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Ever wonder about the proper way to floss? There's more to it than just removing the food between your teeth. Cleaning under the gums is important to maintaining a healthy dentition and avoiding periodontal disease. This video below explains the basics. Flossing Basics If you like this post, you may also like: : Floss First Toxic Dental Floss Flossing Really is Important

A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because high levels could pose a risk to the intellectual development of children.   T he ruling by District Court Judge Edward Chen, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, deals a blow to public health groups in the growing debate about whether the benefits of adding fluoride to the water supply outweighs its risks.   This ruling validates one of the longest-running so-called conspiracy theories in America— that the government’s use of fluoridation, especially in specific communities, might be part of a deliberate attempt to lower intelligence in order to create a more compliant and subservient population for the New World Order. Historically, fluoride was used for exactly this purpose for concentration camp victims during WWII.    U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it’s not certain that the amount of fluoride typically added to water is causing lower IQ in kids, but he concluded that  mounting research points to an unreasonable risk that it could be. He ordered the EPA to take steps to lower that risk, but didn’t say what those steps should be.   The judge's ruling cites a review by the National Institutes of Health's toxicology program finalized  last month , which concluded that "higher levels" of fluoride are now linked to lowered IQ in children.    It’s the first time a federal judge has made a determination about the neurodevelopmental risks to children of the recommended U.S. water fluoride level, It is touted as the most historic ruling in the U.S. fluoridation debate that has ever occurred. Judge Chen said he left it up to the EPA as to which options the agency could take in response to his ruling. They range from a warning label about fluoride's risks at current levels to taking steps towards tightening restrictions on its addition to drinking water. "One thing the EPA cannot do, however, in the face of this Court's finding, is to ignore that risk," he wrote. Michael Connett, a partner at the law firm (Siri & Glimstad) and the lead attorney for the groups who brought the lawsuit, said the law now requires EPA to take action to remove the risk of fluoride. "From our vantage point, the obvious way of eliminating the risk from adding fluoride chemicals to drinking water is to stop adding them," he told CBS News. And we agree with him completely. A neurotoxin should never be added to drinking water. If you like this post you may also like: The Flaws of Fluoride 5 Ways to Detox from Fluoride

Like many of you, I am always looking for easy ways to restore good health and stay healthy.  As you already know, I have dozens of posts on just this topic alone.  If one post doesn’t resonate, you can always try another post that will. This particular post may be a keeper. BENEFITS OF OLIVE OIL / LEMON JUICE KIDNEY / LIVER CLEANSE Lemon and Olive oil   The effects of combining olive oil with lemon juice is similar to combining chocolate with peanut butter. Each ingredient is respectable on its own, but together the effects are magical. The main difference is the former combo will help heal you, but the latter, not so much. Organic Extra Virgin Olive oil on its own has been known to effect health in the following ways: ·       High polyphenol content ·       Antioxidant effect ·       Anti-inflammatory effect ·       Improve brain health ·       Improve heart health ·       Improve skin health ·       Strengthens bone health ·       Lowers blood pressure ·       Rich in Vitamin E and K1   Organic Lemon Juice on its own will effect health in different ways: ·       High citric acid concentration to prevent kidney stones ·       Alkalize the body, decrease inflammation ·       Detox and promote liver function ·       Antioxidant properties which contribute to healthy skin ·       Improve bone health -Natural source of Vitamin C and calcium ·       Hydrating with electrolytes ·       Boost immune system ·       Enhance digestive health ·       Can curb appetite ·       Helps regulate blood sugar   Together they create a powerhouse of support to help you heal and stay healthy. Extra virgin olive oil has polyphenols which are known to be a strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory.  It has also been proven to fight free radicals and protect against cell damage. Because of this, it may help with chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis, heart disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.  It also has Vitamin E and K  which can foster good bacteria in your gut. Lemons have flavonoids which also have strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.  Synergistically, extra virgin olive oil and organic lemon juice have many extra exponential benefits.  They could boost hair and skin health, protect against diabetes and improve insulin resistance.  They may help lower blood pressure and help to reduce excess clotting that leads to strokes and heart attacks.  It may help with cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels, boost metabolism to aid in weight loss and aid in digestion.  It may guard against osteoporosis, help prevent gallstones/kidney stones, heal a fatty or enlarged liver, and may help fight mood disorders, Alzheimer's and depression. So how do we imbibe this magical elixir? This is the way I take it.  First thing in the morning on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before any food or medication. ·       1TBSP lemon juice ·       1 TBSP olive oil Mix together in a shot glass.  Get it down in one swallow. You may want to follow it up with a sip of something more palatable, like water or juice. It is essential to remember that “food is medicine” when properly dispensed and consumed. By feeding the body nutritional necessities and removing toxins, exceptional health can be achieved.  Olive oil with lemon juice does both. It’s a win!   If you like this post, you may also like:   Black Seed Oil for Dental Health

Periodontal (gum) disease is a broad term for conditions involving inflammation and infection of the tissues (gum and bone) that surround and support the teeth. Being that the mouth is a microcosm for other body parts, it is important to heal this gum disease ASAP, to prevent further deterioration of the rest of your health. Periodontitis is a very common type of gum disease among U.S. adults: About 4 in 10 U.S. adults 30 years or older had a mild, moderate, or severe level of periodontitis in 2009–2014. About 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women 30 years or older had some level of periodontitis. Periodontitis is more common as people age. About 60% of adults 65 years or older have periodontitis.  There are different levels of Periodontal Disease, ranging from Gingivitis (inflamed bleeding gums) up to full blown Periodontitis (severe bone loss, loose teeth).  There are several causes of Periodontal Disease which are listed below: 1.   Poor oral hygiene 2.   Nutritional deficiency 3.   Bacteria overgrowth 4.   Genetics                          I have seen a direct correlation between dental bone loss and systemic bone loss. If you are losing the bone that supports your teeth, there is a high probability that you are losing bone elsewhere.  No surprise when we find that patients with periodontal bone loss, also have osteopenia or osteoporosis. There are many ways to treat Periodontal Disease, but it depends on the root cause. From the list above, #1 and #2 are  straight forward in terms of treatment; #3 and #4 require some further investigation. There are other diseases that correlate with Periodontal Disease. The chart below lists most of them.  The little circles listed next to the disease are the abridged names of the bacteria that are usually present in the saliva with each of the diseases listed. Once we know which bacteria are present in your saliva, this will guide us in treating the periodontal condition with the best medicament. Luckily we have a simple, painless saliva test to figure these out.  The test involves rinsing with saline for a half minute and spitting into a test tube.  The specimen is sent out to a lab, and the results are back within a week.  Not only will the test tell you which bacteria are present in your mouth but will also tell you if you are genetically predisposed to getting Periodontal Disease.  Knowing these factors can make a huge difference in successfully treating your condition. Conventionally, most dentists will treat Periodontal Disease with deep cleanings or surgery. This will not address the root cause. It will only treat the symptoms.  By learning which bacteria are present, we know which medicament can eradicate it. So if you have bleeding gums, receding gums, moving or loose teeth, it would be wise to have the saliva test done to rule out bacterial infection, as well as genetic factors. Diagnosing Periodontal Disease is easy. Addressing the root cause for proper treatment is the tricky part. Be sure to ask for your saliva test at your next visit.   If you like this post, you may also like: Ozone Dental Therapy for Gum Diseas e Rebuilding Bone Naturally

For those of us interested in daily detoxing, this recipe is a real treat.  It’s not your usual lemon or apple cider vinegar base, but relies on a whole onion and a whole apple for a new and unusual taste sensation. This combo is excellent at producing quercetin, a potent antioxidant flavonoid. Its benefits include: boost immunity fight inflammation combat allergies stabilize blood sugar levels aid exercise performance has cancer fighting effects improve brain function lower blood pressure lower cholesterol maintain general health The drink itself has a unique flavor, and you should drink it immediately after making it for maximum benefits. Here’s the recipe: Apple Onion Tea 1 apple 1 onion 2 cups water   Cut the apple and onion into chunks. You are including the peels and seed.  Boil all for 10 minutes in the water. Drink immediately. You can be adventurous and add ginger or cinnamon to the drink, but it is delicious as is.  The actual quercetin is released from the peels when boiled, so it would be good to use pesticide-free or organic ingredients.   As for the remainder of the boiled fruit, either compost it or use it as a flavor enhancer or thickener in other recipes.  It’s delicious as an addition to your homemade tomato marinara sauce. Bon appetit!   If you like this post you may also like :   Scurvy Tea- A Healthy Detox Drink  Green Drinks

*WARNING: Do not read if bugs make you squeamish.   In case you missed it, there has recently been a big push in eating bugs.  There are lots of youtubes  of celebrities eating such and encouraging others to do so as well. It is touted as being a solution to our planet’s growing “food and climate” crises. Throughout our history, humans and animals around the world have consumed these protein and nutrient-rich bugs. Fortunately, this habit hasn't been widely adopted as part of modern Western diets. However things may be changing. A growing number of consumers in the West are now embracing entomophagy, or insect-eating as a new dietary habit.   Insect producing farms are opening up globally.   Although high in protein and some nutrients, the downside is much more concerning. According to a recent PubMed research paper , here’s what they aren’t telling you: Parasites were detected in 244 (81.33%) out of 300 (100%) examined insect farms. In 206 (68.67%) of the cases, the identified parasites were pathogenic for insects only; in 106 (35.33%) cases, parasites were potentially parasitic for animals; and in 91 (30.33%) cases, parasites were potentially pathogenic for humans. "...edible insects are often infected by pathogens and parasites. These pathogens also pose an indirect threat for humans..."   To ease its use into our everyday diet, parasite flour and colorings are already in commonly eaten foods.  This label below is from Tropicana orange juice. Orange juice with insect coloring   Tropicana is labeling their juice blends as "100% Juice," but it includes the use of cochineal extract as "coloring."  Cochineal extract is a red dye made out of  dried female cochineal insects . Cochineal Extract has no place in fruit juice claiming to be "100% Juice."  According to their ranking list of ingredients, there's more bug extract than actual strawberry juice concentrate (the last ingredient listed)!   Another example are these nutty flavored chips made with cricket flour.  It is promoted as a high protein chip, and I assume gluten free. Chips made from insects In light of increasing chronic health problems, it might be wise to avoid eating anything made with bugs, since most of these products come with a side dose of parasites. Reading the ingredient list on the package can be helpful, but bug ingredients are not always blatantly labeled as bugs. Obviously if you see cricket powder or mealworm, it is fairly obvious that bugs are in there. But insect ingredients can also go by other names, such as numbers and letters. Bottom line : If you don’t recognize the list of ingredients as a familiar conventional food ingredient, don’t buy it. And more importantly, if you value your health, avoid eating bugs. Once you become infected with parasites, chronic health problems are inevitable. P.S. Parasites love heavy metals (e.g. mercury from amalgam fillings). Together, they will set up biofilms in you that will be challenging to eradicate. If you like this article you may also like: Are My Mercury Fillings Bad for Me? Choosing A Holistic Dentist

Ever wonder what the best toothbrush is?   This video should answer all your questions. If you like this post you may also like: Floss First

As a city dweller, when you hear the word “ozone,” air pollution probably comes to mind. Yes the two (air pollution and ozone) often go together, but only because ozone is nature’s response to counteracting the air pollution. Uncontrolled ozone at ground level does impact air quality levels, usually negating air pollution toxins. Ozone is simply oxygen (O2) with an extra atom in its gas molecule (O3). It is often referred to as “excited oxygen.” Ozone is constantly trying to throw off the extra atom, an instability that gives it an oxidizing property, similar to the fizz of hydrogen peroxide. That makes ozone extremely valuable in fighting not just air pollution, but all types of toxins, including those found in dental cavities. Historically, when faced with a dental cavity, a dentist’s only option was to “cut” the tooth – drill away structure damaged by decay. Today, however, we are able to heal many small cavities with a gentler alternative. Nutrition is of primary importance as we are rebuilding tooth structure. That being said, following the Weston Price protocol is critical. What you eat is as important as what you don’t eat. Ozone to Heal Teeth Ozone dental treatment involves the painless, controlled application of dental ozone gas. It is sprayed onto a tooth with early stages of decay. Ozone drives oxygen through microscopic tubules in enamel, killing bacteria. Oxidation also eliminates acid waste products from bacteria. This creates an unfavorable setting for harmful bacteria that thrive in an acidic environment, and allows beneficial bacteria to take over. The progress of tooth decay is essentially halted. This new, healthier environment allows minerals to flow back into the tooth, stimulating natural repair of the cavity and hardening of the tooth structure. Once a tooth is remineralized, decay doesn’t usually return once you continue with good nutrition and oral hygiene. If you have a large cavity with a sizeable hole, your tooth won’t regrow that much structure. However, sterilizing the prepared tooth with ozone before placing a filling can be beneficial. It will sterilize the internal tooth structure and assist with internal remineralization of the tooth. This will practically eliminate the possibility for any bacteria starting a new cavity under the filling. The applications of ozone in dentistry are many, as it can be used successfully for treating resistant tooth, gum and bone infections of the jaw. If you like this post, you may also like: Ozone Dental Therapy for Gum Disease

The word “ozone” may make you think of a hole in the earth’s atmosphere due to pollution, or remind you of the unique scent in the air after a lightning storm. In reality, ozone is a vital, healthy element. It shields us from ultraviolet rays of the sun, and it has many helpful applications in daily life. I use ozone water as a rinse to remove bugs and residual pesticides from my fresh produce. Many cities use ozone to keep public water supplies safe and germ-free. It is also a component of air purification systems, and is used to clean spas and swimming pools. The same properties that make ozone useful in those situations make it an ideal treatment for gum disease. It is such a good destroyer of pathogens and rebuilder of health, that we can even use it in dentistry, with little to no side effects. The medical community accepts ozone Physicians have long embraced ozone to heal wounds faster, fight infection, and treat various diseases. Ozone is proven to render anaerobic (thriving with no oxygen) bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast, and protozoa inactive. As these organisms are eliminated from the body, healthy cells replace them. Ozone therapy boosts the body’s metabolism of oxygen, causing an increase in red blood cell production. Dental ozone therapy and gum disease Gum disease occurs when harmful anaerobic bacteria overpopulate the mouth. They burrow deep into the gums away from oxygen. The acids excreted by bacteria irritate gum tissues, causing inflammation and infection. Gums pull away or recede from teeth, forming pockets that trap food debris and allow anaerobic bacteria to infiltrate deeper. Eventually, you lose teeth and bone as these bacteria eat into the supporting tissues. Ozone therapy is a healthy alternative to traditional, invasive periodontal treatments. If you are looking for a simple holistic alternative to conventional painful invasive periodontal surgery, ozone may be your answer. Advantages of ozone treatment for gum disease: Not invasive Relatively painless Stimulates new connective tissue regrowth via stem cell stimulation At our office, we use ozone treatments, along with laser treatments and nutritional support to heal and reverse your gum disease. Considering that studies have shown that each tooth lost will cut 5 years of your lifespan, it is important to save and restore as many of your natural teeth as possible. Be sure to speak with your dentist before agreeing to conventional painful surgeries for periodontal disease. Ozone treatment for gum disease may be a better choice. If you like this post you may also like: Ozone Dental Therapy for Dental Cavities

When cleaning out the refrigerator to make room for the upcoming holiday meal, I came across a most unexpected surprise. This one came in the form of a science experiment. A container of ice cream was discovered in the freezer. It had been left by the house sitter about a month ago. Not wanting to make a big leaky mess in the garbage can, I attempted to wash the contents down the kitchen drain by running hot water over the contents. Simple enough one would think, but apparently not. After a minute or so of doing this, it was obvious that the ice cream would not melt. So I took a blob of what was left in the container, put some on a plate and waited to see how this would play out. Here is my original photo after the hot water run: There is some liquid in the dish, most likely due to the hot water that it had just been under. The straight line on top of the blob is from the inside corner of the container. The round dents on the surface are from my finger poking at the blob. The ice cream sat on the kitchen counter for most of the day as I went about my business preparing foods for the holiday meal. Although it was a fairly cold day outside, the temperature in my kitchen was running about 78 degrees, due to the radiators blaring and the oven being on most of the day. (We were all lightly sweating). Another picture was taken about 6 hours later. Notice that the straight line imprint and finger dents are still there. Real ice cream would have been a puddle by now. It also makes me wonder how this so called ice cream will be digested, if at all. Also notice the color change. Just as a side thought, this was not the Walmart brand ice cream that made the news this past summer. This was another name brand. To be labeled as ‘ice cream’ food, the ice cream product must contain a minimum of 10% milk fat and that’s all. No allowance is made for the percentage of artificial chemicals (colorings, flavorings, stabilizers, emulsifiers, etc.). When I read through the ingredients, it was not surprising to find a list of chemical additives that enhance the product’s texture and overall shelf life. Real ice cream has just a few ingredients: milk, sugar, cream and vanilla. And we all know that the real stuff will melt if left on the counter for a bit of time. As for me, I really enjoy making my own homemade ice cream, packed with nutrition. If you have a high speed blender (like a Vitamix or Ninja machine), try this recipe for basics: Dr. Brand’s Healthy Ice Cream Recipe 1 carrot 1 whole apple 1 tsp of cinnamon ¼ cup of cashews ¼ cup coconut oil ½ to 1 tray of ice cubes Real maple syrup (Grade B preferred) usually about ¼ cup or to taste Put this in your blender and process until smooth. It should resemble a soft serve type of ice cream. You may need to play with the measurements to get the consistency you like. You can add other healthy ingredients as you like, like raw cacao (for a chocolate flavor) or mushrooms or hemp seeds for additional nutrition. It tastes really amazing with a little peanut butter mixed in at the end. Lesson learned here is to buy quality food to have quality health. If you eat a box of chemicals, don’t expect to get any nourishment from it. Even if the label says it’s real food. If you liked this post, you may also like : Benefits of Raw Chocolate Seaweed Salad Anyone?

In this age of veganism, the idea of eating animal meat is verboten. However, this is also an age of rising health problems, weakened immune systems and poor vitality. With this understanding, it is important to keep an open mind for unique health boosting methods. As an integrative holistic practitioner, it is not unusual for me to meet clients who are quite brilliant in many diverse healing modalities; and as a result, they educate me to some esoteric health building technique. And recently, the concept of bone soup keeps coming up in conversation as an amazing restorative for the chronically ill and weakened patient. And being that I am quite talented in the kitchen, I decided to experiment with some homemade bone soup recipes; and I have come to a few conclusions. 1. It tastes amazing. 2. It’s easy to make. 3. My family loves it. 4. My dog loves it. The history of bone soup goes back hundreds of years. A more modern version would be grandma’s chicken soup that theoretically cures everything from fatigue to the common cold. So why is this broth so good for us? Well, we can say that chicken soup is made with love and garlic and herbs. One can’t go wrong with that. But bone soup goes much deeper. You are actually leaching out the bone marrow and creating a high protein mineral rich food. How to Make a Nourishing Bone Broth Bone marrow soup stock is not only a great winter food, but is one of the best traditional foods for recuperation and rejuvenation. If you are in any stage of healing, drink two cups of bone marrow broth a day. It is very beneficial for recovery from illness, surgery, and fatigue. But even more importantly, it seems to have magical powers with people who have joint and bone problems. When you add an acidic ingredient to your stock, it helps to leech the minerals from the bones, which is why most bone marrow soup recipes include wine, vinegar or lemon juice. The following recipe is the way I have made it, but there are many variations that can easily be found online. Here's what you need: · A pot full of any kind of bones will do (beef, chicken, lamb, turkey) – You can use one kind of bone but Ihave found the soup so much more flavorful when mixing bone types · 1 giant bulb of peeled garlic · ½ cup of cut dulse(seaweed) · Himalayan salt to taste(about 1 to 2 tsp) · 2 TBSP apple cider vinegar (to pull out the minerals from the bones) · Water to cover everything in the pot (you may have to add more water as it evaporates during cooking) Bring to a boil and let simmer for at least 8 to 12 hours, but no more than 24 hours. Make sure all the meat has either fallen off the bones or is just starting to fall off the bone before you turn off the heat. Let cool. Skim off the fat that rises to the top of the cooled broth. You can strain the remaining broth to remove any residual bones or gristle; just keep the broth. Refrigerate or freeze in small containers and use as needed. (I find that most of the bones are paper soft, so my dog eats them as a special treat. I find that she also loves eating the cold gelatinized soup. Probably thinks its meat flavored ice cream (lol)). Variations to this soup would include adding some vegetables like potatoes, onions, carrots, parsley, herbs,spices, etc. And here’s what’s in Bone Soup: Calcium Phosphorus Magnesium Potassium Sulfate Collagen Chondroitin sulfate Hyaluronic acid Glycine Protein The amounts and types of substances in your Bone Soup will depend partly on the types of bones you use. Try to use organic, and try to use mixed bones. Bone marrow and cartilage provide the most beneficial ingredients. Just 1 pint of soup can give you as much as 1,000 milligrams of calcium. Wow! Everybody knows that soup is the cure for when you are down. It is warm, easy to digest, and it can be filled with lots of immune boosting herbs and spices. It is definitely way healthier than the chemicalized canned stuff you buy in the supermarket. Making soup with bone marrow stock is more than a mood cure; it enhances your immune system and provides you with easy to assimilate minerals. The marrow inside the bones contains nutrients that feed your bone marrow. When your bone marrow is nourished, you create more robust immune cells that can better fight off infections and rebuild health. Even though it is summer, and the thought of cooking for hours is daunting, I have found this broth worth the effort, even in this heat. It is quite invigorating.Try it and let us know how your version works out. If you liked this post, you might like this: Seaweed Salad Anyone?

I have always been a chocoholic. But due to the high sugar and fat content, along with other non-healthy ingredients added to conventional chocolate, I have needed to restrain myself. Not so anymore. Raw chocolate is a superfood. It is a natural food that has a tremendous phytonutrient content that can confer amazing health benefits. It has a very high ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) score, which is an important property, as it denotes the ability to absorb free radicals from your body. This can be a very useful for providing protection of your body from free radicals that cause immune system challenges. So for those of us who are into detoxing and maintaining vibrant health, consider this a staple food. Another benefit of chocolate was confirmed by a study carried out by researchers at Osaka University in Japan. It was found that parts of the cacao bean, the main ingredient of chocolate, thwart mouth bacteria and tooth decay. They discovered that the cacao bean husk – the outer part of the bean which usually goes to waste in conventional chocolate production – has an anti-bacterial effect on the mouth and can effectively fight against dental plaque. There is also a myth that chocolate causes cavities. Wrong! Foods that contain fermentable carbohydrates are the real cavity-causing culprit. Although fermentable carbohydrates are found in chocolate, the cocoa butter in chocolate coats the teeth, making it less likely to cause tooth decay. Chocolate desserts can be high in sugar, and in my opinion, the real culprit to dental decay is the sugar, not the chocolate. And of course, if you brush regularly, you shouldn’t have a concern. For thousands of years, ancient Mayans, Aztecs and Incans have known about the amazing healing properties of chocolate (cacao), and they have used the beans in their daily cultural rituals as well as in their healing habits. Actually, the seeds of raw cacao were held to be so sacred, legend has it that the Incans used cacao beans as money and they filled their treasury holds with tons of cacao beans. Unfortunately, the positive benefit of this wonderful superfood is not widely known. Although, everyone enjoys chocolate, people do not consume it in its raw form for the maximum benefit that they can derive from it. Most chocolate that we eat in our desserts has been dutched, alkalized or processed, stripping most health benefits away from the chocolate. So I have been experimenting with raw cacao for about 2 years, using it in new and diverse ways. It is great in smoothies, protein shakes, chocolate mousse, and baked goods. However, there is one simple recipe that I have made dozens of times for an easy healthy chocolate candy. If you like dark chocolate, give this recipe a try. Raw Dark Chocolate with Nuts Chocolate Bark ½ cup Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil ½ cup Organic Raw Cacao Powder ½ cup Grade B Maple Syrup or Honey/ or a mix of both equal to ½ cup total 1 tsp Vanilla Extract or ½ tsp Vanilla Bean Powder ¼ to ½ cup chopped nuts or cacao bits or ginger or anything else that you like in your chocolate bar (optional) 1. It is best to have the coconut oil in liquid form. If your find that it is solid in the jar, just place the jar in a basin of hot water, it will liquefy very quickly. 2. Mix the first 3 ingredients together until very smooth. There should be no lumps in the mix, and should be the consistency of thin pudding. 3. Add the vanilla. 4. Add the nuts or leave out as desired. 5. You can taste test the mix to see if you woulfd like it sweeter(add more maple syrup) or more dark chocolatey (add more cacao). 6. Pour this thin mix onto a greased wax paper laid on a small flat pan or cookie sheet. 7. Freeze for about 1 hour. 8. Remove from freezer when hard. Peel off wax paper. Break into small pieces. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator, using as needed. I have used this base recipe for coating pretzels, dried fruit and just about anything that you like chocolate on. Just leave out the nuts and you are good to go. If anyone is interested in the recipe of the milk chocolate version that has no dairy, just let me know and we will post that recipe as well. Raw cacao is a very nutritious superfood loaded with a great deal of antioxidants and healthy oils. A little goes a long way. A small piece in the morning can be used to replace the effects of coffee as well as satiate any junk food cravings. It is excellent to have when you need to study. Do not eat large quantities late in the day as this may keep you awake way past your bedtime. This recipe is in a raw and organic state, so maximum benefits can be derived. It contains no bad fats, no dairy, no fillers, no preservatives and no refined sugar. However, it is loaded with health promoting anti-oxidants and healthy omega 3 fats that provide natural energy, heart health, boosts brain function and immune system. It may even help with weight loss, as the satiation factor will decrease cravings. Raw chocolate is an amazing delicious food. Add it to your daily diet for long-term health benefits. Your body and mind will thank you. If you like this posting, you may also like: Benefits of Bone Soup