Balancing the Body

I just started reading Kris Carr's book, Crazy Sexy Diet and was re-inspired to ensure that the food I am eating is the BEST possible for my body.

Troy and I were talking last night and realized that since we started drinking a Green Smoothie daily, neither of us have been sick. Especially working in an office you really notice when the flu or a bug goes around and neither of us have been affected.

This morning I made an Apple and Greens Smoothie: 1 apple, 1/2 cucumber, 3 stalks of rainbow chard, 1/2 cup raspberries, and lots of water.

Starting our day out with a hit of all these amazing fresh fruits and vegetables helps to maintain the acidity of the body, which plays a HUGE role in our overall health. Basically the more acidic we are, the more susceptible our bodies are to the natural bacteria bombarding us on a daily basis. As our body strips cells of important minerals and nutrients in an attempt to regulate our PH, germs are able to invade.

PH is measured on a scale from 0-14... Anything above 7 (neutral) is alkaline, anything below is acidic. By eating foods that are already alkaline and minimizing those that are acidic, we help our bodies find that perfect balance (around 7.3-7.45 or slightly alkaline)

Alkaline Foods = Healthy and GLOWING!

- Vegetables (spinach, broccoli, parsley, kale... *Basically anything leafy and green)

- Dried Figs, Rasins, Kiwis, Apples, Pears, Berries

- Rice, Quinoa, Millet, Oats

- Goat Cheese (feta!)

-Olive Oil

-Green Tea, Ginger Tea, Lemon Water

Acidic Foods= Not so glowing :(

- Beef, Pork, Canned Tuna

- Eggs, Cheese

- Pasta, Pastries, Cookies... anything with refined sugar

- Peanuts, Cashews

- Coffee, Alcohol, Soda, Black Tea

February 20 Day Challenge...

In my class this morning I don't know how, but I started day-dreaming about the 30 day Challenge I had set up for myself last month. Basically I started feeling guilty because I haven't been able to think of a good challenge for February... Or I guess truthfully, there is nothing I wanted to restrict myself in. Every time I came up with an idea, I shut it down because I really didn't feel committed to doing it.

I'm only human afterall.

As it is already Feb. 8th, I figured that doing something is still better than nothing, so I decided that a good challenge sometimes means adding something in, rather than taking away.

This applies further if you are the type of person who tries to diet, but finds that restricting chocolate/carbs/sugar etc, only makes you crave more chocolate/carbs/sugar etc... Adding something healthy to your diet can simply be the first step.

So my "add in" is to drink a full glass of water every morning and start my day out with some much needed hydration. Nothing major, or even life changing, but just one more thing to keep the bod at it's BEST!

On that note... here is what I probably should have been focusing on this morning.. I don't think my class noticed...

Round 1 of our workout:

1-High Knees

2-Heavy Weight Squat and Press

(Hold the weight in front of your chest with both hands... As you squat keep the weight in close, as you stand press it up overhead)

3- 3 Split Jumps with 1 Kick

(Perform 3 splits jumps starting with your right leg in front. On your third jump your left leg will be behind you, kick that leg straight in front and then step back into your split squat... Repeat on other side)

4- Explosive Jumping Jacks

(Start with your feet together and jump out like you are about to do a jumping jack- open your feet wider than normal and sink down low. Jump feet back together in standing)

Complete 5 Rounds of these 4 Exercises @ 30 seconds each= 10 Minutes

Protein Power Cookies

Since reading Brendan Brazier's book, The Thrive Diet, I have been kind of obsessed with packing as much nutrient dense food into my life as possible. That being said however, I am still learning my way around the kitchen, and so when my Protein Power Cookies turned out to be a hit, not only last night, but on today's 1.5 hour bike ride to UBC, I am literally chomping at the bit to whip up the next batch.

They are all natural and will provide you with just the right amount of proteins, fats, carbs, and sweetness to curb a sugar craving, or power you up for a training session.

Here's what you need:

3 T flax seeds (ground into meal)

3/4 c almond milk

2 c old fashioned oats

1/4 c sunflower seeds, chopped almonds & chocolate chips

1/2 c raisins

1/2 c protein powder (i use Vega Vanilla Chai)

3 T honey

3/4 t salt

1/4 t vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a cookie sheet with small amount of oil... Mix flax seeds into almond milk and set aside... Combine all other ingredients in a bowl and then add milk... Stir it up good- you may feel like it's a little dry- it's not... Form into 8-12 balls and place in oven for 6-8 minutes... Remove from oven and let them cool completely.

Thai Chicken Salad

Tonight's dinner was from a cookbook I use called "Eating for Energy".

Because I favour really easy meals over anything extravagant, I thought that this one was on the medium side in terms of prep-work (only b/c you mix 2 separate sauces: this is big for me)... Other than that it was really easy and very tasty!

1. Slice chicken breast and tofu into strips; saute in oil with garlic, ginger, soy sauce and teriyaki sauce. Set aside.

2 Chicken Breasts (skinless/boneless)

1/2 Package of Extra Firm Tofu

2 tsp ginger crushed

2 Tbsp soy sauce

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp teriyaki sauce

2. Add dressing ingredients to pan, heat and stir.

Dressing

2Tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 Tbsp organic brown rice syrup (can use brown sugar here too)

2 Tbsp organic almond butter

2 tsp sesame oil

2 Tbsp soy sauce

2 Tbsp teriyaki Sauce

Sprinkle chili powder

Fresh squeezed juice from 1/2 a lime

3. Place 1 cup of noodles on a plate and top with spinach, green onions, sliced peppers, nuts and chicken. Add dressing and sprinkle with fresh cilantro.

1 bag baby spinach

2 green onions

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1/4 cup toasted peanuts

1 red bell pepper thinly sliced

1 package of brown rice noodles (You could also use whole wheat pasta here)

cilantro

January 30 Day Challenge

One of my goals for 2012 is to come up with a 30 Day Challenge every month to keep me on track with my health, and to remove some of the pressure that can sometimes be associated with New Years' Resolutions.

For January I have decided to cut out sugar from my diet, which at the moment doesn't seem too hard considering I have been indulging in pretty much whatever dessert I have wanted over the last month without guilt.

The rules are simple, no cookies, cakes, candies, etc- as well as no sugar in my coffee and a limit of 1-2 servings of fruit per day (sugar is sugar kids)... I'll let you know how it goes.

What are you willing to do for 30 days?

Easiest Green Smoothie.

My new goal is to drink one of these/day... I used to try and work kale and other crazy things into my smoothies, but it really proved to be too much fussing around. This green smoothie is super easy and a great way to start your morning or give yourself a little kick in the afternoon.

Simply combine 1 banana, 1-2 handfuls of spinach with 1 cup of water and an ice cube. Blend. Enjoy.

"Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food"

The body is a seriously amazing organism.
Keeping us going on a daily basis through an endless number of chemical and neurological reactions that we never see or think about, we eat and the body garners and utilizes nutrients from our food resulting in better functioning and efficiency. However, the body is also a storage house, and has the ability to hold on to the things we actually don't want in our system...
While the market is teeming with a variety of cleanses and detox formulas to clear our systems of excess waste, one area that is rarely touched on is the storage of heavy metals such as mercury and aluminum in the body.

Some people spend thousands of dollars undergoing intravenous chelation therapy to rid their body of these metals, however, I recently stumbled across an article detailing the benefits of cilantro as a natural chelae. As metal substances in the body have been associated with autism, muscle pain, Alzheimer's and memory loss, it would be wise to consider doing this cleanse for 3 weeks at least once a year.

DETOX PESTO

Ingredients
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1/3 cup Brazil nuts (selenium)
• 1/3 cup sunflower seeds (cysteine)
• 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds (zinc, magnesium)
• 2 cups packed fresh cilantro (vitamin A)
• 2/3 cup flax seed oil
• 4 tablespoons lemon juice (vitamin C)
• 2 tsp dulse seaweed powder
• Sea salt to taste

Process the coriander and flax seed oil in a blender until the coriander is chopped. Add the garlic, nuts and seeds, dulse and lemon juice and mix until the mixture is finely blended into a paste. Add a pinch to sea salt to taste and blend again. Store in dark glass jars if possible.

Combined with the benefits of the other ingredients, this recipe is a powerful tissue cleanser. The pesto is delicious on toast, baked potatoes, and pasta.

enjoy!

What Do You Crave?

A craving is the body's way of telling us what it wants. Sometimes however, what we think can be satiated with chocolate actually goes much deeper.

Here are some common cravings which indicate what your body really needs:

Chocolate = Magnesium (Raw nuts/seeds, legumes, fruits)

Sweets= Chromium, Carbon, Phosphorus, Sulpher(Broccoli, cheese, grapes, fresh fruits, chicken, dairy, legumes, cranberries, kale)

Fatty Foods= Calcium (Legumes, cheese)
Carbonated Beverages= Calcium (Kale, Leafy greens)

General Overeating= Silicon, Tryptophan, Tyrosine (Nuts, Seeds, Sweet Potato, Raisins, Vitamin C supplements, Red Peppers)

via Naturopathyworks.com

Yogurt & Fruit EXPLOSION!

If you're like me and find yourself craving something sweet at the end of a long day, try mixing your favourite fruit with some vanilla yogurt. It will curb your appetite, but is light enough to keep you from feeling too full before bed.

Pictured Here: Raspberries, Pineapple, Grapefruit and Banana

YUMMMMMMMMMMM!

Fight Fat with Food!

Almonds- Reduce cravings; Fight muscle loss, heart disease, and cancer

Beans/Legumes- Burn Fat; Regulate digestion

Spinach- Neutralizes free radicals in your body to prevent aging

Dairy (Yogurt, Cheese)- Prevents osteoporosis

Instant Oatmeal- Provides sustainable energy; Maintains blood sugar levels

Eggs- Build muscle; Burn fat

Turkey- Strengthens immune system

Peanut Butter- Fights wrinkles

Olive Oil- Fights high blood pressure

Whole Grains- Prevent body from storing fat

Berries- Improve balance, coordination and short term memory

2 Minute Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients:

-24 large frozen shrimp (peeled and tail off)

- 1/2 cup spinach leaves, chopped

- 1 tsp olive oil

- 1 clove garlic, crushed

-1/2 tsp dried basil

-1 or 2 splashes of hot sauce

- sesame seeds (optional)

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together in large, microwavable bowl making sure to coat the shrimp well. Microwave for 1 minute, remove and toss again. Microwave for another 1 minute and 15 seconds and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.

**Can also be eaten with a whole wheat pasta or rice if you require a bigger meal (I definitely would).... Still only 3 grams of fat, about 100 calories and 14 grams of protein.

The 13 Best Foods to Eat

If you want to....

Lose weight without trying:

- Lemon water, Artichokes, and Red Grapefruit

Make your skin glow:

-Watermelon, Figs, and Red Bell Peppers

Boost your immune system:

-Beans, Prunes

Prevent heart disease:

-Cherries, Dark Chocolate

Boost your brain power:

Blueberries, Cinnamon, and Plums