(NaturalNews) You are trying to eat better. You have cut out processed foods, sugar, and grains. You are determined to stick with your diet this time, but that craving for just a little cake won't go away no matter how many delicious salads you make (and enjoy!). Here is a recipe that can save you on those days when a fresh organic apple just won't do the trick!
Lemon-Coconut Pound Cake
3/4 c. organic coconut flour
1 tsp aluminum free baking powder
3 tbsp xylitol, divided
1/2 tsp sea salt
6 pastured eggs
8-10 tbsp organic butter, softened
3 droppers full of liquid stevia
2 organic lemons (juice and zest)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease an 8X4 loaf pan and set aside.
Sift together dry ingredients (2 tbsp xylitol). Zest and juice lemons. Whisk together eggs, butter, lemon juice, stevia, and zest. Combine wet and dry ingredients, whisking until smooth (batter will become quite thick - if too thick to combine well, add a little water). Spread in pre-prepared pan with hands or spoon as needed, sprinkle with remaining xylitol and bake for 40 minutes.
This recipe uses a base of coconut flour in place of all-purpose wheat flour. Coconut flour has health benefits that regular wheat flour only wishes it could claim. Coconut flour is high in fiber; higher in fact than wheat bran (1)! Coconut flour is also low in carbohydrates, low on the glycemic index, and gluten free, making it a fantastic substitute flour, whatever kind of diet you may try to follow. Coconut flour is also a source of coconut oil, the benefits of which are vast (2).
Coconut products have been shown to improve immunity, boost metabolism (3), decrease risk of disease such as diabetes and heart disease, improve skin and hair quality and more. Coconut oil can be used topically as a moisturizer and to remove make-up and is great to use during a scalp massage. Scalp massages are relaxing as well as improve the health of the scalp, reduce dandruff, kill lice, and improve the health of the hair shaft.
Coconut meat, milk, oils, and flours are so nutritious and healing that Pacific Islanders call coconut "The Tree of Life" and believe it can heal almost any ill. In many traditional cultures around the world the coconut has been used to heal: "abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds." (4)
Whether coconut products are capable of healing all of the above ills or not, modern science agrees that coconuts are packed with health benefits and various studies have shown that coconut can kill the viruses that cause influenza, SARS, measles, and more. It can also kill the various bacteria that cause ulcers, urinary tract infections, tooth cavitations, as well as many others. It also kills fungi and yeast such as candidiasis, ringworm, thrush and athlete's foot and can kill certain parasites. So have a little healing with your cake for a change and enjoy - knowing you're actually doing something good for yourself with each delicious bite.
References:
1.
http://www.ehow.com/about_5347351_health-benefits-coconut-flour.html2.
http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benef...3.
http://www.llojibwehealth.com/2010/08/boost-your-metabolism-with-coconut-oil/4.
http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/About the author
Megan Rostollan is a Certified Family Herbalist and works with her husband David, a private natural health and nutrition consultant (
www.reforminghealth.com). She is also the author of a blog which can be found at NaturalHousewifery.com. Her areas of greatest interest include women's reproductive and prenatal health, as well as organic and green living and dietary and lifestyle changes.
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