QUINOA & WHITE BEAN VEGGIE BURGER

Ingredients (makes 4 patties)

·         1/2 cup quinoa (I used tri-color)

·         1 cup water

·         1 teaspoon garlic powder

·         3 teaspoons thyme, divided (oregano would be good too)

·         1/2 – 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

·         1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper, optional

·         1 can (15 oz.) white beans (I used cannellini), drained and rinsed

·         1/2 cup corn, fresh or frozen (about 1/2 fresh corn off the cob)

·         1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely diced (about 1/2 bell pepper)

·         1/2 cup shallot, finely diced (about 1 medium) or red onion

·         juice of one lemon

·         1/3 cup oat flour, or flour of choice

·         1 Ener-G egg replacer or 1 flax egg (1 Tbs flaxseed meal + 3 Tbs water), optional*

·         mineral salt & cracked pepper, to taste

·         coconut or olive oil, to grease.

To Serve:

·         tomato, sliced

·         leafy greens

·         avocado, sliced or mashed

·         red onion, sliced

·         whole grain or dijon mustard (hummus or vegan mayo is great too)

·         sriracha or Sriracha Cashew Cream (use the sriracha cream in place of mustard)

·         burger buns of choice

Start by making your flax egg or ener-g egg replacer and set aside. If baking in the oven, turn oven to 375 degrees F. (It’s helpful to read instructions first before making the patties)

In a medium pot, bring water, quinoa, garlic powder and 1 teaspoon thyme to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Once done, remove cover and let set for 10 minutes.

While quinoa is cooking, prepare your corn, shallot and red pepper. Be sure to dice your onion and red pepper fairly fine, they should be about the same size as the corn kernels.

Next, mash your beans. I mashed about 3/4 of the beans leaving a quarter of the batch whole or somewhat whole.

Once quinoa is ready, add the quinoa to the beans along with the shallots, red pepper, corn, remaining 2 teaspoons thyme, smoked paprika and optional chipotle powder and lemon juice. Mix well. Add in the flour and egg replacer, mix well again. Season to taste with salt, pepper and more of the other spices. We all vary on how strong we like our spices…you can’t take out but you can always put in.

Now to divide and make your patties. I like to pat my mixture into the bowl a little and divide it with a knife into 4 sections, making a plus sign if you will. Take each section and pack it tightly into a ball in the palm of your hands. It should be about the size of your hand. Flatten with your palms and place on hard surface. Cup the edges with your palms and tighten them in a bit and flatten the top to the desired size. Mine were about 1/2 inch thick by 3 1/2 – 4 inches.

Cook one of two ways:

1. In the oven at 375 degrees on a greased or parchment lined cookie sheet for 30 minutes, turning once after 15 minutes. I also added a sprinkle of himalayan salt to the top before baking.

OR

2. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil over medium to medium high heat. Cook patties about 4 – 5 minutes on each side.

I cooked both ways and had no preference. They both held up well and cooked great. (pic shows skillet cooked)

Serve on bun or bed of leafy greens with choice of toppings!

SAMPLE QUINOA/CONTAC US

Quinoa Black Bean Burgers

"These vegetarian burgers are delicious! Your carnivorous friends will be impressed. My favorite way to serve is on a whole-wheat bun with garlic-lemon mayonnaise, fresh raw spinach, sliced tomato, and caramelized onions!"

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/4 cup quinoa
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup minced yellow bell pepper

• 2 tablespoons minced onion1 large clove garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Frank's RedHot®)
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

1.  Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes.

2.  Roughly mash the black beans with a fork leaving some whole black beans in a paste-like mixture.

3.  Mix the quinoa, bread crumbs, bell pepper, onion, garlic, cumin, salt, hot pepper sauce, and egg into the black beans using your hands.

4.  Form the black bean mixture into 5 patties.

5.  Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.

6.  Cook the patties in the hot oil until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

7 Benefits of Maca Root for Women

Indigenous people of the Andes have consumed maca root (commonly referred to as Peruvian ginseng) for centuries, calling upon this superfood as a natural remedy for a diverse range of conditions. While considered a root vegetable and food staple in the Andean diet for thousands of years, Western researchers have only recently discovered this ancient herb and the many benefits it may provide for women. Sexual health, improving fertility, and combating the effects of menopause are only a few benefits this healing herb has to offer.

Maca for Women: What are the Benefits?

For women, the benefits of regular maca consumption are substantial. While maca benefits both men and women, we’re going to focus specifically on how it can boost female quality of life. The following 8 benefits of maca for women are now supported by modern research.

2. Improves Sexual Function

Female sexual dysfunction depends on a multitude of factors, with the woman’s age, lifestyle, and medical/nutritional status being the primary elements. Although conventional medicine has created pharmaceutical agents designed to increase sexual desire and satisfaction in women, these products are often laden with side effects that can create more problems than previously existed.

One study examined the effectiveness of maca supplementation for remedying sexual dysfunction in women as a result of taking SSRIs, commonly-prescribed antidepressants. Women in the study enjoyed an improvement in sexual satisfaction when taking the highest dose of three grams per day.  Maca’s success as a potent fighter against chemically-induced sexual dysfunction seems to support its traditional use.

3. Aphrodisiac

While research is sparse on its effectiveness for being a sure-fire aphrodisiac, some small-scale studies indicate maca’s possible use in the bedroom. Not surprisingly, maca root has a centuries-long reputation for being a powerful aphrodisiac. Loaded with minerals like zinc, iodine, and essential fatty acids, maca may balance sex hormones and may also improve mood. With a healthy mood and balanced hormone levels, arousal is usually much easier to achieve.

4. Supports Mood

Nutrition research shows that natural fatty acids found in foods, including maca root, is necessary for supporting mood and overall brain health. ^[5] An examination of maca’s protective effect for the brain has shown promising results, offering many researchers hope for finding a natural alternative to cognitive-enhancement drugs. Fatty acids in maca root support brain function, which may be responsible for stabilizing analytical skills, cognitive function, and rational thinking. Many doctors focused on holistic wellness often recommended omega-3 fatty acids (like the ones found in maca) as a first step toward alleviating certain symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and stress.

5. Fertility

As infertility is becoming an increasing issue facing both women and men, it’s no wonder why so many people today are turning to natural alternatives for improving fertility. So far, research has only examined maca root’s impact on fertility in animals, with much of the research showing promising results. Studies support maca’s traditional use as a fertility enhancer, especially for females, noting its ability to increase serum luteinizing hormone in the pituitary gland. ^[8] This hormone is associated with fertility, among other factors in the body.

6. Increases Bone Density

Maintaining bone density is a common problem for many women as they age. Studies of maca’s effect on menopausal symptoms have found that it increases important marker’s associated with bone density. ^[9] This could be helpful for women who have a family history of osteoporosis, or for those who are simply seeking to protect their bone health.

The Shape of Your Fingertips Reveals What Kind Of Person You Are

Did you know that the shape of your fingertips reveals what kind of person you are? Find your form and check out below…

Type A

You tend to hide your feelings and act melancholically or often pretend to be strong and cool, and more independent than you really are and in fact, you are very emotional. You act in front of people you meet and hate lies, hypocrisy and deceit.

In fact you are eccentric and arrogant but have a big heart and want to help.

You end each given task completely even if you do not want to.

You want to smile and do it even when something isn’t very funny and you are cold towards people that are not very close to you, but you are quite emotional for those that are.

Type B

You are not accustomed to take the initiative to approach people.

You’re very loyal, once you fall in love with someone, you give your full attention and will always thinking of him/her.

You are actually very sensitive, but do not look like you are, because often protecting someone’s feelings by pretending that you do not know anything but once you decide to do something you’ll give your maximum.

You are afraid to be hurt, so you pretend you’re good, but actually you are not and you tend to stay calm, even when you feel very upset about something.

Look as strong and independent person who always speaks sharply even though you’re soft-hearted and can easily be damaged inside.

Always dream of someone who understands you and loves you and gives you everything that you want.

Type C

You are easily provoked and easy giving up the things that make you angry and did not want to hold a grudge. You do not want challenges, and do not want to deal with something that is unknown but respect the position of other people.

Sometimes you may be intrusive and your ego is very big when you argue, but then apologize first.

Always store your feelings and problems to yourselves and do not want to pretend as well know what you want and what not.

You want people to trust you and rely on you, you have a soft heart and can easily be damaged, and so once someone apologizes to you, you immediately forgive because you cannot bear to be at odds with someone too long. 

This is What Happens In your Body 60 Minutes after Drinking a Can of Coke !

It’s no secret that Coke could be unhealthy for our health, especially if somebody has been drinking it for a long time. Sure, you can say that people are free to drink and eat whatever they like, however the truth of the matter is, a product like Coke (when there are many better alternatives that are less harmful to your body) should not even be on the marketplace.

Sugar, mainly in the form of high fructose corn syrup(HFCS), is the highest calorie resource in the states nowadays. While its mass appeal is vastly rooted in cultures globally, it’s health effects are significantly harmful and so are often ignored from the majority. There was a lot of articles about how HFCS literally makes you “stupid,”. Numerous studies have shown this, including one conducted by UCLA which showed how sugar lowers your IQ.

Your brain excites with sugar same as it does with cocaine and heroin. It’s not something somebody can simply walk away from. What we are seeing is identical as drug addiction, and these giant food companies know this. A Dutch health official recently called it probably the most dangerous drug in recent history of humanity.

Also there was a recent Gallup Poll that finds staggering 48 percent of Americans drink soda every day.

And interesting part of this article is what happens in your body 60 minutes after drinking a can of coke ? 

   1.    First 10 minutes 
10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system(that’s 100% of your recommended daily intake) 

   2.    First 20 minutes
The blood sugar spikes, causing insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get its hands on into fat. 

   3.    First 40 minutes
Caffeine absorption is complete. Your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises. The adenosine receptors in your brain are now blocked. 

   4.    First 45 minutes
Your body ups your dopamine production stimulating the pleasure centres of your brain. This is physically the same way heroin works, by the way. 

   5.    First 60 minutes
The phosphoric acid blinds calcium, magnesium and zinc in your lower intestine, providing a further boost in metabolism. This is compounded by high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners also increasing the urinary excretion of calcium. 

    6.   >60 minutes
The caffeine’s diuretic properties come into play(it makes you have to pee).It is now assured that you will evacuate the bonded calcium, magnesium and zinc that was headed to your bones as well as sodium, electrolyte and water.