Oooh la-la-la, lemon! Low-carb Lemon Coconut Bites are a quick, no-bake treat to make that taste just like little morsels of creamy cheesecake.
Sublimely sweet-tart, low-carb and suitable for keto and gluten-free diets, these two-bite dessert bites are easier to manage portion size than slicing a wedge from the whole lemon cheesecake. Only 108 calories, 9g fat, 2.2g net carb, 5g protein per lemon coconut ball.
https://bit.ly/GreatLakesWellnessI incorporated lemon-lime collagen powder from Great Lakes Gelatin as a way to add protein, keep the carb count low and “dough” firm enough for shaping into balls. Plus, I get a boost from al the health benefits of collagen. As an older athlete, I use it for joint support and workout recovery, but also appreciate all the extra benefits it brings to hair, skin, nails . . . and even sleep.
Keep Low-carb Lemon Coconut Bites are as easy as mixing up a few easy ingredients, rolling into balls, and storing in the fridge to snack on whenever the urge for something sweet comes on (they are sugar free)! Just a tiny bit of turmeric is the secret ingredient that gives a natural yellow color!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links (don’t forget to use my Great Lakes Gelatin Discount Code). I may make a small commission from generated sales, but price to you remains the same. Thank you!
A two-bite treat that is friendly for keto and gluten-free diets — creamy, citrusy and easy-peasy to make! Incorporates collagen powder for extra protein and wellness benefits.
Mix together cream cheese and sour cream until blended. Next stir in almond flour, coconut flour, collagen powder, and 2 tbsp. shredded coconut (sprinkle remainder of coconut on a plate. Now, place “dough” in fridge to firm up for 25 minutes. Remove and make approximate 1 tbsp. balls by rolling between clean hands. Then roll in coconut to stick on top, repeat with remaining dough. Makes 10. Store leftovers in air-tight container in fridge for up to 1 week.
Recipe Notes
*You can substitute plain unflavored collagen and add 10 -20 drops liquid stevia and ¼ tsp. lemon extract to the recipe instead.
This post has been sponsored by GanedenBC30® through Kitchen PLAY.
“Digestive wellness” has been trending now for a few years, especially the use of probiotics to help support a healthy and active lifestyle. Unlike some of the weird and potentially dangerous nutrition advice on the uptick, probiotics have been around since the dawn of time, are safe to use, and are backed by volumes of serious scientific research.
As a life-long runner and competitive athlete, I believe my diet is equally as important as my training. I strive to eat a balanced and functionally beneficial diet that supports my fitness goals – complex carbs from fruits, veggies and whole grains; a variety of lean proteins; heart healthy fats; specific micronutrients targeted to my needs and the like! I also rely on probiotics to help support the optimal functioning of my body and recently discovered the shelf-stable probiotic,GanedenBC30 (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086). Read on to learn more about this natural probiotic ingredient which is conveniently found in many of my favorite brands of foods and beverages.
While I like to have fun, I take my recreational activities seriously – I’ve been doing all this sporty stuff for my entire life and train hard, rest easy, and eat clean. When I need convenience in my diet (like packing snacks for an adventure race or fully embracing rest mode and avoiding cooking duties), it’s reassuring to know there is a probiotic strain available to support my lifestyle needs in easy-to-find, easy-to-fix, easy-to-store products that taste great too – like that chocolate protein muffin I’m snacking on (top pic) that is fortified with GanedenBC30.
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So, what are probiotics anyway and why do I need them? Simply put, probiotics are helpful bacteria that live in the gut and do beneficial things for the body. Having bacteria in your gut sounds a bit gross, but the human body has trillions of good bacteria cells that live in and on our bodies. When in balance, the flora help ensure we are functioning at our best. However, everyday lifestyle stressors can disrupt gut microbiota and this can impact overall health and wellness. Antagonists to a healthy gut environment include the use of antibiotics and certain other medications, hormonal changes, a poor diet, illness, aging, stress and travel. Regularly taking a probiotic can be a safe and effective way to take your health and wellness to the next level.
How can probiotics help me as a runner, athlete or active and on-the-go person? While probiotics won’t directly make you run faster, jump higher, or swim longer, they will help keep your body’s systems functioning at their best, optimizing your health – which all indirectly allows you to train harder and recover faster. There is no denying that a healthy athlete is a better athlete, at least that’s my experience. As a hardcore fitness enthusiast, who has high expectations on my body to perform well, I am particularly interested in how probiotics (especially GanedenBC30) provide:
Digestive System Support: As a runner, I don’t need tummy troubles or a surprise call from nature when out on a run and GanedenBC30 has been shown to help support digestive comfort and improve stooling habits.
Immune System Support: It’s common for endurance athletes to catch colds or other illnesses right after a race or during periods of over-training. As beneficial as exercise is for the body, it’s also a stressor that requires adequate recovery. A significant portion of our immunity (up to 70%) can be linked to the helpful flora in our gut – these microscopic super-heroes facilitate an environment where your immune system can do its job better, making you more resilient in the process.
What foods are probiotics found in? Not too long ago, probiotics (because they are “alive”) were typically only found in refrigerated products like yogurt, kefir, kombucha and other fermented foods. Also, probiotics in capsule, tablet or “pearl” form have been available, but for me that was always a hard pill to swallow (pun intended, lol)! The good news is that the GanedenBC30 is a spore-forming probiotic, which means it can survive harsh preparation processes (think boiling or freezing), which means it can be used to add probiotics to your everyday foods and beverages.
Product categories GanedenBC30 can be found in include teas and coffee; juices and smoothies; powdered and liquid beverages; snacks, dips, spreads and baked goods; frozen foods and desserts; plus, gummies and confectionary!
Are all probiotics the same? NO! There are many, many, MANY strains and no two from the same bacterial species are exactly alike. This means, the benefits and characteristics of a specific probiotic strain can vary, and data from one strain can’t be used to support the benefits, safety and efficacy of another. Make sure to check out all of the benefits and research on GanedenBC30(Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086) and/or other probiotic strain before starting a regimen to ensure it will adequately meet your needs.
What makes GanedenBC30® different? Unlike sensitive vegetative probiotics in things like yogurt, GanedenBC30 is a spore-forming probiotic, which means it has a protective shell allowing it to better survive extreme temperatures – like microwaves, boiling water, and the freezer. This makes it very versatile and a quality-consistent ingredient in consumer food products – like teas, baking mixes, and other things that face extreme temperature change in some other way. GanedenBC30 can also survive stomach acid allowing the bacteria to successfully travel down into your intestines where they team up with your own bacteria. Non-spore, vegetative probiotics are much more fragile and often fail to survive these internal and external challenges, meaning few of them arrive in the gut still alive. Research has shown that GanedenBC30 is an effective probiotic choice that supports digestive health and immune health– all in easy-to-source consumer products found in most markets and online.
Here are a few products I love featuring GanedenBC30. This safe and effective probiotic is found in 1,000 leading food, beverage and companion animal products around the world.
To determine if a consumer product is made with the ingredient GanedenBC30, simply flip the item over to the nutrition and ingredient label and look for the GanedenBC30 logo
To determine if a consumer product is made with the ingredient GanedenBC30, simply flip the item over to the nutrition and ingredient label and look for the GanedenBC30 logo
Is GanedenBC30®safe?Yes, research shows this spore-forming probiotic is safe for everyone including children, adults and seniors. It is gluten-free, non-allergenic, vegan, and Kosher and Halal certified. Foods fortified with GanedenBC30can be eaten daily without worry of having too much. However, if you have specific health concerns, please consult with your medical professional for further advice.
Improving gut health is a goal in 2021 for me. I’ve done pretty well taking care of myself in this way in the past, but there is always room for improvement. Improving gut health is a goal in 2021 for me. I’ve done pretty well taking care of myself in this way in the past, but there is always room for improvement. Being proactive and supplementing with easy-to-find and tasty products that contain GanedenBC30, a safe and effective probiotic that provides benefits for my top issue areas – digestive help and immunity, is an easy way for me to take care of my health.
This post is sponsored by Celltrient™, however all opinions, anecdotes, and enthusiasm are my own.
It’s so rude, but true. Starting around age 40, and picking up speed in subsequent decades of life, our body’s cells start to become less efficient. This time-related deterioration can start to have a noticeable effect on strength, energy and resilience beginning in middle age and beyond.
As a master athlete in my 50s, I have begun studying and implementing methods to slow down my body’s aging process. Read on to learn three ways I’ve been minimizing Age-Associated Cellular Decline so that I can stay strong and healthy to keep reaching my goals and living my best life. Spoiler alert: 1) Diet, 2) Exercise and 3) Supplements!
This post has been sponsored by Wellmune® through Kitchen PLAY.
How to support your immune system health is a topic on the minds of most of us these days, myself included – especially as an athlete over 50 years old! Surprisingly, a heavy training load and being older can both have negative effects on your immune response — despite being fit and “healthy.” To give my immune system a fighting chance to do its given job despite the stresses I put it under, I follow an overall clean lifestyle. This encompasses: a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, regular exercise, no smoking or little to no alcohol, adequate quantity and quality of sleep, and the reduction of personal stress. Also, staying on the defensive against the onslaught of environmental assaults like allergens, viruses and pollutants is an important strategy, too. I’ve also recently learned that incorporating yeast beta glucans into my daily wellness regimen is a specific, proven way to help support immune health. Read on to learn more about immune health, yeast beta glucans, and the natural ingredient, Wellmune®, which is used by various food, beverage and supplement brands to create immune-boosting consumer products. Continue reading →
This post has been sponsored by Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes through Kitchen PLAY. All opinions are my own.
I am all about making my personal world more efficient so that I’m set up for success in all areas of life including optimizing my time, optimizing my money, and optimizing my health! I’ve been known to run to the gym to knock out cardio before strength-training, I “Marie Kondo’d” the heck out of my sock drawer, and I’m all about meal prepping to stock the freezer, fridge, and pantry with foods that support my active lifestyle. All these life hacks save time, save money, and support my physical and/or mental health!
You know another thing I’ve got working for me? Optimizing how various types of protein supplements can benefit my body thanks to ProHydrolase. ProHydrolase is an ingredient found in some protein supplements that has been proven to increase digestibility, thusly increasing the potential for muscle-building and muscle-recovery. Read on to learn more about my experience with ProHydrolase:
I’ve also recently learned that incorporating yeast beta glucans into my daily wellness regimen is a specific, proven way to help support immune health. Read on to learn more about immune health, yeast beta glucans, and the natural ingredient, 