The hotly contested debate over whether drinking coconut milk organic style is risky for those allergic to nuts has yet to be concluded. The word “coconut” implies that it is a nut but quite a number of experts and doctors disagree.

Fruit or Nut?

In 2006, the U.S. FDA decided to label the coconut as a tree nut. It opened a dam because many who have enjoyed the coconut or its byproducts have not experienced an allergy attack from eating it even if they are allergic to nuts.

Others, including allergists claim that it is a fruit and a seed because a tree nut releases its seeds only when it outer skin or cover decays or is eaten. Try opening a coconut and you will see no seed but if you leave a fresh coconut shell on the ground with enough sunlight and water, it will start growing.

Scientists have described the coconut to be a drupe which is a hard covered fruit. AllergyNew Zealandhas described it as a “monocotyledonous plant” or monocots for short. They have also formally declared the coconut to not be allergic for the majority of those allergic to nuts. If ever a case should arise, it is an allergic specifically to coconuts and not nuts per se.

So, just because a food has the word nut in it, it may be of a different breed. Other examples exist such nutmeg which is a seed or the water chestnut which is a kind of vegetable.

Nut talk can get too intense in more ways than one so having said the facts, here are other facts on coconut milk, but we’ll only talk about organic coconut milk like what NadaMoo!

Coconut milk is the most common milk alternative to cow’s milk for toddlers who manifest allergies to the dairy milk. However, parents should test the toddler with a little teaspoon before going all out with the organic coconut milk. The usual allergic reaction would be itching and rashes.

If no symptoms appear then it’s full speed ahead. You can even start using the coconut milk organic form to create meals and desserts. Aside from curry, you can make vegetable stew, sticky rice desserts with fresh mango, coconut poached chicken, and a host of creative, tested recipes which you can find online.

Life in your kitchen will be more when you use coconut milk and you’ll all see improvements to the health and lifestyle of every member of your family.

You are invited to an amazing event at One World Theatre, January 15th, 2012, like none you’ve ever experienced. It’s called Symphony Awakening Concert Symposium, “Green” Expo and Benefit for SafePlace, ending domestic violence once and for all.

“Our goal is to support the grassroots movement to make self-reliance and “green” so profitable it would be silly not to pursue it.”

The Concert has been described as a “rock opera” meets Avatar meets the Daily Show meets Cirque du Solie “light”. The “theatrics” unfold as the telling of a true story. About an indigenous tribe. A rainforest. A threat. The legend of an eagle and a condor. A wombat. And a hero. It’s about our future. It’s about us. You will laugh, you will cry, you will be inspired.

Special guests include the Eggmen. The Drumsistas. Circus Texas. A Wombat. The Austin “green city” heros. A Cast of thousands. And you.

The Green Expo. Austin EcoNetwork Green Expo

This ‘sip, taste and discover’ party features ‘tastings’ prepared by local restaurants commited to a sustainable community. As you stroll, meet the Austin ‘green city heroes’ businesses, environmental organizations and government departments providing resources to advance a healthy, self reliant, energy efficient sustainable Austin community.

Come early. Good Parking. Good Seats. Good Food. Come Late. Adventure Parking. Interesting Seats. Leftovers.

$25 general admission. Includes the Symphony Awakening Concert and “sip, taste, discover” Austin EcoNetwork Expo Party.

Limited seating. Get your tickets here. http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2606425890

If you are a “green” business contact us now, we want to introduce you to the Austin. community.

PS. The graphic below is our website home page (isn’t it cool?). You can click “limited seating” to get your tickets. For more info check our website www.SymphonyAwakening.org or Facebook atfacebook.com/symphonyawakening

Entertainment. Delicious Food. Save the World. What else can you ask for?

When a person’s digestive system is unable to digest and absorb lactose, that person is said to have lactose intolerance. When milk or milk products are consumed by people who are lactose intolerant, it results in gastro-intestinal disorders which include gas, bloating, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.

Understanding lactose intolerance isn’t very complicated, but it is amazing how many people’s bodies just don’t do well with milk. If you suffer from lactose intolerance you can at least take some comfort in knowing you aren’t alone.  It is one of the most common genetic disorders and affects more than half of the world’s total population.

How is Lactose Intolerance Caused?

Lactose, a disaccharide, is made up of two monosaccharides: glucose and galactose. When a person consumes any food that contains lactose, it is broken down into the simple sugars by lactase, an enzyme found in the small intestine, so that it can easily be absorbed in the bloodstream to form energy. For whatever reason, most people’s digestive systems do not produce enough lactase enzymes to split the lactose into simpler forms.  So it stays in their guts causing uneasiness and disorders of the gastro-intestine like abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, bloating of the abdomen, and nausea.

Lactase deficiency is caused due to one of the following three reasons: congenital, secondary or developmental.

Congenital Lactase Deficiency

A person may be lactase deficient since birth due to mutation in the lactase producing gene. It is very rare to be lactose intolerant since birth.

Secondary Lactase Deficiency

The secondary reason for having deficiency of lactase is due to celiac sprue, a disease which destroys the lining of the small intestine which results in the destruction of lactase too.

Developmental Lactase Deficiency

The most common cause of lactose intolerance is hypolactasia, a decrease in the amount of lactase, which starts after childhood and continues into his adult life. Little kids are less likely to have intolerance of lactose as compared to adults. Some people may have it while still in their teenage years. People of different ethnic groups have different degrees of this disease.

People suffering from lactose intolerance must keep a check on their diet. They should not only eliminate milk and milk products off their shopping list but they should also be aware of some food products that contain traces of milk. It’s amazing where it’ll sneak in.

If you are lactose intolerant, you may have frowned when you realized that you cannot eat those yummy dairy desserts, especially the ice cream and cheesecake. However, you do have a reason to celebrate as there are amazing alternatives now that didn’t exist in years past. We think NadaMoo! is so good that you’ll never miss the dairy ice creams. Who needs lactose?!

During this time of celebration and giving, there’s a gift we can all be thankful for. Yep, coconut milk ice cream is a true gift of nature. It’s as simple as that. We thank you, nature!

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Gee, I would love a dish of ice cream.”? But then, your conscience kicks in because you’re on a diet, and you know better. Or you have dietary restrictions that prohibit you from consuming dairy or gluten, the stuff typical ice cream is made of. This rich, velvety textured sweet comes at the cost of discomfort or extra time spent in the gym. As good as the treat is, and it is good, is it worth that payment?

I mean, I’m a huge proponent of rewarding myself with dessert for every possible occasion: getting a job, celebrating a birthday, because it’s Thursday. But when you have to sacrifice something for a treat, it takes the fun and celebratory nature straight out of it.

The good news is that brands like NadaMoo! have heard our plight, and they’ve responded! Coconut milk ice cream is a treat that is not only delicious, it’s a healthy indulgence. Using natural ingredients like coconut milk and agave nectar, coconut milk ice cream takes the dairy and the eggs and that precious but oh-so-unhealthy sugar out of our yummy dessert. But, and here’s the best part, it is divine.

Coconut milk ice cream, contrary to the image you may have of ice cream flavored like coconut the rest of your life, can be made in (almost) any flavor you desire. If rich, dark chocolate ice cream is what you crave, it’s there. They simply add non-dairy chocolate to their other ingredients and there you have it. Coffee, mint, simple vanilla; these are all flavor options you can choose from.

Because it’s dairy- and gluten-free, coconut milk ice cream is ideal for people with dietary restrictions. There’s little worse than being told you can’t have something delicious because your body can’t handle it. This ice cream is a boon for those with restrictions, as it can be eaten with no worries of the side effects, except of course for the desire to have more.

For people who are struggling to take off those last few inches, ice cream is probably the most tempting treat on the market; more than the candy bar, more than birthday cake, ice cream just has an allure all its own, one that snow cones and flavored Italian ices just can’t match. So we hold out until we can’t anymore, get that gallon tub of ice cream that taunts us every time we go to the supermarket, and regret it for weeks afterward. Coconut milk ice cream eliminates this eternal struggle; it’s a healthy-fat, low-carb traditional ice cream alternative that doesn’t remind you with every bite that it’s an ‘alternative.’

Coconut milk ice cream has that same icy goodness, that same chilly sweetness we all crave from time to time. With its gluten- and dairy-free composition, we can enjoy this creamy treat with no guilt, fear or shame. Let’s hear it for Thursday!

What’s your favorite ice cream? Are you a chocolate person, or vanilla? Or, do you defy these stereotypical categories and shoot straight for the tutti-frutti, rainbow swirled, chopped cherries and nuts and… is that a whole banana in there?!

If you’re somewhere between plain vanilla and out of control tutti-frutti,  you’ll love NadaMoo!’s featured mmm…Maple Pecan flavor  coconut milk ice cream. It’s adventurous without being over the top, and traditional without being boring. In short, it’s wonderful.
That’s right: maple pecan coconut milk ice cream. If you haven’t heard, coconut milk ice cream is only the greatest gift ever bestowed on humanity. In other words, it’s tasty, sweet, chilly goodness made not from dairy but the milk of the coconut. No milk, cream, eggs or sugar is found in our coconut milk ice cream; simply coconut milk, a little agave nectar and rice syrup to please the palate, plus whatever yummy, wholesome goodness is used to flavor these rich, velvety ice creams.

mmm…Maple Pecan, currently our featured flavor, is smooth, creamy coconut ice cream flavored with the natural sweetness of maple syrup and dotted with crispy pecans. The flavor is reminiscent of fall, of cool nights in front of a warm fire, of homemade pancakes… all the fondest memories of a childhood wrapped up in one pint of awesome.

Fats, sugars, carbohydrates (numbers that would have to be confessed to your treadmill) await those who choose traditional ice cream. But with our mmm….Maple Pecan coconut milk ice cream, you’re looking at 9 grams total fat per half cup serving (or, if you share my lack of willpower, 36 grams for the whole container.) That’s with zero trans fats, per container. Nice, right? Per serving, you’d consume 17 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of protein and 60 mgs of sodium. Oh, and zero percent cholesterol. Score!

Then there’s the plus side for those with dietary restrictions; if you can’t have dairy, or gluten, or cholesterol in your daily diet, you’ll be glad to know there’s a treat for that. mmm…Maple Pecan coconut milk ice cream is delicious, nutritious and good for people with restrictive diets. Now you can have a tasty, chilly ice cream treat without the discomfort later.

mmm…Maple Pecan is a gorgeous flavor, one that is robust and sweet and satisfying. And when you can find it in a healthier alternative to traditional ice cream, it’s simply amazing. What are you waiting for? Get out your spoons and start digging in.

NadaMoo! had a blast at the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival last Sunday, 4/3, and we hope y’all did too! As a part of the Better Bites of Austin tent, we had the pleasure of sampling our coconut-milk ice cream along with Chameleon Cold-Brew Coffee of Austin–we even started sampling coffee ice cream floats!

We loved the perfect weather, and can’t wait for more of our upcoming NadaMoo! events in the Texas sun. Did anyone else grab one of their cute wine glasses to sample with, too?

NadaMoo! was again graced with an invitation from Brooklyn Vegan to scoop for their SXSW Vegan patrons at the Swan Dive and Barbarella. We were united with NadaMoo! lovers and novices for two days and danced through the day to the dozens of bands on two different stages. Can anyone say “Rockstar lifestyle?”

NadaMoo! enjoyed the hundreds of patrons we scooped for! Vegans and carnivores alike sampled harmoniously to the sweet indulgence of the musical guests. NadaMoo! hopes to see all it’s fans (and to meet some new ones) again next year!

According to an article by CNN, “plant-based” diets are gaining momentum across the U.S., and heralded for their nutritious benefits.

The film described by CNN “examines the health benefits of eschewing all animal products in favor of a diet of unprocessed fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes.”

NadaMoo! certainly doesn’t stray from proclaiming it’s Vegan status–we’re proud of it, and glad to promote happy people and healthy lifestyles!

Courtesy of an article by The New York Times, coconut oil is finally being acknowledged for its numerous benefits and charms.
“In fact, it has recently become the darling of the natural-foods world…virgin coconut oil has a haunting, nutty, vanilla flavor. It’s even milder and richer tasting than butter, sweeter and lighter textured than lard, and without any of the bitterness you sometimes get in olive oil.”
We hope this article reassures those who were misled about coconut oil in the past, and encourages more to indulge in its benefits and charms!