered your delicate hormonal balance, you are in for a major surprise. Maybe you never determined what the source of your headaches or weight gain was. Could the trouble be stemming from your makeup, lotion or bath oil?

This is where I take to heart companies like Araza Natural Beauty and their skincare and makeup lines. They craft all their products with pure and certified organic ingredients and they believe makeup should feed and nourish our skin and spirit and not harm our precious health. This very much aligns with my beliefs too, and even more so now. I have been using two websites (*read below for these) to research my makeup and sunscreen ingredients and boy oh boy! My garbage can became loaded with my “throw-aways” which have been documented as cancer-causing, hormonal disrupters and other important facts. I was putting poison on my skin and in my body. I needed to find something new and the hunt began.

These products go on so easily and feel so clean, add a healthy natural glow and feel just “right”. I was told my complexion will look softer and radiate a warm glow. This is exactly what happened the first time I used the cream foundation, Glow blush and finishing powder. I used the Sugar Poppy lip gloss made with coconut oil and my lips not only felt smooth and moist but they looked just perfect! The shadows, which are offered in beautiful shades, felt so soft and I felt no slight burn that I have experienced with other brands.

I want to change the way you view makeup and the impact makeup has on your health! My company was started with the pure desire to get women using healthy beauty products, embrace their natural beauty AND live inspired, healthy and purposeful lives.– Lindsey Diamond, Founder of Araza Natural Beauty

When I feel I look good, I feel a bit better about myself and exemplify that outward. It is nice to be a woman and have these options. The company’s owners are aware of our delicate balance and respect this fact with no cutting corners and this establishes the company and their products as very special indeed.

I reached out and asked Lindsey a little about the company and the vision she has for it. She generously shared this with me:

We are located in eastern Washington State which is a small town outside of Spokane. I started the business by myself almost two years ago. It’s been a lot of work but I have loved every second as I am passionate about all it represents. My sister is Celiac,like me, and became my business partner on Jan 1^st of 2016. She is the operational/financial role and I am more sales/marketing/vision. We make many of our products in-house, but soon the majority will be turned over to a small ethical manufacturer. We are currently working with a branding agency to really take this incredible business to the next level and we will then hone in on our messaging, branding etc. To date we are the first and only Certified Paleo Makeup line through the Paleo Foundation. I can’t wait Tina!

Lindsey is the founder and co-owner of Araza Natural Beauty with a bachelors in exercise science from Boise State University. She developed a deep love for helping people to live their best life through exercise, nutrition, mindset and now, good quality makeup and skincare.

Lindsey started Araza because she had difficulties with auto-immune, Celiac Disease. She found much relief when she tarted following a Paleo lifestyle, shifting to eating whole, unprocessed foods, like healthy fats, organic plants, and quality sourced proteins that nourished and healed her body. She believes the products you put on your skin should follow the same philosophy. Araza Natural Beauty is the first Paleo Certified Makeup line. It is their mission to help women live their absolute best life through their products and sharing the Paleo lifestyle.

Good luck to you both! And to all of you out there, these products are unique and worth your time looking into. They have done their homework and did it well. I encourage you to check into the Araza website. The customer service is wonderful. All questions are answered promptly, and all my products were sent rapidly and I must mention they look beautiful on my bath counter. This is another important factor to me. I am a woman after all and I just love pretty things!

*Here are the two sites I use and use often! I am now a pro-detective. I have to thank my son’s girlfriend of 9 years, who is a very successful, talented and busy makeup artist for television and movies primarily in Los Angeles and often across the USA. She needs to use all sorts of makeup due to her job, even in prosthetics. Mara thank you for sharing these important sites with me!

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep You can search for any makeup company, product, ingredient etc. and the site will pull up its rating and what hazardous chemicals might be in the products. It doesn’t list every single company but it has a great deal on it.

https://safecosmetics.cdph.ca.gov/ This site is also pretty interesting: California Safe Cosmetics Act

The post Gluten Free Makeup Line first appeared on Paleomazing.

Low-Carb Paleo Company! – OMG!

Rosie Purden — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 07:00:23 +0000

Well folks, there is good news and bad news. First let’s dive into the good news. How would you like to be told there IS a truly diabetic friendly, low-carb, paleo and health focused company that exists, is already successful, very well established and is selling products all over the USA?! I thought you’d like this. I did too. Well read on and learn more good news about Great Low Carb Bread Company and their fresh baked low-carb paleo cinnamon bread, low-carb paleo plain bread loaves, low-carb paleo lemon and vanilla muffins, or how about low-carb paleo chocolate muffins and much more! Read about their free shipping and awesome monthly shipping deals below as well.

I did mention there was some bad news. The bad news is just this – there are far too many products being sold out there labeled paleo which are high in carbs. This is not what paleo or even paleo-ish is about. If you are an avid athlete, burning energy at both ends or have a raving high metabolism, by all means eat a sweet potato, some fruits or yummy barbecue sauce on your ribs. Do not fall prey though to one paleo “candy bar” after the next or a ritual of paleo ice cream or muffins every night utilizing some type of “organic or raw” honey or maple syrup in the recipe. Our bodies are not designed to be eating high carbs meal after meal nor snack after snack. Who said we need to keep our blood sugar high all day long to feel good? False! *Recent studies indicate that keeping fasting glucose levels in the range of 70-85 mg/dL and not allowing after-meal glucose levels to spike higher than 40 mg/dL over your fasting value, favorably influences our longevity genes. I want to live a long high quality of life and I am sure you do too.

Now back to the good news. With all this in mind you can imagine how thrilled I was to hear about Jason and his company Great Low Carb Bread Company. He not only sells an entire baked line for the paleo community but he went one step further. He understands what paleo is about. His entire paleo line is ridiculously low carb and out of this world delicious. Adults, kids, teens, athletes and the like are all raving about his products and so am I. My entire family was enjoying many of the products at a recent gathering and our guests were shocked to learn the muffins were not only grain-free, but paleo and low carb. My adorable grandson is now 22 months old and is addicted to the paleo lemon and paleo vanilla muffins. My healthy, active, tall 6’3” son-in-law loves the paleo cinnamon bread sliced, toasted or not. My 30 and 34 year old sons love the macaroons. They taste so incredibly clean. I am telling you these products are incredible!

These products will last for 6 months in the freezer or for one week if you keep them in the refrigerator. Jason does not recommend the fridge though. I stocked up on their cookies, muffins, breads and even macaroons and then later thawed what I foresaw I wanted to use over the next couple days. The website offers free shipping which you can read about in my Q and A with Jason which is below. They also offer a flat rate deal which you can find out about on their site. They also allow you to set up an account or sign in as a guest so no strings attached.

Low Carb is a huge “buzz” word these days and rightly so. The glucose is making people fat, creating more diabetic cases, causing Alzheimer’s and Dementia and even eventually killing more people than we care to acknowledge. I say low-carb paleo is not only an attractive word but a lifestyle approach to eating for longevity and a high quality of life. With this company we can now have access to baked foods that nourish our body, give us sustained energy and does not take from it, making it weak, ill or feel bad.

Jason answered a few more questions I was curious about and I wanted to share them with you as well:

When did you start the company? December 2003.
What inspired you to start a low carb company? I was on a low carb diet and knew there were tons of products out there but were all in different places. I wanted a store dedicated to the low carb way of life.
Do you adhere to a low carb, gluten free or low carb paleo diet? Yes, low carb mainly similar to Atkins.
If so, why and what changes have you experienced? I’ve lost and managed to keep off 80 lbs. over the course of the years.
Do you encourage others to eat a low carb diet and why, if so? It really works and is nutritionally sound.
What is your favorite paleo product? The plain paleo bread I think.
Your paleo products are famously LOW CARB. That is a huge buzz word in the health, wellbeing and anti-aging world these days. What inspired you to launch this line? There were a lot of gluten free products out there that are super high in carbs and then some paleo products that were still high in carbs.
What are your three TOP low carb paleo sellers? Plain Bread, Chocolate Muffin and Maple Granola.
Do you work on any of the “development” of your low carb paleo recipes? Yes when our baker sends us samples I will have him tweak a few different ones and do a blind taste test on taste, texture etc.
What are you proudest about in your low carb company? The emails and letters that we receive about how we helped someone that was pre-diabetic keep from turning full on diabetic. Success Stories!!!
On your site, flat rate shipping of 12.95 is for “how much” product? Unlimited amount!
If a consumer signs up for the mailing list on your site and purchases $100 worth of goods, do they get free shipping just once? Well Tina, we have generous coupon codes generally each month and I offer free flat rate shipping when spending over $100.00 and you can use that all month long.
What kind of egg whites do you buy and use? We use only free-range organic egg whites!
Is there a 6 month shelf life if kept in the refrigerator? No, put all products in the freezer. We don’t recommend the refrigerator – 1 week shelf life in the fridge, probably, but I don’t recommend it.
You currently ship only in the USA? Yes, only to the USA at this time but I am sure that will change.

Thank you Jason. What an incredible company with such delicious baked goods, all low carb and paleo friendly.

The post Low-Carb Paleo Company! – OMG! first appeared on Paleomazing.

Cave Shakes

Rosie Purden — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 07:00:45 +0000

I was on Beverly Blvd In Los Angeles and hopped into Erewhon to grab a bulletproof coffee (yes they sell them now) and saw these cute jars in the refrigerated section and had to try them, Cave Shake. After giving them a go I decided I wanted others to learn about them. That is why Cave Shake is the featured paleo friendly company that I’m sharing with you all on my blog today.

They currently have three flavors, coffee, chocolate and vanilla. They are all quite creamy and each unique with their own distinct flavor. The coffee and chocolate tend to be milder and not at all overbearing yet the vanilla does taste a bit like stevia over the vanilla. I shared these with my family and friends and they all loved the chocolate and the coffee came in second. If you are not into stevia then you may not be into the vanilla, just so you know.

I called one of the owners, Karen, with just a few questions. It was interesting to know that she and Billie Joe got into making these shakes after embarking on a keto diet. Being required to eat plenty of good fats, go sugar-free, gluten-free, grain-free and dairy-free was a challenge but they made it and are a walking success. They were feeling great and lost weight rapidly but the treats were an issue. They wanted a Keto friendly dessert type “something”.

I also asked her about the stevia taste. She was quite open and frank which I really admired! She let me know if stevia is an opposition to anyone then these shakes are “not for them”. She stated they are just not into supplying to everyone’s taste buds out there and definitely not to someone who needs sweets at the compromise of “another” high carb, hidden sugar or poor quality paleo friendly snack. She went on to share that the two of them set out with strict keto and healthy parameters and adhered to them in their creation of Cave Shake and the shakes have been very well received. I really admired this response and her sincerity and I also whole-heartedly agree! A good treat with no to very low carbs and loaded with good fats! Can’t ask for much more than this.

Karen informed me that these can be frozen but they may not stay as creamy. I did freeze mine, so please see my results below – you will love the results and what I found out upon testing them.

I feel it is also important to share that these shakes are all loaded with MCTs and amazing *macros. These are keto, paleo, vegan, low carb, gluten free, diabetic friendly and bulletproof. Let me share a bit about Macros: Macronutrients are what make up the caloric content of a food which is sometimes referred to as “macros”. There are three categories of macronutrients which are carbohydrates, fat, and protein. The caloric combination of the macros is where that mysterious total number of calories comes from.

1 gram of carbohydrates = 4 calories

1 gram of fat = 9 calories

1 gram of protein = 4 calories

As you can see it is not about how many calories are in your food that REALLY matters, it is about what kind of calories are lurking in any one food. Anyone can be on a strict calorie limit and be eating total junk and not getting the nutrients needed and then fat can accumulate, stress can kick in, skin can dull, sleep can get disrupted, energy can diminish and hormones can go awry. Really, you name it and it can happen. Eating poorly long term is even worse as we do not see what is happening inside. So, on a good Keto diet, for example, one will monitor these (you can Google this for more info) and achieve the goals they have set out.

Now about my freezing experiment: I took all three flavors and froze them. I actually froze them for nearly 3 whole weeks. Yep, three solid weeks! There is nothing in them to go stale or to harbor bacteria as far as shelf life, so I had no concerns personally. I thawed them slightly (for about 30 minutes) and ate them like a semi-firm ice cream at first. OMG, these were delicious and creamy like silk. I tasted absolutely NO stevia now. The flavors seem to enhance and become richer after freezing. Was this just me? Nope, the testers agreed. Karen suggested that when thawed they may become a bit wetter and lose that silky texture. I found just the opposite. Voilà, a new revelation in my kitchen! So, I then thawed them completely and then placed them in my Cuisinart ice cream maker and boy oh boy. Can life get any grander?! Ice cream at my fingertips mid-day with no preparation required. These were like my various paleo ice creams minus the eggs, hence Keto and Vegan ice cream options. Now I am all set to try a whole slew of vegan and keto friendly paleo ice creams.

I am thrilled that Cave Shake is now available with online ordering and are moving more and more into stores. Again, I found them easily at Erewhon on Beverly Blvd. and I was told that Grassroots Natural Market and Kitchen in Pasadena is stocking them up, plus you can find retail locations here. My suggestion is try them any way your heart desires but if you are concerned about the shelf life, contact the company. As I said, I had no troubles with extending their shelf life via the freezer. They were terrific as-is, frozen and thawed and popped in the ice cream maker.

Enjoy!

The post Cave Shakes first appeared on Paleomazing.