Emotional Eating: Feeding Your Cravings

Do you sit in front of the TV eating potato chips? Have you been through relationship issues and all you want to eat is a pint of ice cream? Were you ever so happy that you go to the fridge and just eat whatever that was in there? Emotional eating is something that many people deal with all the time. Studies show that 75% of overeating is caused my emotional eating. Emotional eating is when you eat your feelings.

Triggers for Emotional Hunger:

•  Social - eating around people - pressure to eat at parties, eating to fit in.
• Emotional - eating because of fights, anxiety, stress from school or work, unemployment, financial pressure as a way to "fill a void."
• Situational - eating because the food is there - going to parties, having lunch with friends/coworkers, passing by a restaurant, seeing an ad for a fast food place. It can also be associated with activities - going to the movies and having popcorn, watching tv, going to sports events.
• Physiological - responding to physical cues - eating a lot after not eating all day, eating to cure headaches, eating because of bad weather.

How to Tell Between Hunger and Emotional Hunger:

• Hunger comes slowly and gradually. Emotional hunger comes quickly. 
• When you are craving certain foods, that is emotional hunger. When you are actually hungry, you are open to any food.
• Physical hunger can wait. Emotional hunger needs to be satisfied NOW.
• Emotional hunger is when you feel guilty when you have just eaten. You do not feel bad when you eat after being hungry. 

Managing Emotional Eating:

• Keep a food diary. Write down what you ate, when, why and how you felt before and after. 
• Take a walk. Help keep your mind off of your cravings. 
• When you have an urge to eat when you are hungry, try grabbing a fruit or vegetable rather than candy or chips. 
• Take a bubble bath, read and relax.
• Have a few bites of that unhealthy, sugary piece of cake instead of eating the whole slice. Studies show that after four bites, you forget how you felt about wanting that cake.
• Fight boredom. Create a list of things to do to get your mind off of food. 
• Sleep. You might find yourself snacking to keep yourself awake. Make sure you get enough sleep. 

 Just remember that emotional eating is something people do because of boredom, being happy or sad or even being around food. Ease yourself off of the sweets and sugar and start grabbing that apple. Ice cream and cookies are obviously delicious but moderation is key.


This post is written by Karel.
Adapted from: Image from Heart and Soul by Dr. Thema
Weight-Loss help on MayoClinic  
Weight-Loss on Medicinenet 
WebMD: Emotional Eating 

Chlorella: Hardcore Green Algae

Green algae's have some of the highest content of chlorophyll known to man. People normally don't think of supplementing their diets with algae, but this one is definitely worth noting. Chlorella is a green algae which is harvested from the ocean and then dried into a powder or tablet form. It can help to cleanse the bowels, liver, bloodstream, and even remove heavy metals from the body! Read about all the amazing benefits it can have, and incorporate it if you can. This isn't something you will find at your average grocery store, and it isn't the cheapest of supplements, but it is truly great in helping to alkalize the body.

I enjoy supplementing my diet with it and adding it to smoothies or water in powder form. It also works well in a post workout shake, or blended in a juice!

Benefits of Chlorella:

Heavy Metal Detox
-Chlorella can help in detoxifying heavy metals and pesticides from the body. This includes mercury, cadmium, lead, DDT, and PCB

-The removal of these heavy metals from the body helps to strengthen the immune system

-It can take 3-6 months to fully rid the body of heavy metal build up 

-Make sure to combine chlorella with cilantro when using it for this type of detox

Improved Digestion
-Chlorella has pepsin and chlorophyllase as two of it's main enzymes. These both help in the digestion of our foods and perform important functions in the body. Try to find chlorella that isn't pasteurized, otherwise these enzymes have been destroyed and won't help
-Because of chlorella's high chlorophyll content, it helps to eliminate bad breath in only a couple days after using it
-Also, foul stool is improved and constipation reduced

Enhanced Red Blood Cell Functioning
-Hemoglobin in our red blood cells is a protein which gives our blood a bright red color. Chlorophyll is almost identical to the hemoglobin in our blood, minus one molecule!
-We need magnesium (which is the basis of chlorophyll's molecule) in order to have proper heart function
-The high chlorophyll content can help protect against anemia and stimulates the production of new red blood cells in our bodies

Cancer Fighting
-In order to fight cancer, we need macrophages in our body to protect us from disease. Chlorella stimulates and activates extra macrophages and the T-cells by increasing interferon levels in our bodies. This helps to increase our immune responses and combat foreign bacteria and viruses

More Balanced pH & Increased Alkalinity in our Bodies

-Our bodies need a balanced pH of around 7.2 - 7.4 if possible. In this range, we are balanced and disease cannot thrive. Chlorella is highly alkaline and increases this precious pH balance. When we eat processed and junk foods, we become more acidic and important minerals are leached from our bodies in order to combat this change. Adding chlorella can help you increase your pH level to become more alkaline, and thrive with more energy while reducing risks for disease

More Normalized Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar
-When we become hypoglycemic, our blood sugar is extremely low and our brains, heart, and energy systems are no longer functioning properly. Chlorella helps to normalize our blood sugar and reduce high levels of insulin spikes
-High blood pressure means that we are more at risk for heart attacks and strokes. Experiments have been done to show that chlorella reduces blood pressure and prevents strokes in rat tests.

*Try chlorella if you can and see how this hardcore algae can help improve your life and overall functioning!

This post is written by Michael 
Adapted from:
Chlorella
Chlorella Benefits
Chlorella Image

When to Buy Organic Produce

We all know that eating fruits and vegetables are good for your health and well-being. But when is it worth it to buy organic fruits and vegetables?

The Environmental Working Group has come up with a list of foods that you should definitely get organic and when it doesn't really matter.

What does it matter? Basically, produce is exposed to pesticides which we all know is not good to ingest. However, eating fruits and vegetables is better than not eating them at all. The "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce" will show which fruits and vegetables have the highest residue of pesticides and when it is most important to buy organic.

 "This year we have expanded the Dirty Dozen with a Plus category to highlight two crops -- green beans and leafy greens, meaning, kale and collard greens - that did not meet traditional Dirty Dozen criteria but were commonly contaminated with highly toxic organophosphate insecticides. These insecticides are toxic to the nervous system and have been largely removed from agriculture over the past decade. But they are not banned and still show up on some food crops." (Source)

Usually, if you don't eat the outside, it's probably clean. Such as: onions (the layers!), corn (the husks!), grapefruit (the peel!). When you go grocery shopping, print up a list of produce that you should probably get organic. Happy shopping! (: 

P.S. I created a printable sheet so you can bring it with you shopping! Click on the above link that says "printable" and download! 

This post is written by Karel.
Adapted from: EWG's 2012 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce
The Dirty Dozen Plus and the Clean 15 Yahoo Article
The Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 images from the Locavore Mama

Goji Berries: Nature's Energy Powerhouse

Goji berries are a fruit that have wonderful energy and antioxidant power, but most people don't even know that they exist. They can't be grown in the United States due to the climate, so they are usually sun-dried and imported. They are full of protein, have a high iron content, and are sweet to the taste. I love to throw some in smoothies, on my salads, or even just as a fun snack! Incorporate these powerful superfoods to help against disease and to fuel your cells with pure energy!

Here are some of the many benefits of these amazing berries: 

• Antioxidant rich - Goji berries are high in antioxidants such as beta carotene and zeaxanthin. These both help to protect the retina of our eyes and can even improve sight 

• Goji berries help to protect the liver and kidneys

• They help to boost the immune system and can help us stay cold free & healthy for longer periods of time

• Goji berries stimulate the pituitary gland to release Human Growth Hormone. This can help to reduce & reverse aging effects, and boost the production of healthy skin cells

• Goji berries also have a high ORAC value which can help us prevent oxidation and preserve our cells

• Goji berries prevent fatigue & tiredness 

• Research has shown that Goji berries are good at enhancing fertility and improving sexual function (particularly in men)  

• Goji berries can also improve circulation 

• With their high vitamin and mineral content, Goji berries reduce blood pressure and cholesterol

My personal favorite brand:
Dragon Herbs Heaven Mountain Goji Berries

These goji berries are more moist than other brands due to the way they are handled after being picked. They are naturally sun-dried and still full of life. They are on the pricier side, but in my opinion, your health is worth the investment! If you have never tried them, I highly recommend picking some up!

This post is written by Michael.
Adapted from: 
Goji Benefits
Goji Image

Tomato Veggie Casserole

Doesn't that look delicious!?! We started eating it before we got to take a picture. Oopsies! We decided that we should share a yummy recipe in time for the grand opening of Living Towards Love. Michael found the recipe on Food Network. Of course, it was in our nature to change it up and add things to it. It turned out really really good!!!

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Serves: 6

Ingredients: (we sliced them in cubes)

• 1 medium potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 medium yam, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 5 tablespoons melted coconut oil
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced into rings
• 2 small or 1 large zucchini, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces
• Salt and pepper 
• herbs de provence
• dried basil
• 2 large ripe tomatoes, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices
• 1cup grated Parmesan
• 4 tablespoons dried Italian-style bread crumbs 
• Fresh basil sprigs, for garnish

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 

Mix the potato, yam, bell pepper, carrots in a 13 by 9 baking dish. We used a deep rectangle foil pan because we didn't have anything else. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Sprinkle salt and pepper (we accidentally forgot this step!). Mix together with hands and spread the vegetables evenly over the bottom of the pan.

Place onion slices over the veggies. Put zucchini over the onion. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Sprinkle salt, pepper, dried basil and herbs de provence. Arrange the tomato over zucchini.
In a separate small bowl, stir together the Parmesan and bread crumbs. (We actually doubled this part, in the original recipe it was half of what we have written above in the ingredients list. Trust us on this one, the Parmesan and crumbs make it delicious!)

Sprinkle the Parm-crumb mix over the veggies. Drizzle with one last tablespoon of coconut oil.

Bake uncovered until the veggies are tender, and the topping is golden brown, about 50 min. Garnish with fresh basil. Enjoy!!!


We love this recipe and we are definitely going to make it again. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did! It only lasted two days for the both of us, but it was definitely worth it.

This post was written by Karel & Michael.
Adapted from: 
Food Network