Top 5 Foods that boost FEELINGS!

A simple list today, yet the power behind our food choices is HUGE!  Emotional Eating is challenge to many Humans and these 5 food choices support the positive aspect of it. 

Follow the Link:  Wellness Hero's Top 5 Mood Enhancement Foods

Hope you enjoy and Live Enthusiastically,

Wellness Hero!

TOP 5: Maintain., NOT Gain during Holidays.

Wellness Hero’s Top 5:  Ways to maintain, NOT gain this holiday season.


 1. Daily Food Plan -Know your food plan for each day, don’t let circumstance dictate what you have to eat, verses your choices that could be pre-planned.  Going to a holiday gathering is great, but knowing ahead of time your food strategy for putting energy (calories) in your body can improve your control.

 2. Portion Control - Measure out what you plan to eat, use a small plate and do not stand/sit near the food.  Each feeding should have a variety of color & moderation.


3. Emotional Eating - Whether it is pure JOY or anxiety over seeing family with the time of year, be understanding of the way you feel.  Have a coping practice in play that doesn’t involve food. 


4. Mindful Eating - When you eat, challenge yourself to enjoy each bite.  Count your chews, savor the flavor, start the digestion process off on the right break down.  The idea is to slow down & be conscious of what you are eating.  Eating in front of technology can really take away from a food expereince. 


5. Water, water, water...drink it constantly all day, especially when you first wake up.  Hydrating consistantly creates a balance in many aspects.  Not only does it support digestion, but regulates hunger (as it is possible the body just needs water, but you feel hungry). 

Mindful Eating & Vitamins/Minerals Facts.

What is mindful eating?
Part of successful long term weight management is minimizing deprivation and eating foods that you enjoy on a regular basis. Deprivation or avoidance may work in the short-term, but usually leads to feeling out of control, self-criticism, and eating more.
It is helpful to adopt a more healthy and balanced approach to eating.

VITAMINS
Vitamins are a group of organic substances (made by plants or animals), that are essential for normal cell function, growth, and development.
There are 13 essential vitamins, meaning they are needed for the body to function. They are grouped into two categories:
Fat Soluble Vitamins:    A, D, E, & K
•    Small amounts needed to maintain good health
•    Stored in the body’s liver and fatty tissue
•    High doses can be toxic and lead to health problems
Water Soluble Vitamins:
B-complex group & Vitamin C
•    Not stored in the body and must be replaced each day
•    These vitamins are easily destroyed or weakened during food storage and preparation
•    Citrus fruits are a good source of vitamin C
MINERALS
Minerals are substances that come from the earth (soil and water) and are absorbed by plants. Humans absorb minerals from the foods that we eat. These are important for optimum health. There are two kinds of minerals:
Macrominerals
•    Includes calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfur
•    Body requires large amounts
Trace Minerals
•    Includes iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium
•    Body requires limited amounts
WHY ARE VITAMINS AND MINERALS IMPORTANT?
Vitamins and minerals have many functions that help the body carry out different processes. Vitamins and minerals assist the body in the following ways:
✓ Protects arteries
✓ Produces healthy skin
✓ Boosts your immune system
✓ Balances hormones
✓ Energy production
✓ Proper functioning of your brain and nervous system
✓ Slows down the ageing process ✓ Protects against certain cancers and heart
disease

FACTS TO CONSIDER
•
• •
•
Vitamin and mineral supplements are considered dietary supplements, not drugs, so they do not have to be tested in order to prove their safety or effectiveness before they are put on the market. They are considered safe until demonstrated
by the Food and Drug Administration to be dangerous.  Gees, play the guinea pig or russian rulette with your health & wellness.  Key is to do your research.
The American Medical Association has stated that it is acceptable for a healthy adult to use a multi- vitamin/mineral supplement.  I say first try to get V & M from a food source.

Go to www.usda.gov for a list of recommended daily allowances for other vitamins and minerals.

TOP 5 Ways to Lose Weight, WITHOUT a Diet.

Wellness Hero’s Top 5 Easy ways to BURN FAT (AKA lose weight).


Our bodies only want to maintain an ideal weight, a balance in body composition (which is 1 of 5 components of health-related Fitness).  Body composition is made up of Bone, Organs, MUSCLE (tissue too) and FAT.  We need it all, an we function optimally when it is in balance.

Here are some of my favorite tips for losing weight without out ever going on a diet. Of course a diet is just what a person consumes over the course of a day, so we are always dieting :)

1. Drink water.

Sounds simple, but let’s be honest: how much water are you currently drinking? If the answer is anything less than clear pee coming out of you, your body is telling you with Yellowish (apple juice) color pee that dehydration has started.  Plus, if you're active, it should be drinking even more than that. So here’s what you need to do: drink lots of water and cut back on things like soda (even diet!), alcohol, and sweetened beverages. You won’t notice a difference, but your body will thank you. How much to drink?  Everyone is different & the answer I have posted previously it worth your time to know, check out that post!  Hydration Basics  & How much to Drink?

2. Load up on vegetables.

You may not be the biggest fan of vegetables, but I promise you can learn to like them. Vegetables fill us up, and they're loaded with fiber, energy, and vitamins. Plus, they're low in calories, meaning you can eat a ton of them without gaining weight. Add vegetables to every meal and you’ll be sure to see a difference.  Raw is the most valuable way to MAX the benefits!

3. Don’t fear the fats.

Fats do not make us fat. In fact, they do quite the opposite. They help us absorb vitamins, give us glowing hair, skin, and nails, and even keep us more satiated, meaning you'll stay fuller longer and be much more satisfied with your meals when you add a little fat. Consider adding things like olive oil, avocado, coconut oil, sunflower seeds, or flax seeds to your next meal. You’ll be surprised at how full you'll feel!

4. Move in a way that you love.

We all know that exercise can contribute to weight loss, but what if you hate it? The key here is to actually move in a way that you enjoy. This way, you'll be more likely to stick to it in the long term. Chances are, you’re not going to want to get up at 5am for a run if you hate running, but if your alarm goes off at 5am for your favorite dance class, I bet you’ll be way more likely to make it there. Remember diversity of exercise or more specifically do things to support each component of fitness:  Muscular Strength & Endurance, Flexibility, & Cardio style movements.

5. Don’t label foods "off limits."

We want what we can’t have, so once you label something off limits or not healthy, it's going to become more appealing. Whenever I used to say I was going to cut bread from my diet, it would be all I could think about for a week until I finally caved and ended up eating an entire loaf because I couldn’t take the torture. Sound familiar?  I LOVE BREAD!

Now that I allow myself bread if I want it, I don’t crave it nearly as much and those intense cravings I once felt have totally disappeared.

So there you have it, 5 simple things you can change about your eating habits today without ever going on a diet. Still struggling with this concept? I want to help you ditch the diets for good so I invite you to contact me for support.  I specialize in POSITIVE BEHAVIOR CHANGE, find out how you can benefit from this simple lifestyle change.

Top 5 MOOD Enhancing foods!

Wellness Hero’s Top 5 MOOD Enhancing foods!

Do you like feeling good?  Sometimes adding specific nutrients to your body's systems creates reactions that boost emotions and the way a person can feel.  If a person eats something heavily processed like fast food, so much unhealthy CHEMICALS start to be absorbed by the body, which in turn effects the mood as well.  I recommend eating them raw or combined in something you are already eating to enhance that food choice with a MOOD Booster!

1.  Avocado - can elevate your spirit!
(Avocados contain serotonin, a type of feel-good neurotransmitter)

2.  Raw Cocoa - High in magnesium and contains significant quantities of the essential amino acid Tryptophan, which is crucial for the production of the neurotransmitter, serotonin.

3.  Spinach - Nutrient dense and a powerful health - mood and illness prevention food. Spinach is full of vitamin B9 (folate) which helps the body maintain normal levels of the mood-enhancing neurotransmitter serotonin. Low levels of folate are often associated with depression. RDA is around 400 micrograms. *Some other folate rich foods include asparagus, beans and broccoli.

4.  Chia Seeds - A potent vegetarian source of omega 3 and packed with amino acids.

5.  Sunflower Seeds - Their richness in vitamin E - Selenium and Magnesium all contribute to improving your mood! (also rich in selenium)

Top 5 High Energy Eating Strategies

 Eating is something a person does daily.  As a wellness professional I've had to many conversations about food with just focused on calories.  The idea here is to MAXIMIZE your body's response to that food (calories) with understanding what will pack a punch to BOOST you with that energy.  All calories are not created equal, just ask a Chia Seed :)....

Here are my Top 5 High Energy Eating Strategies

1. ✓    Get your B-vitamins. Studies show that low levels of folate and B-12 are sometimes associated with fatigue and depression. Food sources of folate include fortified whole grain cereals, beans and peas, dark green leafy vegetables, sunflower seeds, and oranges. Foods high in B-12 include salmon, lean beef, low-fat dairy, and eggs.

2. ✓    Boost your intake of omega-3’s. This may help to improve memory and mood, making you feel more energized. At least one good source of omega-3 fatty acids daily is recommended. Choose from
oily fish (salmon, mackerel and sardines), ground flaxseeds, walnuts and omega-3 fortified eggs.

3. ✓    Limit refined carbohydrates. Refined white starch and added sugars in food and drinks can cause blood sugars levels to rapidly rise and fall, leaving you feeling cranky and tired. To lessen blood sugar swings, choose high quality carbohydrates, such as vegetables, unsweetened fruit, beans and peas, brown rice and oatmeal.

4. ✓    Incorporate protein with meals and snacks. Healthy protein sources include nuts, beans and peas, skinless chicken, lean beef and pork, and eggs. Protein helps keep blood sugar levels stable and promotes increased levels of brain chemicals that make you feel more alert and focused.

5. ✓    eat something every 4 to 5 hours. This provides your body with a constant supply of energy and keeps blood sugar levels stable. Plus, it is easy to do. Here’s one example of a healthy eating pattern- have breakfast or a morning snack within 90 minutes of waking, lunch, an afternoon snack and a sensible dinner.

CANNOT forget WATER too!!!

Top 4 ways to Lose Weight!!!!

Top 4 Ways on How to Lose Weight, the BASIC Formula (LWF)....

Every diet (which truly is defined by what a person eats over 24 hrs) has the basic principle of creating a caloric deficiency for the body to lose weight.  If the body burns 3,500 calories (example:  negative 500 calories a day over a week (7 days)) it will consume 1 lb of FAT.  The formula of  creating negative daily calories can be accomplished thousands of ways....

Their is no RIGHT way, but the practices that work for you to create a new way of life.  Documentation (keeping a food log or journal) can be effective, but not to a person who doesn’t document anything well.  Just as is a smart phone app to a person who doesn’t use their phone in that smart way (LOL) might not have the success others who habitually are on those smart devices will.  Always start with existing habits to modify, change slowly and methodically with what you can personally handle, its your life.  

The main reason I am writing this blog is to put out quality info on various topics that relate to a human's health, basically covering the four parts (Physical, mental, emotional, and social).  The focus today is to touch on the physical side, which is the part that most people easily associate with health.   Seeking a wellness professional can be supportive, but everything is always up to you. 

 No matter where your starting point is with your life age or physical condition of the body.  Anything is possible if you believe and can see the change you want to be.   These basic ideas are the first steps to identify healthy habits to build a foundation for a healthy lifestyle.  Through this process of change it will not only be challenging, but educational as well. 

Here is the top 4 ways to start maintaining a healthy lifestyle with your ideal body weight.

1.  How much sleep do you get each night out of seven days?  To maintain an ideal body weight an adult should accomplish at least 7 hours each night.....SLEEP is a vital variable to maintaining & achieving an ideal body weight.

2.  Start a food journal with writing down EVERYTHING (if thats your thing) you eat over 7 days  A specific focus on food consumption (diet is anything a person eats) with looking into how many calories each day, while identifying Protein, Carbs, Fats in grams for each category.    Drink WATER, you cannot consume to much of this!!!!!  Create small changes each week as to not overwhelm yourself with what to do.  The idea is to live and be more conscious of what we are putting into our bodies based on ingredients. 

3. Physical activity is a MUST for everyone.  The idea is to balance your movements into something you enjoy participating in, basically the rule is to enjoy what you are doing.  Specifics like time on task, intensity level, duration and component of fitness are important variables, but keep your movement diverse.  Consistent repetitive motion or same style exercise over and over not only can be boring, but slows down results and the body easily adapts to the same old thing. 

4.  Set a goal that is both reasonable and specific (results can be measured).  Actually write it down and check daily what have you done to accomplish it.  With YOUR goal in your face every day it is a friendly reminder of creating the NEW you through NEW healthy lifestyle choices.  For body weight their is no quick fixes, truly the solution is a lifestyle that supports as much movement as possible.  Making daily choices that have positive outcomes will continue the habits necessary to live well.  

Garden education for ALL.

This spring I have opted to expand and diversify my veggie/fruit garden behind my house I call the "Cockpit."  The 2nd annual "know where my food comes from and harvest my land with my lil man" is very exciting to me.  I just started a garden from scratch last year and it was an AMAZING Experience.

I will continue to update with info about it and pictures of growth as well as give details about each plant that continues to grow.  The creation of a vlog on each plant details will be coming too. 

Here is a (not to scale) drawing of my garden for a layout perspective.....

Feel free to comment & post questions!!!

Love the free rain water I just collected from the last storm too!!  Lots to do.....Love EARTH!

Metabolism and Eating go hand in hand.

Metabolism and EATING with ways to control it throughout the day.

The metabolism goes through peaks and valleys, high points and low points throughout the course of 24 hours.  It is our energy and the foundation for how we feel.  When a person wakes up in the AM after sleeping the recommended 7-10 hrs for adults, their metabolism is at the very low end of the spectrum.  So, how to increase it to have energy in the AM?  Simple, put food in the body, because food is calories and calories are energy. This is why breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it jump starts your metabolism.

No longer will I reference eating a meal, bur refer to eating by saying  the word “feeding.”  Ideally, an adult should have 5-7 feedings a day.  A traditional example of 5 would be, breakfast-snack-lunch-snack-dinner to cumulatively make up 5 feedings for that day.  The thing is if a person is only eating 2 times a day they are INTENTIONALLY LOWERING their METABOLISM through habit.  The idea is to take our daily calories and spread them out then put them into the body during massive feeding times.  A good strategy for a person eating 2 times a day is to not eat more, but spread out all that food over more feeding times.  
Every time food is put into the body, the metabolism increase, so more frequent “feedings” will consistently train your body metabolism to work in a more cyclic pattern.  In order to lose weight a person MUST EAT many small feedings throughout the day and this action in itself will increase a person’s metabolism.

Now, if you are not eating several feedings throughout the day or always skip breakfast the idea is to make a small change.  If not hungry in the AM, then start with eating just a bit of something healthy and slowly increase that desire to be hungry over time.  It takes many months for the body to change habits depending how long we have been doing the opposite.  So by adding one cheerio a day from week to week with adding a couple more each time, soon enough you will be ready to have a bowl of cereal in the AM. 

How to lose weight.

Metabolism and how to control it.

Burning calories is accomplished by the conversion of energy into work.  For instance
if a person was to lay in bed all day with zero movement or physical activity, just for brain, heart, lungs and liver function to work a person has a base line basal metabolic rate (BMR).  BMR is how many calories a person burns at rest to stay alive.  The idea is the more a person moves the more they will increase energy output in the form of burning calories.  Burning more calories through metabolism of food put into the body by eating is how a caloric deficiency is created.  Create a caloric deficiency of 3,500 calories and that will equal 1lb of FAT LOSS.


Example:  Negative 500 calories a day over the course of 7 days (1 week) will equal 3,500 calories burned.  It breaks down that if a person is measuring what they eat with a food log/journal and is calculating calories burned during physical activity (PA) and exercise with figuring out their BMR then the example is as follows:


Calories Eaten:  2,000 for the day
               BMR:   1,800 calories burned for basic body function    
    PA/Exercise:   700 calories burned from movement

      
What is the best way to increase your metabolism for both BMR and Exercise?  Well, before we get to that I want to lay out a few foundation principles to understand first.  This blog for the month of Feb. will have a several posts on the topic of metabolism because because it is the basis for how a person feels and truly a person CONTROLS it with every choice throughout the course of a day (yep, 24 hours).  I will be identifying basic concepts of eating and moving that can FIRE UP YOUR METABOLISM TO BURN AT HIGHT LEVELS THEN EVER BEFORE.

If you think you might have a slow metabolism, stay tuned till tomorrow.  Over the course of the next week I will present an option to not only understand more about HOW TO INCREASE YOUR BMR, but impact your metabolism in very positive ways.

Why is your metabolism important?  Its your energy for the day....

Parents, regardless of your feelings of Fall time, try this time toldcraft..

Just a day during the week of a father & son enjoying the special moments of the season...



The pumpkin was a special one, it started as a seed in the hands of my lil man on a brisk afternoon during the early parts of May.  We charted out the garden for the best plot and spacing possible, the idea was to pack it in, but be able to tell y’all this story...

We harvested his pumpkin in a ceremonial event last week, he just loved that he got to hold a knife too!  Growing his pumpkin has been more then a rewarding experience on so many levels. I would encourage all parents to try this in the spring time, of course none of this would have been possible for two reasons.  One, my mom had a garden when I was a child & I remember growing our own one year; two, the BEES!  Without them busy bees pollinating the flowers, the harvest would not have been.  Thank you bees!!!

The carving activity was set up with him drawing (using his shapes & numbers) his Jack-o-Lantern face (as he described it) into a circle on a blank piece of paper.  After his idea, we cut the top off & began the slimy experience of removing the inside parts and separating the seeds. 

Now the seeds add the nutrition piece, because they grew that way and are an amazing natural source of protein.  So the carving was a huge success, the seeds still delicious, and hearing him tell that story to others just warms my heart.  The candle lighting ceremony is also an exciting event on those spooky fall nights......

How can a father & son have an amazing day?

Single Parenting 101, have a plan, practice supporting local organizations, smile, modify & adjust your plan all the time :)

Just a day in the weekend adventure of a father & son enjoying the moments...


10.1.12

Reflecting on the last weekend of Sept and it being a lil man weekend too, the foundation for what I find to be pure happiness was put into motion.  I plan the day around food.  The idea is it should grow that way, the food itself is the ingredient.

    Almonds, peanuts, pistachios are all big favorites as power snacks, he doesn’t even know we are having an “organized snack,” most of the time because we are out and about on the go.  The natural source of protein is great, fiber, and fat (the good kind), just have it in a baggy and was perfect to take on the trail with our water bottles.  Simple veggies make a great take along too.  Of course it takes time to develop a child's pallet to want the natural stuff (you too ADULTS!!), but food has been my medicine for many years now, so I listen to my MOM and eat more vegetables now then ever before.

We ended up at some nature trails (with a rich history as the signs & markers were fun to read along the way) and discovered a new water fall on our hike, we ended up exploring, collecting leaves, listening to the natural sounds, and also making fun on the North American Grey Squirrel along the way!  One almost dropped a black walnut on my head, so we turned that moment into a comical report for the remainder of the 3 mile hike. 

We ate breakfast, took some snacks, headed out on a local trail, only to be outside on a crisp fall afternoon.  The quality of time and uniqueness of the conversations are endless, especially engaging in the new season that the autumnal equinox has brought us.

Bowling with Papa followed and that great three generations of boys enjoying more physical activity with family time continue the flow of another amazing day.  It also yielded a much needed HEALTHY nap by a 4.5 & 35 year young boys :)

Healthy body weight MAGIC!

How to lose weight, healthy style.....                                   9.7.12

As a Wellness Coach & certified Personal Trainer I am constantly assessing a persons body fat % which is 1 of 5 components of a persons’ health-related fitness.  To achieve an ideal body weight through balancing your body composition (fat to muscle ratio, again 1 of the 5 parts of health-related fitness) try combination training with your other components of fitness every time your workout, exercise, or perform physical activity.
Many variables factor into a persons ideal body weight or more importantly body fat %.  I have identified 4 MAJOR players in the role to improve body weight to be in a healthy range... these are the first steps to identify the number one way to lose weight, influence your metabolism in a health concsious way!! 
 SLEEP - the idea is to regulate your metabolism through patterns or regular doses of zzz
Hydration - think water, water, water for everything you drink!  Its that simple.
Physical Activity - Diversify & practice Muscular strength & endurance, flexibility,& cardio
Nutrition - Ideally eating 5-7 feedings will have the greatest impact on your metabolism & 1/2 o                what you eat should be fruits & veggies.
The best way to fire up your calorie burning furnace is through balance with a patterns & routines that encourage maximum results.  With physical activity, combination style exercises that take you from training cardio, to strength & endurance.    By focusing on 3 of your 5 components your body has nothing to do but increase that heart rate to fire up that METABOLISM during each time you exercise. 
For body weight their is no quick fixes, truly the solution is a lifestyle that supports as much movement as possible.  Making daily choices that have positive outcomes will continue the habits necessary to live well.  

Update: WATER, is it relative?

How much does H2O matter, imagine this?                                         9.2.12

The main reason I am writing this blog is to put out quality info on various topics that relate to a human's health, basically covering the four parts (Physical, mental, emotional, and social).  The focus today is to touch on the physical side, which is the part that most people easily associate with health. 

When is the last time you checked your Hydration?  Do you know the easy way to see if you are adequately hydrated?  Well it is simple, simply  look at your pee.  Clear or lemonade color is great, while yellowish or apple juice means dehydration is taking place. 

 WATER is the basis for every bodily function, from respiration to digestion; a person’s energy levels through metabolism are regulated to your bodies ability to store water in its muscles, organs, & blood.  No matter what your fitness goal could be, everything rests on the simple condition of drinking more water and/or being mindful of the other habits in our lives that remove water from our system. 
Being adequately hydrated is an amazing first step to practicing daily healthy habits to build a foundation for a healthy lifestyle!!  The important fact to know is a majority of the water in our bodies is stored in the muscles (blood & organs too).  So if a person does not practice muscular endurance or strength training exercises, then their ability to store water is limited.  It is important to balance physical activity through your 5 components of health related fitness.  Think H20!!!

Need More Information Needed about Physical Activity?

Where do I get my information?  The amount of free info put out by both non-profit & government groups is all about Americans becoming more healthy.  I honestly can't believe the extraordinary amount of content out there, so here are just a few...........More Information Needed about Physical Activity?

Check these websites out:

American College of Sports Medicine-
www.acsm.org

American Counsel on Exercise-
www.acefitness.org

American Heart Association-
www.justmove.org

Shape Up American! Fitness Center-
www.shapeup.org/fitness.html

World Health Organization-
www.who.int/hpr/physactiv/move.for.health.shtml

US Governments Supports your Wellness
www.fitness.gov
choosemyplate.gov
letsmove.gov

Inside out, what the body NEEDS......

The Inside Parts....                        11.23.11

Understanding the science about what is happening inside the human body as it responds to healthy eating habits, appropriate amounts of physical activity, and sleeping is not fully practiced by many.  LIFE gets in the way of humans actually making sound, healthy choices in all parts of their day to day lives. 

If a person’s core body temperature raises or drops 5 degrees, the human system will start to shut down.  That is a small range considering the extreme temperatures we find on Earth.  Our bodies are complex systems that function based on ingesting 6 essential elements (Water, Vitamins, Minerals, Protein, Fats, & Carbohydrates), as well as having protection in the form of clothes & allowing the body to rest, repair, and recover via sleep.  In modern times humans have lost focus on what allows our bodies to feel the best, to be pain, injury, and disease free.   The concept garbage in becomes garbage out is what takes over if the body doesn’t get what it needs.  When was the last time you felt the best in all facets of your life??  For me its TODAY!!!

To many conversations I encounter with clients are about “can I eat this then work it off through my exercise routine?”.  Or, I can “cheat” on my diet tonight because its a special occasion or reward.  Food is NOT a reward, but a requirement and when a person “cheats on a diet” they are really depriving their bodies of a balanced nutrition intake.  I bring the focus to the point they aren’t eating the proper balanced diet (defined correctly as what a person eats over the course of 24 hours) with appropriate amount of essential elements.  The lack of nutrition seems to lose its focus with most peoples concept of what is healthy.

The human body can endure long periods of abuse through a low quality of life.  The body can compensate for shitty eating habits, but the bottom line is this you might to start to feel like shit. 

To know if I eat this, it will have a specific outcome on the inside of my body.  Either it will nourish, energize, grow, repair my body or slowly destroy the structure and function of its cells.  To know if I move this way, it will have a specific outcome with results that mirror the choices made.  To know if I perform these actions, it will have either rewards or consequences.   The simple results of simple decisions makes so many unhappy, one good example is having excess body fat.  How does being fat make one feel? 

When a person establishes a “high level” for quality of life through daily routines, the body responds in the most accommodating way....experiencing wellness through balancing your health.  My daily goal is to feel amazing, to wake up happy and make it stay that way.  Their are specific food that should NEVER be eaten not only because no nutritional value, but the contents and low quality ingredients will slowly destroy your quality of life... ....it has been known since the dawn of existence that the human body can heal ANY & ALL disease that takes place from within, when given the tools and time.

Eating Green in more ways then one.....

                    11.17.11

Green Cuisine 
Eco-friendly eating is as easy as 1-2-3. 


One of the simplest and most effective ways to go green is by adjusting your diet. This habit not only will make an impact on your environment.  That’s not to say tossing out your favorites and filling your fridge with flax and grain, it simply means making wiser choices. These three simple steps will make green eating fun and easy!

1.    Choose Organic & Eat Simply
This may seem obvious, but by buying organic foods, you are cutting down on the chemicals you ingest. This will not only help your body by aiding in digestion and preventing disease, but it will help the Earth as well. The chemicals that are used to treat non-organic food sources often lead to the deterioration of soil, overtime, rendering that soil unharvestable. When you choose organic, none of those chemicals is going into the ground or your body, so both will remain healthy for a long time to come. If organic options are not available, choose items that have the fewest ingredients. Oftentimes, foods with a laundry list of ingredients are chockfull of harmful chemicals.

2.    Brown-Bag It!
Our hectic schedules often lead us to simply grab takeout for many of our meals.  This has played HUGE dividend on my personal health & have been doing this habit for most of my life.  However, by planning ahead and preparing your meals at home, you can reduce packaging and waste. Most takeout food items take packaging to the extreme, placing each item in an individual wrapper then bagging it for delivery. As we know, Styrofoam releases toxins into the air and plastic bags can take up to 500 years to break down. By preparing meals at home and carrying them in reusable containers, you are reducing your eco-footprint. Not to mention, you will save a pretty penny, too!

3.    Buy Local
From fuel consumption to packaging to chemical preservation, the stress put on the environment by shipping food across the country is immeasurable. Luckily, with farmers’ markets popping up all over the country and most supermarkets offering locally raised meat, dairy, produce and eggs, buying local is easier than ever. Not only does local food taste better because it is fresh and less chemically preserved, but you will be doing your part to help your local economy.

We don’t always recognize the toll our system of food production and delivery takes on our eco-system, from the poisonous chemicals used to preserve food to the tremendous amounts of gasoline used to power refrigerated trucks and planes. By making these simple choices, you are guaranteeing a better and brighter future for you and your loved ones.