Grain-Free Berry Muffins: Anti-Inflammatory Recipe from Julie Daniluk

Posted on by Tammy

We interviewed Julie Daniluk as part of the Living an Elevated Existence Summit, and she shared amazing advice on living an anti-inflammatory life – starting with our diet.

In her book, ”Meals that Heal Inflammation,” she includes a great gluten- and grain-free muffin recipe that includes anti-inflammatory magnesium and antioxidants, along with cinnamon to balance blood sugar.

Here is the recipe:

Grain-Free Berry Muffins (Makes 12 muffins)

INGREDIENTS

2 ½ cups almond flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp grey sea salt or pink rock salt
1 tbsp cinnamon
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 large organic eggs
½ cup unpasteurized liquid honey
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup blueberries or raspberries, fresh or frozen

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F, and line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add the oil, eggs, honey and vanilla to the dry ingredients and stir until the batter is smooth. Using a silicon spatula, gently fold in the blueberries just until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Divide the batter between muffin cups. Bake the muffins on the center rack for 35 minutes, rotating the pan after 15 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin should come out clean.

Let the muffins stand for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Store the muffin in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Mindful Meditation to Curb Chocolate Cravings

Posted on by Tammy

In a new study, researchers set out to better understand how being mindful may decrease cravings for chocolate, and using three simple mind exercises, participants of the study were able to lessen their cravings, Medical Daily reported.

“There is now good evidence that mindfulness strategies generally work at managing food cravings, but we don’t yet know what aspect of mindfulness and what mechanisms are responsible for these effects,” Julien Lacaille, a psychologist at McGill University in Quebec said in the report. “This is what motivated this research.”

In the study, researchers reviewed 196 participants – all who were prone to intense chocolate cravings – and split them up into five groups: four were trained in mindfulness training to fend off chocolate cravings, and the last group was told to “distract themselves” to prevent food cravings.

Those who received mindfulness training were told to exercise three different actions when they received a chocolate craving: awareness, or the ability to notice the thought or craving; acceptance, or not judging the thought; and dis-identification, or detaching yourself from the craving by seeing such thoughts as separate from yourself. After two weeks, the participants were given a chocolate bar to unwrap and touch for one minute, and then rated their level of craving.

The researchers found those trained in mindful thinking craved the chocolate much less, “because they now perceived it as generally less desirable,” Lacaille said. And it was the third exercise, dis-identification or detachment from thought, which was the most successful.

“Something we can all take away from this study is that we are not our thoughts and that we can take control over our thoughts in a relatively short period,” Patrick Williams, a postdoctoral researcher and psychologist at the University of Chicago, told Reuters.

Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra Launch New 21-Day Meditation: Finding Your Flow

Posted on by Tammy

Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra announced the launch of their latest, all-new meditation experience “Finding Your Flow,” a free 21-day meditation experience beginning Monday, April 14.

Registration is now open at: www.Oprah.com/meditate.

“Our next 21-Day Meditation Experience takes a quantum leap forward,” said Deepak Chopra. “‘Finding Your Flow’ deepens the experience as we move our life into the lightness of being.”

“Oprah & Deepak’s 21-Day Meditation Experience” is co-produced by Harpo Studios and The Chopra Center, and so far more than 2.6 million people in over 200 countries have participated in past experiences, including: ‘Creating Abundance,’ ‘Perfect Health,’ ‘Miraculous Relationships’ and ‘Desire and Destiny.’

The new series, “Finding Your Flow,” will feature both Oprah and Deepak Chopra guiding listeners through an audio meditation each day, along with a series of thought-provoking reflection questions designed to anchor the teachings.

The meditations are accessible via a mobile phone, tablet or computer, and include a private, interactive journal feature to record progress.

What participants can expect out of the 21-Day Meditation Experience: Finding Your Flow:

Week One – Begin to understand the energy within you and awaken the powerful flow available to us in every moment.

Week Two – Activate the seven key energy centers that lie within each of us.

Week Three – Experience the transformation and harness the magnificent flow created by you, moving towards joy, love and fulfillment.

To register, visit: www.Oprah.com/meditate.

BetterListen! Audios 50 Percent Off in March 2014

Posted on by Tammy

BetterListen!, an online company featuring spoken-word audio titles – in mp3 and CD format – from some of today’s top thinkers and authors, including Ram Dass, Pema Chodron, Marianne Williamson and Jon Kabat-Zinn, is offering 50 percent off everything on their site for orders over $50 through the end of March!

Click here to visit the BetterListen! site.

Simply use the code: business50 when checking out to get the discount on the order. Some of our favorites are:

–Marianne Williamson: A Return to Love Workshop – The Basics of A Course in Miracles 9 CD Set

–Fully Alive: A Retreat with Pema Chodron on Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change – Digital Download

–Easing Into Sleep with Dr. Emmett Miller – Digital Download

–Harville Hendrix: Finding and Keeping the Love You Want Digital Download

Canyon Ranch Heath Resorts Adds New Spiritual and Creative Arts Programs

Posted on by Tammy

Canyon Ranch expanded its spirituality and creative arts departments to include the addition of new services and physical spaces at their destination resorts in Tucson, Arizona and Lenox, Mass. to help people explore and connect more deeply with what brings meaning, value and purpose in life.

Some of the new spirituality programs include, “Celebrating the Divine Feminine,” in which the feminine gifts such as intuition and passion are explored and celebrated to help guest embrace their current stage of life; “Finding Your Spirituality Through Fitness,” where a spiritual service provider shares tips to deepen your daily exercise routine so it becomes a meditative practice; and “Floating Meditation,” a session that utilizes the power of water and guided imagery to allow for healing, relaxation and insight. On the creative arts side, new programs include jewelry and pottery making, water colour, poetry and create your own bath products.

In support of the new spirituality programs, Canyon Ranch Tucson opened it’s new Spiritual Wellness Centre in February, an area specifically designed to give guest the opportunity to explore activities that resonate with their spirit. A Zen garden and Sanctuary Building will be completed in the Spring for more individual meditation and group workshops.

Editor’s Advice: Cut the Cords Drawing You Back to People, Food & More

Posted on by Tammy

By Tammy Mastroberte, Founder, Elevated Existence Magazine

Have you ever been in a relationship – romantic or friendship – and you know it’s not good for you anymore, but just can’t seem to let go? Do you keep getting into debt and can’t seem to catch up no matter how much more money you make? Does sugar have a hold on you?

I recently interviewed bestselling author and angel communicator Doreen Virtue for the Elevated Existence Magazine March 2014 cover story, and while I learned a lot from the interview, one of the things that stood out was her advice about cutting the energetic cords that tie us to people, substances and situations in our lives.

I have heard about cords forming between two people in a relationship, but had not really made the connection to other things in our life, so this was a light bulb moment for me.

She told me, “When you keep going back to anyone or anything that is harmful to you, you’ve got to cut the cord. Whether it’s sugar, an ex-boyfriend or you keep going into debt, there is an attachment of fear energy there like a leash, and it just keeps drawing you back again.”

I’ve written and spoken about “elevated reinforcements,” which is my term for calling in divine assistance from our angels, guides or loved ones who have passed. I call on my reinforcements any time I need them, and even call them in every morning after my meditation to ensure protection and guidance throughout my day. Well, it’s the same thing with cutting energetic cords – all we have to do is ask!

Virtue told me Archangel Michael is the angel to call upon when looking to cut the cords to anything in our lives, and if it’s a cord to a substance or food, also calling in Archangel Raphael can be helpful, as he is the specialist when it comes to healing of any kind.

All we have to do is call on Archangel Michael, saying: “Archangel Michael, please cut the cords of fear between me and [fill in the blank].”

Sometimes it’s a one and done process, but other times we need to ask over and over to break the attachment because we may unknowingly choose to take it back, Virtue said. She called upon Archangel Michael and Raphael to cut the cords between her and chocolate because she was getting headaches, acne and more from it, but couldn’t break free from the habit. For her, asking once providing an instant healing and she hasn’t craved it since!

Navigating this world as a soul in human form is not an easy task, but knowing we have assistance waiting in the wings can make the road a lot less bumpy! This week, pick one cord you know is draining your energy and ask Archangel Michael for help – and keep asking until you feel lighter, more free, and less controlled by it.

You will be amazed how much better you feel, and how much your faith in your “elevated reinforcements” will grow!

Tammy Mastroberte is a three-time, award-winning writer, founder of Elevated Existence, and publisher and editorial director of the multi-award-winning Elevated Existence Magazine. She started the new age, spiritual and self-improvement publication at age 30 – eight years after the sudden death of her mother from a brain aneurysm only three days after Christmas in 1999. This tragedy led her down a synchronistic path to discover her purpose and the meaning behind many of the events in her life – including her mother’s death. She now shares her guidance, and the wisdom of today’s top authors and spiritual celebrities through Elevated Existence Magazine. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter: @ElevatedTammy on Instagram: elevatedtammy. For more information, visit www.tammymastroberte.com.