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2 Ingredient DIY All Natural In Shower Moisturizer

Lisa — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 17:50:05 +0000

I am a #NOWWellness Influencer and have been given products to sample, however, I was not paid to write this post. The FTC requires that I disclose this but I was using and loving many of them before working with this company. All opinions are my own. Summer is in full gear and my family and I just returned from a lovely week in Maui. We arrived on the island, we strolled the beach at 4:00 am along with of the other tourists on Pacific Standard time, we ate Shaved Ice, snorkeled, ran, and swam our hearts out. It was one of the best vacations we’ve had as a family ever. My children are old enough to enjoy it, but still want to hang out with Mom and Dad. I know these moments are numbered and this might be the last summer that my kids are still “little.” I have an emerging pre-teen and he’s already showing signs of breaking away, so I cherish all of our experiences together. This summer, I vowed to blog less and spend more quality time with my kids. Aside from a few illnesses and bouts of migraines, I have stuck to that commitment. I reduced my workload aside from my NOW Wellness and a project near and dear to my heart. I am currently involved in an incredible assignment with one of my favorite Authors. She’s a well-known clinical psychologist who specializes in Mental Strength. I will have more on that later this summer, but I am really excited to share that experience with you, so stay tuned. As much as I slathered on the sunscreen in Maui, the sun was so strong that we came home with a few small burns. We also went from the humid tropical air to dry Southern California air, so needless to say our skin is like dry sandpaper. Trying to get my kids to apply lotion or cream post shower is near impossible. Oh, who am I kidding, I don’t care for that step either. Sometimes I just want to shower and go, who has time to apply lotion?! I love the idea of In Shower Lotion and have noticed many major brands coming out with these, but for multiple reasons, I won’t buy them. Mainly, they are full of ingredients that I can’t pronounce and since our skin is our largest organ, I not a fan of applying funky chemical ingredients. Plus, many of these companies test on animals– again, I’m not a fan. I love all living things and personally, these issues mean something to me. FYI: You apply In Shower Moisturizer to damp skin while in the shower. Then just lightly towel off and your skin will be silky smooth. I’m not even sure this would be classified as a DIY project because all you need is two products and you’re done, but I love this idea and it works. It saves time and my kids will actually apply this. They simply refuse to take the extra step of applying lotion, so this is our comprimise. CAUTION: Be careful not to apply too much– if the oil gets onto your shower floor, it could make it slippery and you could fall. Exercise Caution.

What You’ll Need

It’s Simple! NOW Foods Fractionated Coconut Oil 10-30 drops of your favorite NOW® Solutions essential oils

How To Make It and Use It

Just drop 10-30 drops of NOW® Solutions essential oil into your coconut oil, put the lid back on and give it shake. Apply it to your body (avoiding face and eyes) while still in your shower–apply to wet skin. Lightly towel dry your skin. My Favorites: Spike Lavender Oil or Peaceful Sleep when I take my shower at night. Mental Focus for morning showers. My Special Custom Blend: 15 drops of Vanilla Oil 5 Drops of Rose Oil 1 Drop of Patchouli CAUTION: Avoid contact with eyes. If pregnant or lactating, consult your healthcare practitioner before using. Not for internal use.

DIY All Natural Wet Skin In Shower Moisturizer #Ad #NowWellness
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*NOW® Essential Oils are highly concentrated and can be irritating to the skin. Avoid direct contact with skin and always dilute essential oils before topical use. Discontinue if rash appears after skin contact. Not for internal use. Avoid contact with eyes. Consult healthcare practitioner before using if pregnant/nursing
What are you up to this summer? Any travel plans or fun things planned?
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DIY Coffee Filter Flower Air Freshener for Car or Home

Lisa — Thu, 25 May 2017 00:39:12 +0000

I am a #NOWWellness Influencer and have been given products to sample, however, I was not paid to write this post. The FTC requires that I disclose this but I was using and loving many of them before working with this company. All opinions are my own. Kids are smelly. When I was in my twenties I would find concert ticket stubs under the couch. In my thirties, business cards. Now in my forties after having three kids, it’s a moldy strawberry, a half-eaten cheese stick, and popcorn bits… OMG the popcorn bits. If you have children I’m pretty certain that you can relate. It doesn’t matter how many times you tell them not to eat in the car, or on the couch, they somehow are able to single-handedly deposit perishable foods and smelly items in every crack and crevice of your home and vehicle. How?! Why?! Let’s talk about the bathroom. For some reason, kids don’t flush, or at least mine don’t! It’s World War III if someone doesn’t get to push the elevator button, but do you think they could press the toilet handle? Nope. It’s mind-boggling, isn’t it? I am constantly telling them, “One day you won’t flush in front of your boyfriend or girlfriend and they’ll break up with you. Yeah, high school is shallow that way so don’t be surprised when it happens.” They respond with the statement that, “they will never have a significant other in High School because they are too young and will be far too busy.” Oy! My kids! I hope that’s the case, but I will do anything to get them to flush. From sweaty soccer clothes, gassy children, three pets, and tweens, my house and car can get stanky! We don’t always love to use the spray type air fresheners because my kids are allergic to most, plus they leave a fake smell in the house that usually ends up triggering migraines (two out of three of my children get migraines and I am chronic). Smell is a huge trigger for all three of us. We do fine with NOW® Solutions Essential oils and I diffuse them in my home and car, but I wanted to spruce up my environment for spring so when my daughter and I were at the Dollar Store the other day, we picked up some coffee filters and clothes pins. We saw on Pinterest all of these gorgeous tutorials for coffee filter flowers, but why not glue them on a clothes pin, drop some essential oil on them and turn it into a beautiful air freshener that cheers everyone up? That’s what we thought and that’s what we did. They are amazing and so bright and beautiful. There are a few smells that we will never be able to hack, but for the most part, these paper flower fresheners do the trick. We all loved how these turned out and how easy they were to make. Here are my thoughts:

What I loved

That it was so easy to make that my kids could do this as a craft.
That they really do work to clear the smell out of the air.
They are gorgeous and brighten up a room or car.
They smell amazing with scents that are all natural that you can customize.
You can easily refresh these as the scent begins to fade by adding a few more drops of NOW® Solutions Essential Oils.
They are all natural with no fake scents or chemicals.
They don’t trigger headaches and pains for both me and my little people.
They’re very inexpensive to make.

What You’ll Need

– A Hot Glue Gun – An assortment or your favorite NOW® Solutions Essential Oil – Coffee filters – Clothes Pins – Food Coloring ( Optional) You could leave them white. I like these all Natural ones— made from all vegetable and spices extract. – Paper plate or pie tin

How to Make It

First, drop about 3-4 drops of food coloring into the pie tin and then add a 1/4 cup of water. Depending on how dark you want these you may need to add more coloring. I wanted mine light pink. I did not mix my water and food coloring because I wanted some variation in color. Fold your coffee filters in half three times. Dip your folded filter into the food coloring mixture. You only need to dip the tips, it will bleed onto the rest on the petal. Repeat this process, using about 10 filters for one flower. Allow them to dry overnight. Hot glue four of the filters together in a circle. Then glue more triangle folded filters onto the circle. When all ten have been glued together, pull the sides up and create a point at the base of the flower. Then glue it to the clothes pin. Add 20-30 drops of your favorite NOW® Solutions Essential Oil. Explore the different scent options that NOW® Solutions offers: FLORAL, WOODSY, SWEET, MUSKY, SPICY I used Bottled Bouquet for mine and they smell amazing!

Smell Hack! DIY Coffee Filter Flower Air Freshener for Car or Home #NOWWellness
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So grab your glue gun and essential oils and make an adorable spring bouquet of these air fresheners. Easy, cheerful, inexpensive, and can be clipped on anywhere you need to cancel out stinky smells:

Bathrooms
Kitchens
Laundry Room
Classrooms
Office
Near a cat litter box
Baby changing area
Car
Trunk
Closets
Mud rooms and more!

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Make Ahead Strawberry Toasted Chocolate Coconut Yogurt Parfait

Lisa — Tue, 23 May 2017 13:44:25 +0000

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OneTreeOneBag #CollectiveBias

I remember the first time I tasted coffee. I was a teenager sitting at the breakfast table with my Dad. We were eating sourdough toast with salty butter and he was dipping his piece into his steaming hot cup of coffee.
At the time, I thought he was weird. The butter would come off the toast and float to the surface, I would think, “how gross.” Little did I know, many years later, that the butter thing would become a trend! He said, “don’t judge until you try it,” and so I did. Much to my surprise, it was delicious and I spent most mornings of my senior year in high school dunking my sourdough toast into my coffee.
I know what you’re thinking– and it’s a lot better than you think!

Then I went off to college and I turned to coffee to keep me going during those intensely busy years, and I have been a fan ever since. As a runner, I look to coffee to improve my performance, especially on race mornings. As a Mom of three small children, coffee has become my lifeline. It isn’t just the caffeine that keeps me coming back, although that’s a big part, but it’s the act of brewing my coffee in the morning and the smell that fills our dark, sleepy house. Holding a toasty cup in my cold hands and feeling the warm fluid slip down into my belly. For so many of us, coffee is a comforting daily ritual and one that brings a little joy to our lives.
I enjoy trying new varieties of coffee, but the daily staple in our house is Starbucks® Pike Place® Roast. This medium roast isn’t too light or too dark. It tastes smooth, with notes of cocoa and nuts, and there is no better smell first thing in the morning.
So I was thrilled when I found out that for every bag of Starbucks® 10-12z & 20z Ground or Whole Bean coffee purchased at participating Albertsons Company stores in the U.S. from May 1st through May 28, Starbucks provides one disease-resistant coffee tree to a farmer in Mexico, Guatemala or El Salvador by donating 70¢ – the average cost of a tree – to Conservation International to foster thriving coffee communities. To learn more, visit conservation.org/onetree.
I shop at Albertsons weekly, so you can be sure that I’ll be stocking up. My family and I are always looking for ways to help others and the fact that Starbucks will support coffee farmers while we buy something we already use seems like a no-brainer to me.
Check out the special Starbucks “One Tree One Bag” commitment display in the coffee aisle!

We drink a lot of coffee in this house and we are left with an abundance of grounds. For a long time I just threw out the grounds, but a few years ago I started putting them in my garden and it really helped my flower beds look their best – plus my yard smells amazing!
Recently, I started to wonder what other ways I could upcycle my coffee grounds, or maybe you’re thinking, “what else can I do with those old coffee grounds?”
Here are four ideas that are actually very useful.
#1 GARDEN: Like I said, save up those old grounds and sprinkle them on flower beds or gardens as fertilizer. It will Ph balance your soil for optimum growth and bloom. Plus, is smells great and repels insects.
#2 BODY SCRUB: Whip up a batch of this 3 ingredient Body scrub. This would make a wonderful homemade gift for Mom this Mother’s Day– yep, that is right around the corner.

TO MAKE THE SCRUB: Just place 1 cup of coffee grounds, 1 cup of coarse sugar, and a 1/2 cup of coconut oil in a large mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly and you’re done. Apply when showering. Use a circular motion to sluff away dry, dead flakes– your skin will glow!
You can also add some grounds to homemade soaps–it makes a great exfoliation bar.

#3 DEODORIZER: Fill a muslin bag, cheesecloth, or clean sock with old grounds and hang in your trash cans or refrigerator. Pour a few down the garbage disposal to leave your whole kitchen smelling heavenly or add some to your next DIY candle.

#4 ENERGY: Add a small amount to your next pre- or post-workout smoothie for an added boost of energy or to your favorite energy ball recipe. For this, you may want to use your personal grounds. I keep a small bag in my freezer for up to one month. Bonus: it deodorizes the freezer.

What is brown and white and makes your skin glow? Find out on the blog today! #shop #collectivebias #campaignhastag
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There are many unique ways to upcycle coffee grounds, but these are the ones I’ve personally tried and consistently use. We can’t get enough of coffee, all of its wonderful benefits and the way it smells. Thank you, Dad, for dunking your sourdough toast in your coffee all those years ago, who knows if I’d be such a fan if I hadn’t mimicked your quirky habit!

Don’t forget that Starbucks® will donate 70¢ to Conservation International for every bag of coffee sold at participating Albertsons Company stores in the U.S. from May 1st through May 28 to foster thriving coffee communities.
To learn more, visit conservation.org/onetree. So go stock up on Pike Place® Roast ground or whole bean coffee– help others while getting your favorite morning cup of Joe!
Pike Place is a registered trademark of The Pike Place Market PDA, used under license.
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Popcorn Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies: Pre or Post Run Fuel

Lisa — Wed, 10 May 2017 20:42:11 +0000

I am a #NOWWellness Influencer and have been given products to sample, however, I was not paid to write this post. The FTC requires that I disclose this but I was using and loving many of them before working with this company. All opinions are my own.

I remember being a small girl and my Mom kind of losing her cool in the grocery store. In fact, I recall multiple times like this. At the time, my sisters and I just kind of looked up at her with raised eyebrows and sidestepped a few yards away, but now that I’m a Mother myself, I totally get it.
Last week was one of the most stressful times in my life as the Mom of three kids in the history of me being the Mom of three kids.
You see, I have twins and their older brother is only 2 years their senior and, like most modern families, we have busy school and sports schedules. This coupled with the fact that we always feel stressed about money and if we are doing enough to raise our kids to be able to fend for themselves into adulthood. Honestly, the ridiculous things that stream through my mind all day are enough to drive a person to the insane asylum.

When I allow myself the space and time to relax and acquiesce to the thousands of thoughts that pop into my mind to bounce off of me, I can usually come to my senses and all is well again in the world, but that takes some practice to be able to do.
Here’s the other thing, I must be disciplined enough to practice self-care.
I need to meditate, run, or give myself some breathing time to be able to organize my thoughts. If I don’t, then the anxiety comes crashing down on me and my depression sneaks up like a stranger hiding behind a bush.
Depression. Yes, I said that out loud. I suffer and have had some serious bouts recently. I will discuss that in another post, clinical depression is much more serious than what I’m talking about today.
What I’m talking about here is an overly “cluttered” life that many parents live today. Some people choose to live very busy lives and can handle many tasks at once, but for me personally, just being a Mom, in general, can be overwhelming at times.
I have three little people whom I love with all of my heart, asking, wanting, expecting, and counting on me to be there for them. I am driving to multiple schools, activities, and friends houses. I’m shocked that I’ve never forgotten to pick someone up, or left a child behind– that’s how frazzled I can feel at times.
I know I’m not alone and that everyone handles stress differently, but if you are a parent, you know what I’m talking about. Practicing self-care can be difficult for us and I’m not sure why. I guess by the end of the day it feels like there is nothing left to give to ourselves and we slump into bed and crash before we can find time.
Sometimes you have to make time and be self-disciplined, though.
I do believe that there are certain actions and products that support my ability to practice self-care and with Mother’s Day just around the corner I thought I’d give my personal favorites. These items are staples in my house and have really helped me stay centered during some difficult times.
MEDITATION: There was a time not so long ago that if you asked me to sit and do a meditation I would have bounced out of my chair and screamed, “NO!” Running used to be my outlet– but that changed. After I was involved in the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing, running, slowly, over the course of a few years has become more of a stressor (although I’m slowing coming back to it). With no outlet, I have turned to meditation but I couldn’t do it alone. I needed a guided one and after reviewing many I found that the APP “The Guided Mind” works best for me.
They have a variety of practitioners, some I don’t care for and others I love, but that’s why I like the app, you choose which one resonates with you. I only do about 10-15 minutes a day and that seems to do the trick. I’d like to build up to more in the future but my goal, for now, is to be consistent.

REMINDERS: I have chronic migraines and one of the things that drive me insane is when people suggest that I use Essential Oils to cure them. For goodness sake, the fact that so many people have suggested it, tells me how misunderstood my condition really is, but I digress. What I want to say is that I LOVE and use essential oils every day but not to cure my migraines!
What they DO is remind me to relax and bring my mind to a place and time when I might have been calmer and I LOVE them for that. The smell is my cue to take a deep breath and center myself. My children associate the smell with wonderful feelings too. I sense how they relax when I diffuse lavender and many times they comment on how it reminds them of when they were a baby. They are “essential” to us for this and many other reasons.
NOW Foods just came out with this Mini USB Car Diffusor and I LOVE it. My car smells amazing and it reminds all of us to chill when we are rushing around from place to place. I might not be able to control how busy my life is, but I CAN choose to stay calmer and use tools like this one to help me out.

SUPPLEMENTS: There are few supplements that I take to help promote a more relaxed state of mind. The two that seem to work best for me are L-Theanine and Holy Basil.
L-Theanine is the same ingredient that is found in tea. There’s a reason that the British use tea as the answer to most issues. “Keep Calm and Carry On.” It promotes relaxation and healthy vascular function.
Holy Basil Extract is an Adaptogenic Herb that aids in the body’s ability to adapt to life stress. * I take mine at night before I go to bed.

TIME: This one is really tough– I know! We are all pressed for time and never feel like we have enough. Giving yourself 10-20 minutes of alone time without technology can help reduce some of those overwhelming feelings and allow you time to organize your thoughts. What I mean by that is let go of thoughts that don’t serve you and grab hold of the ones that do.
There are many things you can do whether it’s taking a bath, going for a run, sipping a cup of tea, or just stepping outside for a moment. Sometimes you have to make yourself do something for yourself. Instead of watching more TV, go upstairs 20 minutes early and take a bath or meditate.
Make this EASY homemade DIY Lavender Bath Soak:

How to Make It

1 Cup of NOW Magnesium Flakes
1 Cup of Organic Dried Lavender Flowers
10-15 drops of NOW® Solutions Spike Lavender Oil
In a large bowl mix all the ingredients well and you’re done. Store in a closed Mason jar or glass container. Add about 1/4 cup to warm bath water.
*Caution: NOW® Essential Oils are highly concentrated and can be irritating to the skin. Avoid direct contact with skin and always dilute essential oils before topical use. Discontinue if a rash appears after skin contact. Not for internal use. Avoid contact with eyes. Consult a healthcare practitioner before using if pregnant/nursing.
MASSAGE: I find it slightly frustrating that many people view massage as a luxury or a treat. There are some studies that indicate that it may benefit those with specific conditions. It can also help produce feelings of caring, comfort, and connection. Despite its benefits, massage isn’t meant as a replacement for regular medical care. Let your doctor know you’re trying massage and be sure to follow any standard treatment plans you have. (Source)
I know it has really helped me, but there a few things I might add. Sometimes finding the right practitioner takes time. Much like a hairdresser, not all therapist will work for everyone. Before you throw in the towel, try a few different therapist out–ask for referrals from friends and read Yelp reviews. It’s expensive. I know, because we can’t always afford for me to go, but there are places to go to learn how to do it yourself.
I LOVE this SITE and find Heather’s tutorials very useful.
Try the Golf Ball Massager and Now Foods Massage Oils

We may not be able to control all aspects of our life, but organizing and identifying all of the things in our life that we need to let go of whether it is mental or physical, along with taking time for ourselves, might just help reduce some stress.
I can’t say that I am always successful at managing my anxiety, but I can say that I always try to pick myself up and find the answers needed for me to live a healthy, happy life–I wish the same for you. I hope these tips have helped in some small way.
Oftentimes the first step is the hardest and sometimes we really just have to make ourselves practice self-care. I challenge you to do just that!
Hope you all have a great week!

5 Small but Very Useful Gifts for Busy Moms Who are About to Lose Their Minds
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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Chocolate Dream Bars with a Popcorn Crust

Lisa — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 16:38:40 +0000

I am a NOWWellness Influencer and have been given products to sample, however, I was not paid to write this post. The FTC requires that I disclose this but I was using and loving many of them before working with this company. All opinions are my own.

It’s pretty safe to say that most of us have heard our Mother say, “eat your vegetables,” several times throughout our childhoods. We are told that they are good for us, some of us have taken that even further and have researched why they are good for us, and then a few actually take the steps necessary to incorporate them into our daily diets.
For many Americans, including myself, we find it difficult to eat the recommended daily amount that is required for optimal health. If you are training for an endurance race or even a recreational runner it’s even more important to eat GREEN. There are so many benefits to eating these foods, but it isn’t always that easy.
In comes the green smoothie. You see recipes and even entire cookbooks for them everywhere, but have you ever asked yourself “what is the big deal?” “Why all the hype over green smoothies?” Well, I asked myself that question a few months ago and decided to do a little more research plus incorporate them into my diet to see if they really do give you more energy and overall wellness.
I made the commitment to drink one large green smoothie a day for 30 days. The results were interesting and I’m confident that they will vary, as we are all different, but let me tell you what happened to me personally.

7 Things that happened when I started drinking a daily Green Smoothie

ENERGY: I did have more energy. It wasn’t the jolting hyperactive type you get with a cup of strong coffee, but rather the clear minded, sustained over the course of the day type. There is no crash with this type, and you can easily fall asleep at night. It’s more subtle, but that’s what I was looking for.
HYDRATION: I was peeing a lot. I am pretty good about drinking water, but this took it to a whole new level. I was getting my fluids in without having to constantly remind myself to drink water. As runners, we need even more hydration, so this worked out in my favor.
REGULARITY: Not to give you TMI, but let’s just say I was in the restroom three times a day. I’ve never had challenges in this department, but everything seemed to move very quickly through me, and I didn’t realize how awesome you feel when you are eliminating so frequently.
APPETITE: I was far less hungry and even though it feels like I’m eating all day long, the smoothies are so full of fiber and fluids that I felt less hungry throughout the day. I wasn’t trying to lose weight, and I don’t own a scale, but I certainly felt lighter. My stomach no longer felt bloated.
RUNNING: Here’s the one I was most pleased with: my running felt better. I had taken a hiatus from running due to some health issues and was just getting back into a regular training plan when I incorporated the smoothies. I soon began to feel light on my feet again and my paces dropped. Part of it was that I was gaining fitness, but I know from years of experimentation that nutrition is a big part of how you feel when you run.
RECOVERY: Through my research, I read that many green foods can aid in recovery and although recovery isn’t something that is easy to notice for me, and I wasn’t doing intense marathon training, I did feel less sore and seemed to be able to go from workout to workout with no trouble. This one is more difficult to gauge, but I feel pretty good.
CRAVINGS: The first week I drank the smoothies I was still craving something sweet in the afternoon. When this happened, I ate a few dried seedless dates and that seemed to make my brain happy. After the first week, my sugar craving almost disappeared and now I crave GREENS.

10 Green Foods That are Pontentially Good for Runners

Green Tea– It’s not just green liquid, it’s loaded with antioxidants (polyphenols) and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. A small amount of caffeine combined with the amino acid L-Theanine, enhances brain function, and some studies suggest that green tea will aid in the body’s ability to burn fat ( the amount varied in individuals). All of these benefits are ideal for endurance runners. (Source)
I use Organic Green Kick or Dandelion Cleansing teas as a base for all of my green smoothies. You get the fluid and the nutritional benefits all in one.

10 Green Foods Every Runner Should be Eating #NOWWellness #Runchat
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GREEN FRUITS
Most fruits contain a high volume of water, fiber, and carbohydrates which is a great combination for runners.
Grapes– Like green tea, grapes contain a powerful antioxidant known as polyphenols. Plus, plenty of fiber and carbs.
Apples– Have plenty of fiber which keeps you feeling full and a lot of Quercetin, which supports lung function– what runner doesn’t want to support their lungs? Don’t dismiss the saying, “An apple a day.”
Kiwi– These little natives to New Zealand are very high in Vitamin C and folate.
Avocado– High in potassium, fiber, and healthy fats, we eat an usually large amount of these in my house per week; maybe because we live down the street from a grove. That’s about as local as you can get.
Pears– One pear contains up to 11 percent of our daily recommended intake of vitamin C and 9.5 percent of our daily recommended intake of copper. Runners need to keep their immune system strong and Vitamin C has been linked to doing just that.
GREEN VEGETABLES
Leafy Greens– Kale, Spinach, Collard Greens, Dandelion, Beet greens, all are high in dietary fiber and rich in folic acid, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. They also have a host of phytochemicals, such as lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene.
Celery– An excellent source of antioxidants and beneficial enzymes, in addition to vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin B6.
Wheat Grass– Considered a super food, because of its high chlorophyll content and its antioxidant functions. It may enhance the body’s production of enzyme SOD— which is one of the body’s main antioxidant enzymes. Because there is no way for me to have access to fresh grown every day, I use NOWFoods Non-GMO, Certified Organic Wheat Grass Powder.
Cucumber– They contain small amounts of an anti-inflammatory flavonol called fisetin that could potentially aid in brain function. Cucumbers also contain vitamin A, vitamin K, and potassium.
ADD-INS
Ginger– A natural anti-inflammatory, ginger may reduce day to day muscle soreness brought on by exercise. Could potentially soothe your stomach if you suffer from “runners trots” or other minor stomach upset. I peel mine, cut it into one-inch pieces, and store it in the freezer. I use one piece per smoothie.
(Source)
Beets– Beets may boost stamina to help you exercise longer, improve blood flow, and help lower blood pressure, some research shows. They are rich in natural chemicals called nitrates. Through a chain reaction, your body changes nitrates into nitric oxide, which helps with blood flow and blood pressure
Seeds– For added fiber, protein, Omega’s and other nutrients. I use THIS seed blend in all of my smoothies and on top of oatmeal and yogurts.
Dried Pitted Dates– for sweetness, but also essential minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium and potassium are found in dates. It also contains vitamins such as niacin, folate, vitamin A and vitamin K. I add them to take away some of the bitter taste of the greens. They make your smoothies taste great and work well if you are cravings something sweet.
Banana– For sweetness and potassium. I find that adding a half of one to my smoothies also helps take away some of the bitter taste of the greens. Bananas have long been known as a great source of energy for runners and they make your smoothies very tasty.
Nut Butter– for protein and fiber, this is another item we eat loads of.

Green Kick Smoothie Recipe- Excellent for Runners #fitfluential #runchat
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DAILY GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPE

This is a basic recipe that can be adjusted according to taste and to what you have available. My daily recipe includes:
2 cups of fluid– I use Organic Green Kick Tea that has been iced.
1 large handful of leafy Greens – I rotate which ones I use, because they all have different health benefits.
1/2 a green apple
1/2 of a banana
3-4 seedless dates
3 Tablespoons of Triple Omega Seed mix
1 Tablespoon of Organic Wheat Grass Powder
1- nob of fresh ginger
1/2 cup of fruit — you can use whatever you like- In this recipe I used a Kiwi.
A handful of ice cubes.
Add-Ins
Optional
1 Tablespoon of Nut Butter ( when I’m feeling extra hungry or post workout)
1/2 of a cooked beet ( I cook and slice the up, then store them in the freezer)
1-3 slices of cucumber
1/2 stalk of celery
1/2 of an avocado
Place all ingredients in a large blender and whirl until smooth and creamy.
Need a blender? Try this one HERE. Short on space and money? Try this ONE.
Yields about 4-5 cups. It’s pretty big. Sip on it throughout the morning. I use this double walled, vacuumed sealed stainless steel MUG to keep it cold all morning long and it’s also great if you need to drink it on the go.

Why Runners Should Eat Thier Greens #NOWWellness #runchat
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How about you? What’s your favorite GREEN food? Do you like green smoothies?
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This post is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.]]>