The Balinese show us how to eat and love


For all you EAT PRAY LOVE fans, there’s a lot more to Bali than falling head over heels in love.
 
In fact, courtesy of Mother Nature, there’s a whole lotta “EAT” going on there, too. (Sorry, Italy.)
 
One zoom on a scooter through the island’s unique lands delivers fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds that will open you up — body and mind — to the power of plant nutrition.

Fortunately for us stuck stateside, we can eat and love what we eat Balinese style thanks to some homegrown companies.
 
If you’re feeling some island fever, this Bali-inspired grocery list should do you just right...
 
Pour Some Coconut Sugar In Me
 
This stuff is the furthest thing from Poison. Actually, it’s a solution to all of our commercial sweetener woes. Coconut palm sugar and nectar come directly from a coconut, with a mineral-rich, potassium and magnesium heavy, low glycemic sweetness that won’t give you a sugar high or low.
 
Some U.S. companies like Navitas Naturals are already in the know, and you can get it straight from the Bali boys under the name of Big Tree Farms. I l-o-v-e the Heritage ones blended with ginger or turmeric (so much I added them to my Mom Energy bags).
 
El Coco Loco (So So Bad)
 
There’s nothing so so bad about this crazy good drink that will give you energy, sexiness and strength.
 
Start with one to two tablespoons of Balinese raw cacao powder, pinch in some organic spices (cayenne, cinnamon or ginger will add some nutritional zing), add a teaspoon of coconut palm sugar or nectar (optional) and blend with hot water or your favorite milk alternative. (Caution: not just any raw cacao powder will do since it can be a dirty business. You want to make sure it’s clean and harvested sustainably.) Sip or gulp and feel the stimulant power of theobromine — a chemical cousin of caffeine that provides energy minus the shakes — and you get to feel bliss, courtesy of the endorphin anandamide. Plus, you’ll stock up on magnesium, a natural muscle relaxant that works inside all of our cells to turn off the stress response.
 
Turm(eric)the Beat Around
 
Buh-bye inflammation. With a daily does of turmeric, your body will be singing a different beat: one that jives to the tune of healthier skin, a happier heart and arteries, and an overall reduced risk of chronic disease.
 
The Balinese add this power spice to so many different foods, but it’s the daily dose of golden turmeric either as a shot or an iced drink that will earn your attention.
 
Whether it’s the hot sun, lack of sleep or the lovely effects of aging, the temperature is almost always on the rise within our bodies. No, we aren’t talking about a desirable increase in metabolic burn here — we’re talking about inflammation (picture a fever that lasts and lasts and lasts). As many of you know, research links inflammation to many chronic diseases. The good news? We can fight it with a daily dose of turmeric.
 
If you’re not crazy for curry, try this TurmericAde as a cool drink or a shot: Put one to two teaspoons of organic turmeric in a cup (or shot glass), and add the juice of half a lemon and a drop of organic stevia or coconut palm nectar. Add water to your desire, and kick inflammation to the curb.
 
And you didn’t even need to pay for a plane ticket…
 
Want more? Ashley will continue to share her newest food discoveries and insider tips over the next few months on Healthy Bitch Daily.


Ashley Koff, R.D., Resident Dietitian
Named among the Top 10 Registered Dietitians in the U.S. by Today’s Dietitian Magazine, Koff appears regularly on national media outlets, including Dr. Oz, The Doctors, Good Morning America Health, CNN, AOL and E!. Koff is also the dietitian for espnW, and the featured dietitian on the CW’s “Shedding for the Wedding” and Lifetime’s “Love Handles.” Koff maintains a private practice, regularly lectures, and works to improve the quality of food choices on the sets of popular shows such as Private Practice, CSI: New York, Big Love, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and Bones.  Her book, Mom Energy: A Simple Plan to Live Fully Charged (Hay House, 2011), hits stands later this summer. For more information please visit AshleyKoffRd.com.