Chocolate Vegan Bliss Balls

Can chocolate really be healthy?

You bet it can! When it’s in its pure, raw form, that is.

The recipe for my Chocolate Vegan Bliss Balls have made me the best friend of many! They are so decadent, delicious, and purely sinful. But at the same time, they are made with wholesome nutritious ingredients and are gluten-free, nut-free and vegan!

Who knew something so rich and tasty could actually be good for you? Well, eaten in moderation, of course.

The good news is that these little balls of love freeze very well, so you can make a whole batch and keep them in the freezer until the desire for chocolate hits. In fact, they even taste better frozen! Yes - they can easily go from freezer to mouth.

I know you will enjoy these as much as I do!

What makes them so wonderful and nutritious? The pure raw cacao!

Before we get there, let’s take a few minutes to consider chocolate.

Desserts, LifestyleKelly AielloJanuary 31, 2019Whole Foods, Vegetarian, Vegan, Plant Based, RecipeComment

January is Mental Wellness Month

What does mental wellness look like to you? It can look, feel, and mean something different to each of us.

Regardless of what it means to you, there are some common things we can all do to help maintain our own good mental health.

Read on to discover 4 common phases of mental wellness and 7 tips on how you may be able to improve yours.

Brain Health, Conditions, Lifestyle, Neuronutrition, OtherKelly AielloJanuary 24, 2019Depression, Mental Health, Memory, Moody, Neuronutrition, Fatigue, Family, Hacks, Health, Sleep, Nutritionist, PerformanceComment

Self-Care and Stress Management: Tips for Caregivers

Last week I discussed cortisol - what it is and natural ways to lower it. Cortisol helps us deal with a multitude of stressors and stressful situations. It is important for survival, but too much can cause problems.

What happens if your cortisol levels are always high?

If you live a very stressful life or happen to be a caregiver to a loved one, you need to set boundaries and start taking care of you!

Read on for ideas to help you better manage stress, especially if you happen to be a caregiver.

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, LifestyleKelly AielloJanuary 17, 2019Alzheimer's, Dementia, Mental Health, Neuronutrition, TBI, Cortisol, Family, Hacks, Health, Mindfulness, Self Care, Stress, FatigueComment

Cortisol: What it is and Natural Ways to Lower it

We’ve all experienced stress.

Maybe you live in a constant state of stress with seemingly no way out.

If you can’t sleep because your mind is constantly buzzing, if you are fired up and cannot turn off your brain, or if you feel so exhausted all the time that you cannot complete even one of the items on your never-ending to-do list, then you understand what I’m talking about.

If this sounds like you, read this week’s blog post to discover what cortisol is, what too much cortisol can do to our bodies, and most importantly, what we can do to lower it.

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, LifestyleKelly AielloJanuary 10, 2019TBI, Neuronutrition, EFA's, Performance, Executive, Meditation, Mindfulness, Neurofatigue, Lifestyle, CortisolComment

Top 10 Memory Boosting Foods You Should Be Eating

Did you know certain foods can help boost your memory?

It's no secret that our memory and cognitive abilities decline as we age. But did you know that your eating habits are just as important to your memory as they are to your waistline?

Many common foods like pasta, processed meats, and white sugar have been associated with impaired memory and serious illnesses like Alzheimer's disease.

If your diet consists of these foods on a regular basis, you should definitely start making some changes that include brain-healthy foods. People with healthier diets are less likely to experience cognitive decline as they age.

And lucky for you, we found the best foods to help you out in that area. So, continue reading this article for our ultimate memory-boosting foods list.

Brain Health, Neuronutrition, Lifestyle, Whole FoodsKelly AielloJanuary 3, 2019Mental Health, Alzheimer's, Whole Foods, Moody, Brain FogComment

Common Weight Loss Myths Debunked

Sometimes it seems that everyone has an opinion on weight loss. It’s full of bad oversimplified advice, and magical “non-diet” diet products. And this information is all over the internet.

I am so pleased to bust 5 common weight-loss myths. Want to know why? It's because I care about you. If you're looking to lose weight, then I want you to be successful. I want you to stop wasting one more second on garbage like the common weight loss myths I’m debunking today.

Please join me in finally putting these weight-loss myths to rest once and for all so you can avoid the common mistakes people have been making for years.

Lifestyle, OtherKelly AielloDecember 27, 2018Weight Management, Calories, LifestyleComment

6 Amazing Brain-Healthy Spices to use this Holiday

The holidays provide great opportunities - to connect with loved ones, to create lasting traditions, to welcome friends, and to spend some extra time in the kitchen.

But just because we may be cooking or baking (and eating) a little more than usual, we shouldn’t forget about the health of our brain. In fact, there are several seasonings often used this time of year that actually support proper brain health.

Nutrients contained within certain herbs and spices can help sharpen memory, improve sleep, balance blood sugar levels, and reduce stress.

Read on to discover which amazing spices you can use this holiday season and all year long, that both you and your brain will love!

Other, NeuronutritionKelly AielloDecember 20, 2018Holiday's, Mental Health, SpicesComment

Healthier Holiday Recipes

Would you like to indulge a little this holiday season without completely derailing your healthy eating plan?

Want to treat your family to some delicious goodies without refined sugar or white flour?

Well I’ve got you covered!

Keep reading to discover three quick and easy recipes that you can make this holiday season - and feel good about indulging in at the same time!

DessertsKelly AielloDecember 12, 2018Paleo, Keto, Vegan, Holiday's, RecipeComment

Get Happy: How To Increase Serotonin Levels Naturally

Are you one of the 21 million Americans who struggle with a mood disorder?

Some mood issues can be attributed to low levels of serotonin in the body. Luckily, there are a number of natural ways to increase your serotonin levels.

Read on to discover some things you should consider when trying to increase your serotonin levels naturally.

Brain Health, NeuronutritionKelly AielloDecember 6, 2018Mental Health, Spices, Lifestyle, Serotonin, Coffee Comments

Sugar’s Role in Brain Health and Neurodegenerative Disease

We all know that sugar is unhealthy. But did you know that sugar can negatively impact our mental health?

Ever wonder why when we are feeling down, we reach for a sugary snack to help pick us back up?

Did you know that consuming high amounts of refined sugar can lead to Alzheimer’s disease?

Keep reading to discover how sugar damages our brain and what we can do about it.

Neuronutrition, Brain HealthKelly AielloNovember 29, 2018Sugar, Mental Health, Alzheimer's, Blood Sugar, NeuronutritionComment

Gratitude: How Gratitude Improves Brain Health

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends and family!

With Thanksgiving comes the official start of the holiday season!

Most of us look forward to time spent with family and friends. Time to enjoy this festive time of year and share our good fortune with others. In fact, many of us have already started celebrating or anticipating the holidays at the very least.

Yet for others, the holidays can be a challenge, often fraught with anxiety, financial worries, depression, and sadness. If you feel overwhelmed or down when this time of year rolls around, keep reading - I’m about to give you reason to be thankful.

Practicing gratitude goes a lot further than saying “thanks” - it can actually improve your brain health!

Other, Neuronutrition, LifestyleKelly AielloNovember 22, 2018Lifestyle, Mental Health, MindfulnessComment

Diabetes: A Growing Epidemic and What You can do to Prevent Becoming a Statistic

Are you one of the growing number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes?

Maybe you’re not quite there, but your doctor has mentioned you are pre-diabetic or on the verge of becoming diabetic.

Or maybe you have excess fat centred around your mid-section and experience low energy after a meal. Perhaps you get hungry a short time after eating or experience a mid-afternoon energy slump.

If this sounds like you, I urge you to read this week’s post.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. So let’s take a few minutes to consider this disease, how it develops, and what you can do to better manage it. And if you are not one of the millions of Americans dealing with the disease, it’s still important to become educated about it and do what you can to minimize your risk or prevent diabetes from occurring in the first place.

Lifestyle, ConditionsKelly AielloNovember 15, 2018Diabetes, Weight Management, InsulinComment

Peter Pumpkin-Head Stew

Nothing screams fall like trees beautifully painted in red, orange, and yellow leaves crunching underfoot, and that distinct crisp clean air. As the days get shorter and the weather continues to cool off, nothing warms the bones like a good hearty stew.

And what’s more fun for fall than cooking in a pumpkin?

Keep reading to check out my unique recipe for a hearty fall stew cooked inside a pumpkin - Happy cooking and stay warm out there!

Dinner, LunchKelly AielloNovember 8, 2018Paleo, Keto, Whole Foods, RecipeComment

Coffee’s Role in Neurological Health: The Benefits of Coffee for your Brain: Part 2

Last month I dove into the world of coffee. Media attention over the last few years has left everyone’s head spinning. Is it helpful or harmful to health? Is it friend or foe?

This week, we’ll take a closer look at the role coffee may play in the health of your brain. More specifically, can it prevent or delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases?

Neuronutrition, Brain HealthKelly AielloNovember 1, 2018Coffee, Neuronutrition, DementiaComment

The Dangers of Football: How Football Concussions Affect Your Brain

If you've got kids in sports, you should educate yourself on the dangers of football. Here's a look at how football concussions affect your brain.

Ever had "your bell rung" or "dinged your head"?

Sounds trivial, right?

Wrong! A concussion is never trivial. Researchers now consider a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury to be cumulative. This means that the effects of injuries may not be seen for many years and that the total of all injuries can be devastating.

Pediatric neurologists have long advocated protection of children's heads with proper helmets for bicycle riding, skateboarding, skiing and other sports. But what about football? Is there any danger with the advanced helmet technology today?

If you have children in sports, educate yourself about the dangers of football and traumatic brain injury. Read on to learn more.

Other, Brain HealthKelly AielloOctober 25, 2018Concussion, TBIComment

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