Ignite some kitchen chemistry

We all know the power of food to heal, but did you know that certain foods posses aphrodisiac qualities, ones that can transform a non existent libido to a sexual prowess.  Some of these unfounded, but science knows one thing for sure, undernourishment results in a loss of libido and decreased fertility. So go organic, get the most from every bite, flavour, nourishment and excitement  ;0


In ancient times, foods that beared a physical resemblance to genitalia were deemed foods that would promote procreation, this was when the connection between food and fertility began.

There are so many different foods that we could include in this list, but for the sake of seasonality and availability, lets go with the ones we have available this week.

So what do we know

Almonds; the aroma is said to induce passion in females.  Interestingly the almonds is one of the oldest symbols of fertility.  In Indian medicine the almond is used to stop premature ejaculation and increasing sex drive.  Eat them RAW. Great source of protein, fibre, zinc, selenium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, biotin , riboflavin, niacin and iron.

Avocado; the Mayans and Aztecs revered the avocado fruit as one of the most powerful, naming it Ahuacuatl- translated means testicle tree. Rich in fibre, folate, Vitamin K, E C, potassium.


Bananas; you can understand why the humble banana has been heralded as the aphrodisiac fruit, its phallic shape earning this title.  Rightly so, an organic banana contains high amounts of potassium and B vitamins, both of these nutrients are essential for sex hormone production.


Chocolate; ok so who can go past this...an ultimate aphrodisiac and researchers agree finding a higher degree of sexual satisfaction from those that consumed chocolate daily.  In no way is this an endorsement or encouragement to over indulge, nether less interesting.  Make it dark and raw.  Chocolate naturally contains both serotonin and phenylethyamine, both these are mood lifting compounds.

Figs; a true food of the gods and incidentally in stock this week.  Visually figs are thought to look like the female sexual organs.  A great source of  calcium, copper, potassium, manganese, iron, selenium and zinc.

Honey:  In ancient times, Sterility and impotence were treated with honey, also as a source of concentrated energy.  During the medieval age, a drink called 'mead' made with fermented honey and was given to newlyweds, and seducers hoping to get lucky.

Rocket; was recognised as an aphrodisiac since the Roman times AD. Dioscorides warning that eating it raw stimulates lust and sexual appetite. A great source of vitamin A, C, beta carotene, calcium folate, fibre and phytonutrients.


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Putting LOVE into your food

This article written by our own Angela Gioffre, Nutritionist about the importance of putting love in your food.

Download it here

Ethical Meat

So in light of today's media coverage of an abattoir in Sydney, in which animals were beat prior to slaughter has heavily reinforced the need for us as a community to become more connected with our food.  Its such a tragedy that these creatures are killed so inhumanely, in a country with enough knowledge and resources to make more informed choices, instead choosing willed ignorance.  The mistreatment of these defenceless animals is just another example of the problems associated with mass business riddled with moral and ethical ambiguities.  It hasn't always been this way, in a time before mine, families reared loved and killed their own animals, only taking what they could eat, with integrity and respect for the animal.  This symbiotic relationship equated to healthy animals, and healthy people.  On a recent trip to Italy we visited my aunties farm, where she keeps pigs.  Everyday we would go and visit the pigs, where she would feed them, rub them and kiss them.  Perplexed, I asked her why she was kissing her pigs, and as absurd as it may seem, she proceeded to inform me it was because she loved them.  I told her that perhaps you could love a pig, but she didn't need to kiss it. She answered she loved the pig because it would feed her. The penny dropped, this profound respect for the pig, her connection with the animal meant that the love that reared and worshiped it would take it's life with integrity.  This makes me wonder, if we all had to look after the animals which we wished to eat, how different our lives would be.  Its also a realisation that this disconnectedness with our food creates the world in which we live, where animals can be beaten before slaughter, that can cry for their fellow creatures when they see them killed on the kill floor. Is it not enough that they have given their lives to be consumed by humans?


The truth is we vote for the world we want with every dollar we spend.  Demand ethical treatment of animals, demand a world where your food is produced humanely.


Do you think that humans have the right to treat animals badly? You owe it to yourself, as well as to the animals to make informed choices.   What are the consequences of your eating decisions? Trace your food, can you find a farmer that loves and cares for his animals?  If you are aware of a local farm in Victoria that we should all know about, please let us know, comment below.  Thanks


HUNGRY FOR CHANGE?
PETA.  People for the ethical treatment of animals
Humane Society




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Back to school

So its back to school and routine for the majority of us this week, and although its quite stressful to leave the bliss of summer holidays behind, where the only rule was that there were no rules, dinner at 9pm was ok and so was sleeping in till 10.   I think its nice to have routine again, and however stressful and hectic your lives may be, it can be made better by looking after yourself.  I know that when we feel overwhelmed the last thing we think about is eating well, but its truly the most important thing. Never before have we been so busy, our western lives driven by haste and in turn convenience mean that the majority of the population turn to processed quick fixes in order to feed the body. With a little organization, this can be different, your story can read like this ...' the kids lunch boxes were the envy of the school yard, my lunch was amazing and I felt fabulous and nourished after enjoying it'.. All it takes are some simple tools, knowing what it is you are making, having the ingredients on hand, and taking the time to make it. The truth is, it's usually quicker than going to the lunch bar... So what can you do differently this week, what can you have in your lunch that will make you feel amazing?. Organic fresh produce is a great start, and so is increasing the amount of fresh produce. Why not try varying your diet and including new foods, making sure that everyday you and your family eat a rainbow. (that is a variety of different coloured foods). If time is truly against you, nature have the answer, making lunch orders easy by perfectly packing produce in its own delicious skin.  Just grab some carrots, some cucumbers (add a pinch of salt for perfection), grab a couple plums, bag of grapes and a banana...delicious, nutritious and easy.  Nuts for afternoon tea, with some goji berries... These actions, however small will ensure that your life is changed for the better. So what's for lunch? How about some....  Rice paper rolls, made in a flash, the kids will love them, let them fill them with their favourite vegetables.   Avocado Salad, this can be made with whatever you have on had, diced with avocado, and dressed.  Vietnamese Salad, make extra for dinner and take it to work the next day Beetroot and pumpkin salad,roasted the night before, makes a divine lunch.  just be sure to wait to dress it before you eat.  NEED SOME MORE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR KIDS LUNCHBOXES  CLICK HERE  or perhaps make up a big batch of raw or cooked muesli bars,either way delicious, try them for yourself    GET A SMS REMINDER Forget to place your order, register for our SMS reminder service and never miss getting the best organic produce delivered each week. REGISTER HERE    To ensure you receive your delivery, why not ORDER NOW WEEKLY PRODUCE REPORT Organic Iceberg lettuce are sensational at the moment, and perfect for hydration. Organic Pineapples are sweet and delicious and perfectly in season.   Organic Green beans, crispy and sweet in great supply with amazing colour.   Local organic zucchini are in abundance, and an amazing addition to your meals.   Organic continental cucumbers are a great buy at the moment too, grown locally they are a great addition to every meal "The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition” Thomas Edison ORGANIC EMPIRE, LOCAL ORGANIC FOOD, ORGANIC DELIVERY MELBOURNE,  ORGANIC FOOD MELBOURNE

What's for dinner??

So it's Friday night, deciding on the cuisine for the night, is usually the hardest in most homes, but tonight I am feeling exceptionally inspired with an organic summer bounty to rival any harvest.  Where to start, the organic and biodynamic produce at the moment is sensational.  The organic iceberg lettuce with their slight cosmetic imperfections an example of true organic farming, full of flavour, crunch and juicy with water to hydrate.  The flavour of organic tomatoes is exceptional, this is one fresh item I refuse everywhere unless its organic, I think why waste my time chewing and digesting something that hasn't that flavour, most conventional tomatoes just taste like a textured water ball.

So on the menu tonight, eggplant cutlets, tomatoes salad, peas with a tomato salsa, corn, green salad, sweet potatoes and roasted pumpkin mmmm buon appetito.

Need some inspiration for your feast tonight or any other night, check out some healthy fresh recipes here

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We are back!!! Time to reinvigorate your diet

We are so happy to be back...  Its a new year,  a new beginning.  To be honest though I like to look at everyday as a new opportunity to make change, to make life better, to get healthier, to get happier.  Let's take this day as a new chance to make our lives everything we ever dreamed of, and to be real  the only way that most of our dreams can be achieved is with health.  It's the truest wealth.

I began my journey with health improvement, way back when I was 7  when I became a vegetarian for the first time, at 14 my mum made dramatic changes in our diets.   We were not unwell when my mum made these change, we were probably just like the majority of the population, fed, full and unaware.  Since that time my journey in life has been predominately an obsession with good health.  Now as a nutritionist I have the privelidge of having an academic education with which to impart knowledge to you all.  I am truly committed to living in optimal health and sharing that with you.  Its possible for everyone, its not just a dream.  We can all live healthy, happy lives and I want to help you do that.

So lets get to it, what is it going to take for you to be healthier, do you need to increase your energy? immunity? lose weight? increase stamina? sex drive? Interestingly these can all be improved with good nutrition, organic food and knowledge. And we want to show you how.

The first thing that needs to happen for change to take place is a decision, so today make that decision.  Write it down and commit to it. Write it in present tense, for example

'I am strong, fit and healthy, I nourish my body with the best organic foods, I live the healthiest life'. or ' I fit into my favourite dress by 1st March 2012', set a date.  Get committed and get to it!

STEP 1. Download our menu planner today and get organised, choose your meals (rather than choosing the non healthy variety of food because you are starving), check out our recipes for different ideas, plan it out.

STEP 2. Order your fresh organic produce and groceries online now.

STEP 3. Every day remember your goal, keep it fun, organise your time and make some delicious food, pack your own lunch, decide on your own destiny (just to let you know the majority of fast food outlets are not too interested in preserving your health, so you must be!).

STEP 4. Move your body, a 20 minute walk a day is a great start, see where you end up from there.

STEP 5.  Be grateful to be alive, we are truly so blessed to have amazing organic foods available to us, we have a real opportunity to nourish ourselves and everyone we love, promoting a beautiful life.  Share your food wisdom with people you know, let's get this world a healthier place.

Let me share with you my goal, I have a desire to change people's lives 

for the better to make them healthier, which in turn makes people happier= a better life for everyone.  I know the importance of good nutrition, from a scientific standpoint, but also as a fellow citizen of the human race, we all see what eating well does, and on the other end of the spectrum what poisioning our bodies with substances disguised as food does.

EXCUSE ME WHILE WE CHANGE IN FRONT OF YOU....

Ok so after much deliberation, we have decided to change the way we serve you.  We are continually researching new ways we can serve you better, and ensure that your produce is delivered at its best, and that you are happy and we think we have found the answer.  So please read on for changes to our deliveries.

We have a NEW Delivery Schedule, please check your delivery day.  

This means that the cut off time for delivery to your area has changed, please be sure to check and ensure that you order before the cut off times.  

It's best to order as soon as possible, to ensure that you receive your delivery, or do one better and sign up for our seasonal boxes and get a box of the freshest local organic produce delivered, without having to do anything!

PAPER NEWSLETTERS

We have decided to do away with the paper newsletters for the moment, in an attempt to become more ecologically sound we wish to direct you to our website  weekly for menu's and recipes.

OUR STORE

Renovations are nearly complete on our farm store, what that means is that you can come out to the farm and purchase your goods straight from us. We will let you know closer to the opening date.

FOOD SCHOOL

We are also excited to announce that we will be opening an Seasonal organic food school, where we will have a host of amazing raw food chef's, nutritionists, cooks and artisians sharing their wisdom with you. Stay tuned for a schedule of events.

"Be willing to be a beginner every single morning

"'

Meister Eckhart 

        

Organic Empire, organic food home delivery Melbourne, local organic foods, organic delivery, ORGANIC FOOD MELBOURNE

Making friends with salad

Salad is one of the best friends you could have in this world. I am not suggesting that you ditch all your other friends, merely expand your horizons.  Having a salad a day could in fact be one of the most significant and beneficial changes that you can make to your life.  It sounds preposterous, I know, but by enjoying a salad a day not only do you increase your daily fruit and vegetable intake, your increase your fibre which is so important for warding off many cancers, preventing constipation and lowering cholesterol.   You increase antioxidant intake, which is beneficial for everything, by protecting the body from damage from free radicals which lowers the risk of most cancers. You increase your water intake, hydration is one of the most important elements to good health and ensures the proper functioning of our bodies. You increase your enzyme intake; enzymes are found in raw foods and are destroyed by heat; enzymes serve as catalysts for virtually every function in the body...no enzymes sluggish metabolism, poor digestion.  Eating salads encourages the use of good fats, healthy fats are crucial for our good health and are found in avocado's, extra virgin olive oils and nuts; healthy fats help the body absorb protective phytochemicals.

So that's a wrap, a salad one for today, perhaps and a hope that you will do something new, try something new, try one of our salads....

ORGANIC EMPIRE, LOCAL ORGANIC FOODS, ORGANIC HOME DELIVERY MELBOURNE, ORGANIC FOOD HOME DELIVERY MELBOURNE, ORGANIC FOOD MELBOURNE