Benefits and Reflection: Being on a Plant-Based Diet

When I say diet, people tend to freak out. I run a fitness blog also and "diet" is such a bad word in the fit community. However, people fail to see that everybody has a diet, whether it be healthy or not, you  have a diet. Anyway, I have incorporated a plant-based diet at the end of March and have seen nothing but amazing things. This is something I am super passionate about and I love talking to people about it! Comment about your experiences, comments, concerns, or questions!

Note: I will be putting together a transitioning guide to a plant-based diet in hopes on getting my family on board. If it goes well, Michael and I will be selling the guide. This would include an ebook and possibly a workbook. It will include our research, movies to watch, recipes to try, and more. Please comment if you are interested!

What is a plant-based diet?
A plant-based diet incorporates only eating things that come from plants. This includes mostly fruit, veggies, legumes, grains, beans, seeds, etc. There are three categories: vegan (no meat, eggs, milk, cheese, dairy), lacto-vegetarian (no meat or eggs, dairy is fine), and lacto-ovo-vegetarian (no meat, but eggs and dairy is okay). I personally think vegan is plant-based because eggs and dairy do not come from a plant. However, it is better than the alternative!

Benefits

• energy (you have more energy throughout the day)
• less breakouts (usually the month after you start you break out a ton because it is your body's way of filtering the bad stuff. Then your face is clear. I believe that breakouts are directly linked to food)
• high in fiber (I mean, you eat basically fruits and veggies)
• high in nutrients and vitamins
• saving so many lives (It takes more food to feed animals. This food can go to people.)
• lowering your carbon footprint (Global warming is real and "animal protein contributes50% more greenhouse gases" than transportation)
• you become more compassionate (see reflection below)
• you save money (Meat is expensive, period.)
• lose weight (I was not trying to lose weight when I started and I lost 20lbs.)

But where do you get your protein? What if I don't get enough iron? Is this bad for my health?
This is far from bad. Before I started I had high cholesterol. When I got my blood test back recently, not only my cholesterol had decreased by a lot, but I am getting enough nutrients in every aspect.
Of course, before starting, consult your doctor. We are not nutritionists, doctors, or professionals. This is just my findings and research.

"The China Study, a 20-year comprehensive study of nutrition conducted by Cornell and Oxford Universities and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, describes how the typical standard american diet, which has become very high in animal protein and unhealthy fats and low in fiber, promotes substantially more chronic disease and obesity than a more plant-based, whole-foods diet. The study further illustrates the fact that much of the world lives on a plant-based diet, consuming only small amounts of animal protein due to cost and availability, with much less chronic disease and obesity than the United States." (source)

My Reflection
I started doing this for the health benefits. As time went by, I learned more and more about what is happening to the animals and how it contributes to destroying Mother Earth. It had turned me into a more loving and compassionate person. Sometimes it becomes difficult and I want to stop, but I think about that there is only good that comes to it. The only negative aspect of this diet is what your friends think. I have found many people very closed minded to my lifestyle change. I challenge you to educate yourself and educate others on what you have found on eating plant-based and loving the world and others around you.

What those famous vegans say!

“I’ve also been on a pretty strict plant-based diet for 4 months now – feeling stronger, fitter, healthier and more productive. I ride longer distances on my bike, can do more pull-ups than ever, and my brain seems to have a larger capacity for new projects, problem solving, songwriting, and fielding random questions. My health and strength make me a better performer and all that combined gives me more confidence to go out in the world and shine my light. It also makes me a lot better in bed. Just sayin…” (Jason Mraz, singer)



“When I was 23, 24, I used to have a really bad runny nose, mucus, tons of acne, reddishness all over. A woman on a bus I took looked at me and said I was lactose intolerant. (She said), ‘Stop dairy for three days, and all this is going to go away.’ I stopped dairy, and sure enough it was gone three days later, never to return except when I get dairy accidentally.” (Woody Harrelson, Hunger Games, actor)

Want to see more famous vegans? Check it out!

Have you tried a plant-based diet before? What were experiences? What are your concerns on starting? 

This post is written by Karel.
Adapted from: 
awomenshealth.com 
MindBodyGreen 
One Vegan Meal pic (this is not the original source, if you know where the original source is, please let me know so I can properly source them!)
Sources of Protein 
Power of Fruits and Veggies pic 
Jason Mraz quote 
Famous Vegans

Note: I will be putting together a transitioning guide to a plant-based diet in hopes on getting my family on board. If it goes well, Michael and I will be selling the guide. This would include an ebook and possibly a workbook. It will include our research, movies to watch, recipes to try, and more. Please comment if you are interested!

Increase Your Activity Levels

Ever since I got a FitBit, I have been doing little things to try to increase my steps and my activity levels. I have seen a difference in my energy and outlook on life. Even the small things can make a difference! Do you want to increase your activity levels? Here are a few ways:

1. Stretch when you wake up and when you go to bed. 
2. Take the stairs.
3. Park farther.
4. Walk around during your lunch break.
5. Do some housework everyday, like vaccuming, cleaning the windows, gardening. Not only will you get activity in, but your house will be cleaner!
6. Stand instead of sitting (when watching TV, reading, doing homework, etc).
7. Do exercise during commercials. (I don't watch tv but when a pandora commercial comes on, I do a wall sit or some crunches.) 
8. Go to class or meeting early and walk around for a little bit.
9. Dedicate one song to dancing. Whenever Scream & Shout comes on, no matter what I am doing (unless I am driving), I have to get up and start dancing for that entire song. 
10. Take plenty of breaks when you have been sitting for a long time. Every 20 min of studying, I do a 30 second plank and some squats and then I get back to work. It helps with activity and focus. 

What are some other ways that you have increased your activity levels during the day? 

This post is written by Karel.
Adapted from: Tumblr Info and Pic

Getting Rid of Cankersores

So I have had a canker sore for a few days now and I knew there had to be a way to get rid of them! Canker sores are this small ulcers in the inside of your mouth and you notice all the time, especially when eating and drinking. It is most common between the ages of 10 to 20 years old. They are pretty common, can happen multiple times in a year, and lasts for about a week.

Just to be Clear
Canker sores and cold sores are not the same thing. Cold sores are caused by a virus and are extremely contagious. They are usually located on the outside of the mouth.

Causes of Canker Sores
There is no known direct cause of canker sores but the following may influence getting one:

• stress or tissue injury
• acidic foods (like citrus, strawberries, and tomatoes) 
• sharp tooth surface or dental appliance (like braces or dentures)

Home Remedies for Getting Rid of them
Please note: I only tried #1

1. Salt: wash your hands, wet the tip of your finger, sprinkle salt on it, place on sore (I did this and it hurts! I let it do its thing and I would gargle with water and do it again. I did this twice a day for four days and it's gone!) 
2. Baking Soda: Make a paste with baking soda and water and put directly on sore. Rinse mouth with finished
3. Honey: Dab honey on the spot to help soothe the pain
4. Vodka, Rum, or Wiskey: Dab directly onto sore using a q-tip (this one is probably painful)
5. Apple Cider Vinegar: Dab directly onto sore using a q-tip (this is also painful)
6. Hydrogen Peroxide: Mix 1 part peroxide, 1 part water. Swish in mouth. (this is also painful)

We hope this helps! If it doesn't go away after a week, definitely talk to a doctor!

Disclaimer: We are not doctors. This information is just for informational use only. It is NOT intended to provide medical advise. We are not responsible for any possible consequenses from anything stated above. Thank you.
 

This post is written by NAME.
Adapted from: 
WebMD 
TipNut 
Honey Image

Product Review: Diva Cup + Giveaway!

Before you keep reading, this post is geared towards the ladies (sorry guys!). Second, we are not sponsored or paid to publicize this product.

The product that I am reviewing is called the Diva Cup. It is a sustainable menstrual cup that you insert and clean and whatnot. There are other cups just like this like: the Moon Cup and the Keeper. I have linked them all so you can compare. This review is solely on the Diva Cup because I haven't tried the others.

Why I love the Diva Cup

• It is only $40 ($30 on amazon!). If you think about it, you will save money. According to their website, you save about $100-150 per year!
• You can keep it in for 12 hours. I hate having to go to the bathroom every 3-4 hours especially when I have class that long. This is the best solution.
• I hate the bulkyness of pads, and tampons freak me out.
• You don't feel it (for the most part). It definitely gets some getting used to in the beginning. 
• It is so easy to do normal things. I used to avoid working out and doing yoga because I hate worrying about it. Now, I don't even think about what to do.

Here is a video explaining menstrual cups. She doesn't talk about the DivaCup because it is newer but you should still watch it!

Diva Cup Giveaway!

 What you get: one Diva Cup (size 1)

Who can enter: US residents only!

What you need to do:

• You must email livingtowardslove@gmail.com your name.
• You must be liking our Facebook page.
• +2 entry: advertising LTL on Facebook (send screenshot to email above)
• +1 entry: advertising LTL on Tumblr/Twitter (only one, if you do both, it counts as one entry. send screenshot)
• +1 entry: doing the survey from a couple weeks ago (leave your name in one of the comment boxes so we know you did it!)
• +1 entry: commenting on this post on why you want the Diva cup

How we will choose:
We will take all your entries, write them on a piece of paper, put in hat, and pick. We will make a video so you can all see. We will also email you that you have won so we can get your shipping information.

Enter by Valentines Day at 9pm PST. We will announce the winner on Friday or Saturday!

Good luck!! :)

This post is written by Karel.
Adapted from: 
Diva Cup 
Amazon
Youtube
 Diva Cup Logo Image
Diva Cup Image

Eating for pH Balance

Our bodies are most happy at a pH level of about 7.2-7.4. The pH scale ranges from 0-14, where 0 is the most acidic, and 14 is the most alkaline. When there is too much acidity, the body has to rely on it's own precious reserves in order to balance and be within the optimal range, thus aging our bodies faster and robbing us of energy. The more alkaline foods that we consume, the better our bodies are able to fight disease and also stay strong and recover. Naturally, the body constantly wants to heal itself and become perfect, but if we continually stress it out, it loses it's ability to fight. We thrive when we are more alkaline, but unfortunately a lot of standard diets have many acidic foods that promote and harbor illness. Read below about foods that contribute to alkalinity and acidity.

pH of foods (in order of most alkaline to most acidic) 
Most alkaline:
baking soda, lime, nectarine, persimmon, raspberry watermelon, tangerine, lentils, yams, onion, daikon, taro root, sea vegetables, burdock, sweet potato, pumpkin seeds

More alkaline: spices, cinnamon  grapefruit, cantaloupe, honeydew, citrus, mango, dewberry, loganberry, kohlrabi, parsnip, garlic, kale, parsley, endive, mustard green, ginger root, brocoli, poppy seed, molasses

Low alkaline: herbs (most), lemon, pear, apple, avocado, blackberry, cherry, peach, papaya, eggplant, potato, bell pepper, mushroom, cauliflower, pumpkin, collard-greens, primrose oil, sesame seed, cod liver oil, almonds, sprouts, quail eggs, green or mu tea, rice syrup, apple cider

Lowest alkaline: orange, apricot, banana, blueberry, pineapple, raisin, currant, grape, strawberry, brussel sprouts, beet, chive, okra, turnip greens, squash, lettuces, avocado oil, seeds (most), coconut oil, olive oil, linseed oil, oats, quinoa, wild rice, duck eggs, ginger tea

Lowest acid: curry, guava, dry fruit, figs, dates persimmon juice, spinach, fava beans, kidney beans, string beans, chutney, rhubarb, pumpkin seed oil, grape seed oil, sunflower oil, pine nuts, canola oil, millet, kasha, amaranth, brown rice, wild duck, venison, fish, chicken eggs, cream, yogurt, kona, honey, maple syrup, rice vinegar

Low acid: vanilla, plum, prune, tomato, tofu, pinto beans, white beans, navy beans, adzuki beans, lima beans, chard, almond oil, sesame oil, safflower oil, buckwheat, spelt, wheat, semolina, goose/turkey, lamb/mutton, elk, shellfish, cow and goat milk, aged cheese, soy cheese, black tea, balsamic vinegar.

More acid: nutmeg, cranberry, pomegranite, green peas, peanut, snowpea, legumes, carrots, chickpea, pistachio, pecans, corn rye, oat bran, chicken, pork/veal, muscles/squid, casein, coffee, saccharin

Most acidic: pudding, jam jelly, soybean, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, barley, pheasant, beef, lobster, processed cheese, ice cream, beer, sugar, cocoa, white vinegar

--> This image sums up what I wrote pretty well, of course it doesn't include all foods, but it gives you an idea. Basically the more natural foods are within the mildly acidic to highly alkaline range, and this is exactly what the body needs. Where as the most acidic foods are the processed sugars, flours, alcohol, dairy/meat products, etc. Yes there are acidic natural foods as well, but these are what offer a "balance" for the highly alkaline foods, so that the body can meet in the middle at the optimal pH of 7. Just know that it isn't bad to eat acidic foods, but it is good to have a balance!

Hopefully this guide can help you incorporate more fresh and disease fighting alkaline foods into your diet, and I have included some basic guidelines for eating below that will help on your journey to new and thriving health! :)

Basic eating guidelines to maintain health & vital energy :

• Enjoy food in a relaxed atmosphere (not in front of a TV watching CSI)
• Be thankful for your food before every meal, eat purposefully
• Eat portions of food that won't overtax the system
• Eat foods that are high in fiber
• Eat seasonally, and organically grown, and hand pick your food if possible
• Chew food well
• Do not skip meals
• Choose the most fresh food as possible
• Stay hydrated, and try not to drink 20 minutes before or 20 minutes after a meal (because the water dilutes digestive acids making it harder to break down the nutrients) 

If you are curious what your current pH level is in your body, and want to see if you are within the optimal range, you can buy pH strips and test easily using the saliva from your mouth.

This post is written by Michael 
Adapted from: 
The pH Balance Diet Book
Image
Image 2

Iron Explained for Vegetarians

Your body needs iron for your blood and your brains. Iron helps make hemoglobin, which assists the transportation of oxygen through your blood into the cells in your body. If you do not get enough iron in your system, your red blood cells becomes pale and weak. This means that your blood is not receiving enough oxygen. 

Cues That You May Need More Iron

• fatigue & weakness
• inability to concentrate
• increased susceptibility to infections
• hair loss
• dizziness 
• headaches
• brittle nails
• apathy
• depression

Iron Requirements

The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends the following:

Infants and Children
• Younger than 6 months: 0.27 milligrams per day (mg/day)
• 7 months to 1 year: 11 mg/day
• 1 to 3 years: 7 mg/day
• 4 to 8 years: 10 mg/day

Men
• 9 to 13 years: 8 mg/day
• 14 to 18 years: 11 mg/day
• Age 19 and older: 8 mg/day

Women
• 9 to 13 years: 8 mg/day
• 14 to 18 years: 15 mg/day
• 19 to 50 years: 18 mg/day
• 51 and older: 8 mg/day

Sources of Iron
1 cup of cooked soybeans (8.8 mg)
1 cup of cooked lentils (6.6 mg)
1 cup of cooked spinach (6.4 mg)
1 teaspoon of Spirulina (5 mg)
1 cup of cooked chickpeas (4.7 mg)
4 ounces of quinoa (4 mg)
1 cup of cooked oatmeal (1.6 mg)



This post is written by Karel.
Adapted from:
Why Do You Need Iron
Iron Requirements
Iron Sources 1
Iron Sources 2
Cues for more iron
Iron
Leafy Greens Picture
Iron Greens

Tea? It's like a hug in a cup.

Michael and I have basically been sick on and off for the past three weeks. During this time, we decided that no drugs would be necessary. Actually, we never even thought about it! Why? Because tea cures. (At least, we think so.)

Why Tea Rocks
Tea has been around for thousands of years for healing, health, wisdom, and social gatherings. However, doctors do not "prescribe" it for whatever reason they may have. Tea is naturally soothing and healing to the mind, body and spirit. There are many reasons to love tea!

• Tea has less caffeine compared to coffee. This means it is better for the heart and helps prevent cancer. But...
• Some Teas have caffeine! It is great for people like me who cannot drink coffee because gives me headaches and anxiety. 
• Helps burn fat! You are basically drinking water with a little (or a lot) of flavor. Zero calories! I think yes. 
• Green tea has antioxidants, more than broccoli, carrots, or spinach.
• White tea has the most anticancer properties.
• Oolong helps lower bad cholesterol. 
• It boosts your immune system, boosts functioning for old age, lowers blood pressure, 

Teas We Cannot Get Enough Of

Herb Tea for Detoxing

Herb Tea for the Libido

Peach Blosson Oolong

Tea for Lifting Your Spirits

Lupicia's White Christmas

We love tea so much that my mom got Michael and I these cute double walled glass cups for our anniversary. So there you have it. Our little obsession over tea. Why do you like tea? What is your favorite kind? We would LOVE suggestions! (Katie...? I know you're reading this.)

This post is written by Karel.
Adapted from: Tea Types and Their Health Benefits
Tea Health Benefits   
Republic Of Tea 
Title Inspiration 
Tea gif
Disclaimer: We are not sponsored by The Republic of Tea or Lupicia. We just really enjoy their products. 

Farmer's Markets

Farmer's markets are a great way to get healthy, organic food. Michael and I go to the Farmer's Market almost every week and we love it! It is one of the oldest forms of direct marketing. You meet the guy that's growing your food! You can't do that when you go to the grocery store.

Why We Love the Market

1. It is affordable. We usually use less that $40 for food between the both of us. We get tons of greens and fruit! We love fruit. We got 7 pounds of apples for $6 once. It was great.
2. You meet the farmer. If you have a question, they can answer it because they are the one that is growing their food. We talked to the persimmon guy and he told us exactly when our persimmons will be good to eat. 
3. Sometimes they give you free stuff. I go to a specific booth and they always give me a free tomato or onion. Sometimes if you go towards the end of the farmer's market, they give more free stuff because they want to get rid of their food. 
4. You can tell them how much money you have left and they will accommodate. I use this trick ALWAYS. I ask "how many zucchinis can I get for $3?" They usually give me more than I pay for because they realize I'm trying to save money as much as I can. 
5. Really good quality food. Obviously if you go earlier, you get the best quality because it hasn't been picked through. Regardless, I always find something I want. 
6. Support local farmers! You know exactly where your money is going to and supporting local farmers is the best. 
7. It's fun. Michael and I love walking around and seeing what they have. There is always someone selling beautiful flowers and a couple booths with crafts and pottery. You never know what you'll find!

To find your local farmers market: Use LocalHarvest. Look it up and research again in Google. Usually the farmer's markets have websites. Use it to see if they are open year round. Sometimes markets are closed due to the cold season and rain, but bigger populated areas will most likely have a year round market!

Do you go to the Farmer's Market? What is your favorite part about the market?

This post is written by Karel.
Adapted from: 
LocalHarvest 
Farmer's Market Box Picture
Fresh Local Produce Picture

Fluoride: Poisoning your water silently

Fluoride is used in toothpaste to combat our cavities, but more recently it has been added into our water supply without question. Why you may ask? Well, the CDC (center for disease control and prevention) claims that it is one of the "ten best health achievements of the 20th century" by adding this unnecessary chemical into the water supply in order to protect us from getting cavities. It is actually a by-product of industrial runoff from aluminum factories, but instead of disposing of it, it get put into the water supply. It is normally used as an insecticide and rat killer, and this is being put into OUR WATER! what!?

Unfortunately, most people don't even know that it is in most city tap water, and it can cause a whole multitude of negative issues.

Negatives:
-Causes skeletal system to rapidly deteriorate, which increases weakness in joints and bones
-It is a Neurotoxin that affects cerebral functioning
-Studies have showed that it lowers IQ of populations
-Makes people docile (not caring mentality)
-Increases cancer and tumor growth
-Interrupts DNA-repair activity
-Calcifies the pineal gland (our third eye of knowledge and all knowing power)
-Causes genetic damage
-Associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia
-Lowers the activity of the thyroid gland
-Can cause insomnia because it lowers melatonin release while you sleep
-Causes white spots on teeth called dental fluorosis
-Damages natural enzymes in the body
-Can lead to hives and eczema
-Breaks down collagen and causes wrinkling of the skin
-Weakens the muscles and tendons of the body

Basically, sodium fluoride in our water supplies is killing us, and no one seems to care about it..... No one wants to drink poison, and since we are made up of about 70% water, it is important to have a clean source.

www.findaspring.com is a great website for finding a local spring to get the cleanest water possible, because the city's tap water is definitely not the best source to support our health and well-being.

Tips to avoid fluoride:
-Buy toothpaste without fluoride (Toms of maine sells this, and other natural suppliers do as well)
-Avoid canned foods because fluoride is used as a preservative
-Check your medications and vitamins, some may contain fluoride
-Avoid chewing tobacco
*Invest in a water filter that can filter the fluoride and other heavy metals. This includes reverse osmosis, activated alumina defluoridation filter, and a distillation filtration. Your brita will NOT protect you.
-Talk to your city water supplier about your concerns and raise awareness with friends and family

This post is written by Michael
Adapted from: 
image
fluoride
history of water
avoid fluoride

Baby Carrots: Not So Innocent

Fun Fact: Baby carrots are shaved down reject adult carrots that nobody wanted. Basically, back in the 80s, carrots had to have a specific color, size, and shape or else grocery stores would not accept them. Isn't that sad? Even these orange, crunchy vegetable have societal pressures to look a certain way. I recently found my love of carrots and baby carrots are great because they're so compact and cute! Until I heard about the truth...

Just a little background: Basically a farmer was so sick of the waste, that he decided to do something with the rejected carrots. He had two solutions. 1. shave them into 1 inch balls, calling them bunny balls. 2. baby carrots! Bunny balls weren't a hit but baby carrots were! So that was when the baby carrot was born.

Here's the thing. These cute little healthy snacks aren't as healthy as you think. Remember how I said that carrots were rejected based on color, size, and shape? Well... To make baby carrots, the rejected carrots were ground together and bathed in chlorine to give them the bright orange color. Another way is to just cut and peel into the baby carrot shape, but again, they are bathed in chlorine.

However, in the ingredients list, it doesn't say chlorine! Why? Basically anything that happens in the manufacturing process does not need to be included in the ingredients list. There is no way to tell if there is chlorine in your organic baby carrots or not.

If you didn't know, chlorine is highly toxic. It is commonly found in household cleaners and in the air near industrial areas. Ingesting chlorine can lead to many health problems, like "sore throat, coughing, eye and skin irritation, rapid breathing, narrowing of the bronchi, wheezing, blue coloring of the skin, accumulation of fluid in the lungs, pain in the lung region, severe eye and skin burns, lung collapse, a type of asthma known as Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS)" [Source].

Long story, short: Just buy organically grown whole carrots. You can easily just wash them and cut them in to sticks! Yummm. 

This post is written by Karel.
Adapted from: 
Why Baby Carrots Are Killing You
True Baby Carrots
Just Say No to Baby Carrots (This is a great article too!) 

Superfood: Açaí Berries

Açaí is a superfood fruit from South America. The people of Brazil have been using them for many years to gain nutritional benefits. They are very high in a variety of vitamins and minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, B1, and vitamin E. Also, they have a high protein content and are a great source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats! In the U.S. the berries won't last the shipment from South America, so normally they are dried into a powder form and then shipped. Read below for some of the wonderful benefits that Acai has to offer!

~Benefits~

1. Good for the heart: These berries have anthocyanins which is similar to a chemical in red wine which helps lower cholesterol levels. They also contain plant sterols which protect our cells by preventing blood clots, and also help to improve circulation. 

2. Healthy Skin: Due to the high antioxidant level of açaí berries, they help to make your skin naturally glow. Take them as a supplement for this benefit. 

3. Anti-Aging: These berries can reverse aging effects and reduce inflammation in the body. This is because of the high antioxidant levels. They also have around ten times the antioxidants as grapes! They have one of the highest ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) to reduce free radical damage in the body and promote the death of unhealthy cells. 

4. Anti-Viral & Anti-Bacterial: Consuming acai berry extract can help to fight anti viral and parasitic infections. This means that it can help  you be less susceptible to acquiring a cold during flu season!

5. Vasodilator: These berries help to increase the size of blood vessels and improve the flow of blood in the body. This can be especially helpful for men with a low sex drive.

6. Weight Loss: Acai helps to suppress the hunger and apetite of the body because of it's high fiber content. This can mean a decrease in the accumulation of body fat and an increase in metabolism resulting in weight loss. 

7. Improved Vision: Since anthyocyanins and Vitamin A are superstars of this fruit, it can help to improve your overall vision. 

If you can acquire the berries in their natural state then that would be awesome! If you can't, then supplementing your diet with the powdered form of the berries can also be beneficial :)

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

10 Good Reasons to Avoid Dairy

Many people feel that they need dairy in their diets in order to have adequate amounts of calcium and protein. This is just not true, but the media displays milk and cheese as helping us build strong bones and teeth, when in reality they acidify and weaken our bones. In order to progress as a society and become more aware of our impact on ourselves and the environment, sometimes we need to unlearn what we have been taught. By challenging our current views of what we should and shouldn't eat, we become more mindful of what we are consuming and why. Below are ten justifications for removing dairy products from your diet. 

1. Cow's Milk is Meant for Baby Cows

Currently, we are the only species that drinks milk after infancy. We are also drinking the milk of another animal that doesn't belong to us. Let's save it for the calfs. 

2. Hormones

Cows are given steroids and other hormones in order to increase their milk production. This intake of foreign hormones can disrupt the functioning of our own hormonal system, and produce negative effects in our bodies. 

3. Cows Consume Harmful Foods

Feed for cows includes genetically modified corn & soy, animal products, cottonseed, chicken manure, pesticides, and antibiotics. When we consume dairy we are ingesting all of these nasty things. 

4. Dairy Products are Acid Forming in the Body

Our bodies function best at a neutral pH of about 7.3. When we consume dairy products (which are acid forming), our bodies have to take from our bones in order to balance the reduction in pH. The dairy causes calcium to diffuse from our bones, thus making them weaker over time. Do not listen to media's lies of building strong bones and teeth, because they don't care about your health, only $.

5. Increase in Osteoporosis

Research has found that the countries that consume the most dairy products have higher incidences of osteoporosis. We are setting ourselves up for brittle bones in the future if we don't change our habits. 

6. Dairy Cow Conditions

Most cows that produce dairy are confined in close quarters where they are treated inhumanly and are never able to see green pastures or the light of day.

7. Most Dairy is Pasteurized

Pasteurization is used to kill potentially harmful bacteria. However, in the process it kills necessary vitamins, proteins, and enzymes. We need enzymes in order to help us digest our foods. Since they are depleted, our bodies have to work harder in order to assimilate and break the dairy down.  

8. Dairy is Mucous Forming

Since dairy produces mucous it can lead to respiratory disruption in the lungs. Many seasonal allergies can also be a cause of dairy and most people don't know this because they have never removed it from their diets. If you have allergies, try removing dairy from your diet temporarily to see if you observe any relief. 

9. Dairy Consumption is Linked to Arthritis

In a study involving rabbits, scientists were able to produce inflamed joints in animals by switching their water to milk. In other studies, scientists have found more than a 50% reduction in pain and swelling of arthritis when people eliminated milk and dairy products from their diet.

10. Most Dairy is Homogenized

When milk is homogenized, the natural proteins are denatured and made harder for our bodies to digest. We see these proteins as foreign invaders and our white blood cells attack our own body as if it was an infection. Research has also linked homogenized milk to heart disease.

Final note: If dairy has been a big aspect of your life and diet, try to challenge yourself by removing it temporarily. Pay attention and notice any changes that occur in your life, and whether it is truly something you need in your diet. It is very easy to habitually use dairy with breakfast cereals, smoothies for lunch, and ice cream after dinner. I encourage you to try new things, and question your current eating practices to better your own health and well being of the environment. Stay tuned for future nut milk recipes, which are more satisfying and nutritious!

This post is written by Michael
Adapted from: 
The Sunflower Center in Petaluma California
Image

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