Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
I chose to use almond butter in this recipe instead of peanut butter as I know many people are allergic to peanuts. You can, however, use peanut butter if you prefer. The cookies are delicious either way!

Almonds are jam packed with healthy fats. Yes, some fats are healthy. Fat helps to keep us full and satiated, which can help us lose weight. It also helps to regulate blood sugar, which means we are less likely to get hangry (you know, hungry angry), feel tired, get headaches or become shaky. It also means we are less likely to crave sugar and/or refined carbohydrate laden food, which is really important for hormone conditions, such as, PCOS and insulin resistance. 

Speaking of hormones, we need fat to manufacture our sex hormones - and almonds have that in spades. They also have a good amount of fibre, which is needed to eliminate excess oestrogen. The reason being, when the liver clears excess oestrogen from the blood, it sends it to the colon for elimination. In order for the oestrogen to be eliminated, it MUST bind to fibre! If it doesn't, then it will get reabsorbed, and that is not what we want, especially in oestrogen dominant cases like PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, etc.  

Now, let's get back to fat. It is vital to brain health because the brain's gray matter is made up of about 60% essential fatty acids1. Crazy, right?! Not only that, fat can also increase serotonin levels temporarily!

Almonds, in particular, help to lower cholesterol and are rich in the heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Roughly 70% of the fat content in almonds are from monounsaturated fat. This is interesting because monosaturated fat is the key fat in the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown in numerous studies to be associated with decreases rates of heart disease and cancer and longer life spans2.     

Ready to get some almonds into you? Let's get baking!

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 180° Celsius.
  2. Place all ingredients, except the chocolate, into a bowl.
  3. Mix well.
  4. Chop the chocolate into chunks then mix through the batter.
  5. Spoon into 12 balls.
  6. Bake 9 - 10 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown. Do not overcook as they will harden as they cool. 
  7. Enjoy!!
References:

Bowden, J. (2007). The 150 healthiest foods on earth. Beverly, MA:  Fair Winds Press
Mathews Larson, J. (1999). Depression-Free, naturally. New York:  Ballantine Books  

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MEET JEN

 
Hello! Thank you popping by! I’m Jen. I'm a wife, a furmama to two gorgeous dogs, a Naturopath, Nutritionist, and an advocate for natural ways to support physical and emotional wellbeing. Oh, and I’m a CEO! 

My journey originally started in Psychology. You see, when I was 16 my father took his own life after suffering years of a debilitating gambling addiction. I did a Bachelor’s in Psych as I wanted to understand why he made the choices that he did. I also wanted to ensure that I never went down that path and also help those suffering as he did. I loved it so much I went on to do a Masters.

It was during that time I got sick. I’m talking woke up one morning and couldn’t get out of bed, sick. For many years I felt helpless and frustrated!

Let me back up for a second. Prior to this life consisted of pain and fatigue. I had digestive issues and IBS from childhood. Through my teens and early 20's I was getting 2-3 migraines a month around my cycle and headaches more than half the month. My periods we very painful – I had to miss work or school the first 1-2 days. I would literally lie on the floor or the bed curled in the foetal position and cry from the pain. I could easily talk a full packet of Ibuprofen and still not get much relief.

Then, at 26, my period stopped altogether and things went downhill fast! For the first time in my life I was feeling apathetic and overwhelmed. Over the course of the next two years I was diagnosed with a host of conditions – are you ready for the laundry list? The first diagnosis was PCOS. I was told that I was infertile, that I would never have children, and that IVF wasn’t an option for me. I was also told that I was pre-diabetic, that my liver was worse than an alcoholic’s (and I don’t drink), that I had migraine disorder, vertigo, and adrenal fatigue. The cherry on the cake was a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s at 28.

I was in complete and utter shock. I couldn’t fathom that a 28-year-old Personal Trainer, who looked fit and healthy on the outside, could be in such disarray on the inside.  

Over the two years I saw five doctors and a Naturopath and nothing improved.

And then one day a friend and I got in touch. She told me to change my diet and take specific supplements. I figured I had nothing to lose, and so I did! I went onto a low-carb diet and was taking upward of 30-40 pills a day…and guess what?! Three months later my period started!! How incredible is that?!

Over the next two years all of my health ailments rectified! Well, all except my Hashi’s – more on that in a minute. My cycles became clockwork, they were manageable, the migraines and vertigo disappeared and my liver and blood sugar levels returned to the normal range! How exciting is that?! The best part, I can now have children should I choose! Having that option is incredible!

Of course I was so excited and inspired that I had to go to school and study Nutritional Medicine and Naturopathy.

Now, let’s talk about my Hashi’s. That only went into remission when my toxic load was decreased. That was a lightbulb moment for me and the moment I got fired up to share with others the importance of leading a low-tox life. I love educating people where toxins are found, what impact they have on physical and emotional wellbeing, and what products to replace them with to support your wellbeing. 

I sincerely believe that many of my health issues would not have presented if I were living a low-tox life. My Hashi’s has been in remission since I was 31 and I am so proud to say that! Praise God!

Life is so different to what it was 10 years ago. I have the energy and the mental capacity to engage in life! I am present and am thriving. Oh, and I laugh! I actually laugh out loud, something that eluded me for many years.

I am happy and healthy and it is my mission to help YOU be the happy, healthy person you are meant to be!
I would love for you to join our exclusive community and learn how you too can find freedom from physical and emotional barriers. I look forward to seeing you there!
 

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