Blogger Vacay

I'm away for the week!

Pat and I are escaping the putrid garbage smell of the hot city and heading to CA for a road trip along Highway 1. We're ready to breathe in the salty sea air along one of the most iconic (and winding) expressways in the US of A. Trading pavement for sand the last week before school starts only seems natural.

During our trip, we're going to explore the dramatic Central coastline. We can't wait to visit the bohemian beach towns along the Pacific coast, put our toes in the sandy beaches, marvel at the gorgeous panoramic views, stop at some roadside attractions, camp out under the stars and visit some local farmers markets.

Oh, and have lots of cocktails.

One of the more unique places we're staying is in at yurt at this place.

Another highlight of our trip will be hiking Yosemite's Half Dome. Half dome is a 16.5 mile day hike. It's been described to me as "the one hike you can't die without doing and the one you're most likely to die while doing." I also just learned it's the inspiration behind The North Face's logo design.

The last 400 ft of the climb are fearfully steep, which is why cables have been installed to give climbers something to cling onto as they pull themselves to safety. One website I read said, "if you slip while you're climbing the cable section and slide outside the cables, you're likely to fall to your death. Use extreme caution." GULP.

Photo via CaseyandEmily.com

Even still, I can't wait to see the natural beauty of the giant trees, majestic waterfalls, grassy plateaus, scenic rivers and ancient granite formations. I've been adoring Ansel Adams photographs of Yosemite's breathtaking views and now it's time to go and see it for myself.

Ansel Adams via Yosemite website

So friends...check ya laterrr.

Happy Birthday Madonna

In honor of Madonna's birthday and her bulging biceps, today's post is dedicated to the Material Girl.

photo image via The Sun

You may have heard that Madonna kicked Tracy Anderson's pint-sized butt to the curb last year. Now she's picked up a new trainer and a brand new fitness method. According to sources, Madge is now working out with Sadie Lincoln, the founder of barre3, a 60-min total body workout class that combines ballet concepts with the grace of yoga and strength of pilates. With a ballet bar, barre3 devotees do static and dynamic movements to create long, lean toned muscle mass.

It reminds me a lot of Physique 57. What do you think?

The barre3 method has it's roots in Portland, Oregon but has expanded to locations in Washington, Oklahoma and the Philippines. A little all over the place...

You can buy their Total Body Lift DVD if you'd like to try their workout at home.

♥ Cheers to your health ♥

A Fruity Summer Dessert

This is a deliciously light, summer dessert for those who don’t like to bake in the heat of the summer. Just mix berries with lime juice and a touch of honey, then whip up some fresh coconut cream to top it all off.

Here's the recipe for the delicious coconut cream:

1. Buy a young thai coconut (you can get them at any health food store). They look like this:

2. Cut off the pointy top to get to the hard shell case:

3. Open up the coconut with the heel of the knife. Here is my favorite video that shows you how to easily open a young thai coconut:

4. Once it's open, don't forget to set aside and use the delicious and nutritious coconut water! Sooo much better than the coconut brands you see in the store. You can drink it alone or use it as a smoothie base:

5. Scoop out the coconut meat with a spoon and set aside:

6. To make the coconut cream, blend the meat with organic vanilla bean (optional) or honey (optional) and a splash of coconut water, just to get the blades moving:

7. Finish by dusting with a little bit of organic dried coconut. And voila:

This looks like it takes so much longer than it does. In actuality, I made this dessert in under 5 minutes (even with taking photographs!) So go ahead and keep your cool this summer with this sweet-tasting dessert recipe.

♥ Cheers to your health ♥

Question: Is it possible to wash all the pesticides off of my produce?

Answer:

No amount of elbow grease, water, liquid soap or natural produce wash will completely eliminate chemicals from your fruits or veggies. Some pesticides, instead of just remaining on the skin of the produce, will actually penetrate other parts of the plant to control pests. Residues from these pesticides simply cannot be washed off.

While the EPA says pesticides are nothing to worry about, who knows for sure what's safe and what the long term effects of pesticides are? "We can test the effects of specific chemicals on animals or on tissue samples, but no one can be certain what the effects of chemical combinations are on any one genetically unique person" (Dawn Gouge, PH.D, Men's Health).

Interestingly enough, a recent study in Pediatrics linked high levels of organophosphates (a type of pesticide) in children to an increased risk of developing ADHD.

Here's what I think: Pesticides are man-made chemicals designed to kill pests by destroying their nervous system. So why wouldn't they eventually do the same to us? Obviously, we're much larger in size, but all that means is that it takes a greater quantity of pesticides to wreck havoc on our systems and give rise to neurological and developmental effects as well as chronic disorders like MS, ADHD, skin disorders and cancer.

That's why I suggest reducing, if not, completely eliminating your exposure to pesticides by buying organic produce whenever possibly. If buying organic all the time is impossible or just too expensive, consider only getting organic when purchasing produce off the "the dirty dozen" list.

And because I'm so into video lately...

♥ Cheers to your health ♥

Posture check

This morning's inspiration:

After watching this video, you can clearly see how strengthening your core muscles through pilates and yoga can help you achieve better body alignment. Good posture is so important to our overall physical health, yet it's something that's easily overlooked. Like anything else with the human body, because we are a single organism, anything affecting one part of our body will affect all other parts. Good posture, for example, not only allows us to move more efficiently, but it also helps improve our circulation, digestive system, nervous system as well as take pressure off of our compressed organs. Plus, standing up straight will not only make you look much more confident, but you'll instantly look 5 pounds thinner. Who needs Spanx when you've got good posture!

image via Getty Images

The reality is, today most of us sit way too far forward while working at our computer and laptops, and as a result, we develop shoulder tension as well as lower back and neck pain. If you sit at a desk, you might want to consider about taking intermittent stretching breaks or even consider sitting on an exercise ball (if your workplace permits) to activate your core muscles.

I know for me personally, I have to consciously think about dropping my shoulders away form my ears and sliding my shoulder blades down my black. I also try to imagine the tops of my ears reaching for the sky. But every person is different.

image via Getty Images

So please share: what things do you do to help improve your posture? Or is it something you don't think about at all?

♥ Cheers to your health ♥

The Today Show: 7 year olds reaching puberty?!

Alarming new research is verifying that American girls are showing signs of puberty younger than ever - some as early as seven or eight years old. This is incredibly dangerous news and makes these young girls more vulnerable to chronic diseases and cancers later in life.

This recent study included 1, 239 young girls of various races and found that 10% of Caucasian girls, 23% of African American girls and 14% of Hispanic girls had obtained signs of puberty at 7 years old. According to Dr. Iva Horn, pediatricians all of American have been seeing these trends for years.

So, why is this happening?

The most probable cause is the rising obesity epidemic. Girls who are obese have increased hormones levels. Therefore these girls have earlier exposure to estrogen and higher levels of estrogen has been linked to breast cancer. Also, environmental factors such as the chemicals we come into contact with and the hormones and additives in our food and milk may lead to girls developing much earlier.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

You can read more about this study here

♥ Cheers to your health ♥

Forks Over Knives

image via forksoverknives.com

This summer I've been getting a certificate in nutrition and I'm excited to share that 2 of my professors (Dr. T Colin Campbell, nutrition biochemist from Cornell University and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, former top surgeon at the world-renownd Cleveland Clinic) are featured in an innovative documentary set to be released in theaters March 11th, 2011. The film, entitled Forks and Knives, has already been privately screened in advance in a few select cities and it has already received lots of support.

Just from the trailer alone, this looks to be a very compelling film.

The documentary examines the profound idea that most, if not all, chronic diseases that afflict those eating a Western diet can be REVERSED by rejecting our current diet of animal-based and processed foods. Imagine a world with virtually NO degenerative diseases such as heart disease, type 1 and 2 diabetes, cancer and auto immune diseases -- simply from just adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet! As the EMT paramedic said in the trailer, "the answer is so easy. It's criminal."

Watch the trailer and please feel free to post your reactions below!

♥ Cheers to your health ♥

SUPER Blender

My husband will tell you that I eat 1-2 meals a day in blended form. It's not for any one particular health reason (although blended foods are broken down better, thereby making them easier for our bodies to absorb nutrients) -- but just because I can blend up a delicious and nutrient packed smoothie in a matter of seconds. Especially in the summer months, this is clutch!

So it's only fitting that I introduce you to my all time favorite kitchen appliance..... THE ALL MIGHTY BLENDTEC. This is the Rolls Royce of all blenders.

Aside from the Vitamix, the Blendtec is the only high powered motor blender I would ever use at home. The blender wars between Vitamix and Blendtec can get pretty serious. Die hard smoothie and juice lovers can even claim identity depending on which blender they prefer (Team Blendtec vs. Team Vitamix). Here's why I'm on Team Blendtec:

• Blendtecs are typically chaper than the Vitamix
• Bledtecs have more horsepower
• The Blendtec's shorter/wider container will fit into your cabinets better (mine never leaves my counter top for long enough to actually be put away!)
• The blender container can be used for both wet and dry materials; whereas the Vitamix requires that you buy a separate dry pitcher.
• The Blendtec is sasier and faster to clean. You just put a little bit of soap with hot water in the pitcher, blend, and rinse. Voila!

And when I say these motors are powerful, I'm as serious as a heart attack. They have as much horsepower as a lawn mower! The "Will it Blend" video presentations clearly demonstrate what I'm taking about. I've watched this guy blend hockey pucks, iphones, golf balls, Nike shoes, crowbars....you name it!

And if you're still not convinced the Blendtec is where it's at (what's wrong with you, anyway??).... then watch Matt & Angela's blender comparison video.

♥ Cheers to your health ♥

And this is why I don't eat fast food....

Processed, pre-prepared poisonous food-like substances....loaded with sodium, trans fat, calories, saturated fat, hydrogenated oils and artificial additives. Vomitous! So tell us how you really feel, Wynne? :)

Nature never intended on fast food becoming the base of our diet -- and as a result of it being so, our bodies have sustained significant damage from eating these disease-promoting foods. The reality is, most people are unhealthy because they are poisoning themselves with fat, cholesterol, toxic amounts of protein, environmental contaminants, etc. from the standard American diet that is deficient in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and photochemicals that nature intended us to get through the consumption of whole foods.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

So, dare I ask...do you want fries with that?

And while I'm thinking about it, you should take a look at this immortal, bionic hamburger. And don't think this burger is unique!

Remember: if you ignore your health, it will go away!

♥ Cheers to your health ♥

Great Mantra

While I don't necessarily promote eating nutri-grain bars, I really like the message in their most recent TV Spot.

One good decision leads to another is a healthy mantra to live each day by.

We all know the opposite can also be true. Start the day off with a donut and soda, skip your mid morning snack because you feel guilty about your icky breakfast, then start to feel tired and ravenous at lunch time so you order a giant burrito with chips....and we all know how the rest of the day unfolds. Probably not at the gym and most likely at happy hour.

Try to live by the mantra one good decision leads to another for an entire day. I guarantee if you start the day off on the right foot, every decision that follows seems a little bit easier to make.

If you haven't see the ad already, here it is:

Nutra-grain Ad

Video: Kettlebell Workout

image via Sydney Morning Herald

I've posted a few times before about kettlebells (see: Swing into shape and Kettlebells revisted).

Here's a new strength training video using basic kettlebell moves from Fitness Magazine

♥Cheers to your health♥

1 minute video: Quinoa

Video proof that quinoa is a snap to prepare.

♥Cheers to your health♥

Facts about FLAX

image via Anytime Fitness

Flax is a major nutritional power food. The seeds are nutty, mild in flavor and they're so versatile. You can add them to muffin or pancake batter, smoothies, homemade soups or toss them on top of your salad.

Then there's all the health benefits of incorporating more flax into your diet. Flax seed oil contains the fatty acid alpha-linolenic acids (ALA), omega-6 and omega-9, antioxidants, fiber, protein, lecithin, magnesium, potassium and zinc, in addition to vitamin B. The properties in flax seed oil can benefit the immune, reproductive, cardiovascular, nervous and circulatory systems.

But there's a couple of quick and easy things you need to know before buying and using flax seeds:

Don't just eat the whole seed. Most nutrition experts recommend you eat the ground or milled variety, otherwise your body has a hard time digesting and absorbing flax. What happens when you eat the whole seed is that you just pass it undigested the exact same way you ate it...whole. Which translates to you getting none of the health benefits. Booooooo.

But you also don't want to buy it pre-ground at the store, either. First of all, it's expensive to buy this way and it breaks down really quickly too. Also, the ground form of flax seed is next to useless because right after it's been ground, the flax seeds starts losing their nutritional value. So in essence, when you buy pre-milled flax seed, you're basically buying really expensive fiber. That's about it.

So what I suggest is to buy a really cheap spice or seed grinder - clean and dump it out - and fill it with flax seeds. I even keep mine next to my hand held salt and pepper shakers. That way, whenever I'm whipping up a smoothie or preparing a salad, it's so easy to grind some fresh flax seed whenever I need it. You can also grind flax seed in a coffee grinder or food processor, if you already have those. Just make sure you grind some stale bread to neutralize the flavor after you grind up your coffee beans.

And in terms of flax seed oil, when you buy flax in the oil form, you're really missing out on all the protein and dietary fiber, leaving you only with the omega-3 fatty acids. If you want the most out of your flax, I suggest you buy it in the whole form and grind it up fresh!

♥ Cheers to your health♥