Vegan – Jen Maan in Amman

Continuing on with my penchant for sweets, here’s another tempting delight satisfies. This fudge is almost good enough to eat for breakfast, but if you’re like me, you’ll want to save it for dessert, so that you can look forward to it all day.

So, what’s so SUPER about this? Here’s the lowdown:

Cashews (I made my own cashew butter from raw cashews): they’re loaded with magnesium, help to keep blood-sugar levels in check, reducing cravings and binges; they help to regulate energy levels, mood, but also prevent insulin resistance.

Coconut oil: If you want to GLOW, you need fat–the healthy kind in foods like coconut oil. It has immune-boosting properties and its antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti fungal. By adding more of it to your diet may lead to a clearer face.
Raw cacao powder: (Choose raw cacao powder over regular because it is minimally processed.) High in antioxidants (flavonids) and has antidepressant effects.
Dates: benefits include relief from constipation, intestinal disorders, heart problems, anemia, sexual dysfunction, diarrhea, abdominal cancer…
Goji berries: are among the highest antioxidant-containing foods. They are thought to fight heart disease, defend against cancer and diabetes, strengthen the immune system, improve vision, and enhance the complexion.
Chia seeds: are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids as well as loads of other antioxidants and other nutrients, such as iron and calcium; contain high concentration of fiber; rich in protein

I’ve been off refined sugar for about six months now. It’s a difficult road to recovery, but well worth it in terms of how I feel and the deleterious effects that sugar seems to wreak on my skin (think inflammation). As a recovering sugar fanatic (I once went to the dentist and was told that I had 13 cavities and a root canal–in one visit!), I need something, anything sweet before I go to bed. I’ve tried a bunch of alternative snacks, but since I discovered these beauties, they’ve become my mainstay. They are extremely simple to make, require few ingredients, are healthful, and satiate my sweet tooth. They include not one, but THREE superfoods: raw cacao powder, goji berries, and maca powder. Here’s are some fast facts on each of these three superfoods.

Raw cacao powder: (Choose raw cacao powder over regular because it is minimally processed.) High in antioxidants (flavonids) and has antidepressant effects.
Goji berries: are among the highest antioxidant-containing foods. They are thought to fight heart disease, defend against cancer and diabetes, strengthen the immune system, improve vision, and enhance the complexion.
Maca powder: is a Peruvian root reported to increase stamina and help the body better adapt to stress. They’re also reported to increase libido, but I’m not going there…