Avoid GMOs in gluten-free baked goods this holiday season with these tips

With the holiday baking season just around the corner, ingredients that are free of harmful substances and GMOs are an important consideration. After all, poisoning friends and family is not exactly the model of holiday cheer. For those avoiding gluten, attention is turned to an array of gluten-free flour blends and mixes. The average consumer believes they are doing a good thing for health by avoiding gluten, but a more insidious toxin is often lurking beneath the surface in the form of GMOs. Safe and nutritious alternatives are available—four exceptional flours share the spotlight for worry-free baking this holiday season and beyond.

Agreeable alternatives

For a large segment of the American population, gone are the days of comfortably consuming gluten containing foods like wheat, rye and barley. One does not have to suffer from celiac disease to adopt a gluten-free diet—even the average person can benefit from restricting this troublesome protein. When gluten is banished from the diet, often times weight normalizes, digestive issues calm and reactions like rashes, headaches and fatigue begin to lift. As an added incentive, several gluten-free flours offer unsurpassed nutritional benefit.

Want to Avoid the Flu Epidemic? Here's How to Stay Healthy With Elderberry

A versatile herb, black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) has been known throughout the ages as a potent immune booster -- tackling colds and influenza, heart disease and even cancer. Used for centuries as a folk remedy in North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa, modern science has begun to take notice of the exceptional healing properties of this berry. Jammed packed with organic pigments, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals, elderberry is an excellent addition to any herbal medicine chest.

Time-honored healing fruit

Traditionally, the incredible therapeutic benefits of elderberry have been enjoyed in preserves, wine and medicinal extracts. Only ripe, cooked berries and the flowers are used for preparations since stems, leaves and unripe berries contain poisonous levels of cyanic glucosides. Elderberries are rich in vitamins A and C, calcium, iron and vitamin B6 as well as the flavonoid quercetin.

Brew up a bounty of healthful benefit with coffee

A surprising trend is cropping up among the general population: drinking coffee as a powerful health promoting beverage. Not only does coffee help to boost energy and clarify the mind, research has shown it to be an important source of antioxidants. To maximize the benefit and minimize potential health risk, it is vital for individuals to be selective about the coffee they consume.

Coffee: An unexpected health-giving food

A clue to coffee's exceptional antioxidant content is found in its extreme growing environment and harvesting measures. Thought to have originated near the Horn of Africa, the coffee plant grows in some of the hottest and highest regions in the world, often times near the equator. These severe climates force the coffee plant to create formidable antioxidants that protect it from high levels of ultraviolet radiation.

Mushroom found on birch tree holds promise as a potent anti-cancer tonic

A little known mushroom is establishing a solid reputation in medical circles as a powerful defense against cancer. Although relatively unheard of in mainstream media, the chaga mushroom has been used in folk medicine for generations. Research has shown chaga to be extremely effective in protecting cellular DNA from damaging free radicals. It also has anti-tumor and immune stimulating benefits.

Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a fungus that grows on birch and other hardwood trees. The variety that is found on birch is believed to be the most potent because of its high concentration of betulinic acid which is toxic to cancer cells. Chaga is unusual in the mushroom world as it resembles porous wood and is black and hard - similar to lumpy charcoal. Natives of China, Siberia, Finland, Japan, Poland, and North America have all recognized chaga's importance for centuries. Russian author and Nobel laureate Alexandr Solzhenitsyn is given credit for introducing chaga to the West where the principal character in his novel Cancer Ward is cured of his illness by the mushroom.

Pumpkin and Black Rice Tamale with Superfood Cilantro Sauce

Just in time for All Hallows' Eve, festive black and orange tamales. Both pumpkin and black rice are known in Chinese medicine as being particularly helpful for the autumn and winter months. Pumpkin is grounding and rich while black rice nourishes the kidney's. Learn more about all the amazing health benefits of pumpkin here.

Rekindle a zest for life with adrenal health

A silent and little known epidemic is causing fatigue, weight-gain, and chronic illness in fast-paced America. This pervasive syndrome is linked with two small glands known as the adrenals. Responsible for producing more than 50 crucial hormones, the health of the adrenal glands is imperative for well-being. By tending to the adrenals through diet, supplementation, and stress reduction, vibrancy and health are restored.

The adrenal glands are located directly above the kidneys and are involved in many important functions of the body. Progesterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisol, and adrenaline are among the many hormones secreted by these glands. Cortisol in particular is significant in the management of stress. When the adrenal glands are healthy and creating proper levels of cortisol, the body is able to contend with stress in an appropriate and balanced way. However, if cortisol levels are too high the immune system is compromised, increasing the likelihood of cancer and infection. Too low of cortisol levels and the immune system becomes overactive, leading to autoimmune disease. Additional functions of the adrenal glands include energy production within the body, regulating blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte balance, and stabilizing blood sugar levels.