My Review of So Delicious's Holiday Drinks

For more current natural health information, please visit my website: Good Works Welness

I was very excited this year to hear that So Delicious, one of the dairy-free brands of Turtle Mountain, was launching two new holiday flavors: Nog and Mint Chocolate. Since I won't touch soy or anything containing it with a ten-foot straw, for years I have wished there were healthier alternatives available to good ol' eggnog, for which I have a huge weakness. The rice nog options have a good taste, but are too thin and watery to be a suitable substitution for me. So, I picked up a few cartons of both flavors of the So Delicious holiday flavors and have been "playing" ever since. For the record. So Delicious did not provide any product to me for free, so you can rest assured that this post is 100%, brutally honest. (As all my posts are.) I've included links back to pages on their website simply because I think it makes sense to go to the source when seeking information on ingredients. 

The saddest note of this review is that the holiday flavors are available for a limited time, so once they're gone this year we'll have to wait until next year to enjoy them again.

I've always been impressed with the ethics and philosophy of So Delicious. Their coconut products are all Non-GMO certified, many of their products are free of the top eight food allergens, and most of the Turtle Mountain products have received one or more of other certifications such as Gluten Free, Kosher, Vegan, Organic and Pas Yisrael. The company puts a high priority on using quality ingredients that are safe. You can read more about the ingredients they use (and don't use) on their Ingredient Facts page.

Overall, I was impressed by the flavor of both the Nog and Mint Chocolate flavors. Comments and reactions from my testers and nutritional information for each follows, along with information on how we used the two products. I also share a few recipes created by others at the end of this post. Their creativity is amazing!

Nog Flavor: Of all the people that tasted the Nog, the most common response was, "Wow. This tastes great, but is really coconutty!" I'm not sure why we were surprised that a coconut nog tastes like coconuts, but we were. (The Mint Chocolate flavor has no coconut flavor at all.) The coconut flavor in the Nog is not overwhelming and adds a nice undernote. 

The Nog has a really good flavor that comes very close to the taste of traditional eggnog. It is also nice and thick. This nog is the closest in taste and consistency to traditional eggnog that I've ever tried. I was impressed! The Nog is fantastic in coffee and one of my testers commented that it also blends well with rum, vodka, tequila and liqueurs. (Hmmm, now wondering if we need to schedule an intervention for her! LOL) Not sure if it's significant or not, but Ginger the Wonder Dog also loved it and begged for more after being accidentally treated to some I spilled on the floor. The good news is the Nog does not contain any sugar substitutes and therefore does not contain Xylitol, which can be toxic to dogs. (Please protect your canine friends from products containing Xylitol, as it can cause rapid liver failure and death if dogs consume it.)
 
I made French toast using the Nog combined with eggs and a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg and it was a huge hit. (If you prefer, So Delicious has a vegan, egg-free recipe for Holiday Nog French Toast. Click the link to view it.) I also think it's safe to assume the Holiday Nog would be a suitable substitution for regular eggnog in any recipe that calls for it.

Nutritional Breakdown: One half cup of the Nog contains 90 calories, 30 of which come from healthy fat, and 0 milligrams of cholesterol. (One half-cup of regular eggnog made with whole milk contains 180 calories, 70 from fat, and 65 mg of cholesterol.) A half cup of Nog contains 15 grams of carbohydrates and 0 grams of protein. (Regular eggnog contains 21 grams of carbs and 5 grams of protein per half cup.) Overall, the coconut Nog is far healthier than regular eggnog, but at 15g of carbs per half cup still needs to be consumed with care by anyone with blood sugar or insulin-resistance issues.

The ingredients listed on the carton of the Nog flavor are: Organic Coconut Milk (water, organic coconut cream), organic dried cane syrup, natural flavors, annatto for color, kosher sea salt, carrageenan, guar gum, locust bean gum, spices (nutmeg). Note that So Delicious does not use a guar gum sourced from corn, so this product should be safe for those with corn allergies. The product's thick consistency is from the carrageenan (a seaweed thickener), guar gum and locust bean gum. Anyone with a carrageenan sensitivity obviously needs to avoid this product. Annatto is a very common natural food coloring made from the seeds of the Achiote tree. Although So Delicious uses a high-quality Annatto and sensitivities are unusual, some people are sensitive to Annatto.

Mint Chocolate Flavor: With one exception, everyone who tasted the Mint Chocolate flavor loved it. The one dissenting vote said she felt the mint flavor tasted "fake" and like mouthwash. So Delicious only uses natural flavors (truly natural, not faked), so I was surprised by this reaction but appreciated her honesty. No one else felt the flavor was odd, and most couldn't get enough of this flavor! The Mint Chocolate flavor also blended well with coffee and "the lush" commented it blends well with booze, especially Kahlua, Bailey's and Peppermint Schnaaps. This flavor was also delicious served hot, especially with a candy cane as a garnish.

One enterprising tester put an entire carton of the Mint Chocolate flavor in her ice cream maker and said it tasted so good she refused to share the resulting ice cream with her family. No one tested the Holiday Nog flavor in an ice cream maker, but I'm going to assume it would also make delicious ice cream. Playing with making ice cream from both flavors and adding various ingredients would be a lot of fun, but time didn't allow it this year.

I made French toast with the Mint Chocolate flavor, but didn't think it was as good as that made with the Nog. I confess I wasn't creative and merely blended eggs with the Mint Chocolate drink. I think there's potential there for a fantastic Mint Chocolate French toast recipe, but I didn't have the time or the ingredients needed to pursue this.

Nutritional Breakdown: One half cup of the Mint Chocolate drink contains only 50 calories, 20 of which come from fat, and 0 milligrams of cholesterol. A half cup of Mint Chocolate contains 7 grams of carbohydrates (a half serving) and 0 grams of protein. The Mint Chocolate flavor is again far healthier than regular eggnog and is a better option for anyone with blood sugar or insulin-resistance issues. Overall, it's a fairly "guilt-free" option!

The ingredients listed on the carton of the Mint Chocolate flavor are: Organic Coconut Milk (water, organic coconut cream), organic dried cane syrup, cocoa (processed with alkali), natural flavors, sea salt, carrageenan, guar gum, locust bean gum, Reb A (stevia extract), monk fruit. (See my comments on the Nog flavor for some of these ingredients.) I think it's interesting the Nog flavor lists "kosher sea salt," but the Mint Chocolate simply lists "sea salt." Whether the salts used are truly different or if this is simply the result of a wording difference is a mystery. I honestly wish they used cocoa that was not processed with alkali, but the amount contained in the product is very tiny. Alkali is used to make the cocoa less bitter, less acidic, and to change its color. My preference is to use pure cacao powder (far less processed), but - again - the amount of alkali found in the final product is very, very tiny. I also wish they had used a plain stevia extract instead of using the FDA-approved Reb A which is highly chemically processed, but legal issues and costs may have impacted the company's decision to use the Reb A. Monk fruit is a fruit that is very sweet and which can be used instead of sugar. I approve of its use to reduce the amount of cane sugar used.

Recipes: I haven't tried these recipes, but they look wonderful enough to share. I also don't know any of the bloggers who created these recipes, but am happy to share what appear to be very creative options.

Chocolate Hazelnut Eggnog Pie
Pumpkin Nog Pancakes (Gluten-free)

Have you tried these holiday flavors? What did you think? Please share!

The First Stocking Party After

This is not a post about natural health. It's a post about celebrating and grieving. My apologies if you wanted something else. I promise to return to the norm next post.

Yesterday, we had our first Stocking Party without my Dad. Our family stocking parties originated after my parents divorced. My Dad hated not being able to see us and be with us on Christmas morning, so he started this annual tradition that has grown and evolved through the years. It is now our main Christmas celebration and is my absolute favorite. What makes it so special is that it is a tradition that grew out of love, it is incredibly unique, and it is and always was purely ours.

What is a "Stocking Party"? It is pure fun!The entire family gathers to spend the day celebrating. The focus of the party is that we each stuff a "stocking" for every member of the family. We used actual stockings in the past, but now use paper grocery bags labeled with our names because the stocking stuffers simply won't fit in a typical stocking. I can't describe how much fun it is to shop for the Stocking Party. Whether we find the perfect gag gift, or find something so unique we know the recipient will love it, finding the perfect stuffers for each person is a ton of fun. 

Some years everyone gets serious items, but most years the stuffers are a combination of funny gifts and miscellaneous inexpensive gadgets and goodies. Through the years, the shopping process has evolved to the point that I think we each try to find the most unusual gifts possible. (One year, my dad received more than one gift having a "poop" theme and stopped the party to loudly ask why he didn't get the memo informing him of that year's theme.) Most of us start picking up stocking stuffers as soon as we finish this year's Stocking Party, although I confess that a last-minute shopping trip to fill in gaps has become a tradition that I treasure.

We're up to 14 family members, but this year it was really strange to not buy stuffers for my Dad and to not see his overflowing "stocking" tucked in among everyone else's. Since the Stocking Party was his creation, I think we each took special care to find extra special goodies to stuff in his stocking. I had already picked out a few things for him when he died, so I passed them along to my husband as quickly as I could. I didn't want that reminder lingering.

This year we changed things up a bit. We didn't do anything traditional related to food or other holiday trappings. I made chicken curry and everyone brought several toppings. We also invited my mom to join us. Having the complete family present was wonderful. She and my Dad's wife get along great, so it seemed very natural to expand our circle to include her this year.

I wasn't sure what to expect this year. I was kind of dreading this year's party because I feared we would all find it difficult to not focus on the fact Dad wasn't with us. Instead, the exact opposite occurred. We spent the day laughing and enjoying each other's company just as we always have. We enjoyed fond memories of my Dad but spoke of him with joy instead of sadness. Was he missed? Of course, but it was a sadness tinged with joy. I'm sure that as we move forward our joy will increase. The entire day was incredibly joyful. I'm so thankful for that.

My wish for you this holiday season, regardless of what you celebrate or what form your celebration takes, is that your celebrations are filled with joy and love. May God richly bless you and yours!

Keep It Simple, Smarty!

For more recent natural health information, please visit my permanent website, Good Works Wellness.

I recently chatted with a woman* who commented she was AFRAID to eat due to fears poured into her head about food dangers by other practitioners. I don't deny that our food system is filled with many toxins, but eating should be a enjoyable experience that invokes pleasurable feelings, not fear. I feel it is absolutely criminal for a practitioner to put a burden of fear on a client instead of empowering them to make good choices for their particular situation. Choosing a healthy eating plan should be simple, not require memorization of complex criteria.

There are many highly complicated, extreme eating programs being promoted at any given time. Following are a few guidelines to follow when creating or choosing an eating style for yourself:

1. You're not a cookie, so don't expect a cookie cutter plan to work: Plans that propose everyone should eat the exact same foods in the exact same combinations do not work and are very misguided. Each person's body chemistry is wonderfully unique. There is no single eating style that is perfect for everyone. Each style must be "tweaked" to fit your own personal needs. Just because a specific style worked for one person does not mean it will work for every person worldwide.
    
2. Focus on the positive: Ten years ago, I received results of a food allergy test that truly changed my life. The test identified FIFTEEN food allergies, most of which were to foods we all associate with comfort and pleasure. Instead of focusing on the fifteen foods and ingredients I could NOT eat, I chose to focus on the two million other foods I COULD eat and on the fact that eliminating those foods would improve my health in ways nothing else had. I work with many people who must eliminate specific foods and products from their eating habits due to allergies, illnesses, psychological challenges, and other issues. It is perfectly normal to go through a grieving period after being told you need to eliminate foods from your lifestyle. Food and emotions have a link that cannot be severed, so let yourself grieve for a short time, get help figuring out how to make the changes you need to, and then move on. I often find people become so obsessed with the foods they can't eat that they fail to remember all the foods they can eat. I also find that some people feel food is such an important source of joy they cannot imagine having any quality of life without eating certain foods every day. They are living to eat instead of eating to live. If you find you need to eliminate certain foods, focus on the benefits you will gain from avoiding those foods and choose to find joy in experimenting with new foods instead of focusing on the foods you cannot eat. Make your transition positive and focus on the benefits instead of choosing to focus on the negative.
    
3. Don't ignore the obvious: Related to the point I made above, if you know you respond poorly to a certain food, don't eat it. Whether you've been diagnosed with a food allergy or not. Seems simple and makes sense, right? You wouldn't believe how many people tell me* they know a certain food causes negative side effects but they keep eating it because they "just can't live without it." If you've been diagnosed with food allergies or know a certain food causes a negative reaction, please stop eating that food. If you don't know why a food is causing a negative reaction, find someone who will help you dig deeper to identify why the food causes the reaction it does. Related to food allergies, some people can reintroduce food allergens in small, infrequent quantities after completely avoiding them for a year, but you must work with a qualified practitioner before attempting to reintroduce a food you know you're allergic to. This does not, of course, apply to people with Celiac.
   
   Here's a simple way to help yourself make good decisions at every meal: Before choosing to eat foods that may have a questionable effect on your health, ask yourself whether or not the food you're getting ready to eat will help you or hurt you. Be honest. If the food is going to hurt you or cause a negative reaction, try to choose something else instead.
    
4. Avoid any eating plan that requires supplementation: Yes, I realize that it is almost impossible to get sufficient vitamins and minerals out of commercially produced produce because our soil has become so depleted and because CAFO farming practices change the chemical content of meats. I get that. However, there are some eating styles that absolutely require taking vitamin supplements because it is impossible to get certain nutrients from the food restrictions the eating plan includes. This also applies to diet plans that put extreme restrictions on caloric intake. (Please see How I Gained Weight by Eating More for more info on this topic.) I'm a firm believer that we should be able to get every nutrient we need from food and should only need supplementation when a systemic weakness requires it. Following an eating style that requires supplementation in order to maintain good health just doesn't make sense to me. Why purposely subject yourself to a vitamin deficiency that will have negative health effects? Yes, vegans, I'm talking to you. It is a myth that sufficient B12 can be gained from seaweed, so eating a vegan diet absolutely requires taking a B12 supplement. I used to be vegan, so I'm not passing judgment, I'm merely sharing one of the reasons I returned to a more balanced eating style. I know my opinion will generate a slew of controversy. Can we please agree to disagree and choose to love each other and respect each other's choices instead of arguing about it? Again, I'm sharing my personal belief and experience, not casting judgment. I want you to be healthy!
     
5. Eat real food: You knew this was coming. Stick to whole, real foods instead of eating food that contains more chemicals than nutrition. Avoid food in a box, foods that have synthetic vitamins added, and food that has been highly processed. Eating real foods means you receive more nutrition in a form your body can easily absorb and means your body won't have to work hard to eliminate the toxins you've consumed. This means sticking to organic whole grains, meats, eggs, dairy, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits. "Organic" is the key word in that previous sentence. Please try to eat as much organic produce and animal products produced without the use of added hormones and antibiotics as possible. You may not be able to adhere to this guideline at every single meal, but if you adhere to it as much as possible you WILL see a difference in your health.

There you have it! Eating well should be simple, not complicated, and should focus on improving health instead of feeding cravings. It's just that simple.

*Please note that when I refer to people I have chatted with or spoken with, I'm referring to people in the public, not to patients and clients. I respect my patient privacy and do not discuss their health projects and concerns in my blog. 

As always, none of these statements were evaluated by the FDA and none were intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please check with your health practitioner before making any major changes to lifestyle, medication or supplementation.

What Makes Me Different from Other Practitioners

In the past few weeks, I've been asked a variety of questions that clearly showed I've done a poor job of explaining who I am and what I do. This post is an attempt to clarify that.

Following is a list of points that I believe positively distinguish me from other practitioners. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!

1. Not opposed to mainstream medicine: Many people incorrectly believe I am opposed to all forms of mainstream medicine and pharmaceuticals. That is not true. There are many situations where mainstream treatments are necessary. What I am opposed to are violations of the first tenet of the Hippocratic Oath: "Do no harm." I see evidence of serious damage caused by medical doctors and/or pharmaceutical medications every single day in my office. THAT is what I'm opposed to. There are many situations where mainstream treatments are needed and are a huge blessing. It's the times they are used incorrectly or in ways that harm the patient that I'm opposed to. I embrace an approach where mainstream treatments are seamlessly combined with holistic approaches. I am blessed to work in a practice owned and operated by an MD (The Logan Institute) specializing in Internal Medicine which combines the best of both worlds in terms of (safe) mainstream treatments and holistic alternatives. For my private clients, I consult with their doctors to request blood work, recommend medication alternatives, provide information on non-invasive test procedures, etc. Many of my clients bring their test results and blood work results with them to every appointment so that I can review their results in a holistic fashion, explain the potential causes of abnormal results, and explain what the results mean in a way that's easily understood.
    
   
2. Belief in the body's ability to heal itself: I am a firm believer that all health conditions can be reversed and that the body is capable of healing itself of all conditions if given the support it requires. However, healing of extreme, chronic, long-term issues does not occur rapidly. Most chronic conditions require extreme dedication and commitment to changes in lifestyle, dietary habits and negative thought patterns to achieve wellness. Right now some of you are thinking, "What about ______? That CAN'T be healed!" I do not believe that. If you remove the blockages that are preventing healing, your body will heal. The "trick" is to dig deep enough to find all the blockages. I personally have had diabetes for almost 50 years, but still believe I can support my body so that it can heal itself. So far I've gone from taking 80+ units of insulin daily to needing less than 20. My pancreas has gone from not producing any insulin to producing insulin in small amounts. I'm not there ... yet ... but I'm on my way. The bottom line is that if you believe you cannot heal, you can't. Reversing the emotional blockages that make us cling to illness is essential for healing. My job is to help identify nutritional deficiencies, cellular damage, systemic weaknesses, toxic overloads, and negative thought patterns that are preventing the body from healing itself. I then work with you to create a plan to slowly but surely reverse those issues.
    
3. Dedication to finding the cause instead of masking the symptoms: I was in the corporate world during the "root cause analysis" phase of the continuous improvement movement. I apply this same approach to health care. Instead of trying to solely minimize your symptoms, I use a variety of assessment techniques to find the CAUSE of your issues. I then work with you to create a plan to address and reverse the cause, thereby eliminating the issue. Although I try to focus more on the cause than the symptoms, I will also recommend supplements and therapies to alleviate any symptoms which are negatively affecting your daily life and ability to function.
    
4. Compassion - I've been there: I can honestly give thanks that I spent ten years almost bedridden due to illness because it helps me relate to a very wide variety of symptoms and health conditions. It also provided exposure to a wide range of medical specialties and procedures. During my illness, I dealt with diabetes, hypo- and hyperthyroidism, depression, adrenal fatigue, chronic sinus problems, extreme food allergies, multiple autoimmune disorders, severe neurological disorders, cardiac abnormalities, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, debilitating anemia requiring IV therapy, malnourishment caused by malabsorption, environmental sensitivities, liver disease, poor kidney function, hormonal imbalances, GERD, hypertension, and more. I was incorrectly diagnosed with MS three times and cancer once. When a patient or client sits across from me and breaks down crying because he or she is frustrated and discouraged beyond the breaking point, I often cry with them because I've been there. I understand. I KNOW what it's like to be ill, to be sick and tired of being sick and tired, to do all the right things and get no results, to be too ill to function yet have "normal" test results, and what it's like to deal with doctors who ignore your symptoms, treat you disrespectfully or imply it's all in your head. I deeply feel their pain because I lived it. But ... I also know what it's like to heal. Of all the issues I listed above, I now only deal a few very minor ones. Healing happens. My goal during a consultation is to listen more than I talk, to address every single concern or symptom you have, and to provide encouragement and support. In the midst of that, my goal is to empower you with the knowledge you need to achieve wellness and the support you need to be successful in pursuing your goals. (I cover more about this in my post, Why I Do What I DO.)
    
5. Truly holistic approach: I work with my patients and clients to address any and all imbalances in body, mind and spirit. Wellness is not solely a physical issue, and most physical issues have a spiritual and/or emotional component. Solely addressing the physical side of an issue is similar to chopping off two legs of a three-legged stool. True balance cannot occur unless all three legs of the stool are healthy and whole. I use a variety of non-invasive but very effective techniques to help identify and address any issues that may be impeding healing.
    
6. Comprehensive remedies: After assessing the issues you are working on, I will work with you to create a holistic plan to address them. One of the things I believe sets me apart from others is that I work with you to create a plan instead of dictating a long list of do's and don'ts and then sending you on your way to do them. You are responsible for allowing your body to heal, I'm merely a support tool. I will meet you where you are. I will not overwhelm you with changes but will create a plan that allows you to make changes at your own pace while providing support and encouragement every step of the way. YOU are the only person responsible for your health. My job is to educate and empower you to make the right choices to improve your health on a daily basis. The remedies I recommend will be comprehensive and may include any (but not all) of the following: lifestyle changes, modifications to eating habits, supplements, hypnosis or EFT to address harmful habits, lymphatic therapies to boost immunity and speed healing, massage, acupuncture, Jin Shin Jyutsu (a Japanese art used to bring balance to body and mind), detoxification, balneotherapy, aromatherapy, Bach Flower Remedies, or specific protocols for health conditions that I customize to fit your needs. I NEVER use a "cookie cutter" approach. If you want an allopathic approach where the exact same supplement protocol is used to treat every condition, I will not be a good fit. I will work with you to create a very customized, very personal plan. What is right for you may not be right for anyone else, and that's ok. I also don't believe there is one, single dietary approach that is correct for everyone, nor do I believe extreme dietary habits are good. Again, I will work with you to develop a realistic eating plan that allows you to get the nutrition you need while providing your body with the building blocks it needs to heal itself. (For the record, I'm not raw or vegan. I support those lifestyles but typically encourage a more balanced approach.) On what may be an unrelated side note, I want to express to my Christian readers that I have no concern with the therapies I use being occult or satanic. Please ask me if you have any concerns with the origins or spiritual connections of any therapy. I'm happy to share the research I did that led me to accept the therapies.
    
7. Education, education, education: My role is to teach and equip you to help your body heal itself. I do that by working one-on-one with you, providing hand outs and resources you can refer to after our appointment, and by holding frequent classes and seminars to provide education on specific topics. If needed, I will schedule a grocery shopping consultation with you and will go grocery shopping with you to help educate you on label reading and how to make good choices while shopping. If you leave a consultation without having learned anything new or gained new insight into an issue, I've failed. I also assume I've failed if you leave without feeling encouraged and uplifted. I feel so strongly about the value of education that I travel nationwide speaking on natural health topics. I also speak locally and lead corporate wellness programs. If I can teach you enough about wellness to ensure you never need to schedule an appointment with me, I've succeeded. I may be in the only profession in the world whose primary goal is to put myself out of business. I'm ok with that. (Please feel free to contact me if you'd like more information on scheduling me to speak.)
    
   
8. Unique assessment techniques: I use a variety of unique assessment techniques to identify and assess systemic weaknesses, nutritional deficiencies, and blockages that prevent nerve flow and physiological energy from freely circulating. In addition to reviewing blood work and test results (and recommending any I believe would be beneficial), I use any or all of the following to identify other issues:

• Bio-Impedance Analysis (BIA) Testing: To assess metabolic function
• ElectroDermal Scan (EDS): EDS measures nerve flow through acupuncture points in the body to identify systemic weaknesses, nutritional deficiencies and more. I can also use the EDS unit to assess your current supplements to determine if they are right for you or not.
• Fingernail and tongue analysis
• Iridology
• Saliva hormone testing (more accurate than blood tests)
• Food allergy testing

If you would like to receive additional information about scheduling a consultation in person or via telephone, please feel free to call my office at The Logan Institute for Health & Wellness at 317.598.4325. Please join their newsletter to receive up to date information about classes, seminars and webinars I teach: Sign Up for Newsletter.