I'm coco for coconuts!

Hello fellow health seekers!

I'm back! I feel like it's been some time since I sat here, with my warm lemon water, and my mind running wild. Life's been busy - cottage visits, family events, pool parties, friends, and more! With that being said, my Flexxie Veggie lifestyle has been a difficult one to obtain. Thankfully, I added the flexxie part, right?

Today isn't about my failures (or, shall we call it struggles) about being a Veggie warrior, but rather about coconut oil! I've recently discovered this gem and absolutely love it! So, sit back with your warm water or tea, and learn about the amazingness of this oil...

For starters, it's got a bad REP! Most people think that it's horrible to intake because it's considered a saturated fat and we all know that's a big NO-NO. But, there is this one, tiny exception...

Ok, up first to stage is, Dr. Oz.  He calls this oil a 'Super Power'. Why? He suggests...

1.  It helps with weight loss! Although coc oil and olive oil have similar fat and calories they are completely different in our bodies.  He states *BEWARE: Chemistry class coming to a computer near you** that coconut oil has shorter fatty acid chains so the body dissolves it into the blood but longer fatty acids (which is typical in most saturated fats) is absorbed differently (if absorbed at all). They actually can make you fat. So....coconut oil is different and not something to shy away from.  For your visual learners out in cyber land, take a look at Dr.Oz demo here.

2. Another benefit that Dr. Oz suggests is that is treats skin conditions- it's been used for centuries to moisturize dry skin. It soothes the skin and can fight off infections. More on this below.

3. The third benefit that Dr. Oz suggests is that it treats ulcers. Ulcers are caused by bacteria. Lauric acid (something found in coconuts) is able to kill off the nasty bacteria. Apparently 1tbl a day of coconut will help.

Ok, yes Dr. Oz is amazing, but he's not the only one who's onto this magical oil...check out this:

1. Back to Science class - I want to discuss the acid I mentioned above. Lauric acid. This is biggie. This is the winner. This is the selling point. This is the reason why you need to try out coconut oil! Our body converts this acid into monolaurin which has been said to aid in herpes, influenza, and even HIV. It has antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti fungal properties. This monolaurin destroys the membranes of these nasty bacteria, viruses, and fungus type stuff and kills them! The only other place you can find lauric acid in such a high quantity, natural state is in breast milk. Enuf said.

Okay Science haters, here is really what coconut oil can do for you....

1. Great for your hair! Slather this baby onto your hair, put a shower cap on, and head to bed. Shower in the morning and enjoy the new found softness and shine that your hair has soaked up all night. The oil comes all out, don't worry! Some others suggest that massage the oil onto your scalp helps with dandruff, lice, and lice eggs. It provides essential proteins to help damaged hair! So, why buy your expensive hair treatments full of chemicals when you can use this natural one, at home?

2.  Skin Care - Dry skin loves this baby! Some people even compare this oil to mineral oil, without having any side effects. Great for preventing drying and flaking. Some say it prevents/delays wrinkles and sagging skin. It also helps treat psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and others. So, next time you jump out of the shower, use this on your skin and know that no harmful crap is absorbing into your body; only goodness.

3. Heart Diseases - forget the saturated bad for the heart bit on this one. That lauric acid again, helps prevent cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

4. Immunity - there's a reason why breast milk contains it!

5. The Safest oil for cooking! Did you know that once you cook olive oil it turns into a carcinogenic? I had no idea! Cooking with coconut oil is completely safe. Warning: You do need to like the flavour of coconuts though because you can often taste it in your recipes.

6. Has been around for a long time! Interesting point: In the Philippines, they call a plant the 'Tree of Life'. Can you guess which plant this is? You got it! The coconut plant! Almost every dish has this magical oil and they have the lowest cancer rates? Hmm....I'm not a genius here, could there be a connection?

7. Eye Make Up Remover - yep, it works!

8. And so much more! It has been said to improve your thyroid functioning, increase metabolism, promote a lean body/weight loss, and more! Go on tea drinker, and google this gem for yourself! I'm sure you will be amazed, like I was.

Okay, I've sold you. But, now what? How do you add this guru into your diet...

1. Cook/Bake/Sear/Saute with it! It withstands high heat without going rancid. So, my rule of thumb is cold recipes - olive oil, heated recipes - coc oil.  


2. Add it to your smoothies. As soon as you rub this oil between your finger tips, it melts. So don't worry about it being solid in your smoothies.

3. Use it as an alternative to butter - add to pancakes or toast

4. And as Joy from Joyous Health suggests - use it as a 'love lube' rather than those toxic store bought ones. Read more below!


Ok healthy ones, I encourage you to give this oil a try. Be sure to buy a high quality one that is cold pressed and virgin. I'd love to hear your comments about this one! Message me on facebook if you can't leave a message on this thread.


xo



Credits:

http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html
http://www.joyoushealth.ca/2011/01/26/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil-why-you-need-to-get-some/
http://www.joyoushealth.ca/2011/02/02/organic-coconut-oil-what-to-do-with-it/
 






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Hello my name is....and I'm a Flexie Veggie

Ok...so I'm a little nervous about today's post....

My heart is telling me one thing, but my mind is telling me another....so what to do? Find balance, I say. And, I think I have....

So, here it is. I'm announcing that I am going vegetarian....so, what's the big deal? My heart is telling me that this is the right decision for me, however, my mind is playing games and I'm a little bit fearful about this decision. But, why? Maybe it's that I don't know enough yet, maybe it's I'm scared that I won't get in all the nutrients that my body needs, maybe it's living this lifestyle outside my kitchen and wondering how much of an inconvenience this will become, maybe it's that we've been told that meat is vital, maybe it's my mom and dad's reaction when I tell them, maybe it's society's belief that meat protein is critical to healthy living, maybe it's becoming bored with the food choices, maybe it's doing something that isn't mainstream,  maybe it's that I fear that I will be that person who just lives on pasta for their entire life, maybe it's....you get the picture.


So, despite my fears.....'m going to give this lifestyle a try. However, I am going to begin this journey slowly and call myself a flexitarian. That means, that I can eat eggs, dairy, and occasionally eat meat. For me, that will be fish. I will be 100% off of poultry and red meat. I understand that quite a few vegans or true vegetarians begin with this flexi approach before transitioning over entirely. I like the sounds of this approach, as it gives me freedom to experiment and still enjoy a dinners out (e.g., salmon!). 3 cheers for balance!

So, I know I will be asked WHY? Why have I decided to become this Flexi Veggie, as I call it. Well, for starters, my Meatless Mondays blog gives you a little more background on how the meat industry is responsible for a ton of our greenhouses gases today. Albert Einstein even said 'Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet'.  And, I mentioned yesterday that BURPS are responsible for a ton of methane gas production! Cows that stand around their entire lives (1.3 billion of them, btw), never exercising, get gas...and lots of it! According to a great read (The Kind Diet by Alicia Siverstone), Alicia mentions that methane emitted by livestock accounts for 19% of total global methane emissions.  The livestock that we keep alive (for us to eat), produces more than landfills, waste treatment plants, and gas to warm our homes! I won't go into this further because I don't want to sound preachy, but if you want to know more, be sure to pick up the Kind Diet. Chapter 2 was the most informative (and shocking) for me.

I also want to be healthier. By eating more super foods and coloured goodness, I hope to bring down my weight to a healthier BMI, have more energy, live longer, save money (meat's $$), and reduce the amount of nasties (found in meat products) that enter my body. I'm talking hormones and antibiotics that are found in meat products. I learned from Alicia Silverstone that meat is full of antibiotics. She mentions that animals, due to stressed conditions and dirty environments, get sick. They are given routine antibiotics to prevent illness - a sick chicken isn't worth a dime, right? So, when you eat meat, you are taking in those meds too. This causes a whole whack of other health issues. Get this, 70% of antibiotics sold, are not for humans. (ah hem? what!)


In addition, meat is full of hormones; given to cattle, pigs, chicken to increase muscle mass. (eggs and fish are one of the worst culprits - *gulp*) we then ingest them. These hormones have been linked to cancers.


Ok, now I'm sounding preachy....I'll stop. But, in all honesty, I'm writing out of a genuinely concerned place in my heart. I want to be as healthy as I can....I want to live a long life.....I don't want these toxic, harmful nasties to enter my body...... I want our earth to be healthy again...so, on that note....I'm taking a stand and announcing that I am going Flexi Veggie! I will continue to update you with my struggles, fears, successes and wellness stories! (Wow, I guess I'm feeling stronger and more liberated than when I started this blog 20 minutes ago...that's cool!)

Jump on the newest trend: Meatless Mondays

Emergency rooms....when I think of these 2 words, I think of hustle, bustle, stress, running around, & panic stricken nurses/doctors and patients. But, I was mistaken....


A couple days ago,  I felt like I was in the twilight zone. I spent endless hours yesterday awaiting to see the emergency doctor to check out my boyfriends wrist. (He injured it while sliding into second base - he assures me they won the game because of his slide :)  We waited....and waited...and waited. There seemed to be no rushing in the emergency room. I felt as though everyone was working at a turtle's pace, but then again, we were on the outside, looking in. I'm sure everyone was working hard behind the glass partition....presume positive intentions, right?

So, we sat among the many patients awaiting care. To pass the time, I read the newspaper....grabbed a coffee (which I don't drink anymore but tea is often hard to find or seems to be bothersome).....went to the washroom......paced around a bit......and then, we realized we had a documentary saved. We both took an ear bud and watched 'Fork over Knives' (insert the duh, duh, duhhhhhh sound effect). Trailer: click here.

It was actually ironic, to be watching this documentary in a hospital, especially sitting beside a 'sandwich' machine. I wish I took a picture of this. Let me create a visual for you: sandwiches sitting there, in a chocolate bar/candy machine. (I'll choose A3 please - ham and cheese on a white bun) Healthy? As if. Yet, I'm in a hospital, a place to regain wellness and health?Anyways, back to the video...


This documentary highlights research studies and science behind the devastating effects of our diet today -- MEAT and animal products. Some of the research is astounding (warning: remember to pick up your jaw from the floor) For example:

- 40% of Americans are obese

- almost 1/5 American 4 year olds are considered obese


- Richard Carmona (former surgeon general of the USA) states 'this could be the first generation of children in the United States that lives less than its parents'


- unprecedented diabetes II rates in kids


- about half of Americans are taking prescription drugs
- and on and on and on.


This documentary highlights the power of food. Food can cure.....time and time again, you hear about people changing their lives (more exercise and healthy eating) and they are able to live without their prescription medicine. Wow...how powerful stuff, eh? (Credits: Forks over Knives website)

This movie encourages a whole food, plant based diet.  'If your food ever swam, flew, walked, slithered, jumped, don't eat it' was the advice.  There is a lot of evidence and research out there that suggests that animal products are dangerous for our health, especially in large quantities. According to LiveStrong.com, eating meat can lead to weight gain, decrease life expectancy, and according to a Harvard University research study, increase diabetes risks and heart disease. Check out this link for more details.  There is so much information on the Internet to suggest that we should be eating whole foods, plant based diets. Just do a little google search....you'll be shocked.

Eating plant-based is not just for your health but the health of our environment.  So, back to my post name - Meatless Mondays. This is becoming a popular trend among households today; eating plant based on Mondays. Meatless Monday Canada is an organization that is promoting at least, 1 veggie meal a week to help Canadians become more aware of the environmental impact of their food choices.  They are not promoting vegetarianism, but rather making us aware of the impact of eating meat. Get this...


- animal agriculture is responsible for about 18% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming - Wow!


- and get this, many of the emissions are from cow's burping! Yes, cow gas is responsible for so much of it! (and methane from animal manure, nitrous oxide from fertilizers, and deforestation for cows to graze)

- you could reduce your carbon emissions by 28.5% /week, if you just eat meatless on Mondays. improve their health too! Check out Meatless Mondays Canada here.


- a global shift towards a vegan diet would be effective to tackle our climate change. In addition, a University of Chicago study discovered that switching from our standard American diet to vegan would be more effective than switching from standard cars to hybrids. (PETA credit: link here)


- according to a German study, meat eaters contribute more than 7X the harmful gas emissions than vegans  (PETA credit: link here)

- Get this... "According to Environmental Defense, if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off U.S. roads."  (PETA credit: link here)

Hence...Meatless Mondays. Great for your health and our environment! So, what are you thinking? Soaking it all in?  Thinking, how can I do this? For starters, visit one of my favourite blogs called 'My New Roots'. She posts a bunch of Meatless Monday recipes for you to play around with! Give it a try...plan to do meatless next Monday. I want to hear about your kitchen adventures and what recipes you put together. Please share!










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Don't judge a beet by its cover

Don't judge a BEET by its cover!

Here's another food that I find people tend to shy away from. But, you shouldn't! Although they don't look appetizing at all- the brown scaly skin, feels more like a baseball than a veggie, and looks rather dirty. I get it...but you must try them!
They are one of my favourite veggies now and they are so healthy for you!

They:

- contain betalains - provides antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification benefits

- no fat or calories

- regarded as body fuel (super energizing!) since its high in carbs

- contains sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorous

- considered a fibre food

- contains vit. A and C, and niacin

- contains folic acid (great for production and maintenance of new cells - great if you're preggers) - also contains B vitamin folate which helps when developing the infant's spinal column

- In Ancient times, beetroot was given to cure constipation and digestive discomfort

- *possible link to anti-cancer benefits, especially colon cancers (thanks to Betacyanin! The pigment that makes the beet so red)

- beet juice is known as a blood purifier that helps create red blood cells

- helps with high blood pressure - some experts say a glass of beet juice cures high blood pressure

- good for your heart - beet fibre helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides by increasing the level of HDL

How to Prepare Beets

Visit this website. So informative!
http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/cooking-tips/stepbysteprecipes/vegetables/cookingbeets.aspx

Some Recipes to Try out!

1. Easy salad - Roasted Beets and Sauteed Beet Greens

2. A variety of recipes here - Canadian Living

3. My favourite!  Roasted Beets

4. Juicin' it! Check out my 2 amateur videos below. It's always weird watching yourself or hearing your voice on video, eh?

Video 1:

Video 2:

BEET FYI

Do not worry if you see your waste elimination or urine, redden in colour. This is called beeturia and an estimated 10-15% US adults experience it. However, it is suggested that people who experience beeturia could have issues with iron metabolism. People with iron (deficiency or excess) are more likely to experience it. Visit your doctor if you are concerned with iron related issues.

Also, throughout my research, I discovered that people with kidney or gallbladder problems should limit or avoid beets. Apparently, when in excess, body fluid may crystallize? Not sure what this really means but thought I would mention it.


Not bad for an ugly looking veggie, eh? So, don't be scared of beets. I'd love to know how you use beets or how your first virgin beet experience works out.



Research Credits:
http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/health-benefits-of-beet.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=49
http://voices.yahoo.com/15-health-benefits-beets-fight-cancer-more-805501.html

Rave: HIIT

Ok, so I told you that I will write when I feel inspired or need to share a rant or RAVE. Well, today's post is a RAVE. I am loving TurboFire's HIIT workouts. You've seen the infomercials with the blond bombshell who has energy through the roof? She's jumping around on stage with a blond pony tail whipping around? If not, watch this...Turbofire.


I'm loving the short-lived, long lasting HIIT workouts that she has. You can choose the 15, 20, and 25 minute HIIT workout. (I'm loving them all) The HIIT stands for -  high intense, interval training - perfect! They are short little workouts but very intense (you are definitely trying to catch your breath) So, every couple minutes, there is a siren sound and you know you are going to go INTENSE for a short amount of time (about 1 minute). Then, you recover for 45 seconds. So, you don't bring down your heart rate fully, just slightly. If I don't have an hour to hit the gym, I go downstairs and turn on the DVD player...I feel exhausted yet energized after a 20 minute HIIT. It's perfect! In addition, she has put a lot of time into choreographing the music to go along with the moves (Think: Jumping Jacks and as you land there is a whipping sound).


She raves about the benefits of intense training, as do many other trainers and experts. On shape.com, they state some benefits of HIIT training. They are:


1. Efficiency - Experts say if you put in an intense 15 minutes (you feel like you are going to die) is actually better than running on a treadmill for an hour. Say What?


2. Burn More Fat - you burn more fat apparently because you are kicking your body into overdrive all day long rather than burning only while running on the treadmill


3. Anaerobic Zone Benefits - when you push yourself to the max & and your pumper is going to die, this is called anaerobic zone - great for conditioning your heart (also builds stamina in athletes)


4. Lose weight, not muscle  - huge fat burner


5. Metabolism Raises! - HIIT taps the shoulder of your Human Growth Hormone Stimulation (slows down aging process & helps increase caloric burn)- increases up to 450% in the 24 hours after your workout


6. Fights Boredom - Ever get tired and bored of running on a treadmill? With HIIT workouts, you keep challenging yourself every minute or so. Time flies!


7. No equipment necessary


8. Anywhere, anytime!

So, next time you are walking or going for a jog - kick it up a notch by doing a little HIIT action. Run really quickly for the next 20 seconds and then walk for 2 minutes or so. Start off slowly and then decrease the time in between intervals. Look online or some HIIT ideas! And, if you can get your hands on Turbo Fire's HIIT workouts, give them a try! I'd love to hear your thoughts...


Till next time, HIIT it!

L is for Lemons

Lemons...my biggest love-hate relationship.

I'm not overly eager for the taste of lemons. Lemon meringue pie, Lemon chicken, Lemon sorbet, Lemon tea, blah, blah, blah. I really can't stand the taste of lemon. But, every blog I visit,  every website I view, every healthy guru I know, LOVES lemons. This is a staple item in the shopping cart weekly for the health-minded....


So, I decided to do a little research......

OK Mr. Yellow prove yourself....

- lemons have strong antibacterial, antiviral, and immune boosting benefits (they contain citric acid, calcium, magnesium, vit. C, pectin, bioflavonoids, and limonene - all immunity and infection fighters!)

- have been used for centuries as a weight loss aid because lemon juice is a digestive aid and liver cleanser (Try this: drink warm water with lemon first thing in the morning....wait 10-15 mins - voila! You've won trip to the closest bathroom)

- on that note, there is a lot of research that states that drinking warm water with lemon (1 cup of water to 1/2 juice of 1 lemon), first thing in the morning, is highly beneficial - it recharges your system to make sure you absorb nutrients better throughout the day, flushes your kidneys, liver, and lymphatic system of waste and toxins, full of vit.C, increases acidity in your body which allows better absorption of calcium which you need to lose weight because calcium is found in fat cells)

- lemons are calming - some experts say they then help remove fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, etc. Try and find some lemon balm essential oil to sniff when you're feeling anxious.

- lemon is an antioxidant - kills those nasty free radicals swimming through your body

- natural hair lightener - remember Sun In as kids? Well, this is the natural Sun In...

-lemons have natural anti-septic properties - hence, lemon scented cleaners.

- glowing skin benefits - add a little lemon juice to a cotton pad (or use your finger) to place the juice on your face. Sleep with it on and wash away in the morning. A little tingle at first, but I'm willing to give it a try!

- Dr. Oz on his show created a Lemon Brandy Mask - creates a wonderful chemical peel - I think I want to try this! But, I need to buy some Brandy
Check out the show! http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/health-benefits-lemons

-Dr. Oz was on to something - there are so many beauty recipes that use lemons. Check out this site for hair rinses, anti wrinkle masks, teeth whitening,  chapped lips, etc. http://www.beautyandgroomingtips.com/2006/04/lemon-as-beauty-aid.html

Lemons have MORE benefits than I mentioned. To Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/Physical-Health/Hidden-Health-Secrets-of-Lemons.aspx?p=3#ixzz20sx3xTmW

Ok Mr.Yellow...I guess you and I will give this friendship another try. I've always known you were good for me...

 This week, my goal is to drink warm lemon water each morning. What's your goal for the week? I'd love to know your tips and tricks for lemon use!

Hello, my name is Quinoa

Hello boys and girls. Welcome to the cyber class today. Today, we will be learning about Quinoa (insert cheering from the audience). Pronounced 'Keen-Wa'. Repeat after me, KeenWA...again, KeenWA. Get used to saying this new word, because your life is about to change....

Quinoa is another super amazing, super cool, super food! Quinoa is usually referred to as a whole grain, but it really is a seed. Typically, it is prepared like barley or rice and used in these ways. Some people think of it as a cross between brown rice and oatmeal. It's actually a relative to Spinach. So, why is Quinoa the gnarliest? Check this out...

- quick to cook (10-15 minutes)

- doesn't have a strong taste on its own - it will take on the taste that you mate it with

-** of all the whole grains, Quinoa has the highest protein content - so no need to add meat to your dinner or lunch (think Meatless Mondays - a healthy trend that seems to be more and more popular lately - I'll catch you up on Monday!)

- provides all 9 essential amino acids = complete protein! (Go KeenWA!)

- gluten-free and no cholesterol

- Versatile! - Are you a crunchy food fan?  A fluffy food fan? A creamy food fan? A nutty fan? Well, Quinoa fits them all? Odd, I know...

- High in Magnesium  - great for your red pumper

- Contains manganese and cooper - Great for boosting antioxidants and keeping your red blood cells at high achieving level 4s (inside joke for all those teachers :)

- High Fibre! - Keeps things moving...nuff said.

---------------Reference: Dietrrific.com----------------

Some FYIs

- be sure to prewash Quinoa before you cook it. It has a chemical on it called saponin that makes it taste funny if it isn't washed off. If you can figure out how to wash Quinoa without it going down the sink, let me know. I'm still trying to find the best way to drain the gems.

- it comes in different colours. Don't be alarmed, it hasn't gone bad. I've only had the white kind though. My favourite brand is below from Costco. Much cheaper!

- it's a little pricey. $$

- it is found in the health food aisle of most grocery stores (You know the aisle where all the people browsing are glowing from the inside out? All beautiful? And you wonder if they have ever eaten at McDonalds? Yeah, that aisle)

- It comes in different styles - the puffed Quinoa is something I am still trying to conquer and the flakes are used in some baking recipes. I tried it as a porridge and it was just too blah for me. I would have to add sugar, dried fruit, and seriously jazzify it and that would take away the benefits of the quinoa.

Some Suggestions:

- I love quinoa based pasta - tastes fantastic! My favourite brand is below. I never make regular pasta anymore and simply use this beauty. Cooks well, tastes great, and contains all the benefits of quinoa.

- I'm a huge fan of Skinnytaste.com - any recipe that I've made has turned out amazingly well. This week, I'm wanting to try:

-Beef, Potato, and Quinoa Soup

-Quinoa Risotto - looks simple but so yummy...

-Stuffed Cabbage Casserole (Think lazy man cabbage rolls type meal - looks fantastic!)

-Quinoa Chili - I've made this many times - always turns out well

- and baking! Yes, you can buy quinoa flour or used cooked quinoa in baked goodies like this chocolate chip muffin recipe. You can splurge a little with the chocolate but know that you are doing a body good with the quinoa bliss.



Alright folks, can I hear a 'KeenWA'? Give it a try this week! I'd love to hear how you've used Quinoa before or share your favourite recipe on my Facebook page.

It's time to flirt with Kale

Kale...huh? Yeah, I can relate.....

When I started researching new healthy recipes, Kale seemed to be this super popular ingredient that all these super trendy, healthy divas were using in their kitchens. So, I had to fit in, right? I went to the grocery store and had to ask 'where's the kale?' - then, I found it....(insert the high pitch heavenly sound 'ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh') It didn't look appetizing, but I was optimistic!

Ok, check out this website quickly and scroll down to see the chart. Seriously, Kale is crazy nutritious and extremely high in Vitamin K (great for bones and blood), A (eyesight and infection killer) and C(immunity and skin).  In addition, (according to the same website) Kale may lower cancer risks (blocks cancer cell growth), decreases cholesterol levels, detoxes the body, and contains flavonoids (antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties).

Kale is a super food! With all the mentioned benefits, why haven't you started your flirting yet?

Here are some ideas as to how to incorporate this glorious, heavenly bushy tree into your kitchen:

- throw it into your s
soups instead of spinach

- juice with it!  or add to your smoothies (you can never taste it!)

- add Kale to your salads and eat it raw

- make Kale chips - recipe here 


Some recipes that I'm going to try this week are:

Kale and Walnut Salad
One Pot Quinoa and Kale (just for you, Kelly)
Kale and Roasted Veggie Soup - I'm a huge soup fan, whether it be summer or winter.

Kale Beard

*And one of my favourite things to do is use veggies in baked recipes. Think Zuchini muffins or carrot loaf....yummy. Now, give Kale a try in your baked goodies. I'm thinking I will try this recipe this week. Double Chocolate Kale Muffins.

And of course, there's a blog for everything! Check out ths passionate blog abotu Kale at 365 days of Kale blog .

So, this week, give Kale a try! I'd love to know which recipe you are trying and how it turned out. And, if you are not a Kale virgin, let us know how you have been using it in your kitchen. Keep us posted on your Kale adventures!

Rockin the Kale Hair

Acidic vs. Alkaline?

So, yesterday's post was all about the amazing benefits of juicing. This fits in nicely with today's post on acidic vs. alkaline states of the body.

Yesterday, I referred to the New Year's cleanse I did.  I failed to mention that the purpose of the cleanse was to bring my body into a state of alkalinity. Huh? Yeah, that's what I thought too until I did some research. Here's what I learned...

- your body has its own PH level (think back to high school chemistry class - remember those PH strips?) If you recall, under 7.0 is acidic, over 7.0 is alkaline

- foods, when digested, can be either alkalizing to your body or acidic

- according to acidic.com, diseases set in during prolonged acidic states (yikes! Alkaline is the cure??)

- stress creates acidic body states

Reference: livestrong.com (love this site!)

Allowing your body to stay balanced and alkaline is suggested to have many amazing health benefits - immunity, weight loss, increased strength and stamina, slower aging, more energy, reduced pain and inflammation, and so much more!

So, what does this look like?

Acidic Diets:
- most acidic foods are the ones I love --> sugar, caffeine, fish, meat, poultry, alcohol, dairy, salt. When you consume these foods, your body has to work super hard to maintain a PH balance because these nasties send you WAY below 7.0.

Alkaline Diets:
-lots of fruits (especially lemons, watermelon, avocados), veggies (especially spinach, peppers, broccoli), seeds, nuts

There is a ton of information on this!  A fantastic website that I refer to often is The Alkaline Sisters. They have a nifty little chart that gives you an overview of various foods and which category they fit into.

I must say, when I did that cleanse back in January, I felt incredible. I strongly believe that it was because my body was in an alkaline state. I had to test my PH (using saliva strips) before I started and my score was really low. Very acidic. At the end of week 2, I turned colour! I was so shocked that I took a picture! I admitted yesterday that I fell off the track when I completed the cleanse. I believe it was because it was too strict to follow on a daily basis. I'm glad to read that experts say that you should maintain a 75-25 ratio with your diet. 75% alkaline foods with 25% being acidic. Perhaps that is more manageable....however, when I think about today's breakfast of oatmeal, yogurt, latte, and an egg, I'm screwed....

My strip wasn't yellow anymore!

For more information, check out this youtube video. Sit back, enjoy your Pu'erh tea, and learn more about transitioning your diet!

Drink Tea! David's TEA!

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Today, I want to share one of my LOVES - David's Tea! There's something super cool about David's Tea, that I can't get enough of! Perhaps, it's all the silver jars all lined up, maybe it's the unique trinkets that they sell, perhaps it's how you can smell all the yummy teas before you purchase any, maybe it's how you can go in and simply get a tea to go, or maybe it's how they change their flavours to match the seasons; Think Pumpkin Chai in the Fall, or Santa Cinnamon in the winter, maybe it's that they have a variety of teas (black, green, rooibos, white, etc.), maybe it's how it started in Montreal, perhaps it's the samples of the day that come out in little shot glasses, and so much more!  I adore their little tins with their witty little descriptions on the back.  I just can't get enough! As you can see by personal collection below....haha

Tea is so healthy for you! If you go into a David's tea store, the knowledgeable staff will help you find the perfect tea for you. I fell in love with their 'Coffee Pu'erh' tea to help rid myself of drinking coffee. It worked! This tea is laced with chocolate (yummmm), coffee beans (yes, it actually has coffee beans in the tea!), and has a bit of an almond flavour.  This was today's coffee choice when I went to the mall. Add a little agave and a lil bit of soy milk, and voila, a tea for coffee drinkers!


Recently, Dr. Oz mentioned the amazing benefits of drinking Pu'erh tea. This tea is known to possibly help lower blood cholesterol levels, aid in digestion, inhibit the formation and growth of cancer cells (wow!), remove toxins, help aches and pains, and get this....help break down and reduce fat in the system!


I'm hooked on Pu'erh - David's Tea has a couple flavours to try - do you like Cinnamon? Try Cinnamon Heart. A Ginger fan? Try Pu'erh Ginger! What about that orange chocolate flavour? If so, try Chocolate Orange!


Tea in general is great for you. If I haven't sold you on trying Pu'erh tea, give any tea a try! Teas contain antixoidants (protect your body from aging and the nasties in the world that we breathe in daily), has less damaging caffeine related effects, boosts your immunity, increases metabolism, and is calorie-free (if you don't add milk or sweetner).  Visit here for more info.

Just 1/4 of the flavours - all colour coded!

Each tea has its own fun description

Weight Loss Tea? Yeah...I'm a fan of THE SKINNY tea.




 So, next time you are browsing the mall with a latte in hand, see if a David's tea is close by. Ask for a TEA LATTE and sip all the amazing benefits of tea...CHEERS!

Sporting the Coffee Pu'erh