wellness june 2013

the keys to happiness

Gretchen Rubin found herself in a life rut and sought to embark on a year-long project to bring meaning to her life and happiness to her routines. Scouring the best of literature, psychology and religion, she developed a happiness manifesto, monthly goals,  and documented her theoretical and experiential research (her day-to-day successes and failures) in her pursuit of happiness. Her candour gives us hope that we with our own character weaknesses can also navigate the emotional tides with certainty. Here are a few tips from her book "The Happiness Project", published by Harper. 

Happy Parenthood

• Sing in the morning
  
• Acknowledge the reality of people's feelings
• Be a treasure house of memories
  
• Take time for projects
  

---

Happy Marriage

• Quit nagging
  
• Don't expect praise or appreciation
  
• Fight right
  
• No dumping
  
• Give proofs of love
  

---

be serious about play

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

• Find more fun
• Take time to be silly
• Go off the path
  
• Start a collection 
  

---

---

exciting finds
Wild-crafted siberian chaga

---

---

Chaga (wild natural lingzhi) is a polypore mushroom rich in 250 phytonutrients and antioxidants that grows on birch trees. It is typically found in sub-zero Siberia. The mushroom is an adaptogen (like Ginseng) and is used to increase vitality and wellness. 

Evolve Asia found this water-based Chaga extract (above right) in Reflections, HK. Reflections has been selling it for more than ten years and has seen it improve the health of the elderly and cancer-stricken who keep returning for more. The dark extract is tasteless and gives an instant jolt of energy. Drop 20 drops in your drinking water every day. 

Retailing at HK$380 at Reflections, Sheung Wan

---

raw chocolate ball recipe

The raw food movement is still going very strong across the world.
For the uninitiated, Evolve Asia found a recipe that might ignite a new obsession. This no-fuss healthy recipe should bring you many a blissful moment. 

Ingredients:
 Part A:

• 350 grams cashews
• 360 millilitres cacao powder
• 360 millilitres agave
• 10 millilitres vanilla extract
• 10 millilitres cinnamon
• 5 grams salt

Part B:

• 250 millilitres cacao butter, melted

Part C:

• 50 millilitres cacao nibs (grounded slightly)
• 50 millilitres chia seeds
• 50 millilitres pistachio (grounded)

Instructions:

1. Soak cashews for two to four hours.
2. Blend Part A in a food processor.
3. Melt the cacao butter in a double-boiler and blend Part B into Part A slowly.
4. Store the mixture in a round tub and place in the freezer to set it. When set, take out and measure 20 grams per portion.
5. Roll into a ball with your hands and immediately roll in to a topping of your choice (from Part C).
6. Put into a wrapper. This recipe makes about 45 chocolate truffles.

Courtesy of "Mana! Fast Slow Food", 92 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2851 1611, www.mana.hk

---