Super Moist Vegan Raspberry Pumpkin Spice Cake: Healing Benefits of Raspberries

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When things in life look really really bad… it’s time to get to work!

Did you know that when Ludwig van Beethoven discovered he was going deaf at age 26, he didn’t give up composing his music? Beethoven started working more diligently and told people he knew there was work he was born to complete…

When our newborn son was diagnosed with H-Pylori, a bacterial infection of the stomach, we were told there was nothing we could do but give him antibiotics and synthetic medications that would cause all sorts of horrible side effects and probably not cure his infection.  So our choices were to give up or be inspired by Beethoven!

Helicobacter pylori or H pylori is a bacteria that causes peptic and duodenal ulcers and many other types of stomach inflammations that cause burning, pain, nausea, bloating and extreme distress. In some people, some strains of the bacteria do not cause any symptoms, while other strains develop life threatening conditions like stomach cancer.

Inspired by Beethoven, instead of believing there was nothing I could do, I went straight to work and was more determined to find some relief for our 8 month old infant. I started researching what people around the world were doing to naturally cure H-Pylori.  

This mom on a mission discovered so much more about fruits which have strong antibacterial qualities and are potent in treating Helicobacter pylori and many diseases. Fruits heal because they are also rich in phytonutrients which are antibacterial, anti carcinogenic, and antiviral in nature.

In addition, I discovered there are many other natural powerhouses that can help slow down the growth and pain associated with the ulcers and bacteria, which gives the gut a chance to heal. Some of these natural remedies are: Tumeric, Garlic, Apple Cider Vinegar, Fresh Wasabi, Baking Soda, Broccoli Sprouts, Mastic gum and of course, Raspberries.  Luckily, Bodhi’s favorite remedy is Raspberry.

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Raspberries are considered a Super-Fruit and really carry a lot of healing power in every little berry.

Tests conducted at the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina have revealed that the human body benefits from raspberries in so many ways.

The Medical Benefits of Raspberries:

  • Raspberries have Ellagic acid, an anti-inflammatory, kills Cancer cells & kills H-Pylori Bacteria.
  • Raspberries do not have any fat, saturated fat, sodium or cholesterol.
  • They are high in Fiber, Vitamin C, potassium and folate.
  • Raspberries contain antioxidants such as Quercetin & Gallic acid.
  • Gallic acid fights against cancer, heart and circulatory disease and age.
  • They are also high in polyphenolic compounds which also fight cancer.
  • The Anthocyanins in raspberries are antioxidants that protect against heart disease & mental decline.
  • The oil from raspberry seeds is rich in Vitamin E & Omega-3 fatty acids.

Raspberries can be eaten any way you like: fresh, frozen, cooked or preserved, the ellagic acid remains intact even after cooking or preservation. Make sure that you have a continuous supply of ellagic acid in your diet to prevent the recurrence of the H-Pylori condition, which is very common.

When Beethoven lost the majority of his hearing and his greatest love… he composed Immortal Beloved, When life handed me tart raspberries… I made Sweet Raspberry Cake!  🙂

Today, I’m sharing a recipe for Raspberry Pumpkin Cake… a Yummy Yummy dessert that is so soft and moist, it’s filled with healing raspberries, and is just one big tasty holiday party in your mouth!  This cake has all of your favorite holiday spices, but with a frosting that has a twist!

Yes, there is sugar, but it is super Moist, Vegan and Gluten Free! Shhh your guests and family will never ever know!

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Vegan & Gluten Free Raspberry Pumpkin Spice Cake:

Cake Ingredients:

  1. 3/4 Cup homemade pumpkin puree 
  2. 1/8 teaspoon of Fresh Ginger Shavings
  3. 1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
  4. 1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
  5. 1/3 Cup Coconut Oil, melted.
  6. 1/4 Cup Vanilla Almond Milk, room temp (or coconut, rice milk) 
  7. 2 Tablespoons Coconut Nectar (or Molasses, Agave) 
  8. 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract 
  9. 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  10. 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice 
  11. 1 teaspoon of All Spice 
  12. 3/4 teaspoon of Ground Cloves 
  13. 1/2 teaspoon of Ground Nutmeg  
  14. 1 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons Gluten-Free All-purpose Flour 
  15. 2 teaspoons Baking Powder  
  16. pinch of Sea Salt (optional)  

Instructions for Cake:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Spray 3 medium ramekins with cooking spray. 
  2. Wash your sugar pumpkin and clean it inside and out. 
  3. Dry pumpkin, cut a round cap, then cut pumpkin into slices & squares. 
  4. Remove pumpkin skin, then boil Pumpkin Meat squares until soft. 
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients, whisk to combine.
  6. In a separate bowl, combine room temp milk & melted coconut oil. 
  7. Once Meat is boiled, place in a high speed blender with Ginger, blend.  
  8. Now add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.
  9. Evenly pour the batter into each prepared ramekin.
  10. Bake about 28-30 minutes, until center is set & toothpick comes clean.
  11. Allow cake to cool in ramekin, on top of a wire rack, for at least 30 minutes before placing on the rack to finish cooling completely. While cake cools, make the frosting.

Frosting 

  1. 1/4 Cup softened Coconut Butter (or butter of choice)
  2. 2 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar
  3. 3-4 Tablespoons of Coconut Milk (or milk of choice) 
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine vegan butter, 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, 3 tablespoons Vegan milk of choice, and beat with an electric mixer on medium high speed until smooth. If needed, drizzle in more milk until desired frosting consistency is reached. If frosting is too loose, add a bit more confectioners’ sugar or milk until you have desired consistency. 

 Raspberry Garnish

  1. 3 packages of Raspberries
  2. Set 1/3 of the raspberries aside to garnish the cake.
  3. Using a small knife, split the remaining raspberries down the middle so they can be opened flat.
  4. Put one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread with one third of the frosting and add one half of the split berries.  
  5. Add a second layer and repeat with another third of the frosting and the remaining split raspberries.  
  6. Top with the last layer of cake and remaining frosting, garnish top with the remaining raspberries.  

Oh your house is going to be filled with the aroma of the holiday spirit! This will be an absolute hit with all your family and guests!  Looking forward to hearing how much you loved this Yummy Yummy treat!

Stay healthy & happy ~ Dr. Dee

Coconut Milk Vegan Baby Formula…

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I love Coconut Milk, Coconut Water, Coconut Meat, Coconut Oil, Coconut Candy, Coconut Cookies, Coconut Cake, Coconut everything! I am definitely cuckoo for Coconuts!

As a child, my mother would repeatedly tell me how great Coconut is for my stomach and my skin.  I always heeded her advice about the topical uses, especially for wrinkles and stretch mark prevention, but I never really ate Coconut for medicinal reasons unless she gave it to me.  Coming from a Native American mom who would use food, plants and herbs as healing remedies, I came to learn that many of the remedies are now backed by Science.

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Upon the birth of my second son, I mysteriously developed a severe stomach bacteria.  I was advised to temporarily stop breast feeding if I didn’t want to pass the bacteria back and forth. What was I going to do? I didn’t have a plan B for Breast Milk.

I vigorously started studying every formula out in the market. I couldn’t believe what I found… I consistently found toxic ingredients that are known carcinogens in the majority of the world except the U.S. The majority of countries have banned the use of these ingredients, but we are giving it to our newborns and babies in our hospitals and homes?!?

I felt as if I was in the twilight zone! This isn’t happening… this isn’t happening! After studying further, I learned that there are many alternative home made milks that we can make for our babies who have allergies, bacterial infections, intolerances and sensitivities.  Coconut Milk and Hemp Milk are similar to Mother’s Milk, they take some work to make, it requires adding various ingredients, but it is Healthy, Healing, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free and Low on the allergy index.

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Please understand that I am not saying that Coconut Milk or other milk alternatives replace a Mother’s milk, I am saying you can create a safe alternative if Mother’s Milk is not a viable choice. Most of all, I am saying that Mother’s milk is a life force that can not be replicated by cows, goats or factories.  Breast Milk is the sweetest milk I have ever tasted, yes… I tasted it, 🙂 and it is so understandable why babies prefer it, thrive the best on it and receive so many healing properties.

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Coconut milk has been found to treat and relieve sore throats and even stomach ulcers, and like Breast Milk, it is very calming to the body and digestive system. The nutrients in Coconut also aid the body in over all immune system health. It’s B vitamins also aid in many immune and nervous system functions.

Unlike other unhealthy fats, the unique properties of Coconut also contain a large amount of MCTs and Lauric Acid, which is the primary fatty acid found in Mother’s Milk. Lauric acid is what makes breast milk so digestible and is believed to protect the body from infection and boost the immune system.

The great thing is that Coconut Milk is great for all of us, regardless of our age!

Home-made Coconut Milk is also a safe alternative for Diabetics who are concerned with the properties in Dairy Milk. Coconut Milk has a Low Glycemic Index and High Dietary Fiber. The human body cannot digest the dietary fiber in coconut, therefore it has no hazardous effects on Blood Sugar. Best of all, Coconut Milk is lower in sugar than Dairy Milk.

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It turned out my baby did get the stomach bacteria and became very very ill and lost a severe amount of weight in less than a week. It was a very rough and scary time for us. After endless hours and days of research and consulting with various Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Doctors, we implemented the undeniable research on Coconut Milk, Oil and meat and it worked… It truly worked!

Our baby started to gain healthy weight, improve the quality of his poop and best of all… he began to thrive and heal!  I was able to continue breast feeding and we couldn’t be happier! This was done in conjunction with other nutritional support, like probiotics and digestive enzymes, but that is another blog. 🙂

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Here is a Yummy Yummy Baby recipe for Vegan Coconut Milk Baby Formula:

3 Cups of home-made Coconut Milk (Its easy after you do it once)
1 Tbsp Unsweetened, Rice protein or Pea protein (we prefer Rice protein)
1 1/2 Tbsp of Grade B Maple Syrup
1 tsp Calcium Lactate Powder
2 tsp of Infant Probiotic powder (we use Klaire Infant Probiotics)
2 tsp Vegan Omega 3 DHA
2 tsp of Extra Virgin, Unrefined, Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil
4 Cups of very good quality water

*Optional 1/4 Ripe banana

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Combine all of the ingredients in a Large Cup Nutribullet and blend (you may have to split it in two depending on the size of your Nutribullet, Vitamix, Ninja, etc…  Refrigerate immediately and use within 48 hours.
The formula will separate from the oils, so please shake before pouring into a bottle or cup and gently warm for baby.

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***We later discovered a formula we felt was not perfect, but pretty wonderful. It is a great supplement once your baby is a Toddler.  The Name is Toddler Supreme by Peaceful Planet.

***Important Legal Disclaimer:  This recipe is intended to be a supplement for a nursing or formula-fed child’s diet. It is not intended to be a complete replacement, and should only be used when the Mother’s Milk is not available, Allergies to Store Formulas, Sensitivities/Intolerances to other formulas or because you don’t want to give your baby the carcinogens in some formulas…

Again, this blog does not replace the advice of your healthcare practitioner, this is me sharing what worked for my family.

* Next up… How to make Coconut Milk!  Mmm! Yummy Yummy Baby!

Dr. Dee

Resources:

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/