If Susan’s life were a movie, the first frame would be a woman in a full body cast, with a back broken in five places. The next image would show a cute and regal brunette on a roof, surrounded by bees. You would later find out that these two people were one and the same. A story of bees, healing chocolate, and the power of spirit. 

“Knowledge is not actually in our brains. It is in our hearts.”

Healing stories and the power of food are always intertwined. Have you ever looked at someone and thought, “Oh what a fabulous life they must live?” Have you taken time to learn what runs deep within their experience?

Introducing honey chocolate truffles and more importantly introducing Susan Brown and a story of (quite literally) falling down, getting back up, and following your dreams on even the hardest days.

Susan is the founder of Mademoiselle Miel and a bee keeper chocolatier.  Imagine raw honey and fennel oil or blueberries and sumac that taste like a giggle. Not only did I discover chocolate decadence, I met a powerful kindred spirit.

If Susan’s life were a movie, the first frame would be a woman in a full body cast, with a back broken in five places, and a ruptured spleen. The next image would show a cute and regal brunette on a roof, surrounded by bees. You would later find out that these two people were one and the same. How is that possible? One- because miracles happen everyday. Two- because Susan chose to return to her truth.

In search of that truth, let’s start from the beginning. Susan is an artist and the daughter of a chef. Although, raised with healthy food, she found herself eating a significant amount of sugar and other junk food. Her health began to suffer. Sugar became an addiction and Susan describes “not feeling good about herself” or what she was eating. She decided to give up sugar yet didn’t want to give up tasty or delicious. (AHHHH yes! The LoveSelf way!). After testing ingredients and listening to her body, she discovered honey and a love affair was born.

Food is the fuel that allows our health and our vibrancy. The earth has provided us everything we need. It is our job to listen. Susan began experimenting with honey in desserts. Family and co-workers were introduced to her beautiful creations and kept asking for more. She seemed to have it all. A loving marriage. A family. A successful career as an artist and a pastry chef. And then things changed. Susan’s husband of 22 years left. She describes her “whole world being flipped upside down so she had to do something different”. Susan chose to heal with food and began enhancing her healing desserts with her stunning skills as an artist. Can you picture heavenly gold leafed chocolates or candied orange zest wings? No sugar. Just love.

She was making steps forward. Doors were opening yet once again life has a way of shaking everything loose that is less than our highest good. Recall the scene from the movie with the woman in the body cast? Susan had fallen from a zip line and was in a nursing home. Now remember that truth she mentioned? Susan told me she watched nature out her window. Despite all of her steps to success, she had forgotten about her deeper knowing. Her joy. She remembered her essence and describes realizing that joy doesn’t mean happy every day, it is more an “honesty” and for Susan, food is an extension of that joy. Her body recovered and so did her spirit.

Imagine the end to the movie. You see this same glowing woman now in a beautiful chocolate shop with the sun streaming in the window. She speaks to the camera and this is what she tells you about wisdom and changing your life. “Don’t be afraid. Life is on your side. Be a lioness, my dear. There is so much ahead.”

Amen to love, chocolate, and the power of healing. Thank you Susan.

Would you like to make refined sugar free chocolate truffles with honey and love? Susan created a Fruit and Honey Chocolate Truffle Recipe just for LoveSelf. Enjoy!

The post Bees, Healing Chocolate, and the Power of Spirit appeared first on LoveSelf.

Five great reasons your body will love healing with chocolate. 

I’ve got some great news: Chocolate is good for you! Seriously. And thank goodness, since I love chocolate. Most of us do, in fact. We’ve been enjoying it in the Americas for thousands of years, as a food and as a medicine, and even sometimes as a currency.

Let me explain: Some chocolate is better than other chocolate. Some chocolate, like raw organic cacao, is considered a superfood! Why? Raw organic cacao, unlike its processed dark chocolate counterpart, is known to contain an extraordinary amount of antioxidants. In addition, since there is no added dairy to interfere with antioxidant absorption, eating raw organic cacao actually can reap all the health benefits.

These health benefits of chocolate depend on the percentage of cacao in the product; the more cacao, the more nutrient-dense the chocolate. Ideally, choose chocolate with at least 70% cacao.

Let’s talk about this superfood, cacao. Cacao, which is from a bean of the Theobroma cacao tree, is quite heart-healthy, and so much more! As a women’s health internist, I am obsessed with our heart health, and anything we can do to improve our heart health.

Some reasons to reach for those raw cacao beans or nibs (the broken, smaller pieces of the beans)  include:

Heart health: Think lower blood pressure and improved cholesterol levels (both HDL and LDL). What’s the magic? Cacao beans contain high levels of flavonoids, anti-oxidants that work on the cellular level. Research shows that these compounds may in fact alter cell-signaling pathways, lowering our blood pressure and decreasing our risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol and decreasing inflammation and improving platelet (clotting) function.

Cancer health: Emerging research indicates that the antioxidants in cacao may help protect against cancer by limiting free radical damage to our cells. Cacao contains some of the highest levels of antioxidants in measured in foods.

Gastrointestinal health: Cacao is both an anti-inflammatory and loaded with fiber. Both of these are critical for our gastrointestinal health and wellbeing. Laboratory research shows some benefit for ulcerative colitis and treating h. pylori infections, too. Women need a whopping 25 gm/day of fiber and men need 35 gm/day; fortunately, a serving of cacao nibs contains 9 grams!

Mental health: Chocolate has long been used to boost one’s mood and improve cognition by triggering the release of some of the neurotransmitters in our brains. In particular, cacao boosts our serotonin levels, which helps to level out our moods and induce a sense of calmness.

Bone health: Cacao is seriously nutrient-dense, loaded with minerals like magnesium. Magnesium is needed for so many reasons including osteoporosis protection!

The post The Five Healing Benefits of Cacao appeared first on LoveSelf.

For the Love of a Healing Cookie! Food is our fuel and the foundation that feeds our power. We adore creating decadent delicious healing recipes without the sacrifice.

Enjoy our Chocolate Sandwich Cookie recipe! They are Paleo, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Non-GMO, and Refined Sugar Free. WOW!!!!

Would you like more fabulous recipes, including those developed by Rachel? Join our Secret Recipe Club!

Happy eating LoveSelf’ers!

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Paleo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Inspired by Meg Phillips‘ search for a replacement to the unhealthy commercial cookie, our chocolate sandwich cookie sensations are full of amazing wellness ingredients and taste like nirvana. Oh and because Meg is from Australia she calls these biscuits! Enjoy.

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