My New Favourite Superfood Drink: Raw Cacao + Beetroot

My latest healthy beverage obsession is simple: raw cacao powder mixed with organic beetroot powder.

I started making this drink for breakfast recently and have been enjoying both the taste and the health benefits. The earthy sweetness of beetroot pairs surprisingly well with the rich chocolatey flavour of raw cacao.

Why this combination?

Raw cacao is naturally rich in antioxidants, magnesium, iron, and plant compounds called flavonoids. These nutrients may help support heart health, blood circulation, brain function, and mood.

Beetroot contains natural nitrates that the body converts into nitric oxide, which helps relax and widen blood vessels. This may support healthy blood flow, exercise performance, and cardiovascular health.

Together, this cacao-beetroot combination provides a nutrient-rich drink packed with antioxidants and compounds that may support energy levels, circulation, and overall wellbeing.

I simply mix the powders with lukewarm water and enjoy it as part of my breakfast routine. No sugar needed. The natural flavours are delicious on their own.

You can also try beetroot latte (coffee with beetroot powder + milk) or beet mocha (coffee + cocoa powder + beetroot powder + milk). I also drink my beetroot powder with apple cider vinegar + honey.

Happy trying! 😁

For anyone who’s interested, I got my raw cacao powder and organic beetroot powder from here:

Raw cacao powder -https://s.shopee.com.my/20tD26TMFT

Organic beetroot powder - https://s.shopee.com.my/5AqEnld0fp

Low-Carb High Protein Breakfast

My simple, hearty breakfast today — pressure-cooked chickpeas with 2 eggs.

Mum soaked the chickpeas overnight, and this morning she pressure cooked them for 30 minutes until they turned soft and creamy. She added turmeric powder, homegrown curry leaves and a little salt for extra flavour and goodness.

This will probably be our main plant protein for the next few days. Honestly, cooking chickpeas is so easy with a pressure cooker — no fuss, nutritious and budget-friendly too.

Besides being an excellent source of plant protein, chickpeas also have many health benefits:

• Rich in fibre, which helps with digestion and keeps you full longer

• Helps stabilise blood sugar levels due to its low glycaemic index

• Good for heart health as it may help lower bad cholesterol

• Contains iron, folate and magnesium, which support energy production and overall health

• High in antioxidants that help reduce inflammation

• Supports gut health by feeding beneficial gut bacteria

• Helps with weight management because it is filling and satisfying

• Naturally low in saturated fat and contains no cholesterol

• A good source of complex carbohydrates for steady energy release

Simple food can be some of the healthiest and most comforting meals. 😊

A Stressful Tuesday, a Determined Skater

This past Tuesday was one of the most stressful days I’ve experienced in a while — not for myself, but for my youngest, Cass. And when your child is stressed to the point of tears, it’s almost impossible not to absorb that stress as a mother.

Cass had a full-dress rehearsal for Skate Malaysia (which will be held next week), and the skaters were required to arrive at Pavilion Bukit Jalil by 6PM, already dressed in their costumes with full makeup on. The timing couldn’t have been worse — Tuesdays happen to be her co-curricular day, and school only dismisses at 4.45PM.

It was chaos trying to work things out. There were tears, some tension, and a lot of rushing. In the end, her dad stepped in to save the day — driving through the peak hour madness to pick Cass up from school. But before that, he had to swing by home to collect her big luggage bag filled with her skates, costume, makeup, and everything else she needed. I prepared her dinner in a lunchbox and handed it to my husband to pass to her on the go.

Everything was happening at breakneck speed, and amidst it all, Cass still had to revise for her upcoming tests. That night, she only managed less than 3 hours of sleep — not that it was unusual. Lately, with SPM Trials looming, she’s only been sleeping about 3–4 hours a night.

I constantly nag her to go to bed earlier, but like most teenagers, mothers’ advice often falls on deaf ears. As much as I wish I could take the burden off her shoulders, I know this is a path she’s chosen and worked so hard for — balancing her academic responsibilities and her passion for figure skating.

Last year, Cass proudly won Gold in her category at Skate Malaysia. This year, with the added weight of SPM stress, I honestly don’t know what the outcome will be — but that doesn't matter as much. What matters is that she’s giving it her all. Whether she comes home with a gold, silver, bronze, or just the satisfaction of having done her best, I hope she will be happy and proud of herself.

To my dear Cass — I’m so proud of your grit, your strength, and your determination. I pray you’ll stay healthy, calm, and focused through this challenging season. Good luck next Thursday at Skate Malaysia — I’ll be cheering for you with all my heart.

My Bangkok salad was very good.

On the last day of the mid-year school holidays, I took Cass to La Juiceria to dig into something healthy. Both of us love the food at La Juiceria, it's our kind of healthy food with lots of greens, superfoods, and healthy chicken breast on our plates.   We don't mind eating this kind of food every day, but the cost is my main turn-off!

Cass's high protein plate with a big portion of grilled chicken breast and surprisingly, the chicken breast was very tender, juicy, and flavorful.  

Awesome Rawsome

While the girls had Japanese curry with Japanese rice, I paired the curry with raw baby spinach and a poached egg. It's a complete meal too with protein, fiber, nutrients, and some carbs from a few cubes of potato.  

I always have a packet of baby spinach, arugula, salad greens, cucumbers, bell peppers, and microgreens in my fridge.  The girls love to toss some raw greens into their meals. It's training since young and they'd feel like they missed out on something important if there was a day that they didn't eat any green leafy veggies or fruits.

JoyMix Concentrated Beetroot Juice Powder

The beautiful and bright colour of beetroots can make anyone fall in love with it, yet it is often ignored, perhaps because of its distinctive earthy taste.  Beetroot has been gaining amazing popularity as the new superfood around the world. It’s low in fat, full of powerful antioxidants, rich in Vitamin C, and helps in the absorption of iron.  Both the leaves and the roots can be eaten. While the pink root is sweet, the dark green leaves are bitter but very rich in calcium, iron and Vitamin A.

Beetroots are best enjoyed raw and uncooked as cooking may destroy most of its nutrients. You can add them in salads or easier to just juice them up.

I love eating beetroot, in all forms, whether it's beetroot juice, salad, roast or soup.  I started to eat beetroot frequently when I was severely anemic before my fibroid removal surgery 1.5 years ago.  Beet root is rich in iron.

 Preparing beetroot can be a major turnoff and hassle for some as the uneven and rough skin is a tad hard to peel off even with a fruit peeler. And the red juice splatters can be pretty messy. Busy people who are always on the go and rush may not have the time to prepare beet root for juicing, salad or soup. And this includes yours truly.  The solution to this is beet root  powder.  With beet root powder, you can include this superfood into your diet at anytime, hassle-free.

I found a good brand of concentrated beet root juice powder  from https://www.joypremix.com/ and I am so in love with it!  With such convenience, I can now drink beetroot juice whenever I feel like it and it takes just a minute to prep a refreshing beetroot beverage.

 

The best part is JoyMix’s red beetroot powder is odor-less, unlike red beet juice that has an earthy smell. It is easy to drink, making it ideal for children and even some adults who find the smell of beetroot distasteful. Even Cass who does not like the taste of raw beetroot loves JoyMix beetroot powder.  She says it tastes like Ribena! I think so too.  This, you got to try it to verify it!

We like our beetroot powder mixed with Korean fruit vinegar.  I add one heap teaspoon of JoyMix beetroot juice powder and 2 tablespoons of Korean fruit vinegar into 200 ml of water and top up with lots of ice cubes to make a super refreshing and delightful drink to chillax when I feel hot after cooking in the evening.  Alycia loves to guzzle down this refreshing drink to quench thirst after working out in the gym or when she's back from kickboxing / Muay Thai class.

 


 I love the au naturel maroon color of the beetroot powder from JoyMix!

Excellent Mixability – The red beetroot powder from JoyMix has a very fine texture and excellent flowability to prevent caking and lump formation. It will easily dissolve in water and other liquids alike and won’t curdle. You can even mix it in flours for baking cakes and pastries.

 

I will surely restock my beetroot powder from JoyMix when the existing stock runs low.

JoyMix's health food products are ISO22OOO/ HACCP certified. Muslim consumers can safely consume their products as they are HALAL CERTIFIED.


 

Here are some of the health benefits of beetroot:

Conditions Liver – Beetroot contains betaine that conditions liver and stimulates the production of enzymes. It detoxifies the body and makes you feel fresh and rejuvenated.

Lowers cholesterol - A 2011 study on rats found that beetroot extract lowered total cholesterol and triglycerides and increased HDL (good) cholesterol. It also reduced oxidative stress on the liver.

Lowers blood glucose - Though high in sugar, beetroot actually helps in regulating your blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that it does not lead to high glucose concentration in the blood. This simply means that the natural sugars in beetroot are released very slowly in the body and thus, prevents sudden spikes. In the form of the juice, it may actually help diabetics.

Rich in Folate – Joymix’s red beetroot powder is rich in folate that is necessary for production and differentiation of cells as well as maintenance of DNA structure. The high folate content makes it a great option for young children, teenagers, and pregnant women alike.

Reduces Blood Pressure – Betaine in beetroots reduces blood pressure by lowering homocysteine levels in the body. Joymix red beetroot powder contains high amounts of betaine that reduces the chances of high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes.

Great For Older Adults – Various studies have found beetroot to prevent and halt the progress of dementia in older adults. Regularly consuming beetroot juice can assist in keeping dementia at bay.

Sharpens Minds of Students – The high nutrient content of beetroot and its effect on blood flow enhances the cognitive functioning of the brain making it beneficial for students and teenagers.

Ideal For Keto and Vegetarian Diets – People who are following a keto or a vegetarian diet will find it easy to incorporate red beetroot powder to their diets as it has low calories.

Boosts Sports Performance – Beetroots have betaine which improves cardiovascular health and blood flow. It increases the rate at which oxygen reaches cells and boosts the performance of athletes and sportspersons.

May Prevent Cancer – The antioxidant betaine which is present in rich amounts in Joymix’s red beetroot powder has been found to protect the body against different types of cancer. It protects DNA structure in cells against damage, which is a primary cause of cancer.

Improves Digestive Health – Beetroot improves digestive health by stimulating the production of enzymes and HCL in the stomach. It also aids in the absorption of specific vitamins, minerals, and proteins.

Excellent for Weight Management – Joymix red beetroot powder is excellent for individuals who are focused on weight management as it contains low calories while being nutritionally dense.

Sharing is caring  😘 Read below to get a discount on your beetroot powder!

JoyMix is now having a promotion on their health products from organic soy powder to collagen, Bentong ginger powder, macha latte powder, chia seeds, diabetic foods and of course beetroot powder.  Just key in discount code: JOYLOVE during checkout to enjoy a 10% discount on their products!

The promotion is valid from 1 January 2019 ~ 31 March 2019, so hurry and get your beetroot powder or any health products before this offer expires!

For more information on JoyMix health food products, kindly visit:

www.joypremix.com
www.facebook.com/joypremix
www.instagram.com/joymix9

Ginger To Prevent Menstrual Cramps

My latest natural remedy to relieve menstrual cramps is ginger powder.  I mix 1 teaspoon of pure Bentong ginger powder with 1/2 cube of ginger brown sugar to about 300ml of warm water.  This ginger tonic is not only aromatic but very soothing.  I drink it 2-3 times a day on the first two days of my Aunt Flow when I experience cramps. On non-menstruation days, I drink this tonic once a day.




Ginger has been effective in relieving inflammation and pain, and it can help alleviate the pain associated with menstrual cramps. Ginger also is used for nausea and an upset stomach, symptoms that sometimes accompany menstruation. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends taking ginger two to three times a day while you are experiencing menstrual cramps.




I bought the pure Bentong ginger powder from a TCM clinic and the ginger brown sugar cubes from an organic shop. If you are unable to get these from your area, you can  boil ginger roots with a little brown sugar.



Warning! 
Although ginger tea is generally considered safe, it does have a few side effects. Do not drink ginger tea if you have peptic ulcers, as it might worsen them. Using too much ginger might cause mouth irritation, heartburn and diarrhea. Avoid ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or are taking blood-thinning drugs. Talk to your doctor before taking ginger if you have gallstones.

Peanut Root Soup For Growth

The big princess has been obsessed with gaining some inches to her height, no thanks to some insensitive people who always harp on her height. To me, I think she's perfectly fine with her height. At 13 years old going on 14 in December 2017, she is about 156cm. I am only 158cm and her dad is not a 6-footer. So blame in on the genes! Why do these people like to comment on her height and compare her with her peers? DUH!!

As a result, the girl has been skipping rope 2-3 times a day, doing sit-ups and bicycle crunches several times a day, playing tennis (once a week), running, gymming and swimming (occasional) and spot jumping every single day with the hope that these exercises will encourage a spurt in her height.

Her loving grandma is trying to help too by boiling peanut root soup, a popular old folks' remedy  for children's growth. It is the 'Grow Tall Soup' very popular amongst the Chinese community.



Cleaning the roots is a tedious and time consuming part in the the preparation of this soup. Soil clings to the roots and you will need to soak and scrub them thoroughly, else the soup will be murky and sandy. When you buy peanut roots from the market, it comes with leaves and stems which are not required. Only the roots and peanuts are used to make soup.

Ingredients:
Peanut roots
Meat (pork or chicken)
Red dates (optional)
Wolfberries or goji berries (optional)
Dried mushrooms (optional)

We only used peanut roots and lean pork.





Method
 1. Soak, scrub and rinse the roots several times to remove all dirt and grit.
 2. Blanch the meat in some boiling water to remove dirt, blood and bad smell. Discard water.
 3. Bring water to a boil, add all ingredients and bring to boil at medium heat. Once it boils, simmer for about 2-3 hours or longer.
 4. Serve warm. The peanuts can be eaten - they are soft and  yummy.

Though peanut roots are widely used by the Chinese folks to aid in the height development of children, to be frank, I am not 100% convinced that they work. I had drank loads of peanut roots soup when I was a kid but still  I am only 158cm tall  😁 Nonetheless, there is no harm trying as the soup is both delicious and nutritious. The whole family can drink it.  To grow tall and healthy, I strongly believe that genes play a crucial part. Next is a balanced diet and exercise.

Ostrich Egg

I had seen ostrich eggs from books and TV but had never seen and felt a real one before until recently, at age 43!  When the girls' grand aunt showed me an ostrich egg that she bought recently from an ostrich farm, I was awestruck.  The ostrich egg looks like a ball and the shell is very hard and plasticky, as if it had been coated with a layer of paint or shellac...





The seller drilled a hole on the tip of the egg and sealed it with masking tape, so that pouring out the egg for cooking is made easier.

It would require about 60 - 90 minutes in order to hard-boil one of these monstrous eggs, which weighs about 3 pounds (1.4kg) each.  At 2,000 plus calories per egg, it takes about 15 peckish adults to finish 1 ostrich egg.  And you'll probably need a chisel or electric drill to break the shell too as it is very hard!






Ostrich eggs are proved to be a healthier alternative to chicken eggs. When cooked, these eggs are fluffy in texture and mildly sweet in flavour.  Besides their common use in decorations and other artistic creativities, they make for some excellent baking items like pastries and egg dishes.

Health benefits of ostrich eggs:

1) Ostrich eggs are much lower in cholesterol than chicken eggs, and a little lower in saturated fat, making them a healthier choice

2) Ostrich eggs serve to be a much better heart protector with raised amount of omega-3-fats.

3) These eggs are rich in magnesium and iron.

4) Despite being the largest edible egg (one ostrich egg is equivalent to approximately 24 chicken eggs!), you get only 1/6th the times of calories than chicken eggs.

5) The best part is that you get enough fiber as an added bonus.

Shopping Cart Today - 18 February 2016

I love shopping for groceries.  There's a new and upscale supermarket at my neighborhood that carries a complete range of groceries, fresh produce and imported stuff.  I go there every morning! Well, maybe just every other day or perhaps  5 times a week... to shop and destress :D

I like the atmosphere at this supermarket and the range of food stuff it offers, which is not good for our wallets! Each trip would cost us between RM50 - RM100.  Go grab your calculator and add up how much we spend on average each week :D

This is my shopping cart for today...






As you can see, the items in the shopping cart reflect the personality of the shopper. Every item is healthy. No junk or canned food and trying hard to refrain from buying highly processed food stuff. I strongly believe in the adage of "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT". So  spending a little more on healthy foods is a good investment.

Today's damage was RM70+ and that's for organic sprouts (that's my lunch for 2 days), organic cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, organic long beans, 10 oranges, 6 packets of barley pearls, antibiotic-free and growth hormone-free chicken eggs and skim milk.  All these perishables will probably last us for 2 - 3 days.

How much do you spend on your groceries a week?

Crazy Hazy Days Are Back

The haze is getting worse each day. Today is really really bad, so bad that we have to shut all our windows and get baked inside our house at 33 degrees Celsius.  I can even smell the smog inside the bathroom when I shower!






But thankfully we have Izumio hydrogen water to help us stay healthy and keep those vexatious throat irritation and coughs at bay.





And not forgetting my daily dose of fresh smoothie for everyone.  Today's smoothie composes of pineapple, orange, cucumber and fresh coconut water.





The MIL has also been diligently boiling a medley of cooling herbal drinks for everyone everyday.





Lin Chee Kang with Luo Hon Guo - a sweet herbal dessert with a concoction of cooling and nourishing ingredients - Luo Hon Guo, lotus seeds, suet yue (white snow fungus), dried longan meat, dried lily bulbs, palm sugar and pandan leaves.

Thursday Breakfast - 20 August 2015

My brekkie this morning...



Green smoothie made by the mil consisting of baby bitter gourd, celery, cucumbers, green bell pepper and green apples. Not exactly my kind of smoothie but it's bursting with phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals and disease-fighting compounds. So what the heck, I took a deep breath and gulped this thick foamy green stuff down in a jiffy, BURPS!



Chilled 'tau kok lup' (sauteed long beans with garlic, carrots, prawns, pork, preserved radish and toasted peanuts), which was leftover from lunch and dinner yesterday. It's my favorite and I really don't mind having it in 3 meals straight! It's high in fiber, protein, low in carb and really delish too!

What's your breakfast today?

Carb-Free Chicken & Char Siew 'Rice'

While Cass is going to have chicken and char siew rice for lunch today, my lunch is a skinny carb-free chicken and char siew 'rice'!    The rice is replaced with sprouted mung beans (the mung beans look similar to rice) which tastes better than rice and way healthier too!




Carbohydrate-free chicken and char siew 'rice' for health freaks and weight watchers, composed of sprouted mung beans, sprouted alfalfa and sprouted snow peas, with a drizzle of chicken rice chilli sauce and ginger sauce.  High in protein and fiber and packed with nutrients from the raw sprouts.  I used lean chicken breast and lean char siew.  Yums! :)

HFM's Awesome Rawsome Lunch - 12 March 2015

My lunch yesterday - 11 March 2015, fit for a health freak...


A head of Oakleaf Green veggie with cherry tomatoes, toasted walnuts, pecans, almonds. macadamia, Korean seaweed, fried shallots, toasted sesame seeds and a drizzle of sesame dressing.  Also whacked 3 pieces of braised pork ribs, which were from dinner the day before.




Love this roasted laver (seaweed) from Korea - it's packed with so much crunchiness, natural flavor and goodness.  I can even eat my salads sans any dressing if I have this seaweed and a handful of flavorful fried shallots on them.




Orange and mango smoothie...






For breakfast, I ate 2 free-range chicken eggs to boost my iron production (I am anemic), a cup of homemade butter pecan cupcake and a piece of toasted wholemeal bread with homemade walnut-pecan-almond-macadamia nut jam.

Overnight Oats With Coconut Milk

The influence of the social media site is incredibly  powerful!  A few friends of mine posted pictures of their overnight oats in their Facebook page last week. Within a week, almost everyone in our circle of friends started to make overnight oats!  The overnight oats sensation spread like wild fire and now, I see postings of overnight oats each time I hop over to my Facebook newsfeed!

Since oats is supposedly a super-food, the kiasu-ism in me nudged me to try it too! And I did and what do I know? I am now looking at oats in a whole new perspective! With renewed love :)

I have concocted a few recipes of overnight oats over the last one week, using whatever ingredients that I could find in my fridge and whatever ingredients that I could easily get.

Today, I had overnight oats with coconut milk (santan). I was too exhausted last night and did not soak the oats. I only soaked the oats with fresh milk at 5:45 this morning. I tossed in some pine nuts, chia seeds, pecan, walnut, macadamia and almonds to be soaked with the milk and oats. Since I could get a packet of fresh coconut milk this morning, I soused the oats into some coconut milk just before I ate them and sprinkled a few dried cranberries and crunchy corn flakes to add some colors and texture to my bowl of goodness.




The verdict?
Very creamy, refreshing and very santan-ny which iLike! Did I tell you that I so love santan?  On some days, I will drink half a packet of santan to get the oomph and kick that I need to get me through my tough and long days.  And oh boy, that bowl of  wholesome chilled oats was so filling and I think that it can last me through lunch!  This is anytime healthier and more wholesome than nasi lemak or noodles.  Anytime!

Vegan and Vegetarian Diets

People have the power to make drastic changes in their lives by adopting a new diet or exercise routine for the sake of better health. Some individuals decide to follow a vegetarian diet while others follow a more strict vegan diet. People often change their eating habits in order to improve overall health and well being. Sometimes, there may be a certain satisfaction of abstaining from eating animal products. People may be thrilled by the idea that they could survive on only plant based food.

A vegetarian diet restricts the consumption of any animal products including meat and seafood. Vegan diets are more strict in that they do not allow the consumption of dairy products, eggs and fats derived from animals. Seafood is also off the table in a modern vegan diet.

Vegetarians and vegans rely heavily on obtaining their daily nutrients from fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Sometimes, dietary supplements featuring all natural ingredients are also taken in order to obtain certain vitamins and minerals. Tofu and beans are often used as major sources of protein for vegan and vegetarian diets that exclude raw meat and seafood. Nuts are also used as rich sources of fats that would otherwise have to be obtained from seafood and certain meats.

It's a proven fact that a new diet can change the way you live. Eating certain foods may also provide emotional satisfaction. For example, animal rights activists can enjoy meals that are derived fully from plants and not any living creatures.

Purple Carrot Soup

The other day in Facebook, I saw one of my friends in Australia posting pictures of purple carrots. I was intrigued and then looked around at supermarkets here in the hope of finding purple carrots too.  Last week, I finally spotted the purple carrots in a mini mart near my where I stay.  At about RM3.50 for 2 pieces, it is pretty costly but I was eager to get them to try.

Did you know that purple foods are bursting with goodness? Let's see what they can do for your health...

1) Purple foods are high in antioxidant and anti-aging benefits
2) Purple foods may be able to fight cancer cells
3) Purple foods are ulcer-fighters
4) Purple foods are good for your liver
5) Purple foods are good for the heart
6) Purple foods prevent urinary tract infections





At a look, the raw purple carrots looked like some rotten roots, caused by the dull blackish color of the skin.  When the skin is peeled, the flesh of the carrot is in bright purple. What attractive and pretty color!  .

I used the purple carrots to whip up a quick vegetables soup for the kids. With the soup, I blanched some yee mein and added tiger prawns and some meatballs.  With natural sweetness coming from the purple carrots, orange carrots, chicken ribs and cabbage, the pot of soup was very sweet and delish!

Lemon Grass Tea

Ever since we found out the many wonders of lemon grass, we have been making our very own lemon grass concoction or tea. It's pretty simple. Just slice up the stalk of a bunch of lemon grass, boil a pot of water and pour the boiling water into a pot or a jug with the thinly sliced lemon grass stalks. Let the lemon grass steep in the hot water for about half an hour to an hour before drinking. You can drink it hot but it tastes better and really refreshing when chilled.



This is our lemon grass tea. We get our lemon grass supply from a friend who stays nearby who has lemon grass in abundance planted in his huge garden.

Check out my health blog to read more about the wonders of lemon grass.

That's All I Can Eat For Lunch Today

My throat still hurts today and I am coughing like someone who has TB. I don't have much appetite to eat, so I just drank some snow fungus pork ribs soup and ate half a cup of rich premium organic yoghurt.






Check out my health blog to find out more about this absolutely tasty organic yoghurt.

Organic Cold Soba Sauce

Check out my health blog to find out how this cold soba sauce can be eaten with.

The Goodness Of Broccoli

We had stir-fried broccoli for dinner last night. Check out my health blog to read the goodness of broccoli.