Today is a special post! I’m going to share some of my personal story with you. If you’re not into it feel free to scroll down and just grab the recipe.

Over the last 5 years of my life literally every aspect has changed. There has been a lot of stress equally great and challenging. I tend to be the type of person that puts a lot of pressure on myself to always be my best and do my best. This is one of my greatest strengths and one of my greatest weaknesses. Going through leaving a career, my hometown, my family, friends, going back to school, selling my home, getting engaged, losing someone very dear to me, getting married, my husband leaving his career and going back to school, starting a new business, supporting my husband through his doctorate, buying a condo in a large city… it has just been a lot.

Through most of this I must say generally I’ve been a very happy person! But, I run a tight ship. Sometimes my many different hats and roles in my life can keep me up at night and burn me out. So, last summer it came to a breaking point. I wasn’t sleeping, I was irritable, emotional and just extremely overwhelmed with pressures. I, of course, noticed this right away and wanted to get in front of it before it turned into something that couldn’t be fixed. I went on a real healing journey with myself. Everything I ate, did, or experienced was healing and healthy.

I’m happy to say that I successfully and naturally got through a very exhausting and draining time of my life. I started taking certain supplements to help me heal my body and especially my adrenals. Something that I sincerely believed helped me was high-quality raw maca powder. I took very little of this powder everyday (I’m talking 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp) and it really did help. I’m not a doctor by any means so if you’re feeling any of the symptoms above and are thinking about taking maca powder I suggest speaking with your Naturopath. Like all supplements even maca powder need to be respected.

My personal experience is the only thing I can speak from. I took maca powder in conjunction with taking more time for myself, making sure I worked no more than 12 hours a day (taking every Sunday completely off), cut cable (I know that sounds weird), getting into nature more, prescribed adrenal tincture and actually starting to treat myself. I learned how to master my intense life and now I’m thriving thanks to everything listed above.
 

Here are some of the benefits of raw maca powder:

• High in protein and rich in amino acids
• Increases energy
• Supports the immune system
• Rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamins B1, B2, B12, C and E

(Reference: Phyllis Balch – Prescription for Nutritional Healing)

You can make this recipe with the maca or without. I think this is a really cool way to get your maca in your day, lol. This recipe was inspired by something that was in my stocking this Christmas. I can’t, for the life of me, remember the brand. I think they had a reindeer on the package.

If anyone can remember the name of that brand put it in the comments section below!

This recipe is raw, vegan, no-bake, contains maca powder, great for energy, gluten free and is a perfect travel snack
 

 

Maca Superfood Macaroons (Chocolate and Plain)

Makes 30+ Inch Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Sliced Raw Almonds
• 2 Tbsp Raw Maca Powder
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract (or Almond Extract if you prefer)
• Dash of Natural Sea Salt
• 1/2 Cup Soft Pitted Dates (if your dates are not soft feel free to soak them in water before using them)
• 2 Cups Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
• 1/4 Cup Ground Flax Seed
• 1 1/2 Tbsp Pure Maple Syrup

Optional – For Chocolate Macaroons 3-4 Tbsp Natural Unsweetened Cocoa or to make a 1/2 and 1/2 batch like me see instructions below.

Add-ons – Here are a couple ways you can make these macaroons your own:

• Dried Goji Berries
• Chia Seeds
• Natural Cocoa

Directions:

1. In your food processor add almonds, dates, vanilla, salt, maple, maca and flax. Blend until close to dough-like.
2. Add coconut and pulse until fully mixed.
3. Test the macaroons to see if the dough sticks together. If it does, perfect. If it doesn’t add a couple tbsp of water and pulse again until desired texture.
4. Using a small scoop (like a melon-baller) that is 1-2 inches scoop out balls and place on a plate.
5. Note – at this point I scoop out half of the dough making my blonde macaroons. Then I add 2 tbsp of natural cocoa to the remaining dough in the food processor and pulse until completely mixed. Then scoop out the remaining chocolate macaroons.
6. If you do not have a melon-baller feel free to just use your hands and roll them into balls.
7. Store in the refrigerator.
8. Enjoy!

DAMY Members – 2 balls as meal 2.
 

 

 

 

 

Amy Layne is a Personal Trainer, Holistic Nutritionist and Lifestyle Expert at DAMY Health. She is the creator of the popular DAMY Method Program and world famous Bikini Body Program. To see Amy’s Before and After Photos and DAMY Member Success Stories Click Here.

Connect with Amy on Twitter @damyhealth and on Facebook.