The Organic Geek

Newby Runner Tips

2012-03-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

I had recently moved to southern California just over a year ago and wanted to bring my workouts outside in this beautiful weather. I thought I would give running a try, even though I don't think I have ever run even a mile at one time in my life. I was 42 years old and I thought I was in really good shape.

I couldn't even run .25 without stopping and thinking I may die. : )

I was challenged by this AND I LOVED the way I felt after running even short distances. I stuck with it and what a year it's been. I would've loved to have read some tips like the ones I'm about to give to you before I began running! So if you have just began to run or are considering it, I sure hope these things I've learned along the way help you to stick with it because it's surely the most amazing workout I have ever had. But the coolest thing for me is that it's way more than just a workout. It is a wonderful outlet for stress and it can help you get to know your beautiful body more than ever before.

TIP #1
It's a mindgame. For me, the biggest challenge when I first began to run was all in my mind. The whole time I was running, my mind constantly told me reasons why I should stop. I had a million of them and let me tell you - lies, lies, lies. Your mind will go into panic mode trying everything to get you to stop. I promise you that you can go longer and stronger than what your mind tells you. Eventually, if you keep setting that alarm and getting out there it will stop.

TIP #2

Slow and Steady. I moved my mileage up too much too soon and suffered with horrible shinsplints. Let your body get used to the stress of running slowly. Don't run a a mile one day and move to three the next. Let your body adjust to one mile for a week or so and then move it up a little for the next.

TIP #3

STRETCH. Take the time to stretch before and after your runs. DO NOT skimp on this even if you don't feel sore. You must keep those muscles loosened up or injuries set in and trust me...those injuries hurt and will keep you from running! I recommend going to the internet and searching for running stretches and copy the ones you really like into a word document. Print that out and follow it.

TIP #4

Mama needs a new pair of shoes. Running is a fairly inexpensive sport, but you need a good pair of running shoes if you are going to commit to this regularly. Runners world has a really cool wizard-like tool that can help you find which shoes may fit your needs best.

TIP #5

Mindgame better than your mind. When I first started running, it felt like I was in a battle with my own mind during my runs so I fought back. I started using visualization to get me through the runs and not only did it get me through the runs, it planted seeds of change deep within me. When you spend time focusing on YOU becoming BETTER, you get better. When I couldn't even run 3 miles at a time, I was visualizing myself crossing the finish line of a marathon.

TIP #6

Socks matter. Believe it or not, socks matter for me more than anything else. If your feet are hot, all you can think about it how hot your feet are. If your socks bunch up, it sucks. Spend the money and get a good pair of running socks. They are breathable and don't move. I prefer under armour ones.

TIP #7

Reflection on progress. Use an app (like nike+) to track your runs so you can look back over them and see how much progress you have made. You will use this to fuel you and give yourself a much deserved pat on the back.

TIP #8

Surround yourself with people who believe in your dreams. I've found that sometimes the people who are closest to you don't support you in your newfound love of exercise as much as you need them to. It is crucial that you find people who are like-minded and will encourage you. Encouragement truly is the most powerful tool on the planet. If you need encouragement, start encouraging others. This is a primary reason why I have the Organic Geek facebook page.

TIP #9

Your run is as good as your playlist. If you have some good music to listen to, you will go further. Music distracts you from the pain in your body and it also sets a backdrop for magical things to happen.

TIP #10

Don't spend a fortune at the sporting goods store just yet. There are sooo many different kinds of running clothes and they are pricey! I go to thrift stores and scour ebay looking for running clothes because that way I can pay just a little bit to see if I like the shorts. You won't know if you like them until you run with them a few times. If you don't - no big deal because you only spent a few dollars to find out.

TIP #11

This is probably the MOST IMPORTANT tip I could give to you. Go buy a foam roller. You can get them at any sporting goods store and trust me...you need to do this. You need to keep the IT BAND loose or you will have knee/hip pain that is no joke. Here is a video that shows you how to roll out the IT band. Do this every time you run. Don't know what the IT band is? I didn't either. You should. Here's a good article explaining it.

TIP #12

FOOD IS FUEL. Track your calories with an app like myfitnesspal. I don't do this everyday, but I think it's good to do this for at least a few months so you understand how many calories you are eating on average each day. It also gives you a clear understanding of the caloric content of food in general so you can make wiser decisions. You must must must really grasp that the food you put into your body is the fuel you are using to push your body to run, so it should be premium fuel! If you are still struggling with eating real food, Michael Pollan is a genius at simplifying our diet. I've made an album that gives you some of his food rules and you can find that here.

TIP #13

As Tony Horton would say, Drink your water people. Proper hydration of your "vehicle" is crucial for prime performance. If we think about our bodies as our one and only vehicle (IT IS!) we may treat it better.

TIP #14

Find a runner to talk to. I crave the talks I have with other runners. No one around me wants to hear about the problem I'm having at mile 10 with muscle cramping, but a runner will talk with me for hours about it! You can share what works for you etc. and it will really help both of you!

TIP #15

Set goals. For me, if I don't have goals in front of me, I won't keep moving forward. Set a reasonable goal - like a 5k or 10k and then write out a schedule to run in order to meet that goal. You can find many sample schedules online that will help you with this. I print out my schedule and put one by my desk and one by my bed. I mark the runs off as I complete them. It holds me accountable.

Don't give up! Your body is gonna hurt at the beginning, but I promise you it won't hurt as much once your body works through it. You have to build up all those muscles and tendons you are using and then once you do - you won't get so sore. Stick with it because it IS WORTH IT. I have found such comfort in my runs and use them as an outlet. You will feel soooo much better inside and out, I promise.

It is my hope that these tips help you with your runs. Be encouraged because I believe in you!

Healthy Gift Ideas

2011-12-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

What better time than Christmas is there to introduce your loved ones to a little health and wellness? Here are some Christmas gift ideas that are geared toward health and fitness and may serve as a catalyst for you to get some friends and family on the track towards a healthier future.

Monthly subscription based gifts:
Lollihop
http://lollihop.com
These folks send a box of organic and nutritious snacks monthly and they even have a VEGAN option.
$18.95/mo.

PaleoPax
http://paleopax.com
They choose five paleo food products from producers across the country and send once a month. All food is naturally grown, with no artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings, and preservatives.
$18.95/mo.

Blissmobox
http://www.blissmobox.com/
They pack each box with between $25-$50 worth of organic & eco-friendly products and deliver monthly.
$19/mo.

Clean Eating Magazine Subscription
www.cleaneating.com
Seriously, this is my favorite magazine of all time. It's smack full of recipes and so few ads. There are almost always photos of everything...just can't say enough good about this magazine so in my opinion it's a FABULOUS gift idea for people who love to cook.
$24.97/1 year
$34.97/2 years

Kinect for Xbox 360
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/kinect

If you want to buy your kids [OR HUSBAND] a video game system, get a kinect for 360. You have to have an xbox 360 to use it and it will get everyone moving and having a blast without realizing how much exercise it is!
Console sells for @$300

Food Rules by Michael Pollan
http://michaelpollan.com/books/food-rules/

It's a tiny book with common sense food rules and I love it so much that I make visuals of it here. I think everyone should have a copy and would make a great stocking stuffer.
Under $10

Local Food Coop Membership
You'll have to scour google to see if you have a coop near you, but this is a great way to introduce a loved one to some healthy food options. Some Whole Foods stores offer this as well. Basically, they bag up locally grown fruits and vegetables that are in season and you pick up once a week or once a month.
Usually around $20/$30 a month

Gift certificates to a nearby organic market
Not only will you be removing the "it's too expensive" excuse from your loved one, you'll also be helping a local healthfood store grow their business!

If you want to get really bold, you could pay their registration fee in an upcoming 5k, 10k or half marathon. That would really put them on the spot on Christmas morning, now wouldn't it. : ) Happy shopping! 2012 is gonna ROCK!

My dream deadline is fast approaching

2011-09-30T11:04:00.000-07:00

What an incredible year of personal growth it has been for me. We moved across the country last December to a place where we did not know a soul. At the beginning of the year, I decided this would be a year of new discoveries and attempts at new things to help me figure out what makes me smile and incorporate those things into my life. It is amazing what happens when you allow yourself the opportunity to grow by stepping out of the comfortable little box in which we all tend to put ourselves.

Since we moved to a place that has heaven weather, I really wanted to get my workout on OUTSIDE. We started hiking and had so much fun, saw incredible scenery and got our butts in great shape. If you've ever heard me talk about p90x and Insanity, you know I HATE CARDIO. I'll do wall squats all day if it means I can avoid plyometrics. : ) Well, considering I can't hike everyday for my workout, I had to find another so I thought I would give jogging a try, even though I hate jogging. My first run was in January and I couldn't run even a half mile without stopping and gasping for air, but I loved the way it made me feel after. I started flirting with the run a few days a week because I thought it was ridiculous I couldn't run a mile. I began to feel better and better and discovered I was in a battle of wills. It was my mind against my body and my mind told me all the reasons why I should not do this while I was flirting with this run. I would push myself further than my mind told me I could go and it was a rush. Little did I know, I was hooked. I started running 1-2 miles every couple of days and then in March I thought....I wonder if I could run a half marathon or even a marathon. It seemed crazy. I had never run more than 3 miles, but could I ....

I mentioned it to several people and they all told me I need to chill out and do a 5K. : )

Then I met someone who told me I could do it. (thank you Oscar) Sometimes, it takes someone to believe in you before you let yourself believe in yourself. He told me about a marathon in October and assured me that if I follow a training schedule, I would be able to easily complete a half marathon. Balls to the walls - I signed up for a half marathon when I had never even run further than 3 miles.

That race is now just 9 days away. I ran 30 miles last week. I RAN 30 MILES LAST WEEK. Holy Crap.

I am going to continue to train and run a full marathon in February. I am in better shape than I have ever been in at age 42 (will be 43 just 2 days after the race) and I am confident that I do not have to get squishy just because I am aging. I mean if that doesn't get you on your feet to holler, C'MON!

This experience has taught me so much. It's not just about running! It's about taking on things that look so overwhelming and not giving up. No matter what your mind tells you, no matter what your loved ones tell you, no matter what...if you want it and are willing to let go of the fear, it's yours. I set a goal, but didn't realize the real payoff would not be completely the race. I feel like I already have seen the payoff with all the work I've put in to make my dreams turn into a reality. I got up to that stupid alarm no matter how I felt, if it was raining or scorching hot, I ran. Man - if we can incorporate a 'training schedule' for all our dreams, we would be unstoppable.

Can you tell I'm on fire? : ) I want this to encourage you. You don't have to become a runner to experience this. Start putting deadlines on your dreams and open up a whole new world. The cool thing is - it is never too late. xo

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT ME IN THIS RACE
--I would love to raise as much money for this amazing charity as possible. Up and Running Again trains and conditions people who are living in homeless shelters as well as at-risk youths to run marathons, provides them with running shoes and pays their race registration fees.

Click here to support me completing this crazy dream of mine by donating to this incredible group. A huge thank you to all of you who have already done so. I know we can make some more dough for them in the next week.

Healthy Chicken Soup

2011-09-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

My cousin posted that she was making chicken noodle soup the other morning and it sounded so good to me that I couldn't get it out of my mind! So I went out to the kitchen and threw some stuff in a pan and voila'

1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, diced or shredded
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 T minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried basil
8 cups water or broth (I usually use a box of broth and add water as needed while it cooks)
1/2 cup spinach (I add spinach to almost everything I cook because it does a body so good)
salt / pepper to taste
2 chicken breasts

I literally threw it all in a pan and cooked it on low for 4 hours. At the end, I put about 1/2 whole wheat noodles that I made for Keith's birthday and had frozen. Before adding the noodles, I took the chicken out, shredded it and put it back in.

Easy. Whole. Yum.

Mexican Crockpot of Goodness

2011-09-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

I just threw some stuff in a crockpot and let it cook all day, but here's my guess at recipe. I cook without measuring anything, so it makes it difficult to duplicate anything - which I find delightful because we find new dishes all the time. : ) My husband didn't like this dish at all (but he doesn't like black beans much) but I loved it.

INGREDIENTS

3 or 4 chicken breasts (or dark meat if you prefer)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup dry black beans (i try to not use beans from a can and get them from bulk at whole foods)
1/2 c. beef broth (I didn't have chicken broth on hand or I would've probably opted for that. The beef broth gave it a richer taste)
1 c hot salsa (a local store has some salsa from a local family who makes it and packages it for sale local and I love that)
1 T ground cumin
1/2 t. allspice
3 or 4 T minced garlic (I may have used even more because I love me some garlic)
little salt and pepper on top

I mixed all this up and cooked it on low all day long. I recommend serving it over long grain rice. : ) Also, I may try this again with black eyed peas!

I believe in you.

2011-08-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

I can always tell when I've spent too much time around "fun-suckers." I am irritable, stressed and have a grumble in my attitude.

Fun-suckers...You know the kind - You could be in a fantastic mood and a fun-sucker will come into your space and literally suck the fun right out of you in 30 seconds flat. These folks always have something to complain about, someone to gossip about, and it makes them feel better about themselves by pointing out something that make you feel bad.

Sometimes, fun-suckers simply cannot be avoided. They may be co-workers or even your family, but I've learned that no matter who they are, if I do not limit my time with them and make up for their fun-sucking by spending time with positive people, my attitude, mood, workouts and general happiness suffers.

Sometimes, it takes someone to believe in you, before you can fully believe in yourself.

When you surround yourself with people who believe in your dreams, it makes something deep inside whisper....maybe I CAN do this. You may not have people in your life currently who get behind your dreams. Sometimes those closest to us can be our sharpest critics, so seek out people (even if it's virtually at first) who have a positive outlook on life and stick close to them. Attitudes are contagious!

Ageless.

2011-07-19T16:26:00.000-07:00

A lady named Diana Nyad has been all over the news this week and has inspired throngs of people all over the globe I'm sure. Basically, this 61 year old woman is chasing down one of her dreams: To swim 103 miles from Cuba to Florida. My favorite article shares this quote from Diana Nyad:

"I'm still vital and I'm still powerful, and when I walk up on that shore in Florida, I want millions of those AARP sisters and brothers to look at me and say 'I'm going to go write that novel I thought it was too late to do. I'm going to go work in Africa on that farm that those people need help at. I'm going to adopt a child. It's not too late, I can still live my dreams." Now if that doesn't make you get up and holla GLORYYYY, you need to go eat a friggin' carrot or something.

If you haven't read about this amazing 61 year old athlete, ya gotta read about her, follow her journey and be inspired.

I can't tell you how many times since I've been in Southern California I've seen people over 60 cruuuuzzzziiinnnn' up these massive socal hills on a bike. It's incredibly inspiring. I guess it could be because 60 doesn't seem that far off, now that I know how fast 40 came, but that makes me so HOPEFUL! We aren't predestined to become squishy and fragile at any certain age. How exciting is that?! We truly can be limber and agile well into our older years and these people are living proof.

While I fully think this lady out there swimming with sharks is CAAARRRRRRAAAAAAAZZZZZYYYYY she is daring and chasing her dreams. She's still taking amazing care of her body, looks healthy and glowing, and is out there swimmin' with the fishes...but in a good way! She is still living...reallyyyyy living. I want to live [really LIVE] until the day I die, don't you?

Be inspired. Take care of your body and it will take care of you. Before you know it, you'll be in your 60's and still chasing down those crazy dreams of yours....

Let Go or Get Dragged

2011-06-22T18:26:00.000-07:00

I came across this quote a week ago and I can't get it out of my mind. It really speaks to me where I am in my life and ironically it's a lesson I just can't seem to establish in my life. My first lesson in this principal was a very practical one. I was about 8 or 9 when I had a wonderful Norwegian Elkhound named Lady. Lady was an "outside dog," and we lived in the country, so she was very strong and had the run of the countryside.

I used to see other people who walked their dog on a leash. I wanted to walk MY dog on a leash.

If you don't know me, I'm a bit stubborn. Once I get an idea in my head, I just gotta make it happen. I looked around the garage, where you could find anything, and sure enough found an old dog leash. I called Lady over and clipped it on her collar. Lady played along because she loved spending time with me. That afternoon, I walked her all over the place and we were just having a great time together....until she spots a rabbit and takes chase. I planted my little 65 lb. frame in the ground and refused to let go of the leash...and off into the air I went!

Lady pulled me off my feet, into the air and my father sees me flapping around in the air like a flag and begins to scream LET GO! LETTTTTT GOOOOOOOO! She was going to be my dog and I was GOING TO WALK HER! It took being dragged over a large pile of firewood for me to finally LET GO. Needless to say, I had some dragmarks. Ouch.

You would think after such a practical example I would've learned way back then what happens when you don't "let go." I'm a hardhead. After coming across this quote, I immediately thought of this very practical lesson I had as a child. I'm going to make an honest effort to put this to action in my life. It's going to take some practice indeed.

You see....I am a control freak and am just now beginning to understand how this bleeds into all areas of my life. Becoming healthy is complicated. If anyone or anything other than YOU controls your mood, your attitude, your overall happiness and well being, you aren't healthy. I'm at the place in my life now where my children are all on their own and learning who THEY are through THEIR decisions and experiences. It's time for mama to LET GO and work on happiness and peace for just me. *deep breath*

That concept is both frightening and liberating for me.

You may be going through something similar with a spouse, a parent or a friend. If our happiness is controlled by another person's behavior, we will never obtain optimal health or genuine happiness. I think this mama is gonna let go and watch my little ones blossom into whatever it is they are. It will be beautiful...I just know it.

Exercise is a stress slayer

2011-06-01T11:02:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows exercise is a great way to lose weight, but I don't think exercise gets enough credit for being a perfect way to relieve stress. I am a control freak and don't even bother denying it any longer. Since I've ventured into health and fitness, I've discovered how much the way I feel can be controlled through diet and fitness. I kinda find it challenging to see how well I can get my body working through tweaking my diet and eating the things that it needs to work to it's fullest potential.

Imagine if you only got one car to last your entire life...

I bet the oil would get changed way more frequently and no matter the cost of premium gasoline, that's what you would use to fuel it. If we can really grasp the fact that we're given only one body and how we feel and how long we live is all dependant on how well you have cared for that one and only body, we would certainly change.

But no matter how clean your diet is and how much you get that hot little body of yours moving each day, one thing that cannot be controlled is STRESS. As long as we're breathing, we have no choice but to have to endure stress and people use all kinds of things to deal with it. Stress causes a whole gamut of illnesses, from TMJ to headaches. If you've had to deal with a massive amount of stress in your life, I'm sure you can rattle off a handful of terrible symptoms it caused. However, if you go to the doctor because you are under a great deal of stress, chances are they will write you a prescription for a drug, and not exercise. I think exercise isn't taken seriously enough as a solution. Check this out.

Exercise causes your body to releases chemicals called endorphins.These endorphins produce a “feel good” attitude in the body. If you've ever excercised regularly, you know exactly what this means. You really feel different. I've experienced this with running more than any other exercise regiment I've tried. That wonderful feeling, known as a "runner's high," also gives you a more positive and energizing outlook on the things going on in your life, thus improving your mood.

Exercise provides you with energy and stamina to make the most of your day. I started setting my alarm EARLIER so I can start my day with a workout and that's the best thing I've done for ME because it's amazing how much my energy level has increased.

Exercise clears your mind and allow you to have a fresh perspective. Things are always better after a hard workout.

Exercise improves your self esteem. It's hard to feel badly when you get out of the shower, look in the mirror and tell yourself what a brick house you've turned into.

Exercise wears your butt out so when it's time to sleep, you sleep instead of overanalyzing what is stressing you.

I am writing this post today to serve as a reminder to me. I've had a couple of really stressful days and it's so easy to lose motivation and slip into bad habits. To combat the negativity, I decided to sit and list reasons exercise is where it's at...

So the next time stress surrounds you, get your fitness on instead of using a self destructive way to cope.

McWHAAAATTTTTTT?!

2011-05-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

I'm ashamed to admit raised my children just like alot of American families do, ON CHICKEN NUGGETS. The kids love them and they are CHEAP. There's always the joke about not knowing exactly what they are, but I never took time to really check into it. As I've said before many times, I never paid food much attention. I never really took notice of how important what we eat IS for our bodies to function correctly. I assumed the American government wouldn't allow a very well known restaurant to sell AND MARKET "food" to my children that wouldn't be good for them, let alone hurt them. Yes, I was that naive about food.

For the past couple of years, I've been researching and reading all I can get my hands on regarding the foods that our bodies REQUIRE in order to function properly. It truly has been UNBELIEVABLE to me to discover most of the "food" I gave my children to eat was not food at all. I'm not just talking about fast food, but all of the processed food in the freezer as well. We need to educate and alert our American mommies so this can stop. There's NOTHING more powerful on this earth than a woman with her mind made up, so can you imagine what will happen if a whole bunch of mamas start demanding change in our food supplies starting with OUR CHILDREN!

We all eat this crap, but the kids get the worst of the mess. Let's focus just on the chicken mcnugget. Here are the ingredients:

White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning [yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid], sodium phosphate, natural flavor (botanical source). Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, bleached wheat flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, dextrose, corn starch. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.

First off, shouldn’t chicken nuggets be made from chicken, bread crumbs, eggs, and oil? That's what it would be if you made them at home, but not from the place on every corner that has a playland. It's so over-processed I don't even see how it can be called food.

So what the heck are some of those ingredients?! I've never even heard of dimethylpolysiloxane and I'm guessing it's not in your pantry either.

Lisa McComb, who handles global media relations for McDonald's says, "Dimethylpolysiloxane is used as a matter of safety to keep the oil from foaming. The chemical is a form of silicone also used in cosmetics and Silly Putty. A review of animal studies by The World Health Organization found no adverse health effects associated with dimethylpolysiloxane."

Oh thanks, Lisa. I feel better about feeding it to my children now.

Dimethylpolysiloxane is an "anti-foaming agent" that is added to the frying oil to keep the starches from binding to air molecules, which would cause the oil to foam. This foaming oil problem is apprently so bad that McDonalds decided a toxic chemical to it in order to make the foam go away.

According to the ‘Handbook of Food Additives’, dimethylpolysiloxane is a suspected carcinogen and an established mutagen, tumorigen, and reproductive effector; it's also flammable.

That ALONE should make us stop feeding this crap to our kids, but if that's not enough, we have more!
Chicken McNuggets also contain an ingredient called "tertiary butylhydroquinone", or TBHQ, an antioxidant that comes from petroleum and it's either sprayed directly on the nugget or the inside of the box it comes in to "help preserve freshness."

According to ‘A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives’, TBHQ is a form of butane. Yes, you read that...butane. The FDA (you know...the ones that protect us) allows food processors to use "sparingly" in our food. So what that means is TBHQ can be no more than 0.02 percent of the oil in a nugget. We better hope the people who are responsible for that number is drinking more coffee than our air traffic controllers because a single gram of TBHQ can cause "nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse and ingesting five grams of TBHQ can kill.”

We at least need to get this information out there so parents can make themselves aware of what they are handing their children to eat. It's time we all begin to really pay food some attention.

Catalyst for Change

2011-05-23T11:57:00.000-07:00

This journey into health and wellness actually happened by complete accident. I have never had a weight problem, per se, and can't think of a time where I was ever serious about dieting. Honestly, I never paid "food" much attention at all. I was a single mom who worked so much and dinner was just another chore. I'm ashamed to admit I raised my kids on fast food meals, but never thought I was doing them harm. Back to the accidental...

About 2 1/2 years ago, my soon to be husband brought home a dvd with something called "AB RIPPER" burned on it. He told me how hard it was and I had to try to get through it. I popped it in and saw that it was only about 12 minutes long - how hard could it be, right? : D I spent the rest of the night trying to discredit p90x. I mean - it was an infomercial! How could it be legit?! I must have watched 100 videos on youtube that people posted with their results. I couldn't believe it...and it was purchased and on it's way by the time I shut down my computer that night.

That was the beginning. I realized very quickly, that even though I was fairly thin, I was sooooo out of shape. A couple of rounds of p90x and Insanity fixed that. Since that time, I've concentrated on educating myself on how my body works and how important the food are fueling our body is. I regret that I did not know this while my kids were young, but I know now and plan to use it to my advantage so I can be around to be the best great grandmother ever.

With all that said, in just over two years I am a different person. I feel different. I look different. I work different. I play different. I think different. I truly AM different, and it all leads back to a moment with a dvd.

Reflection is good for putting things into perspective. I think the changes I've made in my life over the course of the last 2 years have not only added countless years to my life, but they have also made my current moments so much better. I have more energy, focus, and just general UMPH to get things done. Are you on this journey yet? If not, let this be the catalyst for change.

Here's to the next two years!

It's not over til the fat lady sings

2011-05-18T20:52:00.000-07:00

.....but the lady singin' the winning song won't be a FAT OLIVIA! I don't watch much television, unless it's true crime, but a couple of months ago I caught the first episode of Season 11 Biggest Loser. I laughed and cried and fell in love with the show I had never seen before. Better late than never, I guess! I loved the show so much that I bought a membership to HULU so I could watch all of the previous seasons while I worked. I am now a HUGE addict (no pun intended) and for the first time I get to vote!

I gotta say, those purple sisters had me from the beginning. I loved Hannah's spunky attitude and the way Olivia kept her in line. I've had the privilege of watching these wonderful young women be TRANSFORMED into lean, mean, fightin' machines! I saw something change in them - you can see it in their eyes and it's fierce determination. My money is on OLIVIA to win it all, but regardless of winning or not, I sure am looking forward to being inspired by these ladies for years to come.

If you have never watched this show - give it a shot. I find myself so INSPIRED watching and who can't love a last chance workout?!

Newport Beach Farmer's Market

2011-05-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was mother's day and also the first one I've spent away from my beloved youngins, so my husband got the privilege of letting me do whatever I wanted and dragging him with me. : )

I chose to check out the Newport Beach Farmer's Market and also eat at a restaurant I've been reading about called True Food Kitchen. I thought I would do a little review of both experience to share with my Southern California audience, so I'm gonna start with the farmers!

It's easy to find parking in the parking deck right next to the market and with a validated ticket, FREE. There weren't very many vendors, but there was a wide variety. We got some delicious smoothies, fresh organic vegetables, salsa, honey and all kinds of apple goodies.

There was a vendor selling meat, some selling hummus and another organic coffee.

They are having a "Spring Celebration Event" this Sunday where they will have live music and cooking demonstrations. If you live nearby, it's worth the stroll through this market. The first step to change is by supporting our local farmers.

If you would like to see some pictures I took, visit our facebook page.

Do your dreams have deadlines?

2011-04-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

I have found in both my personal and professional lives that I can awe myself if I set goals. Without them, I have a tendency to leave things unfinished and even lose interest.

Simply put, we do not realize how capable we really are until we start pushing ourselves to meet goals. Goal setting is a powerful process and can bleed into all aspects of your life and there's no better way to show yourself clearly just what a beast you are!

With health and fitness goals, be careful not to ONLY set goals too far in advance. Start with smaller goals and work your way through them. For example, I just recently started running and my first goal was to run .5 miles without stopping. I then moved to 1 mile and then set another goal of 2 miles. Once I'm strong in the 2 miles, I'll add another mile. If I would've started with a 3 mile goal, I could've easily gotten frustrated or plain out dropped dead. ; )

I also always have long term goals, but I don't just set them and forget about them. The long term goals is what determine the short term goals I start working toward. Once I start plowing through the short term goals, I'm closer and closer to achieving the long term one.

I have done the same thing with my diet. I started this journey a little over 2 years ago and had I decided way back then that I would no longer eat fast food, go almost entirely organic and eliminate most everything I was eating all day, it would've been wayyyy too overwhelming.

I ditched one bad food item at a time and added a new food that gives my body all that good stuff it needs and two years later, I feel better than I ever have in my entire life, which encourage me to set some more goals. Ahhhh it's a beautiful thing, isn't it?

If you are working out and trying to LIVE longer but aren't yet setting goals, give it a try and watch how much your progress will increase.

Preparation is the key to success

2011-04-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

This is true in nutrition, as well as anything else in life. You must plan ahead or you will set yourself for failure. You will almost always make a bad choice of what to put in your mouth if you wait until you are pressed for time and starved enough that you would even eat a chicken mcnugget.

My daughter recently made me this wonderful sandwich and I loved it so much I made another for lunch today. It's no big secret that taking the healthy route for your food takes a bit more time, but I also made another sandwich for tomorrow and wrapped it in foil and put it in the fridge so I can grab it and stick it in the oven when I'm hungry. It can't get easier than that!

For mine, I used cracked wheat sour dough bread - but try different kinds of bread. Your local whole foods or grocer with healthy options will have some bread that isn't a cousin to a candy bar. ; ) I sliced up some red peppers, onion, mushrooms, spinach and put the wonderful veges in between some low fat pepper jack cheese. Wrap that puppy up and put it in the oven for 15 or 20 minutes. Jenna put some balsamic vinegar on hers and of course you can add whatever condiment that suits you.

This is a meatless lunch and I promise you won't miss it at all. Plus, you are giving your body some vege fuel and you have lunch waiting for you tomorrow!

Amazing Chicken Tortilla Soup

2011-04-19T10:38:00.000-07:00

I LOVE spicy food, but I can say for sure it doesn't love me nearly as much. But it doesn't stop me from eating it! I've modified a recipe for chicken tortilla soup and wanted to share. It's so easy, made with wonderful whole foods and mannnnnn does it taste good. You can modify the ingredients to the tastes of your family - make it milder or smokin hot.

Remember, I don't really measure when I cook, but this should get you started!

3 chicken breasts
1-15 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
1-10 ounce can enchilada sauce
1 chopped onion
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers or use a fresh chile pepper OR TWO!
2 cloves minced garlic, or more if you like garlic like me!
2 or 3 c chicken broth (depending on how "soupy" you prefer your soup to be)
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn
2 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Directions

Put it all in your pressure cooker and cook on high for about 6-8 hours if you use raw chicken. About an hour or so before it's done, take a fork and shred the chicken. Serve with with some cheese on top and nachos!

Shake it, don't break it.

2011-04-11T17:54:00.000-07:00

My friend, Jackie, recently came to visit and bought us a Rocket Blender and we've used it every day since. We love the shakes we can make and this thing makes it simple. To make it even simpler, I clean and cut up fruit and put them in 1/4 cup baggies. I store the fruit (try all kinds of fruit!) in the freezer so it serves as a yummy AND HEALTHY ingredient, as well as ice.

My favorite shake:

2 T organic coconut milk
1/4 c frozen pineapple
1/4 c frozen banana
1/4 c frozen blueberries
1/4 c. coconut pineapple juice

Seriously, it tastes so amazingly good and what a great way to start the morning! I never measure anything - try a bunch of different ingredients to see what you like best. Keith prefers lowfat yogurt instead of the coconut milk and has gobs of strawberries.

Thank you for our new addiction, Jackie. xo

Give this little green gem another chance!

2011-04-06T13:29:00.001-07:00

Let's face it. If I say brussel sprouts, you may scrunch up your nose in disgust. "Eat your Brussels sprouts" is often used example of how mean parents can be. It's really a shame they get such a bad wrap. First of all, they are so cute! They look like mini-cabbages and have stunning green color, especially when they are fresh and organic. Even outweighing the cuteness is its nutritional value. Check this out -

Brussel sprouts has loads of something called sulforaphane. Do you want to make sure you do everything in your power to prevent yourself or your children from getting cancer? Then you want to get to know sulforaphane.

Basically, this compound makes the body’s natural defense systems work like a well oiled machine. This is the system that is set up to protect us against diseases, including cancer. Scientists have found that sulforaphane, one of the powerful glucosinolate phytonutrients, boosts our detoxification enzymes which help clear potentially carcinogenic substances. We can't avoid carcinogens, but we can "support" our internal detoxification system by eating foods that make it work faster and better. With that said, why would we not want to get our kids eating this! I mean - how cool is this?!

I can't write this post without mentioning something else....yeah, they can be stinky when they are cooking. It's because when you overcook brussel sprouts, not only do they lose their nutritional benefits, it also releases a chemical called glucosinolate sinigrin, which has a sulphurous odor. The best way to prevent this is choose another way to cook them other than boiling. Try a couple of different recipes to see if you may like them prepared differently than you've had in the past.

Here's my favorite recipe. If you have one that you like, please message it to me so I can try it.

24 brussels sprouts
1 T olive oil
1 t kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup grated cheese of your choice (may as well go with low-fat and organic since you want to hunger after health)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Place trimmed Brussels sprouts, olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper in a large resealable plastic bag. Seal the bag and shake it to coat..and you may as well make it entertaining for those around you. Pour onto a baking sheet and place on center oven rack.

Roast in the preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, shaking pan every 5 to 7 minutes for even browning. Roast them until they are nice and brown. Serve immediately while they are hot and kinda crunchy. If you want to get a little crazy, dust it with some parmesan cheese.

The Socially Acceptable Killer

2011-03-28T13:19:00.002-07:00

If we were to be totally honest, we would have to admit that we, as a society, look down on smokers. I've actually heard people say things like they have no pity on smokers who are dying of cancer etc. because they brought it on themselves. Smoking is thought of as "unholy" and religious people will always pull out the scriptures about your body being the temple of God and not allowing oneself to be addicted to something. Some churches won't let you be a deacon or leader in the church if you smoke.

Even if you aren't religious, chances are pretty good you would judge a mom who smokes with their kids in the car. We all know the risks of second hand smoking! Why would you set your child up to be prone to cancers and addiction?!

We, as a society, are so worried about smokers that we try to force them into quitting. Smoking bans are being passed all over this country preventing smokers from making the rest of us inhale the toxic smoke from their ciggarettes. We post a big ol' message on every single pack that basically tells you the product you are purchasing is going to kill you. Smokers are charged huge taxes and outrageous prices for their drug and higher rates for their insurance. In California, it is ILLEGAL to smoke with a child under than 18 years old in the same car. We, as a society, are telling you smokers in a big, LOUD, sarcastic voice - "ARE YOU JUST STUPID?!"

I think we would say that smoking is judged by society so harshly because it is a deadly killer.

We all know smoking WILL kill you. You would have to be living under a rock to not understand that fact. But, today, I would like to talk about another killer that is equally dangerous, but doesn't have the stigma and social judgement that smoking carries.

Read these statistics and really digest them. (no pun intended)

--

According to the National Vital Statistics Reports, the leading causes of death in the U.S. are heart attacks followed closely by cancer.

A study of more than 100,000 first-time heart-attack victims showed that obesity was the MOST IMPORTANT factor. Smoking ranked second. (Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology.)

Two out of three U.S. adults are overweight or obese. TWO OUT OF THREE!

The percentage of U.S. adults classified as obese DOUBLED between 1980 and 2000. (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1999.)

Obesity and overweight conditions contribute as much as $93 billion to the nation’s yearly medical bill, according to a study conducted by economists from RTI International and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Project HOPE – The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc., 2003.)

Obesity is a greater trigger for health problems and increased health spending than smoking or drinking. Individuals who are obese have 30% to 50% more chronic medical problems than those who smoke or drink heavily. (Roland Sturm, UCLA/RAND Managed Care Center for Psychiatric Disorders, The Effects of Obesity, Smoking and Drinking on Medical Problems and Costs, Health Affairs, March/April 2002.)

Obesity is estimated to lead to 400,000 deaths annually, a 33% jump over 1990. Tobacco-related deaths in the same period climbed by less than 9 percent, to 435,000, as the gap between the two narrowed. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004.)

Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes; heart disease; hypertension; osteoarthritis; sleep apnea; gallbladder disease; respiratory problems; stroke; endometrial, breast, prostate and colon cancers; poor female reproductive health; and depression, among other conditions. (The Practical Guide: Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, NHLBI, 2000.)

The total cost of obesity to U.S. companies is estimated at $13 billion per year. Health insurance costs related to obesity comprise the largest percentage of the total ($8 billion), followed by paid sick leave ($2.4 billion), life insurance ($1.8 billion), and disability insurance ($1 billion). (Prevention Makes Common Cents: Estimated Economic Costs of Obesity to U.S. Business, DHHS, 2003.)

Obesity drove 27% of medical cost increases between 1987 and 2001. (Kenneth E. Thorpe, Curtis S. Florence, David H. Howard, Peter Joski, The Impact of Obesity on Rising Medical Spending, Health Affairs, Web Exclusive, October 20, 2004.)

--

Why are we judging that mother smoking in the car with her kids when we are teaching our children our own TERRIBLE eating habits and NOT equipping them to live healthy lives giving them what their bodies need? Instead of society telling us they don't want to accept the diseases obesity causes, we have fast food restaurants on every corner selling us CRAP with absolutely NOTHING nutritional and calling it food. We have vending machines sitting in every spot imaginable that may have some hungry people. We feed our kids TERRIBLE "food" at school and THE PUBLIC ACCEPTS THIS. We put toys in happy meals. We allow our kids to be marketed by money hungry corporations. Do I need to go on?

Am I trying to say smoking is better than obesity? No. I'm simply stating it's NO DIFFERENT. They are BOTH killers and will take years of your life that was meant to be spent with your family and changing YOUR world.

Christians! Come on! We should be the leaders in fitness! We are called to care for "the temple of God" and not give ourselves an early grave by not fueling our body with proper nutrition. It is time to take charge of your own body and shed some pounds. Look around at the people who need you and all the stuff that is left to be done. It's time.

Biting off more than you can chew

2011-01-24T22:37:00.001-08:00

I've committed to blogging everyday for thirty days, otherwise I would not be writing this blog post. I am straight up one big ball of sore. Yesterday, we decided to take a ride into the mountains and long story short, we came across this hill and saw people coming down it. My husband was bound and determined we were going to climb that hill, simply because he saw other people doing it, otherwise I doubt he would've considered it.

I saw that twinkle in his eye when he saw them and immediately began telling him there was no way I was climbing up there. I said "NO" all the way up to the hill as he continued to call me "chicken" and try to psychologically trick me into walking up there. Honestly, I just really wanted to take in the view that was undoubtedly up there. So I started up the hill.

It was so steep that my heart was pounding out of my chest so hard that I had to stop a few times on the way up just so it wouldn't explode. : )

I finally made it up and was so grateful I could give my heart a rest. The view was breathtaking.

Now - that was the happy part. Where the story gets tragic is when we discovered our "navigational genius" led us down the wrong way so we had to walk all the way back up this hill. I couldn't believe it and didn't know if I could even do it frankly. But I had no choice - darkness was looming and I KNEW I could hear snakes in dem der bushes.

I put on my best mindbuzz and started back up. Long story short - we made it down once again and the adrenaline was flowing last night. I felt like a million bucks.

Funny thing. I WOKE UP WITH A WALL OF SORE PEOPLE. I may have bit off more than I could chew on this one. : ) There was no consideration of a workout today....I think of someone would've asked me to jump I may have mustered the umph to smack them. I should've stretched after I did this - instead we were so relieved to be down we just got in the car and drove and hour back home. Bad idea.

Which leads me to my closing remarks. I had to blog today because I try to be a stickler with commitment. I blog with honesty, because I just know there are others out there who feel like me sometimes and it's always good to hear that you aren't alone.

So I blog today and honestly say, I hurt.

Is "healthy walmart" an oxymoron?

2011-01-23T21:22:00.000-08:00

Almost always, people will say they don't "eat healthy" because it cost too much. Well, maybe the cost will be brought down in the next few years by stores like Walmart beginning to think about nutrition a bit more than they do now (which is almost not at all.)

Michelle Obama has been meeting with the bigwigs at walmart to discuss health. (GO MICHELLE OBAMA) Walmart is rolling out a five year plan to make healthy foods more affordable and accessible to it's customers. Here's the plan:

They will drop prices on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other nutritious food and reduce some of the processed foods in its “Great Value” line. Here's what is getting the boot: a percentage of the sodium, trans fats, and added sugars found in soups and other canned items, salad dressings, and snack foods. They have also agreed to reduce sodium by 25 percent and sugars by 10 percent, while trans fat will be completely banished from the store. It will also ask suppliers to submit a “voluntary score card” to track their progress.

Let's face it - Walmart is huge and alot of people shop their because they can offer better prices (save that for another blog post) and this may or may not be smoke blowing. We all know decisions are made strictly on the almighty dollar, not necessarily the public health, but I'm hopeful. Time will tell, but I sure hope it's for real and it has a domino effect on other grocers.

Bring it to a whole 'notha level

2011-01-21T13:57:00.000-08:00

What is interval training? To start with, we have to understand what is going on inside of our bodies as we exercise. When we move our bodies, we have to systems working inside of us to produce energy. One is called "aerobic," and the other "anaerobic." Basically, the two terms refer to either the presence or absence of oxygen. Aerobic - WITH OXYGEN and Aerobic WITHOUT.

During aerobic exercise, energy is fueled by oxygen but during anaerobic exercise (high intensity), muscle cells must rely on other reactions that require no oxygen to fuel energy.
When you first begin to exercise (walk, jog, bike, etc), glycogen in your body turns into glucose. If glucose in your body becomes low, your body begins to use fat as fuel. You know that feeling that some call the "runners high" where you feel like you can breathe better and just feel RAWR - here's why. Once the body shifts over to use oxygen for energy fuel, your brain releases endorphins which are called the "feel-good" hormones. Whoever you are - if you've spent time exercising regularly, you will agree that your mood is BETTER. So with this type of exercise, you gradually get your heart rate up and you keep it up over the course of your exercise. IE: You start jogging and you jog at the same rate over the next thirty minutes, then slowly bring the heart rate down before you stop.

Unlike aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise needs no oxygen to fuel energy. Instead of using oxygen, your muscles use only glycogen (the first part of the process noted above) for their power. Glycogen comes from blood sugar, which comes from the liver and the liver made it from amino acids and carbohydrates. (The best sources for these amino acids and carbohydrates, of course, are PUTTING HEALTHY FOOD IN YOUR MOUTH.)

Anaerobic exercise doesn't require large amounts of oxygen because the activity itself is brief and intense. With all this said, you are bringing your heart rate up in "spikes" - so say you're walking fast getting that ticker going then you sprint for 20-30 seconds and spike that heart rate up then stop and walk fast again. It's almost like you're "pulsing" your heart rate.

We need both aerobic and anaerobic exercise for primo health. Aerobic exercise is good for your body because it gives you overall toning and strengthens your cardiovascular system. This alone can lower your blood pressure and improve your body's circulation. It's going to make your heart stronger by boosting its pumping efficiency and lowers your resting heart rate. It reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease and will increase your red blood cell count, which means oxygen gets carried through your body like a well-oiled maCHINE! That's good stuff!

Anaerobic exercise helps keep muscles fit and strong (especially as we get older and use our muscles less) and it can give us stronger bones. Raise your hand if you DON'T want to break a hip! Anaerobic will improve our speed and generally give us more "power" and "umph" in daily activities like taking stairs or walking up a hill. Is this stuff exciting you like it is me??

Interval training is maximum cardiovascular exercise. All the results from your cardio (no matter if you are walking, jogging, biking whatever!) will be brought to a whole 'notha level by doing interval training once a week. The benefits are huge - your heart rate slows, you use oxygen more efficiently, you get faster, and you feel great from all those endorphins flying around in your bloodstream.

Raise your hand if you want to be able to keep up with your toddlers, teenagers or even your grandchildren. This is the way! There is no shortcut. There is no pill. Anything worth anything, takes a commitment and hard work, but MAN IS THE PAYOFF WORTH IT! We get to live longer and be happier living it!

Sweet AND Smart

2011-01-20T16:40:00.001-08:00

My dad was always so ahead of the game. He had us eating "pita" long before the health craze and he would make us take alfalfa supplements that were huge green "horse-pills" that we would burp them up for the rest of the day. : ) Alfalfa burps are about as nasty as they sound. One day, dad brought "raw honeycomb" home for us and told us it was good for us. We would just roll our eyes, but I gotta say as I get older, I realize just how wise dad was.

The western world discovered the benefits of bee superfoods during an investigation of Russian beekeepers who often lived past 100 years old who ate raw honey, rich in bee pollen, every day. These superfoods are all given to us by bees!

Royal Jelly
Royal Jelly is a milky secretion from the glands in the heads of the worker bees. Sounds pretty gross, but note that the queen bee lives almost exclusively on royal jelly and she lives around 40 times longer than the rest of the bees. When worker bees decide to make a new queen, either because the old one has turned weak or was killed, they choose several small larvae and feed them with tons of royal jelly in specially constructed queen cells. This type of feeding triggers the development of queen morphology, including the fully developed ovaries needed to lay eggs.

What is in this stuff?
Royal Jelly is a powerhouse of nutrients containing every nutrient necessary to support life. It is the worlds richest source of pantothenic acid (also known as Vitamin B5), which is known to combat stress, fatigue and insomnia and is a vital nutrient for healthy skin and hair.

You can get royal jelly supplements in health food stores or online. I've never tried this, but who doesn't want to eat what the queen eats?

Bee Pollen
Bee pollen is collected by bees from flowering plants and formed into granules. It is about 40% protein, half of which is in the highly usable amino acid form, and it contains almost all nutrients required by humans to be alive. Just like mother's milk, we cannot produce anything close to this in a lab.

"It is the richest source of vitamins found in nature in a single food. Even if it had none of its other vital ingredients, its content of rutin alone would justify taking at least a teaspoon daily, if for no other reason than strengthening the capillaries. It is extremely rich in rutin and may have the highest content of any source, plus it provides a high content of the nucleics RNA and DNA." --Institute of Apiculture, Russia

Propolis
Propolis is the substance with which bees coat the walls of their hives, which has often been referred to as the most antiseptic places in nature. Bees use this substance to seal their hives, protecting it from outside contaminants. They also use propolis at the entrance to the hive to sterilize themselves as they come and go.

Some think the powerful antibiotic properties of propolis can help protect humans from bacteria and can strengthen our immune system.

Honestly, there are so many claims about honey related superfood that I'm not sure what is actually valid. It seems kinda "hokey," but it's intrigued me enough that I think I may buy a bottle of one of these from Whole Foods the next time I go.

I come from a long line of fruits and nuts

2011-01-19T15:42:00.001-08:00

Fruit and nut superfoods are high in anti-oxidants which combat free radicals in the body.

What the heck does that mean? Basically - this. The nucleus of an atom is surrounded by electrons. The electrons are in pairs, but sometimes an atom loses an electron along the way, leaving one electron all by itself. (did you just hear Celine singing in your head?) A "free radical" is any atom or molecule which has an "unpaired electron" in the outer ring.

Free radical sounds "out of control," and that's about right. They are highly reactive and when cells encounter this crazy radical, the free radical does major damage to the cell and sometimes kills it. Their chief danger comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. Damaged cells = WE AGE QUICKER. Who doesn't want to look younger?!

To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants. The fruit and nut superfoods are necessary in buidling up these cruicial antioxidants.

Goji Berries
Goji berries are grown on vines in the protected valleys of inner Mongolia and Tibet. These red berries are an extremely rich source of vitamin C, having 500 TIMES more vitamin C per ounce than oranges. They are also a rich source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and E and contain a full complement of protein with 18 amino acids and 21 trace minerals. Most of all they are an excellent antioxidant making it an ideal natural whole food for reversing aging and protecting against disease.

One of my favorite snacks are chocolate covered goji berries. LOVE THEM. You can find them at whole foods or buy them online. I also eat cereal with goji berries added and yum yum they are gooooood. You can get those at most grocery stores.

Raw Cacao
Of course, most cocoa powder and commercial chocolate is processed via the "Dutch method" meaning it is made with extremely hot temperatures of up to 150° which coupled with the additives, destroys most of the nutrients and antioxidants. So be sure to look for organic raw cacao in a powder, nib or whole bean form because the temperature will have never been allowed to exceed 40° thus allowing all the heat-sensitive vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to remain intact.

Raw cacao beans contain possibly the world's most concentrated source of antioxidants found in any food. They also extremely high in magnesium which has been found to be the most common deficient major mineral even for those who have a healthy diet. It has major amounts of iron - one small 28 gram serving of raw cacao beans gives 314% of the recommended daily allowance of iron and raw cacao beans have an antioxidant (ORAC) score of 95,500. To put that into perspective, that is 14 times more flavonoids (antioxidants) than red wine and 21 times more than green tea. Booyah. Go Cacao!

Maca
Maca powder is from the Maca root, found in Peru. Maca has been grown for at least 2000 years and was eaten by Inca warriors to increase their strength and endurance. It is an ancient food that has been used traditionally to gain energy, promote sexual desire, support fertility and enhance immune system function. Peru still values it as a staple food and medicinal plant and is now widely available around the world as a whole food supplement. I've never tried this, but I'm gonna get some in put it in my shakes.

Acai
Acai berries has always been a part of the diet of Amazon tribes. It looks like a purple grape and tastes like a tropical berry. It has been shown to have powerful antioxidant properties thanks to a high level of anthocyanins, pigments also found in red wine. The ORAC rating of acai is 1,027. Try to find it freeze dried because that way the nutrients are kept in tact. If buying juice, look for a brand that is un-pasteurized.

Coconuts
Sometimes I feel like a nut, but I always feel like some coconut. I'll be here all week folks. Coconuts are one of the highest sources of electrolytes in nature. Electrolytes are ionized salts in our cells, that transport energy throughout the body. I've tried to drink coconut water, which is much better alternative to other juices, but icky. I may give it one more try though because check this out - the molecular structure of coconut water is identical to human blood plasma, which means that it is immediately recognized by the body and put right to work. So many times we put "manufactured" food and drink through our piehole and our body is wondering WHAT THE HECK IS THAT AND WHAT GOOD IS IT?!

Drinking the juice from a young coconut is like giving your body an instant blood transfusion. As a matter of fact, during World War II, they used coconut water to give emergency transfusions to wounded soldiers.

Coconut oil
Coconut oil's saturated fat is digested easier and utilized differently by the body than other saturated fats (such as butter, meat and eggs). Other kinds of saturated fats are stored in the body's cells, but the "medium chain" fatty acids in coconut oil are sent directly to the liver where they are immediately converted into energy. How cool is that?

Not cool enough? How bout this - Coconut oil will actually speed up metabolism so your body will burn more calories in a day. Sold.

Noni
I think maybe I'll have my grandkids call me noni instead of grama. This fruit, noni, has been used as a regenerative medicine for more that 1500 years in Polynesia.

The noni fruit has astounding anti-bacterial properties, even against E-coli. It has anti-tumor activity, anti-inflammatory properties, also works as a pain reliever, generates cell repair and strengthens the immune system. Noni contains a multitude of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytonutrients.

It has been proven beneficial for colds and flu's, digestive disorders, skin disorders, pain relief, headaches, and infections. Same for this - Try to find it freeze dried because that way the nutrients are kept in tact. If buying juice, look for a brand that is un-pasteurized.

Spinach? Blech.

2011-01-18T19:11:00.002-08:00

Superfoods are a special category of foods found in nature. Basically, they are low in calories and high in nutrients. They are as good as it gets and we need to learn about these amazing foods that occur NATURALLY. Superfoods are amazing sources of anti-oxidants and nutrients that we cannot MAKE in a factory.

GREEN superfoods

highest concentrations of easily digestible nutrients
contains fat burning compounds
contains lots of vitamins and minerals to protect and heal our *one and only* body
contans proteins, phoThey contain a wide array of beneficial substances including proteins, protective photo-chemicals and
contains healthy bacteria which aids in building muscle and tissues, and aids your digestive system
contains crazy amounts of chlorophyll. The molecular structure of chlorophyll is very similar to that of human blood and studies show that when this is consumed, the production of hemoglobin in blood is increased. Higher amounts of hemoglobin in the bloodstream means more oxygen-rich blood, the first and most important element that cells need to thrive.

What are the green superfoods?

Wheat Grass
What makes wheat grass a superfood?

MAGNESIUM
Wheatgrass is high in Magnesium which is great at fighting constipation, as well as improving fertility. Wanna not break out in sweats while on the crapper? Incorporate some wheat grass into your diet.

OXYGEN
Wheatgrass juice is high in oxygen which is great for brain and body tissue function.

CHLOROPHYLL
The Chlorophyll found in wheatgrass benefits those with blood sugar problems and Anemia. It also neutralizes toxins and assists in purifying the liver.

ENZYMES
Wheatgrass contains over 100 elements and enzymes needed by the human body for normal function.

Barley Grass
What makes Barley Grass a superfood?

CALCIUM
Barley grass has 11 times more calcium than cows milk, 5 times more iron than spinach and 7 times more Vitamin C and bio-flavonoids than orange juice. Got Barley Grass?

VITAMIN B12
It contains significant amounts of Vitamin B12 which is very important especially in a vegetarian diet. Barley grass neutralizes heavy metals such as mercury in the blood.

Wild Blue Green Algae

What makes wild blue-green algae a superfood and not something you are scrubbing off the tub?

PHYTO-PLANKTON
Wild blue-green algae is a phyto-plankton and contains virtually every nutrient known to mankind.

PROTEIN AND AMINO ACIDS
Wild blue-green algae has a 60% protein content and a more complete amino acid profile than beef or soy beans.

BETA CAROTENE, B VITAMINS AND CHLOROPHYLL
It contains one of the best known food sources of beta carotene, B vitamins and chlorophyll, which helps improve brain function and memory, strengthen the immune system and help with viruses, colds and flu.

Spirulina

Spirulina is a cultivated micro-algae which has been consumed for thousands of years by the indigenous peoples in Mexico and Africa, but what makes it a superfood?

PROTEIN
It is one of the highest known protein sources on Earth and contains 70% complete protein, kicking the MOO MOOS rear, which consists of only 25% protein once cooked.

Chlorella
Chlorella is a fresh water algae and like its other algae cousins contains a complete protein profile, all the B vitamins, vitamin C and E and many minerals. It is amazing for the immune system and for reducing cholesterol and preventing the hardening of the arteries, a precursor to heart attacks and strokes.

Green leafy vegetables
Green leafies are highly nutritious, and in my opinion have gotten a "raw deal." If you think you don't like them, try them again. Unlike the others on this list, you can get these just about anywhere. I wouldn't think of making a salad without spinach now. Very few of us eat enough of the green leafies and it's easy enough to get some of these in our diets. Studies easily show that populations that eat a diet high in green leafy vegetables run a far lower risk of heart disease and cancer.

What makes them super?

CHLOROPHYLL, PROTEINS, ENZYMES, VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Fresh raw green leafy vegetables contain high doses of chlorophyll, easily digestible proteins, enzymes and a wide range of vitamins and minerals. These particular vegetables act as mini-transfusions for the blood, a health tonic for the brain and immune system and a cleanser of the kidneys.

Here are some you can try that are easy to find at your local grocer- spinach, dandelion greens, kale, watercress, parsley, lettuce, endive, chicory, broccoli sprouts and mustard sprouts. Try some in a salad - These things are so good for you they MUST be in your diet. Alot of the other green superfoods can be purchased online or from a health food store and mixed with a drink. Think of it this way - if you found out there was an additive you could add to your car's gastank that would make it last drastically longer and run dramatically better, would you do it for your car?

It's worth hunting these amazing God-made foods down and giving them a try.