Chipotle

Nothing better than a Successful Food Company stepping up to
spread awareness about Factory Farming.

This commercial made my day and stole my heart
for Valentines day.
Watch this commercial by Chipotle.

Please share this video!
All change starts with knowledge.
I've heard it said that, We can't change what we don't acknowledge.
So true in every aspect of life.

Chipotle continues to show us how it CAN be done better. A company
can still make a profit while making animal welfare a focus. They are not
100 % with animal welfare, but they are making a significant difference.

Thank you Chipotle. xo

Happy New Year!

A New Year is always a great time to try new things.
I love that idea! I am a big fan of trying new things.

How about trying New recipes that incorporate a way of eating that is unfamiliar to you?
Or recipes that introduce your palate to flavors,
seasonings, or food combinations that you have never experienced? Sound interesting?

I discovered a great article in the New York Times with fantastic recipes by Mark Bittman. He uses the term semi-veganism to describe his outlook on eating a plant based diet.
Great idea because most people feel like the becoming a vegan is
akin to a prison sentence for their taste buds. I understand. I used to feel that way too.
I am so pleased that he is promoting the benefits of a plant based diet in a manner
that is actually achievable for most of us.
Why not make one dinner meal a week a plant based meal?
It's easy, healthy, inexpensive.

NY TIMES magazine

Read the above article and see if you aren't inspired to
try at least one of his tasty recipes.
I am starting with the Pasta, Beans,
and Tomatoes!
I am a sucker for anything Italian..It's in my genes.

Happy New Year!

The food and skin connection

Long ago I learned that what I ate would directly affect the way
my body felt, functioned and aged.
The exciting part was that my skin was the direct benefactor of eating
a healthy diet loaded with fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, grains, seeds, and healthy oils.
The effect was not just subtle but, dramatic! People often ask me what I do for my skin. My main focus for skin care is paying attention to what I put into my body.

This was how I began my love affair with Salmon...
Truly... anyone who knows me knows how often I eat Salmon. It is one of those foods
that is packed with nutrients that are healthy for my body and ultimately my skin.
Omega3's work wonders!

I just came across a great article on the subject of eating a healthy diet
and how it affects our skin. It is an interview with one of
the pioneers of the skincare/healthy eating connection.
I think it is a snapshot of some of the tops foods
to keep inflammation down in our bodies and boost
the glow of our skin. ...This is good for men too!

Check it out!

Goop

P.S. On the salmon front... Be sure to choose Wild Salmon.
Farm raised or Atlantic salmon
are actually low in Omega 3's and may contain other pollutants.

Eating Meat and Food Inc

If you haven't seen this movie yet....
It is a must see for every person that consumes animal products.

I just watched it again and I think I am officially off beef!...
and probably pork and chicken....
I can at least limit my intake and only eat it
at restaurants that order their meat from
farms that make animal welfare a priority.



It is impossible to watch the inhumane
treatment of animals by many large
producers of beef, chicken and pork....and not be affected by the images.
go to:
Food Inc

When you do eat meat...
Make an effort to search out farmers that offer better environments
for the animals and
a more humane way of handling them.
I agree that statement sounds a little oxymoronic,
but we can at least search out farms that are concerned about
animal welfare and not simply mass production of meat.

The movie is on netflix...you can even watch it on your computer
if you have a netflix account!

Check it out.
Now, I need to call
In and Out burger
and find out where they
get their beef supply.....oh let it be Niman Ranch Farms!
Niman Ranch

Glutathione

I often wait for inspiration to write a piece on my blog,.....
Looks like I have not been on this site since August!! Wow!

Well inspiration struck last night while I watched Dr. OZ!

Dr. OZ recently did a segment on his show about Glutathione.
Glutathione is an antioxidant that is extremely powerful in keeping our body healthy.
The exciting part is that main stream medicine is starting to acknowledge this and suggest diet ideas as well as supplementation to boast our natural production of Glutathione. Our glutathione levels can be low if we are fighting an illness,
or are under high levels, or persistent levels of stress.

Here is a segment from Dr. OZ explaining Glutathione. Watch part 1 and 2.
Dr OZ segment
It will give you diet and supplement ideas to keep those glutathione levels boosted.
They even discuss IV glutathione.
Yes, I said intravenous ....
Sounds like the last thing you would want to do, right?
Who wants an IV needle in their arm??
Well, I have done this in conjunction with something called a meyers drip to help my immune system when I was starting to get sick. It was prescribed by my Dr. and done in her office.
It works wonders!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

I found the "BEST" store bought cookie dough!
I have been eating it by the spoonful since I brought it home.
In fact I have only made one small batch of cookies from this fabulous dough.
It is 100 % vegan so no problem eating it raw.
It is made by a company in San Diego called EAT PASTRY. They use
organic ingredients, plus...they make their peanut butter fresh in their kitchen.
So far I have only tried the Peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough however, their
website lists several other flavors like: ginger, oatmeal raisin,
chocolate chunk, and gluten free chocolate chunk.

I discovered my jar at Whole Food Market.
Go to their website to find out where you can purchase their products.
EAT PASTRY



For you cookie dough lovers:
Try adding this to Vanilla Ice Cream for a homemade
version of Cookie dough ice cream!
Kids will love it!

Supplements!

Nutritional supplements can be an important step in maintaining a healthy diet.
Most of us simply don't consume enough nutrient dense
food to give our bodies it's daily requirements.

If I was stranded on a dessert Island and could only have two supplements to
to take with me...I would have to say...
A. a multi vitamin (no brainer) and
B. Omega 2 Fish Oil

Here's why:

Multi Vitamin

It covers your basics. If you don't consume a large amounts of fruit and veggies...
keep this on your list. It will fill in what you are missing.
Find a formula with a suggested dose of two tablets three times a day.
Plus look for one that delivers more than the
Food and Drug Administrations
recommended daily allowance minimums.

Omega 3's

These babies balance mental health, improve your blood lipid profile and most importantly are
terrific anti-inflammatories. We need to include anti- inflammatory food in our diet to counter balance the damage we do to our body via stress and poor diet. Omega 3's will help immensely. You can also find a large quantity of Omega 3's in salmon,
yet most of us don't consume salmon every day.
Take 2,000 mg every day.
Be sure to find a supplement that is moleculary distilled.
Meaning they have removed any mercury from the oil! Very important!

A few great brands of Omega 3 supplements...
Carlson Labs, Nordic Naturals, Enzymatic Therapy and Europharma

Cancer Research

This is an interesting and informative webcast by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber.
He discusses Cancer research and gives a viewpoint as to why cancer is on
the rise. It is an hour long but, you will find yourself unable to walk away once
you start hearing what he has to say.
Watch it in segments if you don't have the time.
The information is worth it.

Watch this for your own insight and then send this link to anyone you care about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaDt3AJQ98c

New dirty dozen list

The dirty dozen list is a list compiled by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
This is the newest list of produce we should only buy in the organic variety!

According the EWG common growing practices make the crops listed below the most likely to contain pesticide residues:

1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries (Domestic)
6. Nectarines
7. Sweet Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Collard Greens/Kale
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes (Imported)

Print this list and take it to the store with you!

Roses!

I love flowers!
A single stem or a bouquet of flowers never cease to make me smile.
Flowers have always been a favorite gift of mine, either to receive or give.
I light up when I receive flowers!
In my mind they represent love, life, and happiness.

I cut these white Roses from my yard this morning...
I can't believe how many there were to cut!
I noticed how each one is distinctly unique and not perfectly the same like most of the roses you buy at a flower shop.
I think this makes them even more special!..
so I took a picture to share their beauty.

Enjoy!

Ideas for Healthy Joints

I am often asked for ideas in dealing with Joint health....
in fact my friend Ian just asked me about this the other day.
Ian, this one is for you!

I find it fascinating that so many people get achy or stiff joints.
I have this issue myself, so I have done my research!



For optimum joint health consider an anti-inflammatory diet.
Search my blog for information on anti-inflammatory foods.
Excess inflammation in the body directly effects your joints. Along with a fantastic
anti-inflammatory diet, here are a few supplements that may help:

1. Glucosamine and chondroitin. These two compounds help provide the building blocks for substances naturally found in healthy cartilage and appear to relieve pain, and improve joint mobility.
2. SAM-e. This naturally occurring molecule (S-adenosylmethioine) delivers sulfur to the cartilage, which helps build and maintain strong joints.
3. Evening primrose oil. A source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which may help maintain healthy joints.
4. Anti-inflammatory herbs. Ginger, holy basil, turmeric, green tea, rosemary, Scutellaria and hu zhang all have naturally occurring compounds that help maintain joint health.
5. Omega-3 fatty acids. Use varieties that are molecularly distilled from the oil of fish or krill and contain both EPA and DHA, essential fatty acids which have been shown in studies to help maintain bone health and joint flexibility.

FISH

There is a lot of confusion out there regarding Fish.
Like, which type contains mercury (which we should avoid!)...trust me, you don't want a High level of Mercury in your body for many reasons.
I have a high level in my system,
and getting rid of it is no easy task.
I will blog more on Mercury later.....

There are fish we should avoid because they are simply toxic as they are being raised in an unhealthy environment. Then there are fish that are becoming extinct due to our love of Sushi, never imagined that could happen right? I actually watched a piece on 60 minutes about Fish extinction due to our Sushi consumption. Something to think about.

I just came across this article in the Huffington Post that clarifies some of these concerns.
I think this article may prove to be a valuable tool. Or at least, thought provoking.
Huffington Post Article

Spring has Sprung!

These pictures are so sweet that I must share them...

I just discovered that 2 baby humming birds have emerged from their nest in my yard.

Nature is simply beautiful!

I hope these make you smile as I did.

Happy Spring!

Popcorn

Popcorn is an all time favorite.
It can be a healthy snack since it is low in calories and contains a nice dose of fiber.

If you love this snack as I do... be careful to avoid those microwave popcorn options. Most varieties are loaded with artificial flavors, excess sodium and fat. Plus they can expose you to chemicals that are added to the artificial butter flavoring and used in the lining of microwavable popcorn bags.

For a more natural and safe alternative, opt for an air popper.
They are inexpensive and quite easy to use. Just air pop the popcorn and top it with your favorite toppings! If you are cutting back on your butter quota....try Olive Oil! You will be surprised how great the Olive Oil/Popcorn combo can taste!

Happy Popping!

Superfoods!

I am a huge fan of Superfoods!

My personal definition of a Superfood is:
any food that contains a large percentage of nutritional value.
Although I love to eat and experience a variety of foods,
I try make sure that I incorporate Superfoods
into my diet to be certain that my body is getting optimal nutrition.
I am a firm believer in the theory that what we are are what we eat.
We can't continually eat a high fat, high sugar, or high refined carb diet
and expect our bodies to function well.
It you think about it, we can only consume so much food on any given day. If we mainly fill up on foods that aren't nourishing our body we won't have an appetite left for anything else.
So, the key is to make smart choices by incorporating some of the
foods we know are good for us like:

Fruits and vegetables!
An apple and some nut butter is always a great snack option

Try choosing a salad instead of french fries with that "Turkey" burger

Make a smoothie in the morning with loads of berries (frozen is fine).
Add some yogurt and throw in some walnuts or flax seeds to get a dose of Omega 3's.
Adding a scoop of protein makes this an exceptional choice.

Dining out?....choose to order a simple grilled piece
of chicken or fish with a side of vegetables and a salad.
Eating out is a wonderful experience...
The key is to indulge once or twice a week and order whatever you want.
However, if you dine out daily you may want to make the healthier choice 80% of the time.
Your body and your scale with thank you.

Now the superfoods!!

Here is a fantastic list with beautiful photos and an explanation of the value of each food.
25 Superfoods

Happy Superfood Sunday!

BEST Sleep Positions

Getting a good nights sleep is an imperative aspect in keeping our bodies
happy and healthy.

Many people that I know, myself included, have various issues with back pain.
I recently found this great article with various sleep position ideas to help alleviate those aches and pains associated with improper sleep positions.....This is especially helpful if you suffer from any type of previous back injury like I do.

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/best-sleep-positions

Start the week off with a comfortable sleep position tonight...
Happy Sleep!

Plastics and your Microwave

I heard long ago that I should not be using plastic

containers to heat food in the microwave.

I just read an article that I believe succinctly defines WHY we should avoid doing this.

It is by Dr. Andrew Weil....He has so much great information. Dr. OZ is another Favorite of mine for his up to minute information on our health and the future of medicine.

More info from OZ later...

For now, here is the latest from Dr. Weil on plastics and your microwave.

It's not uncommon to see people microwaving leftovers in plastic dishes, heating up meals in the plastic containers they come in, or placing plastic wrap over foods to protect the inside of a microwave from splatters. Is all this as innocent as it seems?

I don't think so. While plastic has many terrific uses, when it comes to cooking it should be avoided. DEHA [di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate], sometimes found in cling wrap, and other chemicals commonly found in plastic are potential endocrine disrupters, and can negatively influence hormonal activity. While studies are underway to better define the health risks associated with plastics, it is best to steer clear of using plastic and plastic wrap in the microwave, as the heat can drive plastic molecules into your food. Instead, use glass or ceramic containers and cover foods with waxed paper or a paper towel. I also suggest avoiding pre-packaged foods that come in cling wrap (if you purchase such products, transfer these items to a different storage container once you get home).

Chemicals in our grooming products

I recently came across a website that offers an enormous depth of information relating to the chemicals present in cosmetics, lotions, etc....
Basically the grooming aids that we use daily.
We have all heard at least once that many of our favorite products contain chemicals that have been proven to promote toxicity and disease in our bodies. I have found it difficult to cut out my favorite products completely. I may have removed 40 %, which after looking at this site does not seem like enough. However, for now I am pleased that I have done that much!
The site is http://safecosmetics.org/
It is a great way to educate yourself on the chemicals present in various brands of products. The best part is that it will help you understand WHY it is so important to stop using certain products. I think we need to understand WHY we need to change a habit, in order
to desire to change. Change is hard enough as it is.

My personal philosophy is to at least cut out some of the things I use often like body lotion. There are so many great options out there that are chemical free and still work amazingly well. The rest I will just approach with the "all things in moderation" mindset, until I can find
some new chemical free products to replace my favorite face cream and makeup.
I have been able cut out my nail polish!!
After reading this website that deletion seems like some sort of victory!
Apparently the chemicals in standard Nail polish are suspected to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Yikes! The good thing is there are some great products without those chemicals....some of which you can even buy at the drugstore. So, why bother with the chemically laden products. It's a no brainer. I will post some of those products later.

To all of you who have successfully removed chemically laden products from your life, I say Congratulations as it is no easy task!

For the rest of us, knowledge is our best advocate in helping to create change.
Little by little, more and more companies will create naturally based products that don't have the potential to make us or our environment sick.
Therefore, our options will ultimately be plentiful and cost efficient.

For anyone looking to master your knowledge on how these chemicals effect us....
check out this book I just started reading.
It is called: SLOW DEATH BY RUBBER DUCK by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie
"The secret dangers of everyday things"

It is extremely informative.
You can't help but become more aware after reading this book.

3 Cheers for Broccoli

Broccoli is a nutrient dense cruciferous vegetable that has
found it's way into many soups, veggie platters, and is often found as a side dish.
Hopefully you like the taste of broccoli but,
did you know how valuable it can be for your health?
check this out...

Broccoli:

Promotes a Healthy Nervous System
It has a high level of vitamin B2 (riboflavin), which can help calm the nervous system and nourish nerve fibers.

Supports Bone Health
It is a good source of vitamin k and calcium which will nourish your bones to keep them strong
thus preventing osteoporosis.

Can Improve Energy
It has high levels of vitamin C that will boost your immune system and energy levels!

The Nutrients in Broccoli may help protect that body against disease as it is loaded with antioxidants. The best way to reap the nutritional benefits from broccoli is to steam it, unlike boiling which can destroy the nutrients your body is craving!

Include broccoli in your diet.
Steam a cup or two on a Sunday and
add it to your meals throughout the week.

New Study on Blood Pressure

I just read an interesting article by Dr Andrew Weil on a new study for Blood Pressure reduction.
It is insightful and thought provoking.
Here it is...

Lower Carbs and Blood Pressure

A low-carbohydrate diet may be more effective to lower blood pressure than the weight-loss drug orlistat combined with a low-fat diet. In a year-long study, investigators at Duke University Medical Center and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Durham, N.C. compared the effects of the two weight loss strategies in 146 overweight men and women who had obesity-related health problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol and arthritis as well as high blood pressure. One group of participants followed a low-carb diet and the other combined orlistat with a low-fat diet. Over the course of the study, participants in both groups lost an average of 10 percent of their body weight, but 47 percent of those on the low-carb diet were able to reduce or discontinue medication they took for high blood pressure; only 21 percent of those in the other group were able to do the same. Exactly how the low-carb diet achieved those results isn't known yet. The study was published in the Jan. 25, 2010 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

My take? These findings are very interesting. If confirmed, we need to learn what it is about a low-carb diet that helps lower blood pressure so much more effectively than losing the same amount of weight with another strategy, or consider why a high-carb diet might raise blood pressure. In addition to weight loss, you may be able to lower high blood pressure by quitting smoking if that's an issue, limiting caffeine and alcohol intake, cutting back on salt (processed foods are the biggest sources of sodium in today's western diet) and practicing relaxation methods. -Andrew Weil