So, what do you get when you combine this natural superfood with fermentation, one of nature’s most miraculous and health benefiting processes? You get coconut water keifer! But, more importantly you get an ultra-hydrating and ultra nourishing food that exceeds the health benefits of almost anything else you can consume in one simple sip!

Fermentation (in food) is a natural process that takes place when a substance is exposed to microorganisms, either by inoculation or naturally through the air, which feed on the existing carbohydrates (sugars). This process forms alcohol (if left to ferment long enough), carbon dioxide and other organic compounds such as amino acids, enzymes and nutrients. In addition, the microorganisms involved in the process kill any “bad” bacteria present in the substance and rapidly multiply to create an abundance of “good bacteria” or probiotics. While fermentation was originally used as a method of preservation before refrigeration was available, it is now touted for it’s immense healing qualities.

The combination of the fermentation process and the superfood qualities of organic coconut water creates an incredible health tonic whose benefits include:

• Improved digestion
• Alkaline cleansing qualities
• Immune enhancement
• Improved absorption of nutrients
• More efficient metabolism
• Decreased sugar cravings
• Enhanced energy production
• Skin and hair health
• Overall vitality and wellness

Within a few days of consuming organic coconut water keifer you’ll probably notice a difference – even if it’s just in the lightness of your body and the spring in your step. It’s a great health tonic to drink on a daily basis and luckily it’s easy to make.

Purity organic coconut water from YogaEarth is an ideal coconut water base to use because it’s completely pure, has no additives or preservatives and has the most natural composition of starches, nutrients and sugars for the keifer grains to feed on. You’ll need to buy keifer grains before you start, but they’re becoming increasingly easy to find online or at your natural foods store. Make sure you get water keifer grains, not dairy keifer grains, as they are different in composition and the way they ferment.

Organic Coconut Water Kefir

1/4 cup kefir grains
1 quart Purity organic coconut water (about 5 packets or 1 cup of the bulk coconut water powder mixed with 1 quart water)

• Combine the water kefir grains and the coconut water in a very clean and sterile jar – stir lightly with a clean spoon.
• Seal jar securely with a lid.
• Let sit for up to 48 hours at room temperature and out of the sun or direct light.
• Taste your keifer after 24 hours – the longer you leave the more pungent and sour it gets.
• Strain the keifer grains from the coconut water when it fits your taste. Reserve the grains for another batch (keep in a sealed container in the fridge).
• Refrigerate in a sealed container and enjoy, or see below for a second fermentation phase if you want to add flavors.

Adding flavors…

Organic coconut water kefir
1/2 to 1 cup juice of your choice

• Combine the coconut kefir and juice in a jar and again seal with a lid.
• Let to stand at room temperature for 48 hours. After 48 hours your keifer will be a bit fizzy because the fermentation process will break down the sugars in the juice and create CO2.
• Refrigerate in a sealed container and enjoy!

Hydration is not just about the pure amount of water you drink. In fact, you can drink excessive amounts of water and still be dehydrated. Hydration is intricately linked to minerals, your body’s ability to digest and absorb them, and their regular depletion rate from your body. Keeping your body adequately hydrated is more complicated than sitting down to a glass of tap water and more essential than you would ever expect.

Hydration, put simply, is the measurement of fluid levels in the body that allow for optimal functioning. In this measurement, the intra-cellular (inside your cells) and extra cellular (outside your cells) fluid levels, and the balance between the two are highly important.

Electrolytes, which we often hear about on sports drink labels, are key players in hydration and maintaining the balance of fluids inside and outside your cells. Essentially these little electrically charged minerals circulate throughout your body and act as messengers carrying nerve signals that control tissue function and movement. For hydration, sodium, potassium and magnesium are the 3 most prevalent.

Sodium

regulates the fluid levels outside the cells by holding water inside the cells. Without sodium your cells can’t hold water, which is essential for their normal functioning. However, balancing sodium levels is important because excess sodium can cause your cells to hold too much liquid, triggering swelling in the tissues and hypertension.

Potassium

is the most abundant electrolyte found inside the cells of the body. It is essential for nerve function, muscle contraction and energy production. Potassium works in tandem with sodium to maintain fluid balance, its main role being fluid regulation outside the cell. Your body loses potassium through sweat during exercise and needs to be regularly replaced in order to stay hydrated. Those who drink excessive amounts of coffee, regularly consume alcohol, take prescription drugs and/or consume a diet high in salt, also need to pay special attention to getting enough potassium in their diet.

Magnesium

plays a regulatory role controlling enzyme function, energy production, cell metabolism, cell growth and cell reproduction. About 1/3 of every cell is made up of magnesium, where it controls the entry and release of calcium from the cell during muscular activity. The combined role of magnesium and calcium is crucial because calcium conducts electrical currents through your body that carry signals for muscle movement. When your magnesium levels are out of balance, the function of calcium in your body is as well, thus compromising your energy level and muscle function.

Improved hydration with Organic Coconut Water

Where hydration gets complicated is in maintaining the balance of these essential electrolytes and, due to diet, stress, water sources, water purification techniques and other factors, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to get adequate amounts of them. One of the biggest factors elevating organic coconut water to the superfood status it holds today is its natural combination of easily absorbed electrolytes that significantly improve hydration.

Unlike other drinks formulated for hydration, which have electrolytes artificially added to them in production, coconut water comes perfectly formulated with abundant electrolytes right out of the husk. Like most things formulated in nature instead of a food lab, the natural electrolyte components of coconut water are more easily digested and absorbed for your body’s use. Its high potassium content perfectly compliments what the body needs after exercise as well, replenishing and re-hydrating what is loses through sweat.

Your body, when adequately hydrated on liquids rich with natural electrolytes like organic coconut water, reaps a myriad of benefits:

• Improved energy production
• Improved circulation
• Better processing and elimination of toxins
• More balanced PH level in the body
• Improved immune function
• Improved muscle function
• Better skin and tissue health
• More efficient transport of oxygen throughout your body
• Improved hormone production
• More available energy for brain function
• Enhanced function, strength and flexibility of the joints
• Mood and mental clarity improvement

Paying attention to the quality, not just the quantity of what we put in our body is essential – not matter how much water you drink your body can still become dehydrated without essential hydrating nutrients. Adding just one packet of Purity Organic Coconut Water Powder to a glass of water can provide the electrolytes your body needs for an entire day of hydration. Pair that with other whole food nutrients from organic foods, or Balance and Vitality supplements from YogaEarth and your body will thank you.

Take note of how you feel now and how your body ranks on the list of things that hydration impacts (above) and notice how those change as you begin to feed your body more of what it needs and less of the excess of things that don’t make a difference. Indulgence alone won’t fuel you but intelligent indulgence will fuel your mind, body and practice!

Love your body for what it does for you every day. Love your mind for its strengths as well as its weaknesses. Love your weird quirks. Let love in; soak it up like rays of warm summer sun penetrating your skin after a long winter. Let it be contagious, catch it from others and pass it along.

Sometimes it’s easy to keep a straight face, hurry from one commitment to another, walk with your head down to a passerby, but it feels better not to. Slow down, remind yourself of these few basic things, enjoy the day and share the love!

1. Breathe: On your own or in the arms of a love one, connecting with your breath will help you connect with the moment, your body, your mind and your heart. A deep breath can calm, nourish, energize, and lend appreciation that a fast paced life often skips over. Wrap your arms around your own body or the body of someone you love and feel the rise and fall of your chest as you take a deep breath and absorb the love you have and the love you’ve been given.
2. Nourish: Share something nourishing and be present with yourself and those you’re sharing it with. Appreciate every nutrient that you’re giving to your body and what it means to build a strong, healthy being that has the abilities, large and small, that you have. Come together around a table with people you appreciate, share good food together and let them know you care.
3. Glow: Do something that makes you glow; that makes you smile so big it makes your cheeks hurt. Grab a good book, meditate, walk, hike, run, laugh, cook or just absorb a few rays of sunshine and let what makes you happy nourish your glow, inside and out!
4. Inspire: Do something and be someone that inspires you or someone else. Tackle a challenge you didn’t think you could, or send a heartfelt card to a friend. Whatever it is, bring inspiration to your life and others through good intention, positive thought, genuine words and constructive actions – all will make a difference.
5. Be: Be you. Don’t try to be someone else or something you’re not. Appreciate your strengths and weaknesses and love yourself for all you’re worth. Be present in the moment, in your body and in your self. You are your own foundation and will only benefit from steadying yourself, being genuine, sinking your roots into fertile earth that nourishes you and reaching out to embrace all the wonderful things you call life.

What’s not to love about a decadent bar of chocolate that’s good for your body too? Check out Yoga Earth’s Keen-Wah Decadence bar, a chocolate covered quinoa protein bar, and the full array of products including organic coconut water powder and the Vitality and Balance superfood supplements. Sign up for regular delivery of any product, or the monthly wellness kit, and have just one more excuse to love good food when it shows up right on your doorstep!

Yep, we’re putting morsels of raw cacao in something you can eat for breakfast because it’s all about intelligent indulgence and raw cacao is packed with antioxidants and helps increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters in our brains that promote positive thoughts, feel-good emotions, focus and relaxation.

Get good-for-your-heart omega 3’s and complete protein from the raw almonds, walnuts, flax and chia seeds, and a healthy dose of fiber from the whole rolled oats. You can use goji berries or any other high antioxidant dried fruit like blueberries but we love the brilliant red color that goji brings to this Valentines inspired treat.

Goji Berry & Raw Cacao Granola

• 1 cup goji berries
• 1/2 cup raw walnut halves
• 1/2 cup raw almonds or almond slivers
• 1 cup raw cacao nibs
• 1/2 cup chia seeds
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/3 cup flax seeds
• 3 cups whole rolled oats

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the oats out on a large baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and lightly toasted. Remove and let cool. Meanwhile, combine the rest of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. When the oats are completely cooled add them to the mix and stir to evenly distribute. Wrap in individual snack-sized bags for gift giving or keep in an airtight container. Try it with a splash of coconut or almond milk for breakfast or with a dollop of plain yogurt as an afternoon snack. Enjoy!

Image credit: organicgirl.com

It is easy to begin your quest for organic products by looking at how each choice will impact your own body. The state of your body is what you live with on a daily basis and is understandably the first thing you think of when deciding what to put in, or on it.

Consider the broader impact of buying organic products though, and you’ll quickly see why things like coconuts, which are far from thin the skinned items in the dirty dozen, are smart to buy organically.

Choosing organic over conventional products can impact:

• Your health – any pesticides and chemicals used to produce conventional foods can be absorbed and passed along to you when you consume them.
• Nutrients – several recent studies show organically grown foods have a higher nutrient content than conventionally grown.
• The environment – organic practices decrease the amounts of harmful chemicals deposited in the soil and water systems, and maintain higher standards for production practices and land use.
• Other living things – organic farming techniques help create viable ecosystems where many species, organisms and plants can exist in their natural habitat: from organisms in healthier soil to insects and animals that live in the natural ecosystem.
• Communities – the people who produce the food you purchase are impacted by your choice as well. Workers on conventional farms are exposed to high levels of pesticides and often deteriorated work environments. Entire communities can be impacted by the land use practices of conventional faming.

In the case of coconut farming, the positive impacts of organic practices are widespread, which is why, at Yoga Earth, sourcing coconuts for ‘PURITY’, our coconut water powder, from organic farms was first priority.

As the regulations on organic cultivation of coco palms explains, organic coconut cultivation is almost a necessity in order to maintain the vitality of the trees and the land they grow in, and means the following practices are ensured:

• The site of organic coconut tree growth must be a natural habitat with a continuous supply of water (a necessity for the tree’s growth and production) and an ample supply of chlorine in the soil.
• Seeds for planting must come from healthy, productive stock plants, which helps ensure the next generation is naturally fertile and productive.
• Monocropping is not permitted and at least one, if not several, bottom crops must be planted with the coco palms. Legumes are suggested as a good “green fertilizer crop”, and it is highly beneficial for the health of the soil and wellbeing of the farmers to plant “multi-level agroforestry systems” with crops like cacao, bananas, pineapples, spices and animals all living in harmony amidst the coco palms. This creates a healthy interworking ecosystem that all crops benefit from, as well as an increased amount of marketable goods that farmers are able to produce and sell to support their livelihood. Diversified coco palm plantations like this will also provide useful habitats for insects and special bees that contribute to the fertilization of the palms.
• All harvest and processing residues such as shell fibers and ash from burning the coco husks should be returned to the area as natural fertilizer for the soil. Lack of nutrients in the soil can only be remedies by adding organic matter and compost.
• Biological methods of plant protection are used instead of pesticides or other chemical resolutions to disease or pest issues. It is advised that creating a “balanced cultivation system” where several crops work in harmony with the coco palms, diseases and pests will naturally be prevented.
• Harvesting methods do not allow for cutting down the tree, which can cause serious erosion problems, habitat destruction and crop degradation.

The conscious decision to source organically grown coconuts for ‘Purity’ helps us ensure that our product is not only the best possible product for you to put in your body, but also for the environment and people that produce it. We are proud to support the organic practices listed above with each packet of organic coconut water powder we sell.

Organic sourcing, along with our fair trade and eco-friendly practices behind ‘PURITY’ organic coconut water powder help us create the best coconut water on the market for all parties involved: from the bees that live amidst the cocoa palms and communities of people who work hard to grow and cultivate the crops, to the environment we protect with more eco-friendly packaging and distribution practices and the consumers who enjoy the best quality organic coconut water available.

Sources:
Organic Farming in the Tropics and Subtropics: Coco Palms, Natruland e.V – 1^st edition 2000
Organic Trade Association: www.ota.com

This recipe combines the best properties of oats: their rich flavor, high nutrient content and healing qualities, with a time saving and raw food preparation technique. Top it all off with a serving of PURITY organic coconut water powder and you’ve got a hydrating, vitalizing, superfood meal!

In addition to their widely recognized benefits for heart health, the oat has soothing properties for the nervous and reproductive systems, helps strengthen the cardiac muscles and is high in silicon, which helps renew the bones and connective tissues. Oats are also a good source of phosphorus for brain development and function – just one more reason they’re an ideal food to start your day.

Soaking raw oats overnight not only saves you preparation time in the morning (steel cut oats usually take about an hour to fully cook), it also ensures you get the maximum amount of nutrients and fiber. During the soaking process the natural sweetness and nourishing qualities of the organic coconut water are also absorbed by the oats, which need nothing more than your favorite toppings before they’re ready to eat. Get in the habit of soaking a serving of oats every night and you will always have a healthy breakfast, lunch or snack on hand!

Soaked Oats in Coconut Water

• 1 cup steel cut oats
• 1 packet PURITY organic coconut water powder
• 2 cups water
• 1-2 tsp raw flax seed, ground
• ½ cup raw coconut, almond, oat or hemp milk or yogurt
• Raisins (optional)
• Raw almonds or walnuts (optional)
• Orange or lemon zest (optional)
• ½ tsp cinnamon and or ginger (optional)
• Grated apple, sliced banana or any amount of your favorite seasonal fruit

Place the oats, coconut water powder and water in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight. After the oats have soaked, most of the coconut water will be absorbed and the oats will be fairly soft (without cooking them the oats will always be a bit chewy but it adds a great texture and preserves their naturally nutty-sweet flavor). When ready to eat, add a splash of your milk or yogurt of choice, the ground flax for an omega boost and any of the suggested toppings or your own combination of nuts, seeds and fruits

Then show your support for this community-built treat, by contributing to our first community-built video!

The community response to Keen-Wah has been so positive that we thought we’d showcase this support in a new video featuring members of the YogaEarth community and iconic Los Angeles locations.

Join the fun with Brock and Krista Cahill, Ashley Turner, Kia Miller, Tommy Rosen, Briohny Smyth, Christy Christensen, and many more of our ambassadors and fans. Acclaimed indy filmmaker Micah Herman has volunteered his skills behind the camera to make this a lively, great-looking video.

We’re looking for vibrant, open-hearted people who can be themselves and have fun on camera—whether that’s striking their favorite yoga pose, catching a wave, or just cuddling with their dog. All participants get a free Keen-Wah bar!

If you’d like to participate, let us know in the comments section below (Facebook required) or by emailing community@yogaearth.com. In keeping with our community-built spirit, we’re open to all ideas and suggestions. We’re also interested in a variety of locations to shoot; if you’d like to feature your home or business, please let us know!

Still haven’t tried Keen-Wah? It’s available at more stores and studios every day! Check out this handy map to find a location near you or order Keen-Wah online in one-time or regular auto-shipments.

This smoothie has everything you need and is easy to whip up in the morning, even if you only have a few minutes before a meeting or your am. yoga class. Adding Purity powdered coconut water provides a hydration and electrolyte boost, while beets, kale, berries and parsley provide fiber and nutrients for detoxification and raw almonds provide a gluten-free source of vegan protein.

Enjoy!

Purity Berry Blend

• 1/4 cup roasted beet, diced
• 2 stalks fresh kale, leaves removed from the stem
• 2/3 cup frozen blueberries (or other berries of your choice)
• 1 banana, sliced
• 10-15 whole raw almonds
• 2 tsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 packet Purity Organic Coconut Water dissolved in 1 cup water

Place all ingredients in a standing blender and puree until smooth. Enjoy immediately!

Order PURITY Organic Coconut Water Powder online and take advantage of convenient auto-ship options to have a regular stock delivered directly to your doorstep right when you need it!

Keen to try our Keen-Wah Decadence bar? Check out this map of groceries, yoga studios, and spas that carry these delicious gluten-free treats. Now you don’t need to wait for the postman to deliver 12 Keen-Wah bars—just walk into your favorite store and grab a bar for a few dollars. They’re delicious, wholesome, and energizing!

Interested in selling Keen-Wah at your own retail outlet? Or maybe you know a local yoga studio or market that would like to carry these popular bars? Click here to inquire about wholesale pricing.

In other news, the country’s leading dietitian and healthy-living specialist, Ashley Koff, has given her stamp of approval to our gluten-free, non-gmo, organic quinoa protein bar made without soy protein!

She also featured it prominently on a recent TV interview about improving your daily diet for better health. Not only does she approve of Keen-Wah Decadence’s superior nutritional profile, she also finds it offers more long-lasting hunger-satisfaction than similar snack foods.

Even her interviewers loved Keen-Wah! Check out the clip: