And Here It Is: Diet Soda Causes Heart Problems

February 2, 2012 4 Comments

Photo by: Rafakoy

Diet soda always seemed so good to be true, didn’t it? Sweet but no calories? A sugary, bubbly, and guilt-free green card? Well, a new study out of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center found that people who drank diet soda daily had a 43% increased chance of suffering a vascular event (heart attack, stroke, vascular death) than people who drank none, and that was after taking into account pre-existing vascular conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome. The researchers are unclear why diet soda had such harmful effects. Interestingly enough, however, researchers found that regular soft drink consumption and a more moderate intake of diet soft drinks did not appear to be linked to a higher risk of vascular events.

I’ve long discouraged diet sodas and artificial sweeteners because while they can technically help you meet your fluid needs, they leave your body wondering why it didn’t get any sugar out of the sweet-tasting beverage, causing you to eventually crave and scavenge for sugary treats. This makes you grumpy and crazy, and causes you to cycle through diet sodas, candy bars, guilt, more diet sodas, free-based sugar, and so on. Plus, many individuals feel more anxious after consuming artificial sweeteners and often have trouble falling asleep at night, regardless of caffeine consumption.

If you need to sweeten and a touch of real raw sugar or agave nectar won’t do it, stevia powder like Truvia (made from stevia leaves) has zero calories and is made from nature, not chemistry. Plus, it doesn’t have the unhealthy heart or  sugar-craving delirium side-effects. For beverages, however, straight up water jazzed with fresh fruit and cucumber wedges, or filtered water seltzered with the at-home Soda Stream, are always best.

Sorry to bear the bad news, diet soda lovers! But, the good news is that after 3 diet soda-free weeks, your taste buds will adjust and you’ll be clear out of the health risk woods. Plus, you’ll feel shockingly amazing. No more panicked vending machine runs!

Filed under Carbs, Detox, Energy, Research, Sweets

Detox Day 7: Superfoods for Superyou!

January 15, 2012 7 Comments

Can you believe it’s the last day? What a super journey this has been! Now that you’re accustomed to inhaling so many of nature’s powerfoods (berries, quinoa, broccoli, kale, spinach, beans, lentils…), I thought this would be a good opportunity to introduce a few of the not-so-common ones so you can consider taking your newly found health one step further. What you’re already eating/not eating is HUGE, and these extras might just help you be even MORE superpowered!

Blue Green Algae: Superstar immune-booster. Basically flavorless and comes in powders, flakes, or frozen. Can be tossed into smoothies without changing the flavor. The TJ’s Very Green Dietary Supplement contains spirulina, a popular blue green algae. But, lots of folks swear by E3 Live.

Chia Seeds: Loaded with antioxidants, essential fatty acids (more than salmon), protein, and fiber, these little guys help keep you energized and help reduce unhealthy cravings. They are easy to digest and don’t need to be ground like flax seeds. Add them to breakfast cereals, muffins, cookies, smoothies, pancakes, anything really!

Maca Root Powder: Helps to balance hormones and battle stress by strengthening the adrenal gland. Has proven helpful in treating fertility, poor libido, and menopause. Can be added to oatmeal, smoothies, or rice dishes.

Raw Cacao: Helps elevate mind and mood, and is skyhigh in antioxidants. It contains theobromine which promotes alertness without the side-effects of caffeine. Add it to smoothies, or use it in baking or for puddings. Find it at your local health food store or check it out online as seen here.

Congrats on all you’ve learned, changed, and become this week. Cheers to energizing food and living life to its fullest! I’d love to hear how you benefited from these 7 days–please share! XOXO

Filed under Detox, Energy, Skinny Dish, Superfoods, Trader Joes

Detox Day 6: Time to Start Thinking About Day 8

January 14, 2012 Leave a Comment

Mmm! A half-plate of veggies

Happy Day 6! What’s the latest? Still feeling good? Sleeping well and feeling energized? Now is a perfect time to start thinking about what happens the day after tomorrow. Will you go back to your pre-Detox eating? A modified version? Take today and tomorrow and make a plan for what you’d like to do long-term. Here are some popular, healthy, and realistic post-Detox modifications to consider:

1. Go back to drinking the morning cup of coffee you missed, but with vanilla almond milk instead of cream and sugar. Try this creamy, dairy-free concoction. Or, enjoy green, white, or black tea as your morning caffeinated beverage.

2. Continue eating the level of fruits and veggies with a giant heaping of cooked veggies at either lunch or dinner, and a giant serving of raw veggies at the other meal. Shoot for HALF your plate being veggies (either raw or cooked) at mealtime.

3. Continue with shakes or smoothies in the morning, but add a protein powder such as this hemp seed one from Trader Joe’s. High in protein, fiber, and essential amino acids, and makes your morning drink more filling.

4. Add a more substantial morning meal such as gluten-free oatmeal (Trader Joe’s has amazing gluten-free oats that seem exactly like traditional rolled oats) with a handful of dried cranberries for sweetness, raw cashews, cinnamon, and cooled down with a dash of unsweetened non-dairy milk. Or heat up a cup of cooked quinoa from the previous night’s dinner with dried fruit, nuts, cinnamon, and non-dairy milk.

5. Enjoy a raw food bar in the afternoon to satisfy your sweet tooth–they’re easy to keep on hand, easily survive life in the bottom of bags, and can be stepped on without changing shape. Examples: Larabar, Pure Energy, and KIND. These can all be found in any old grocery store, TJ’s, or Whole Foods.

6. Continue with the Detox as your constant (developing your own menus using the guidelines), and veer from the Detox for special weekend days, when you go out to eat (trying your best to keep with the guidelines, but allowing yourself those treats you may have been missing), have potlucks, or attend parties.

7. Do the Detox 1-2 days per week or 7 days a month, and a modified version on the other days.

What else will you do to carry on the healthy changes you made once the Detox is done? Hopefully you’ll all continue drinking all those energizing fluids!

Enjoy this day and the new, healthy you! XOXO

Filed under Detox, Energy, Getting More Veggies, Healthy Eating is Tasty, Inflammation, Meal Planning, Skinny Dish, Water, Weight Control

Detox Day 5: Alkaline and Feelin’ Fine

January 13, 2012 Leave a Comment

Tahini Dressing for Veggies, in SKINNY DISH!

Woohoo to Day 5! You are just a few days away from multigrain tortillas! That is going to be one fantastic burrito :)

You may or may not have caught the acid/alkaline breeze in the Detox wind convo. Well, here’s the deal: Our blood and tissues love to be at a pH (measure of acidity/alkalinity) of about 7.35-7.45, which is slightly basic/alkaline. This is where your immune system is an immediate bad-guy destroyer and your overall health is sky high. As you loved learning in high school chemistry, the pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 with 0 to 6.9 being acidic, 7 being neutral, and 7.1 to 14 being basic (alkaline).

Contrary to what you may think, foods that are more acidic do not make your blood and tissues more acidic. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Oranges, tomatoes = acidic. But shocker, they make your blood and tissues more alkaline. As you could have guessed, pretty much all veggies, fruits, dark leafies, unprocessed grains, and other healthy foods help to make your blood and tissues more alkaline, while meats, dairy, eggs, sugary goods, highly processed foods, coffee and alcohol make your blood and tissues more acidic. One reason loading up on healthy fluids, fruits, and veggies, and avoiding all the other foods is so good at helping you detox, is because you’re working the alkalinity. For more on pH, check here and here and here.

Now for some extra credit: Want to check your very own pH? Using your SECOND urine of the day, pee on one of these test strips (or ones similar). Is the Detox working? Hurrrahh!

You never thought this would be so much fun! Keep truckin’ and Happy Weekend! XOXO

Filed under Crazy Sexy Diet, Detox, Getting More Veggies, Gluten-Free, Healthy Eating is Easy, Inflammation, pH, Skinny Dish, Trader Joes, Weight Control

Detox Day 4: Calories

January 12, 2012 1 Comment

Broccoli Leek Soup, SKINNY DISH!

No doubt you’re feeling pretty jazzed that it’s Day 4. Afterall, you’re a Detoxing star! You’ve got your little ziplocks, you’re all smiles, and hopefully the days have gotten easier, the cravings for unhealthy foods are dissolving, and you’re feeling lighter and freer (but restraining from bra-burning…). Someone said the other day that this Detox is downright easy. Not just “not bad,” but simple! Well that’s exactly what I was hoping for. While challenging at times, it is completely doable and perhaps even enjoyable.

Alright, so what’s the deal with calories on this plan? Are you feeling lighter and freer because of the magic plant foods that raise your metabolism, the lower calories, or just because I keep saying that you’re feeling lighter and freer…. yoooou’rrree getttting skiiinnnnyyyy…? A little bit of all that!

Each Detox day has about 1500 calories at a minimum, 60-80 grams of protein, and around 50 grams of fiber. Adding extra servings of nuts, seeds, avocado, fruit, etc. increases all those numbers. This is not a starvation diet, juice fast, or air diet. It’s plentiful, nourishing, and reboots your body. It can be short-term or long-term. Either way, it should include supplemental vitamin B12 and vitamin D (the amounts in a common multivitamin are perfect). Both vitamins are needed because you’re not eating many–if any–foods that are fortified with these little dudes. Vitamin B12 is actually a bacteria found in animal-derived foods and dirt. I imagine you’re washing the dirt (and B12) off your produce (a wise move). Vitamin D is made in the body after sun exposure, and many latitudes aren’t getting adequate sun this time of the year. Foods that ARE typically fortified with B12 & D are non-dairy milks, cereals, and fake meats. So, not a bad idea to supplement when you’re relying heavily on raw foods.

As an example, Today’s Plan including a 2-cup serving of Purple Nurple, a 2-cup serving of Curried Lentil Stew, and all the other recommended serving sizes has 1459 calories, 61 grams of protein, and 49 grams of fiber. The average American gets about 12 grams of fiber a day. You may or may not have been the average American prior to this Detox. Regardless, you are moving some serious crud out of your system. Cheers to crud movement!!

So, March On!, and clean, cleanse, and recharge your core some more. Just a few days left!

Filed under Detox, Getting More Veggies, Gluten-Free, Healthy Eating is Easy, Inflammation, Skinny Dish, Trader Joes, Weight Control

Detox Day 3: Fluids and Raw Foods IN, 10 Times More Pee OUT

January 11, 2012 4 Comments

Gavins Point Dam Release, Photo by: Omaha USACE

Pee Angels!

I’ve seen you in my crystal ball, and you are doing some SERIOUS peeing! Do you love it or hate it? Well, it’s good. REALLY good. Here’s why: You’ve been dehydrated. When that happens, your body holds back water like a Dam. It thinks you’re in a drought situation, so it clings onto as many ounces as it can as a means of survival. This translates into a slower metabolism (body panic mode), inefficient kidneys, bloating, water retention, and a really bad holistic poker hand.

SO, by scarfing down tons of raw foods rich in H2O and drinking herbal tea and water all day long, every cell of your body celebrates. The Dam is lifted and away goes the bloating, body sadness, and the toxins that are purging themselves for your person while you detox. Guess I shoulda put toilet paper on the Detox shopping list!? You’ll also note that your pee is very light in color. Another reeeally good sign. You’re hanging on to the good nutrients and flushing your system of the bad. Hurray!

For more hydration excitement, check out one of my most popular posts from 2011: The Water Solution: Younger Skin, More Energy, and Less Flab.

Now for Day 3: If you’re following the Detox meal plans exactly, know that this morning’s Shamrock Smoothie is one of my absolute favorites. It’s green, it’s better than great, and you can freeze leftovers in popsicle molds or rinsed-out yogurt containers with popsicle sticks or chopsticks (strategically placed in the middle) for scrumptious frozen treats later on. Who said no dessert on the Detox? :)

You’re almost halfway there–Keep up the fabulous treatment you’re giving your precious body, and keep sharing your experiences! XOXO

Filed under Detox, Energy, Healthy Eating is Easy, Skinny Dish, Water, Weight Control

Detox Day 2: Why Detox, and Why is Raw So Great Anyway?

January 10, 2012 2 Comments

Photo by: The Sean + Lauren Spectacular

Standing Ovation for the Day 1 Survivors! Now it’s easy PEASy from here, starting with Day 2. So… tell me your Highs and Lows of Day 1 and I’ll tell you mine. Ok, I’ll just tell you mine. (But you can still tell me yours…)

Highs: 1) Surviving a coffee-free AM, and actually kind of liking it. 2) Never feeling low on energy, hungry, or like a space cadet as I always expect is going to happen when I detox. Quite the contrary this time around–I multitasked like I had taken that drug in Limitless in the AM, staying calm and thoughtful all the while, and I actually got my son to preschool on time for the first time in forever. 3) Spending more quality time with my kids as I sipped my 20 cups of herbal tea. That urge to cram a chore into every second of my day had miraculously lifted, and yet I was still highly productive. This Detox is like magic! 4) Seeing snow for the first time this season. Pretty sure the Detox was responsible.

Lows: 1) Not being able to finish/ tossing out my kids’ breakfasts (DELICIOUS gluten-heavy pumpkin shortcakes I made last week). 2) A mild headache that hit around dinner time, but annoying enough that loud noise made me cover my ears. 3) Skipping dessert–I love me a little dark chocolate after dinner. And while I know a little won’t hinder the detox, I kind of like going a week without, just to prove to myself that it’s not an addiction :)

Which brings me to an important question that goes something like this: Wait a sec, why ARE we detoxing? I don’t know about you, but I eat preeettty stinkin’ well. WELL, I’ve just posted all about it on the Cooking with Trader Joe’s blog. My favorite reason is that it helps you say sayonara to unhealthy food cravings. Who’s not ready to be able to drive BY rather than drive thru a Popeye’s?

And then there’s this other question that’s such a curious thing. Why so much raw stuff? How come foods have to be mostly raw on a detox? The answer is simple: more digestive enzymes, more water-soluble vitamins (C, and B’s mostly), easier digestibility to encourage the detox process, and a faster resting metabolism (thus encouraging the disappearance of love handles). Cooked foods actually have advantages too, which is why a combo of both over the long-term is ideal. Read all about it in a previous post here.

Keep sharing questions, breakthroughs, feedback, etc., and keep feeling joy in the healthy being you’re restoring! Happy Day 2! XOXO

Filed under Detox, Getting More Veggies, Healthy Eating is Easy, New Year, Skinny Dish, Weight Control

And We’re Off! Detox Day 1 with Green Apple Juice Video

January 9, 2012 1 Comment

Here we go! I feel great already, how about you?

So, yes, I (too) ate a big fat peanut butter sandwich last night on some thick, thick bread. It was DIVINE, but now that that’s over, let’s get ‘em!

To start out Day 1, here’s a quick video of the Green-Apple Juice in a juicer (ignore my 6-year-old daughter who thinks she’s Inspector Gadget). I do prefer this concoction juiced vs. blended, but blending is perfectly wonderful too. If you’re blending and you don’t have a high-power blender like a Vitamix or a Blendtec, the first thing you need to do is put one of those on your 2012 holiday wish list. Or, perhaps you need to think about rewarding yourself at the end of this Detox with one of those. The next thing you need to do is if you don’t think your blender can handle the raw apple and leafies even with the 4-8 ounces of water and ice, consider using a food processor for the veggies and apples, and then blending that concoction with the water and ice. It can’t hurt.

Juice vs. Blend? Check this quick info by my pal Kris Carr of Crazy Sexy Life. She talks chlorophyll and alkalinity–it’s worth a read. And as for types of juicers, I was given the Jack Lalanne Classic Juicer as a brand new hand-me-down, and I really like it. It runs about $100 if you buy it from their website. Just an FYI. Please feel free to share juicing/juicer/blender/blending tips if you have them. As another FYI, I use my Vitamix daily (smoothies, soups, hummus, dips, etc.–I even got rid of my food processor!), and my juicer once or twice a week. Not saying that’s what everyone should do, but just facts on one nutrition professional’s appliance usage.

Still feeling good? Hungry? This day is by far the hardest, but you can TOTALLY do this. Don’t forget, however, that you can increase your serving sizes of Detox food if you’re feeling like you’re really low on calories. Add fresh fruit, raw nuts and seeds, or an avocado for quick, extra energy.

Good luck today! Please don’t forget to laugh, taste and savor every morsel and sip, and let us know how you’re doing — use the Comments section to share and question! XOXO

Filed under Detox, Getting More Veggies, Healthy Eating is Easy, Inflammation, Kicking Cancer, Videos, Weight Control

7-Day Detox Complete Shopping List & Days 1-4 Menus Posted

January 7, 2012 2 Comments

Photo by: Christaface

Monday is right around the corner! Check out all the Detox info here, along with the full shopping list here. And check out menus for Days 1-4 in the menu bar above.

Is your tea kettle dusted off and has your blender been cleaned? Did you find all the parts to your juicer (if using)?

Are you phasing out coffee, bread, meat, and dairy?

You’re ready! The remaining menus for Days 5-7 (which also appear in SKINNY DISH!), will be posted on Sunday, and each day during the Detox I’ll be posting videos and fun detox info.

Enjoy your last day of prep! Questions or comments welcome now and anytime during the detox. Let’s get our veggie on!

Filed under Detox, Getting More Veggies, Gluten-Free, Healthy Eating is Easy, Healthy Eating is Tasty, Skinny Dish, Weight Control

SKINNY DISH! 7-Day Detox Shopping List for Days 1-3

January 6, 2012 Leave a Comment

Photo by: Rafael da Silva

List is up here. Happy shopping!

Shopping List for Days 4-7 will be up later today.

Update: Day 4 has been added to the Shopping List. Days 5-7 will be posted tomorrow. 

Filed under Detox

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