Hemp Food (Review for Manitoba Harvest)

 Lately, hemp has hit the market and will quickly become the newest health food trend. As someone with a passion for trying new healthy foods, and someone who's always up-to-date with the latest health food trends, I had to jump on the hemp food bandwagon. Special thanks to Manitoba Harvest for allowing me the opportunity to sample theirs -- a non-GMO hemp foods, which include Hemp Hearts (which are raw, shelled hemp seeds) and their variety of Hemp Protein powders.

I'm not kidding when I say hemp foods are a serious health food.  For instance, did you know that hemp has such a high nutritional value that it could be considered a super-food?

Here I'll be reviewing the samples I've been trying from Manitoba Harvest. I'll detail all of hemp's amazing health benefits, it's nutritional profile, ways to consume it, and even how it tastes (per my tongue's opinion.) Also in this review will be a comparison of hemp and other popular seeds such as chia to see which has the most bang for its buck.

So stick around and grab a bowl of your favorite snack food. Your stomach will thank you later, I promise. If you think you can handle reading about food without having something on-hand and ready to pack in, then more power to you, but don't say I didn't warn ya!

Let's start off with some specs on hemp seeds

- Hemp seeds do not contain THC like marijuana does.

- Hearty healthy.

Hemp Hearts

Aside from their interesting and satisfying flavor, hemp hearts (raw, shelled hemp seeds) contain 10 grams of plant-based protein and 10 grams of omegas (hemp contains both omega-3's and omega 6's.)

About Manitoba Harvest (Company Info)

Manitoba Harvest has a "natural" version of Hemp Hearts and an organic one. Keep in mind the sample I was sent is the natural Hemp Hearts. All Manitoba Harvest products are Non-GMO Project Verified, and Manitoba Harvest is a "Certified B Corporation." Click the icon below to view their report.

 Other qualifications of Manitoba Harvest (you can click each icon to read about them)

Kosher Certificate

Health and other Benefits:

- Hemp is an amazing source of protein, fiber, omegas and essential fatty acids.

- Immune system health

- Improved and shinier skin, nails and hair.

- Hemp contains the "good bacteria" that's necessary for healthy digestion.

- Hemp contains chlorophyll, which helps the body maintain pH balance.

-Hemp contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. 

- May improve kidney function.

- Contributes to a healthy immune system.

-Can improve fatigue.

Taste

Hemp Hearts, just like Manitoba Harvest says, have a very nutty flavor. Very nutty, slightly grassy.  That is the best way to describe them. The texture is somewhat like that of a cashew, but softer, although I have bitten some rigid hull bits after tossing in a handful and crunching down. They're slick, somewhat waxy, creamy, and chewy. They take on a slight sticky-ness while being chewed.  The flavor of hemp seeds are kind of like that of a peanut, but with a stronger nutti-ness and a tiny hint of grass. The flavor is surprisingly really tasty with an extremely fresh taste to them. In fact, I like these Hemp Hearts so much that I prefer eating them alone, not mixing them in foods and drinks!

 I sometimes like to do what I call the "kid test" when I'm trying a healthy food that I'll be reviewing later. The "kid test" is where I get my nieces and nephews to try the food and get their opinion so that I can report back in my review giving you folks an idea of how kids might take to the food product.

The kid test on the Hemp Hearts? Passed! My 5 year old niece who's the most picky eater I know and isn't fond of new foods responded really well to the Hemp Hearts! After pouring her a handful to eat (straight from her palm), she came back asking for more! 

As for the teenagers, I think these will pass for most of those too. Pretty much as long as the kid likes nuts, they'll like these. My 16 year old nephew was fond of them in yogurt. 
 

Hemp Hearts Vs Chia and Flax Seeds:

Something I learned from Manitoba Harvest that I didn't know before is that a serving (30 grams) of Hemp Hearts contain more omegas and proteins yet less carbs than a same serving of chia and flax.

Hemp appears to trump even whey powder. It's more easily digested than whey, it may contain more nutrition than whey, and require less hemp to consume than whey in order to get the nutrition.

To learn more about Hemp Hearts, check out this interesting infographic by Manitoba Harvest:

Other possible effects of eating hemp seeds:

-Some people notice a reduction in "junk food" cravings. This is something I hope to experience as I continue to eat Manitoba Harvest's hemp foods.

How to Use:

 One serving = 2 tablespoons (30 grams)

Manitoba Harvest recommends about 1-2 servings of Hemp Hearts a day.

Hemp Protein Powders 

Firstly, I'd like to start with some facts/information about hemp protein.

Hemp protein comes from the hemp seed and contains essential fatty acids, and all essential amino acids -- 20 amino acids total. Aside from the amazing source of EFA's and amino acids, hemp seed protein also contains fiber.

-Hemp is a complete, plant-based protein.

Hemp protein helps the body repair and regenerate, and if you didn't already know it, essential fatty acids (omega 3 and 6) have a huge impact on our health on so many different levels that it'd take an entire post just to cover them. To name a few though, EFA's are important for our brain health, cardiovascular health, nervous, immune and reproductive system. They help repair and cell membranes and help regulate heart rate, fertility, blood clotting, inflammation and more.

Note the recipe found on the back of the sample packets. The Hemp Pro 70 has an "Orange Vitality" recipe, which only requires orange juice and the rest is Manitoba Harvest products, including the packet of Hemp Pro 70. So this could easily just be added alone to some orange (or other) fruit juice.

The Hemp Protein powders, as well as the Hemp Hearts can be added to many different dishes including yogurt, cereals, oatmeal (which is really good, in my opinion), smoothies, other beverages, and even on salads.

To learn which of Manitoba Harvests' protein products best fit your specific needs, go here. 

Hemp Pro 70

HempPro 70 - Contains 20 grams of protein per 30 gram serving. 

It's water soluble and happens to be one of the higher protein-containing options.

Can be used in smoothies or shakes and if you're like me, a whole bunch of other foods too like yogurt, cereal, oatmeal, salads, etc. Since the powder has such subtle flavor to it, it can be added to so many different dishes that I've been able to try it on new food every day for the last 5 days. Yet to find a dish I disliked with the powder in it. Most of the time, I don't ever even taste it in the foods I eat.

Note: All Hemp Pro powders are raw, cold-milled hemp protein powder. The Hemp Pro Fiber is USDA Organic.

Hemp Pro 50: 

HempPro 50 - a raw, cold-milled, wholefood hemp protein powder. Contains 15 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber per 30 gram serving.

Hemp Pro Fiber:

HempPro Fibre - Contains 13 grams of fiber per 30 gram serving, over half the daily recommended intake of fiber. USDA Organic!

Notice the recipe on the back of the sample packet of Hemp Pro Fiber --  "Tropical Smoothie Paradise," which includes pineapple, coconut milk, and the rest are Manitoba Harvest products, including the Hemp Pro Fiber. Pretty simple, even for someone like me. 

The Hemp Pro Fiber can be mixed  into a smoothie, or even for baking and desserts such as muffins and bread. Checkout Manitoba Harvests'  recipe section to find different ways to use the powdered stuff. 

Taste & Ways to Consume: 

As for the Hemp Pro powders, the taste obviously isn't going to be eat-from-the-pack delicious for most people, but I actually don't mind it at all. As someone who's been taking her wheatgrass powder by the scoop (dry, with nothing else but a swig of water), I find the Hemp Pro powders totally tolerable to eat straight from the pack, if you're on the go.

If I don't have a drink on hand or time to grab one, I'll just pour the Hemp Pro powders into my mouth. The powders are so fine and mild tasting that it goes down easily, much easier than wheatgrass, actually.

 The taste of the powders is very subtle. It has somewhat of a sweetness to it, which is helpful. It's not strong at all
and it's extremely hard to pin-point an exact flavor or similar food/taste/flavor to really describe this stuff since it really has a taste of its very own and doesn't resemble much of anything.

The Hemp Pro Fiber is far more earthy tasting than the other protein powders. Totally tolerable, if not kind of tasty, but it does differ from the slight sweetness and less earthy taste of the others.

Like I said, it has a similarity to wheatgrass powder, but mostly just because they're both a fine powder that has a somewhat grassy taste, but the Hemp Protein powders aren't nearly as grassy tasting as wheatgrass. On the other hand, they aren't very nutty in flavor like the Hemp Hearts. 

As far as taste in a drink goes, the powder is rarely very noticeable in a drink. I sometimes feel it in my mouth, but rarely taste it in yogurt or shakes. When I say "feel it," I just mean that when I don't bother to really mix well, I sometimes get a clump in my mouth, but nothing that isn't easily tolerated. 

The powders seem to mix pretty well in beverages. There isn't a lot of clumping or settling of the powder. Shakes and thicker beverages like  smoothies allow for even better mixing and hiding, if you like to pretend there's no protein powder within your tasty beverage.

How to Use:
Simply scoop 4 tablespoons (30 grams) of Hemp Pro powders into your drinks, smoothies, foods, etc. Or go my route and simply dump a few mouthfuls straight onto your tongue and follow with a drink of water. This is a super easy way to take the powder in a hurry, or on-the-go.

  

 Manitoba Harvest also has a free e-book download called "7 Days of Free Smoothies," if you'd like to get some smoothie ideas and find new ways to indulge in hemp smoothies. You have to subscribe to their Hemp eNews via email to get it. There will be a pop-up as soon as you land on their site allowing you the option to enter your e-mail in order to subscribe and receive this e-book.

Aside from their e-book, Manitoba Harvest also has a page full of recipes that you can use for inspiration and ideas. I actually loved the huge variety of awesome different recipes they had listed, especially the breakfast foods. All the recipes go great with their Hemp Hearts. Some of my favorite recipes listed on Manitoba Harvest's recipe page are the "mid-day pick-me-ups section." 

which include recipes where you can make your own hemp bars with fruits mixed in and granola and trail mixes all of which look delicious.

I love their granola bars recipes that are easy and pretty quick to make, and they don't require a whole lot of ingredients that you wouldn't typically have on hand already, or have to search hard to find. Most of the ingredients are either in my house already or can be found at virtually any store near me.

Most of their recipes are versatile and allow you to tweak them to your preferences. The soups are next on my list to try, and of course, soup is always versatile so you can add or subtract whatever ingredients you like pretty much.

Results:
 
 While noticeable results from using most any product like hemp protein aren't always... well, very noticeable, I have to admit, compared to other products I've used like Mila seeds and chia seeds, and even my daily scoop of wheatgrass, Manitoba Harvests' hemp food products definitely seem to have the upper hand. In fact, despite the ubiquitous claims we often read about wheatgrass having impeccable benefits for not only our entire health in general, but also for the digestive system, I actually hardly ever noticed anything as far as how I feel, my digestive stuff, etc while using wheatgrass. I've been using wheatgrass on an almost daily basis for a year or more now and only rarely did I ever experience any change at all digestive-wise. Never did my IBS change due to the use of only  wheatgrass products, either. Wheatgrass is often said to have super positive benefits on IBS and similar health issues, but for me, it hasn't touched it.

Aside from that, I've always held onto the hope that wheatgrass does have the many health benefits, long-term that we all have read about, so I continue to use it. I like wheatgrass if it does in fact do all those amazing things for our bodies, but I can't honestly say it's had a noticeable impact in the way I feel or how my stomach & digestive system react to it. Perhaps in the very beginning of using wheatrgass products I experienced changes, but no longer.

That aside, the same boring stuff can be said for my experiences with chia seeds. Never have I noticed any change that I could physically feel or see and nothing in the way of digestive system issues and IBS. Unlike with wheatgrass though, I don't believe I have much reason to continue using chia seeds since finding out that the hemp foods contain so much more of the healthy "stuff" (omegas). 

If you recall earlier in this review, Manitoba Harvest showed us the difference in how much omegas are present in their hemp foods compared to other foods like chia seeds. It simply makes more sense to me to use hemp (and less of it to get the nice amounts of omegas). You would have to take more of the other products just to get the same amounts of omegas you get in a serving of the Manitoba Harvest hemp foods, so for now, I am too impressed not to go with hemp!

Pricing:

At the time of this writing, the Hemp Hearts come in at a little over $1 an ounce, and the Hemp Pro powder (70) is $24.99 for the smallest available pack, which is 11 ounces. The various powder prices vary depending.

Update:

So far, I've eaten the Hemp Hearts and the Hemp Protein powders for around 4-6 days
 and while I haven't experienced any change in how I feel or anything, I have had pretty rough stomach cramping every single day until today, and I figured out why. Hemp protein has a side effect of stomach cramping and digestive problems for some people. I didn't even put it together until my significant other mentioned that he heard plant based protein was actually hard to digest for some people. When he said that, it kind of clicked that the only change in my diet or life I've had over the last week is using the hemp, and since I woke up today and the cramping was gone for the first time, I thought it must be the hemp. Then I came home and looked into that being a side effect and found an article on LiveStrong which mentions stomach cramping and digestive problems being a side effect of hemp protein, so I'm pretty sure that was the cause. I thought I'd add an update letting you all know that if you tend to have a sensitive digestive system, or have IBS or related issues like I do, you'll want to start very small with hemp.

The problem for me was that I was downing an entire sample pack a day, and I think that's just a tiny bit too much on my stomach/digestive system.

Just a tip for folks like me with these stomach/digestive issues that you might want to consider starting off easy so you don't end up with problems or cramping like me. Things that are supposed to be beneficial for the digestive system, for some reason, can often also cause irritation to those of us with problems like IBS, so it's a nuisance, but from now on, I'll just be sure I don't consume so much of the hemp and take it from there. I feel like the benefits are too great to just not take it at all, so I'll just go slow with it and find the right "dose" for me. Then I will report back on that for those of you who want to follow along.

Update #2:
It's been 4 days since I posted the above update regarding the stomach cramps I was getting from adding too much hemp into my diet too rapidly. I've been experimenting with small doses, gradually since then and have found that a bit less than half a packet of Hemp Pro seems to be a pretty good amount for me without causing any stomach/digestive side effects at all. So about 2 tablespoons of the powder every day and I do really well, no stomach cramping. I honestly don't know what I was thinking taking so much in one day anyways like I was. So, for those of you who might also have digestive issues (like IBS) of your own, you might want to try one tablespoon a day for a few days, then go up to two when you feel comfortable. If you're able to handle the 1-2 tablespoons just fine for 3-4 days, then it's probably safe to up it one more tablespoon.

Disclaimer: I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

Apollo's Extra Virgin, Organic Olive Oils Review

 Apollo Extra Virgin Olive Oil -- Review

Apollo Organic Olive Oils have been touted as the all-around best oils by many, and for good reason. Being the olive oil lover that I am, when I was told about the Apollo oils, I was intrigued enough to really want to try them for myself. Thanks to the very awesome folks at Apollo, I have had the blessing/opportunity to do so!  Just reading about the great flavors of them had my mouth watering, so I'll go ahead & share my pleasure with you guys! 

Trying the Apollo olive oils, I discovered one thing quickly -- they really do live up to their hype. I was not disappointed at all. After tasting the two olive oils I've had the pleasure to try, I found myself immediately finding myself in agreement with the rest of the Apollo oil lovers:  they are by far, the most outstanding olive oils I have ever had the opportunity to put in my mouth. I would actually go so far as to call these olive oils "luxurious."

I honestly expected great quality right off with Apollo because of all the hype! I mean, people are really in love with this stuff, but I didn't imagine myself being ga-ga over it, and here I am. Right there with them.

 These oils are really an olive oil-lovers dream, and I have no doubt that they'll be appreciated by even the most luxury olive oil users. Yea, it's that delicious. But enough raving, let's get into why. Let me help you experience the taste as much as possible without actually tasting it. I'll do my best!

I have the two biggest sellers from Apollo -- the Mistral Organic olive oil and the Sierra Organic olive oil. Both are certified organic (by California Certified Oil Farmers) and certified virgin by the California Olive Oil Council (impressive qualities!)

Both have their own wonderful flavors and qualities, so I'm not surprised that I'm finding it tough to love one over the other.  This is somewhat dependent on the dish, really.

Firstly, Apollo olive oils were impressive right off the bat due to their being organic (truly, and with proof!) and cold-pressed. I think it's obvious why organic is so sought after (and these days it's a job to find out if your olive oil is really olive oil, much less actually organic!), but we'll discuss the importance of cold-pressed in a moment.

Mistral Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil:

Mistral is made of french varieties grown in the rugged Sierra foothills. In fact, the Mistral oil is named "for the famed Provencal wind."

As the label says, it's "rich and rounded."

Mistral Organic is the one with the yellow coloring on the bottle. It was instant delish on my tongue upon first trying it, straight.  There was no doubt in my mind that the Mistral Organic would make any dish more pleasurable. I mean any. I enjoyed it simply by itself, for Pete's sake!  

It's the perfect salad olive oil and added something delicious to my chicken quesadilla last night!

The Mistral Olive Oil  is "light" intensity, so it's wonderfully smooth with a slight bitterness that wasn't noticeable each time I tried it, really. I love the hint of super fresh, bitter olive in my mouth, so this one is perfect in every way. It has also been described as "buttery," which I can notice when used on some foods.

Another added 'perk' I enjoy from Apollo Olive Oil is that they include, on the back of the bottle certain dishes the type of oil are most complimentary with. For instance, Mistral says that it enhances most seafood, mushrooms, salads and most white wine dishes. I cannot say much about seafood with olive oil because I'm not a fan, so I obviously don't love it, even with any oils. Either way, I couldn't imagine a seafood lover not loving the taste of their seafood combined with Mistral Organic.

Sierra Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil



Note the little pour-spout on the bottle lip.

Sierra Extra Virgin  

Organic olive oil -- the one with the green text on its bottle -- is more bitter than the Mistral. To me, it also has a more intense "green" & somewhat grassy taste (labeled "medium intensity), which brings an incredible amount of freshness to any dish. Along with some bitterness, Sierra also has a slight spice flavor to it, to me. This is not intense like other oils I've tried, though, and I prefer it to be subtle spicy and not intensely spicy.

The Sierra Oil is harvested from "decades old trees in the Sierra foothills."

I think the greenness in the Sierra olive oil's taste compliments most herbs, too, especially when used in a chip dip. I also adore the Sierra Oil for steamed vegetables -- really brings out some flavor in vegetables that were otherwise quite bland (greens, especially.)

Just as the Mistral bottle, the Sierra has a list of dishes that the oil compliments well. I love that because it gives you a good idea of what kind of oil you'd "need," depending on your style of food. Sierra says it's great with "hearty dishes" like soups, stew & pasta sauces.

Both Sierra & Mistral Olive Oils are very fragrant/aromatic.


My Favorites Apollo Olive Oil Recipes So Far:
Personally, one of my favorite ways to have the Sierra Olive Oil so far have been on meat. Add some herbs and holy heavenly taste-buds! 

 I adored the flavor of Sierra on steak and pork, and even grilled chicken (with garlic, a sprig from my fresh mint plants, and herbs like parsley, rosemary, etc.). It added the perfect helper to the dryness of the chicken, plus a very welcomed flavor boost.

Oh, Oh, Oh! Can't forget bread! These two olive oils are the best bread dips I have ever tasted & I've been known to really get down with some bread and olive oil dips! Herbs like parsley, oregano, some garlic, rosemary and a sprig from my mint plant -- all tossed in a dish with either of these oils made my night. 

In fact, I'm afraid this simple way of eating olive oil has ruined me for the rest of the measly oils in the world. I've had some great ones, and haven't ever met a quality olive oil/herb bread dip that I didn't adore, but there was nothing quite like it with the Apollo oils.

 I had to have a dip of both oils -- the Mistral (with added herbs to the oil) and one dish for dipping with the Sierra. I just kept going back and forth dipping one piece in Sierra, the next bite in Mistral!

 I even had Mistral with baked little red-skin potatoes, green peppers and thought it was amazing! I even loved corn on the cob smothered in the Mistral Organic oil.  I could literally have this stuff every day (probably on almost every food) and never get tired of it.  

Meredith's Sauce Gremolata found on the Apollo website will be our next try! It sounds perfect and only requires a few, easily found ingredients! I love when I can make a recipe easily, especially if the ingredients are already in the kitchen. This recipe, consisting of only lemon, Mistral, garlic and parsley is absolutely perfect! Plus, I can already almost taste the delicious-ness of those ingredients together.


B will be trying the Mistral grilled cheese recipe. We couldn't think of a dish he'd adore, so when I checked the Apollo website and seen grilled cheese as an option, I just knew that'd be his pick.

Either of the oils (added herbs just like with the bread dip) make a delicious snack with baked tortillas or tortilla chips. One of my absolute all time favorites. 

So, far, I've been using the Apollo Olive Oils on a different dish each night (sometimes more than one!) and have yet to not love whatever I've eaten it with, so this is some truly fabulous oil.

 Fantastic recipes using the fabulous Apollo Olive Oils can be found here.

 Reasons to Fall in Love with Apollo Olive Oils:

• - Certified organic.

• - Cold-pressed.

• - Amazing, delectable, unique flavors.

• - Olives are organic and hand-picked.

• - Olives are milled under vacuum to preserve highest nutrient & antioxidant levels. Milled under vacuum ensures higher polyphenol content. An interesting tid-bit: The mill used by Apollo is one of only 5 in the world!

You can even read about Apollo's entire milling process here. Awesome, huh?

• -Apollo Oils even have the date they were cold-pressed on the bottle! For example, the 2 I have says it was cold pressed in December 2013, which means this stuff is nice & fresh! Not old and stale and of lesser quality.

More pros include the dark glass bottle (important for good olive oil) and the oils came with a nice removable spout for pouring. Heck, the bottles themselves even have a little pour-spout (see photos) at the edge/lip, which prevents it from being so messy.

 Health Benefits of Olive Oil:

Olive oil is high in antioxidants and polyphenols, rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals -- if it's quality oil. Apollo Olive Oil says on the label that their olives contain a high content of both antioxidants and polyphenols.

Polyphenols help your memory stay sharp, minimizes risks for cardiovascular disease, reduce inflammation.

Polyphenols slow bone loss, which is a big plus for me!  Etc.

Antioxidants are anti-aging, they neutralize free radicals and help prevent damage (like that associated with cancer) from free radicals.

 Free radicals are a known contributor to health problems like: muscle and tissue degeneration, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc. See how important antioxidants are now?

They also help prevent Cognitive impairment
Immune dysfunction
Cataracts
Macular degeneration
Alzheimer's
Antioxidants may even increase longevity and decrease oxidative stress.
Olive oil also helps reduce risk of gastric ulcers.



 

Other Olive Oil Remedies:

• Removes earwax build-up! Simply use a dropper to insert the oil into ear canals. I've used this (and coconut oil) to successfully, safely and natural (isn't that the best!) cure ear mites in my pets!

• Helpful for virtually all skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, cracked skin, diaper rash, any dry-skin condition, etc.) Also helpful for some skin infections.

• Helpful in removing Staphylococcus aureus  from colonized Atopic Dermatitis (often used with coconut oil) Source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/586673

•  Olive oil has been known to help with symptoms of IBS and candidiasis, which most of you know I suffered from severely.  It helps with constipation, inflammation of the digestive system, etc.

• Olive oil is used in the Hulda Clark parasitic cleanse protocol for tapeworms.

• Can't forget oil-pulling! Olive oil is one of my two favorite oils (and coconut) for oil-pulling, and I've discussed that a lot here, in other posts. Since Apollo oils are cold-pressed, organic and such high quality, they would be ideal for oil pulling. But I've yet to be able to bring myself to use it and spit it out, so oil-pulling with it will be something I might try eventually, but as for now, I'll stick with eating it.

 What's Considered "Quality" Olive Oil & What to Look For

Equally as important as taste, also nutritition of an olive oil is of great importance to me (and most olive oil-lovers.) That is why I was impressed with all the wonderful qualitites of the Apollo Olive Oils (all listed below). I checked into Apollo Olive Oils and was most impressed that they met the "checklist" that many olive-oil lovers look for in an olive oil.

For the sake of giving my readers virtually everything they need to know about a product, I feel obligated to also shell out knowledge on quality and what you should look for in a product I'm reviewing. So, below we'll discuss what quality olive oil is, what to look for and what you should be wary of, or look out for when shopping for olive oil.

Just like when you shop for the perfect supplements and vitamins, when you're going for olive oil, you also have a checklist of important things to look for (and look out for, for that matter.) I say this because the olive oil "industry" made the news not that long ago for the now well-known olive oil scams happening.

To be brief about that, basically, a lot of the olive oils (especially some of the top sellers in grocery stores) were put through a test of some sort and so many had failed to such an extent that the news article deemed them not even able to be considered olive oil!

So, unfortunately, olive oil is yet another thing we consumers have to look closely into before shelling out $. You want to be sure you're getting actual olive oil, and if you're like me, you want to be sure you're getting the best quality out there. There are several "factors" to findnig the "best quality."  You want cold-pressed, extra virgin and certified organic -- Apollo oils are both. It also doesn't hurt to go the extra mile and find out where your olives were from.

Why Cold-Pressed?

Cold-pressed means it was pressed using the lowest heat possible, to extract the oil. Heat destroys a lot of the nutrition in olive oil, and often means chemicals and other icky things are involved in the process. The natural ingredients and their nutritious content isn't sacrificed from heat, chemicals etc. that come with some methods other than cold-pressed.

Cold-pressed oils retain their high antioxidant content and it means the oil you're consuming doesn't contain any chemical solvents nor has it been bleached and deodorized, which is what happens when oil is mechanically pressed.  

To put it in a list, here's what you should look for:

 
1. Certified organic.
2. Cold-pressed.
3. Virgin 

Image source: Image Source: http://www.theyumyum.net/2012/07/weekly-meme.html

4. Bonus: Find out where the olives came from.

 Olive Oil For Beauty

 To really put the icing on the cake (or should I say the olive oil on the potatoes?), here are some olive oil beauty benefits, too.

I love olive oil not only for its amazing ability to make food taste like heaven, but also because of its mind-blowing health benefits. The health benefits were the first reason I ever got into using olive oil in the first place. There are so many! It's rich in Vitamin A, E. High in antioxidants, polyphenols, essential fatty acids, minerals, etc.

Olive oil was even said to have been a Queen's  "secret to beauty." 

Yep, just olive oil!
(Can't find her name, or the source I read that from years ago, sorry!)

It has been said that using it internally and externally (like on your skin) is one of the best ways to "beautify" your skin. It both nourishes and protects skin.

  

 A long time ago, I took the challenge to begin using olive oil on my skin. Some of you may even remember me posting about that. I still do.

 I find it to be the best, most effective way for moisturizing dry skin, having a healthy complexion, etc. Plus, using it internally is one way to fight wrinkles and have good skin, so applying it externally likely has the benefits, too.

Olive oil's uses are quite endless for beauty, health and taste! It can be used on hair for shine, overall health and as a hot oil treatment.

It strengthens nails, nourishes cuticles, chapped lips and even feet. Simply add olive oil in bath water to soften (and promote healing!) for all over.

I've used olive oil for all the above, but one area I'm religious is cleansing my face. It has been my go-to as a facial cleanser (once a week,) and makeup remover for a few years now. I use it every morning! Works better than anything.

The Apollo Oils are so amazing, from the fragrance to the taste that I could bathe in them. That could get costly, though.

Please share in the comments  below what  some of your favorite ways to use olive oil are? Any favorite dishes?  Favorite brand of olive oil? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

 Disclaimer (I know, I hate them, too, but these days you kind of can't afford to note post them.):

I am not a specialist or any other kind of doctor or expert. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information/suggestions to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with the company mentioned. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

Organic Kanna from The Root of the Matter (Review)

Like most herbs, Kanna has a lot of health benefits, including positive effects on mental health, mood and energy, which makes Kanna a staple in my herb collection.

Kanna's health benefits are impressive, so let's start this off with a list of those:

• Kanna is a mood-uplifter, can help with irritability, and has a therapeutic-like effect.

Kanna can also produce  narcotic and sedative-like effects.

Provides energy 

•  Kanna is also a relaxant (and muscle relaxant) and it decreases anxiety, tension and stress and improves mental health, in general.

•  It's helpful for conditions such as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and social phobia. It's even said to be helpful for social phobias. It can increase sociability (big plus for me!)

• Something I find interesting enough to note is that some people report having empathic feelings/emotions/whatever from using Kanna.

Improves cognitive health, promotes mental clarity.

Kanna has been called "the greatest clearer of spirits, and the noblest restorative in the world.”

It can be helpful in the treatment of drug addiction (and I can see this as being truly useful.) 

Has been used as an appetite-suppressant

Kanna is an analgesic 

A natural anti-depressant -- used to rebalance the brain and nervous system and thereby relieve symptoms of depression.

Improves libido

Has been used to treat colic

Decreases high blood pressure

Note: Kanna is said to be "far more effective and rapidly acting than the European plant Hypericum (St Johns Wort)." 10 times more effective, as per The Root of The Matter's Kanna label! Now that's impressive.

Did you read that? It's real important, especially to anyone who, like me, has used St. Johns (and almost every other mood-enhancing herb on earth without a major change).

In case you missed it, let me say that again: Kanna is said to be far more effective than St. John's Wort!!!

St. John's is like the mother of all herbs when it comes to mood problems. That is why it was one of my first go-to's for my severe mood problems. And while it did seem that it was perking things up for me, after the first month, there was little reason for me to bother taking it anymore, and it was quality herb. I figured it must've been that my problems were stemming from somewhere else, and therefore needed a different approach.

So, when I read that Kanna was a mood-enhancer, I was excited, but knowing that I didn't exactly get a lot better after using St. John's, or SAM-e or any of the other widely known herbs for depression and mood disorders, I didn't expect much help from Kanna there, either.

Learning that it was "far more effective" than St. John's restored an entirely new hope in me that there was something that could help my ugly moods.

And this is why I felt so compelled to go into so much detail here with my own story -- because I'm sure someone else is out there like me. Who's tried all the promising meds and herbs for their crappy moods, and didn't get fully better. Then, you begin believing that it's something so deeply inside you that it can never change. 

Believe me, this is how I've felt on and off for the last 4 months. I'd try something, I'd see the tiniest improvement and keep taking it, only to realize a month later that that tiny improvement was as good as it would get for me and my downing moods.

Here's How Kanna Enhances Your Mood:

 Alkaloids are to thank for the mood-enhancing action of Kanna. Some of these alkaloids are named
"mesembrine," "mesembrenol" and "tortuosamin."

They work by interacting with serotonin and dopamine receptors. Serotonin and dopamine are basically the major good-mood chemicals, so that's why we respond to herbs/drugs that cause a release of these two chemicals.

In hopes of being as informative and helpful to my readers as possible, I always try to explain some of the reasons I take any supplement/herb. I like to make it known what issues I might be trying to improve on so that it gives readers a better understanding of the results, although results and issues vary in everyone. 

With that in mind, I'll brief you on what my reasons for using Kanna were:

The mental and mood health, mostly. 

More info on that:

I have struggled with severe mood issues, not depression really, but a strong up/down of moods on a daily basis, including intense frustration at times. For instance, frustration that feels impossible to get relief from and at times, almost like I'm going to break, if that makes sense. Another major problem was irritability (part of my irritability comes from having Misophonia or "Sound Sensitivity," and other times from PMS).

These things  became unbearable, and so I've been on a journey to try and improve that area. 

Aside from that, I used to have severe anxiety after I developed some health problems (they came combined with each other, and anxiety was a tag-a-long of those.) Over the last 2 years, after being prescribed anxiety meds and completely quitting them after taking them for 6-9 months, and starting using herbs, I made amazing progress and the anxiety was gone, for the most part. What I was left with, however, after years of these debilitating conditions, was nervousness, especially with people.

 So, discovering Kanna and its abilities to help in all these areas (including social phobia, which I figured would be helpful for my nervousness with people) has been a blessing to me.

Now that you know this, it may be helpful to know that my results after using Kanna has included a  major decrease in all the symptoms/issues I described. In fact, it's been over a month of using Kanna on a virtually regular basis, and I feel what I would call "balanced," if that makes sense. I actually feel like I'm not battling so hard with myself and my negative or less than happy thoughts. I've experienced an even bigger decrease in stress, and I feel so much more at ease these days. I've not been taking it on a strict basis for the last 2 weeks since I think I've actually reached some kind of balance, and am doing really well, even when I skip days of taking the Kanna.

My Results:

Kanna has been extremely helpful for me in nerve-racking situations, or stressful times, or times when I was dealing with overwhelming changes that brought on anxiety.

To sum it up briefly, Kanna has made the tough rides in life much smoother.

Basically, Kanna gives you what's described as an overall sense of well-being in general, and this is why it's so handy during bad, stressful or otherwise just crappy times. It calms, and kind of gives me the sense of everything being restored and gives me the feeling that there's nothing to worry about. I find it easy to let those worries in the back of my mind just pass through. 

I can usually expect a mild energy for an hour or so, and nice relief from stress, anxieties, worries and nervousness for up to a few hours. This is taking one capsule the entire day. Usually, the rest of the day remains stress and worry-free for me, even when the energy seems to have left me. 

Some people say the effects stay with them for days!  

As a side note, I can see Kanna being used for what people might call spiritual practices, if that's the right way of putting it. I say this because my first time trying it, I noticed that I was in the most perfect mix of relax, but focused and awake, which struck me as a great time to meditate. My mind was quiet-ish, but I felt kind of just more "in-tuned," if that makes sense?

So, now, when I happen to have used Kanna and the mood strikes, I set aside a few minutes for meditation, and actually find it to go far better than usual. I tend to meditate near the beginning of my day and at the end, and I feel like I get a better "session" in when I've taken some Kanna. Strange and I could very well be mistaken about this, but it does feel right for me, so I thought it'd be worth noting. 

I feel a little more inspired and creative, too when Kanna kicks in.

I have also found that if I'm tired from a long day, but not fully exhausted, I can take a capsule of the Kanna and be right back up to speed for several hours throughout the evening and night! This is one thing I really love about Kanna. It'll just remove the mental and physical fatigue and make me feel new and refreshed again, which is something no supplement or energy product has ever done for me when I'm real tired.

I also want to note that I've been doing some soul-searching, I guess you'd call it. I've spent a lot of my time as of the last 3 months using meditation (sometimes multiple times a day, even) and doing some studying on techniques for positive thinking and positive living. I've even read a dozen books on the topic (some of which have been truly life-changing for me!) and I've taken up what folks call "positive affirmations," which I use on a daily basis. I go through a series of positive affirmations as soon as I wake up, as I'm falling asleep and as much throughout my day as possible. I also downloaded some positive recordings (2 of them are positive affirmations to repeat) that I listen to almost daily. I also try and listen to a couple of short guided meditation recordings every couple of days.

These things combined with Kanna have helped me immensely! I feel like Kanna has really helped me further my journey with this since it relieved so much of my struggling and just negative stresses I couldn't seem to shake. I am probably more impressed with Kanna than any "happy-herb" I've used. St. John's truly has nothing on this stuff, for me anyways. Everyone's different!

Here is a close-up of the Kanna supplement. Apologies for the quality of these photos. Tough lighting!

Side Effects of Kanna

Like similar herbs, and despite being able to give us energy, Kanna can also have a sedative effect. For most people, it seems that when taken in small doses, it's energizing, while higher doses cause the sedative effects. Everyone's different, though!

What to Know Before Buying/Taking Kanna

As with all supplements, you have to be certain about quality. You know the whole spiel -- herbs aren't really regulated and it's common for manufacturers to slap a label on grass and tell you it's an herb that'll change your life. So, obviously, I done research first, and I'll share what I learned with you:

Firstly, the Kanna I take (the only kind I use), from The Root of The Matter is premium, 100% organic, and traditionally fermented  Kanna.

You know why the word "organic" is in italics, but what about "traditionally fermented?" Why does that matter in a Kanna supplement?

From what I've gathered,  traditionally fermented Kanna is said to have maximized effects, particularly its psychoactive effects. A lot of folks do believe it's important that Kanna is "traditionally fermented," though, as this was Southern Africa folks prepared it (fermented inside sheep skins). One study suggests that it might not be fully accurate, but most do believe it to be true. (

Source: Patnala, S., Kanfer, I. (2009) Investigations of the phytochemical content of Sceletium tortuosum following the preparation of “Kougoed” by fermentation of plant material. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 121, 86–91)

The Root of The Matter Kanna is  "certified organic (the genuine thing), grown in South Africa, and has high mesembrine content. It is traditionally and naturally fermented according to South African tradition."

Dosing/Directions:

The Root of The Matter's Organic Kanna comes with 100 capsules, which are 50 milligrams each. 50 mg is usually the recommended starting dose.

The bottle suggests taking one capsule once or twice daily with water on empty stomach.  

P.S. Kanna is not to be mixed with other things such as prescription drugs, anything for anxiety, any kind of psychiatric drug, heart medications, other sedatives, hypnotics, anti-depressants!

Obviously, if you take Kanna, an anti-anxiety herb, with other anti-anxiety meds/herbs, they can potentiate each other.  You must be careful! You can risk something called "serotonin syndrome," which has been discussed in my other posts.

Re-cap. Last Thoughts About Kanna and Who I Think it Could Benefit

If you couldn't already tell, yes, I absolutely recommend Kanna to my friends and family members! I actually find this herb to be more helpful than most I've ever taken, in several areas including worry, stress, anxiety, frustration, mood issues. Also sleep problems, feeling drained and lack of motivation. I've seen amazing improvements in these areas. I don't have severe sleep problems, but my sleep is even better if I've taken Kanna that day. During phases when I can't sleep at all, I take an herbal sleep aid that kicks my butt, but as for needing some good quality sleep, Kanna does the trick and I wake up feeling good. 

I have a lot of love for Kanna due to its ability to calm my crazy mood issues, but I also love that it gave me relief when I was beyond desperation. I didn't have to wait a month to get relief, like you do with other things. So, this is one reason I tend to recommend Kanna -- it works quick! 

I got relief the very first time I took it, and I'd only taken less than half of a 50 mg capsule! It only got better after that, and I feel like my thoughts and mood stuff  is really "fixing," not just being masked by good feelings when I take Kanna. It seems almost like things are re-balancing, even when I don't take it on a daily basis! I never thought Kanna would have such an effect on me, and I regret how much suffering I've done in the meantime while using other herbs that simply weren't cutting it for me. 

So, for folks in similar situations as me, who've tried the other popular herbal (or prescription) methods and feel hopeless, Kanna might be the one. I hope that other people get relief from these troubles because I totally know how ugly it can get.

Disclaimer (I know, I hate them, too, but these days you kind of can't afford to note post them.):

I am not a specialist or any other kind of doctor or expert. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information/suggestions to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with the company mentioned. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.