Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies Recipe

Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies Recipe

Ingredients:
5 ounces dark chocolate
1/2 cup Spectrum Organic Shortening
2 large organic free-range eggs
1 cup firmly packed organic light brown sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons ground pecan meal
1/4 slightly rounded cup sorghum flour
1 tablespoon tapioca starch
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons bourbon vanilla extract
1/2 cup extra semi-sweet chocolate chips for the top, if desired

Instructions:  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 9x11-inch baking pan with parchment or foil and lightly oil the bottom.  Gently melt the dark chocolate and shortening (double boiler).  Stire together and set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs on medium high till frothy. Add brown sugar; beat until the mixture is smooth.  Add the melted chocolate mixture into the egg-sugar mixture a little at a time and beat for about a minute. The chocolate should look smooth and glossy.

In a bowl, combine the pecan meal, sorghum flour, sea salt and baking soda; whisk together. Add the dry flour mix into the chocolate mixture and beat well for a minute. Add the vanilla, beat for 30 seconds.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Shake the pan a little bit to even out the batter.  Add a layer of semi sweet chips over the top.

Bake at 350 degree  for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the brownies are set. Do not overcook.  The brownies should be firm but give slightly when touched.  Cool on a wire rack.  Freeze leftovers.

Contact our office at 918-994-4810 for an appointment. You can live a headache free life!

Missy Briggeman

Empowering Patients, Educating Minds and Healing Bodies

701 W. Queens St. Suite 100
Broken Arrow, OK  74012
918-994-4810 Office
918-994-4816 Fax

How to Deal with a Recurring Headaches during your Menstrual Cycle

Q&A: What can be done about my headaches that I get during my monthly cycle?

In females, there are fluctuations of the hormones, estrogen and progesterone, throughout the month during each menstrual cycle. Imbalance of these hormones can result in cramping, mood changes, foggy thinking, irregular bleeding, and headaches. Balancing these hormones at certain times of the month, can help decrease any or all of these symptoms. 

Saliva and blood testing can help provide valuable insight into the timing of possible abnormal hormone changes. Once these abnormalities are found, hormonal balancing can be achieved with dietary and lifestyle modifications, bio-identical hormone treatment, or herbal supplementation at certain times of the month. 

Contact our office at 918-994-4810 for an appointment. You can live a headache free life!

Missy Briggeman

Empowering Patients, Educating Minds and Healing Bodies

701 W. Queens St. Suite 100
Broken Arrow, OK  74012
918-994-4810 Office
918-994-4816 Fax

Cortisol can cause You to Feel Frustrated, Overwhelmed or Stress

Q&A: I feel as though I cannot control my feelings. I feel frustrated, overwhelmed and stressed about small things. What can I do to overcome this?

There is a stress hormone in the body called cortisol. Normal cortisol levels should reach it’s peak in the morning to help you wake up (typically 6:00 – 7:00 AM) and decrease as the day goes on to reach its lowest point while you are sleeping. 

When you feel stressed, your body releases cortisol; if this occurs on a regular basis it can cause your cortisol levels to fluctuate. If your cortisol levels are not within normal ranges you will begin to have trouble sleeping, feel unmotivated during the day, have sugar or salt cravings, infertility issues and an inability to handle stress. You could also be experiencing adrenal fatigue or “burnout”. 

There are several herbal supplements (for example: licorice root extract) that can help balance cortisol levels if taken at the correct times during the day. Try to get your body on a routine by going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning. Meditation/quiet time, exercise and avoiding sugars can also be helpful. 

If you have tried these with no success you should consult a physician. We have same week appointments for new patients. 

Call us at 918-994-4810 so we can help you get to feeling better.

Missy Briggeman

Empowering Patients, Educating Minds and Healing Bodies

701 W. Queens St. Suite 100
Broken Arrow, OK  74012
918-994-4810 Office
918-994-4816 Fax

Get Yourself Moving First Thing in the Morning!!

Top of the mornin' to ya!  I always feel so much better when I rise early and get to movin!!  There is just something that makes me feel so accomplished when I have marked several things off the list even before my family has eaten thier breakfast.

Not everyone is a morning person - Here are a few tips to help you feel energized this morning. 

1. Stretch your muscles, reach for the sky and then reach your toes. Bend side to side and twist left to right. 
2. Drink a glass of water at room temperature with some lemon.
3. Go get some fresh air. Stand outside for just a minute and take 5 deep breaths that you can feel down deep in your lungs. 
4. Added bonus...sunshine helps increase your cortisol to normal levels to give you a boost of energy. 
5. Say a prayer and thank God for giving you the gift a new day.

Hope you feel energized this morning!!  Make this a GREAT day!

Missy Briggeman

Empowering Patients, Educating Minds and Healing Bodies

701 W. Queens St. Suite 100
Broken Arrow, OK  74012
918-994-4810 Office
918-994-4816 Fax

photo credit: SD008 via photopin cc

Carrot Crackers Recipe Packed with a Punch of Chia and Flax Seeds!!

I found a great recipe today that I have to share from the Lyn-Genet Plan!!  This recipe is easy to make and so very healthy!!

Carrot Crackers:

2 cups grated carrots
1/8th cup flax seeds
3/8ths cup chia seeds

Season the "dough" as you would like or leave them plain. Place in food processor and blend.

Let the "dough" sit for 45 minutes so chia and flax can help bind into a "dough"

Roll the carrot mixture out using your "flour" of choice (suggested almond or coconut)  into 1/8th inch thick dough.  Use a round cookie cutter to make crackers - suggested size is 4inches.  Yields approximately 10 crackers.

Let us know how you like these or any variations of this recipe!!

Missy Briggeman

Empowering Patients, Educating Minds and Healing Bodies

701 W. Queens St. Suite 100
Broken Arrow, OK  74012
918-994-4810 Office
918-994-4816 Fax

ArthoSoothe Cream for your Arthritis - Relief from Joint Pain!!

Arthritis plagues many people in the United States - and its no longer an ailment of the elderly.  Many people have inflammation throughout their body specifically in their joints.

ArthroSoothe Cream is a great product that we carry for our patients that are suffering with arthritis.  The cream is a perfect moisturizer for your knees, shoulders, hands and other joints.  It is rich in natural ingredients such as emu oil, MSM, glucosamine-chondroitin and a proprietary herbal extracts of white willow, capsicum, arnica and menthol.  This blend gives you cooling relief and can be used several times a day as desired.

There are other things you can do to reduce the inflammation and swelling  in your joints - give us a call at our office to set up a consultation!!  We will review your health history and offer you a strategy to help reduce the level of pain you are experiencing from your arthritis!!

Missy Briggeman

Empowering Patients, Educating Minds and Healing Bodies

701 W. Queens St. Suite 100
Broken Arrow, OK  74012
918-994-4810 Office
918-994-4816 Fax

Zucchini Chips - Great Healthy Snack!!

Healthy Delicious Zucchini Chips

Ingredients:
1 lb (about 4 cups) thin sliced Zucchini
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
½ tsp olive oil (this can be omitted)
1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions:
Slice Zucchinni
In a medium bowl whisk salt, pepper, olive oil (if used), and vinegar
Add sliced zucchini
Toss with the “dressing” to coat
Arrange slices on dehydrator trays
Dehydrate at 135 degrees for 5-6 hours or until crispy


Missy Briggeman

Empowering Patients, Educating Minds and Healing Bodies

701 W. Queens St. Suite 100
Broken Arrow, OK  74012
918-994-4810 Office
918-994-4816 Fax


photo credit: Vanessa Pike-Russell via photopin cc