Tag Archives: green smoothies

5 Everyday Items That Contain Toxic Chemicals

Let’s look at five major sources of unhealthy chemical exposure. These chemicals can cause a variety of illnesses and toxicity. How awful it would be if you are working to cleanse your body with natural, organic foods but then amass a great deal of toxicity unknowingly by the following 5 items.

They also can get into your body and suppress your natural beauty, leading to premature aging, dull or clogged skin, and even serious illness.

1. Household cleaning products

Everyone wants a clean house, but if you’re using conventional household cleaning products, you could be ingesting dangerous chemicals through your skin, mucous membranes, and respiratory system. While many commercial cleaners contain dangerous ingredients, some of the most toxic include:

Bleach, which can damage your respiratory system.
Air fresheners, which may contain formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, aerosol propellants, and dicholorobenzene.
Ammonia, which can cause skin burns and respiratory irritation. It can even create a poison gas when combined with bleach.
Drain cleaners are caustic and can burn skin and harm mucous membranes. They also have a harsh chemical scent that can damage the respiratory tract.
Laundry detergents contain dyes and other chemical agents that you can inhale or absorb through your skin.
Dishwashing soap contains chemicals and fragrances. Dishwashter detergents may contain bleach and other chemicals that can end up in trace amounts on your utensils and cookingware, and therefore then get into your food.

These are a few of the many hazards associated with conventional household cleaning products. Instead, choose natural solutions for cleaning. There are many available today at even regular drug stores that have green labels or are plant-based. You can use lemon rinds to clean stove tops and white vinegar to clean floors. If you have children or babies, using natural cleaning products is particularly critical, as their bodies and DNA are even more susceptible to damage from these chemicals.

2. Beauty products

Because you put beauty products directly on your skin, your body can absorb toxic chemicals from them. The ingredients in many beauty projects can accelerate free radicals, cause respiratory damage, and have other aging and health affects, as well. Some to watch for include:

Toxic shampoos that contain petroleum distillates and other chemicals. Many shampoos also contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), which can damage mucous membranes, the respiratory tract, and the immune system. They may also contain fragrance. When a label list fragrance, it may indicate as many as 4,000 different compounds. Many of these can lead to health problems, respiratory distress, and may even be carcinogenic and impose fertility issues or complications.
Body washes, cleansers and bubble baths may contain SLS and SLES, which we discussed above. They may also contain DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine) or TEA (triethanolamine). These chemicals are carcinogens and hormone disrupters, which can prematurely age you.
Antiperspirants contain imidazolindinyl urea and DMDM hydantoin, two preservatives that are components of formaldehyde. This can cause joint pain, asthma, cancer, and other conditions. They also often contain aluminum, which is associated with brain conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Nail polish also contains these ingredients, as do many other beauty products.

Other skincare products such as cleansers, lotions, and many others contain petroleum distillates, preservatives, artificial colors, mineral oil and fragrances, more. These chemicals can accelerate aging, discolor your skin, and block beauty from the inside. Read your labels carefully, and select all-natural, organic lines of products.

3. Sunscreen

It seems ironic. Many experts tell us to apply sunscreen to protect our skin and prevent cancer and aging, yet sunscreen can accelerate aging and increase cancer risk. Fear of skin cancer has led to daily application of dangerous sunscreen products, and many lotions and other beauty products contain sunscreens.

Sunscreen not only blocks your skin’s ability to absorb vitamin D from sunlight, which is essential for good health, but it also contains numerous toxic ingredients that serve as hormone disrupters and carcinogens while accelerating formation of free radicals. In fact, some studies show that areas where more sunscreen is applied there is a higher incidence of skin cancer. And all of this can lead to premature skin aging. Dangerous ingredients include:

PABA
Oxybenzone
Dioxybenzone

Instead, wear sun-resistant clothing and hats to minimize your sun exposure. Remember the quality of your sunscreen is very, very important. Look for chemical-free (or free-er I should say) sunscreens where titanium dioxide is the active ingredient.

4. Water bottles

Plastic water bottles, no matter how recyclable, are just not good for you. Made from petroleum distillates, plastics contain chemicals that leech into the water in the bottles, and can cause neurological disorders, hormone disruption, and cancer among other illnesses. Hormone disruption is of particular concern in premature aging.

Instead, choose a glass or stainless steel water bottle, and get yourself a good water filter that you can use to fill and refill your bottles.

5. Perfume

Perfumes and colognes contain fragrance with chemicals that can cause everything from respiratory distress to hyperpigmentation. No wonder so many people get a headache from strong perfumes (including me). They look so pretty in fancy bottles, but perfume is so toxic! It gets sprayed right on the skin and pulse points and is absorbed right into the blood stream, distributing the chemicals throughout the body. Scary.

Instead, try an essential oil as a fragrance. Sally B’s carries a few great solid fragrances (I like Just B). They don’t last as long as regular perfumes, but I keep it in my purse and re-apply more often. At least they are all natural and non-toxic, while smelling great!

5 Foods That Increase Your Risk of Breast Cancer (and 5 that Reduce it)

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Ask any woman, and she probably knows someone who has had breast cancer, or she has had it herself. It is downright scary. While breast cancer rates have decreased marginally over the past decade (possibly due to the decrease in prescribed hormone replacement therapy), they remain high. In fact, one in eight women in the United States (about 12 percent) will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Men are not immune either. While lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is significantly lower in men, about 2,140 cases are diagnosed annually, leading to approximately 450 deaths. Death rates in women have also dropped since 1990.

Still, even with dropping diagnosis and death rates, breast cancer remains a significant issue, particularly for women. It is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in American women with the second highest death rate for females behind lung cancer.

Causes

While the causes of breast cancer remain unknown, many factors may increase a woman’s risk of developing it. These factors include:

Genetics
Family history
Race
Certain medications
Age
Birth control pill use
Hormone replacement therapy
Obesity
Lack of exercise
Diet in general as well as certain foods

Controlling Your Risk

While you can’t control many of your risk factors for developing breast cancer, you can change the behaviors that increase your risk.

Exercise regularly.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Eat a plant-based diet which contains a wide range of cancer-protecting phytonutrients
Make informed decisions before taking medications or undergoing hormone replacement therapy.

Foods that Increase Your Risk of Breast Cancer

So what foods should you avoid that cause an increased risk of breast cancer? Here are 5 top foods:

1. Sugar

A 2007 Italian study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed a correlation between increased intake in foods with a high glycemic index and breast cancer. Sugar is just one of many high glycemic index food, including baked goods, candy, pasta, white rice, and other refined carbohydrates.

Foods with a high glycemic index are those that have a significant impact on blood sugar. As blood glucose rises, the body releases the hormone insulin. When insulin is high in the blood, it also increases the levels of circulating free estrogen. Moreover, breast tissue (both cancerous and normal) contains insulin receptors. When the insulin and/or estrogen attach to these receptors, it causes cell division, which spells disaster for breast cancer. Note: some natural plant foods are considered to have a high glycemic index, but also contain many important nutrients, and can be eaten in moderation and along with other low glycemic plant foods. The main guideline is to avoid processed and refined carbs and sugars.

The bottom line: Minimize your intake of refined carbohydrates and sugars.

2. Grilled meats

While grilling is frequently touted as the healthiest way to cook meat, this may not be so. Grilling certain animal proteins to high temperatures can increase development of heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which are mutagenic cancer causing compounds. According to the Cancer Project, the worst offenders included well-done chicken breast, well-done steak, pork, salmon, and well-done hamburger. Unfortunately, alternative cooking methods aren’t much better. Frying and broiling to high temperatures also increases the levels of HCAs in meats.

The American Institute for Cancer Research reports increased risk of both colorectal and breast cancer from all red meat consumption, as well. Smoking and curing meat also adds carcinogens. Yikes! Is a piece of meat really worth sacrificing your health and your life?

The bottom line: If you eat meat, make it an occasional treat and cook just to the safe temperature to eliminate bacteria. Better yet, avoid meat altogether.

3. High Fat Animal Products

A high fat diet raises estrogen and prolactin levels, which can in turn give rise to hormone-dependent cancers, such as breast and endometrial cancer. Many commonly consumed animal products are not only rich in fat in general, but in cholesterol-containing saturated fat, which is the type that is extremely problematic for health.

The bottom line: While you need some fat in your diet, get it from avocados, seeds and nuts and other plant foods. Keep animal products in general to a strict minimum (as per #2), and if you do eat some animal protein be sure to trim off all fat and stick to lean cuts. Avoid super fatty animal products altogether such as bacon and cream.

4. Dairy

In order to maintain production, dairy farmers ply their milk-producing animals with all kinds of hormones and chemicals. One of these chemicals is rGBH, which is commonly used in American dairy cattle. Cows’ milk treated with rGBH has higher levels of another hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). This hormone is naturally present in humans and it regulates cell differentiation and division. Studies link elevated levels of IGF-1 to increased risk of breast cancer.

The bottom line: Skip the dairy. Instead, opt for almond milk.

5. Artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame (NutraSweet) and sucralose (Splenda) may increase the risk of breast cancer. Though approved by the FDA, little is known about the long-term effects of these artificial chemicals. Studies have shown, however, that artificial sweeteners can and often do trigger insulin release when ingested (known as the cephalic phase response). Because many consider artificial sweeteners “free” foods since they are non-caloric, this often leads to increased consumption and therefore, elevated insulin levels. For the reasons discussed above, excess elevated insulin may increase the risk of breast cancer.

The bottom line: eat fruit, drink water, and avoid artificial sweeteners.

Foods that May Decrease Your Risk of Breast Cancer

Try these foods, that may decrease your risk of breast and other cancers.

1. Broccoli

This cruciferous vegetable contains high levels of indole-3 carbinol (I3C), which as strong anti-cancer properties. IC3 also shifts estrogen balance, which may reduce risk of developing breast cancer.

2. Red Cabbage

This colorful veggie contains IC3, as well as vitamin A and the flavonoid anthocyanadin (which gives the cabbage its color). All reduce cancer risks. Try whipping up some red Probiotic & Enzyme Salad.

3. Chia Seeds

These seeds are high in Omega-3 acids and antioxidants. Studies at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center showed that Omega-3 fatty acid intake may decrease the risk of developing breast cancer.

4. Shiitake mushrooms

These delicious mushrooms contain lentinan, which boosts immune health and reduces risk of developing certain cancers including breast cancer.

5. Turmeric

This golden spice contains curcumin, an antioxidant that has demonstrated anticancer effects in studies. Try my Veggie-Turmeric-Quinoa recipe in The Beauty Detox Solution.

Common Diet Advice That’s Actually Bad for You

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Every culture has its own mythology. In Western culture, much of ours surrounds food and drink. While many of these ideas are considered “conventional” wisdom, the truth is they are making us fat and sick. It’s not that “diet experts” are trying to intentionally harm you when they suggest common dietary advice. It’s just that they, like the rest of the American public, have been very misinformed about what constitutes a healthy diet. We have moved away from our natural intuition as to what to feed our bodies, and are sucked into an ever-complicating “diet” world.

The unambiguous proof lies in the statistics. The prevalence of obesity in the United States over a single generation has grown substantially. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of obesity in America went from less than 14 percent in every single state in 1985 to higher than 20 percent in nine states, greater than 25 percent in 25 states, and higher than 30 percent in the remaining states. At the same time, the incidence2 of type 2 diabetes (an illness typically found in people over 40) is rising in children and adults! Autoimmune disorders are on the rise, as well.

Clearly, something is wrong here. Many experts are pointing their finger straight at the contemporary Western diet, and I concur that the very poor diet that most people have is indeed at the root of an overwhelming amount of health problems.

I always find it strange that many health experts blame these problems on a lack of willpower. After all, the diet industry in this country is booming. Americans spend billions on an array of products that promise to facilitate weight loss, including low-fat foods, diet books, diet programs, and more. Yet, America as a country continues to grow fatter in spite her citizens’ best efforts to count calories, cut out fats, eat “diet” microwave or packaged foods and lead healthier lives. I’ve always believed that the biggest issue isn’t about willpower. Instead, I think America’s health problems lie in all of the myths that have become conventional wisdom.

Let’s take a look at just a few of these myths so we can see how they just might be affecting the unbalanced weight of the Western world.

Myth 1: Counting Calories is The Best Way to Lose Weight.

How many diets have you personally been on that recommend counting calories? According to the calorie hypothesis:

If you eat more calories than you burn, you will gain weight.
If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight.

If this were the case, a lot more people would be thinner than actually are. The calorie hypothesis assumes that the human body behaves like a simple thermodynamic machine and employs a straightforward method of burning food for energy.

What is a calorie, anyway? By definition, it is the energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. While this definition actually defines a kilocalorie, it’s been shortened to calorie. This works in a simple machine, like a car engine, but does it work in human beings?

The answer to this question is very likely no. The human body is an extremely complex biological mechanism that does not operate according to the rules of simple thermodynamics. I personally know people who have counted calories religiously yet remained overweight in spite of their best efforts.

How often do you see overweight wild animals? From personal experience going on over 11 safaris in Africa, I can vouch for the fact that wild animals maintain normal weight. Yet these animals haven’t a clue how to count calories. Instead, they eat the foods their bodies need and move as needed. This helps them maintain a healthy weight. Since humans are animals, it makes sense that our biological responses are very similar.

Counting calories may work for a few people, but have you ever noticed how difficult it is for them to sustain weight loss? For most, it is a lifelong, ongoing struggle to keep weight off by religiously counting and continuously cutting calories. It is indeed a miserable way to live.

It’s not how much food you eat, it’s what you eat that matters.

Does this mean you can eat as much as you want all the time? No. Not counting calories is not a license to stuff yourself; however, if you eat the foods your body was intended to eat, based on whole and natural foods, your weight problems will be alleviated. You will get more nutrition from such foods, and will not need to eat such huge quantities naturally. These foods also possess fiber, which is a filling and natural means to help with calorie restriction. Furthermore, natural foods do not clog up your digestive tract with sludge, which keeps you from feeling full and getting the maximum amount of nutrition from the foods you are eating. If you eat heavier, more difficult to digest foods that don’t digest as cleanly, you will eat more and rely on external sources of energy such as sugar and caffeine.

What should you eat? Eat mostly organic, whole plant foods for good health. Eat foods that were grown in the earth, and not manufactured in a lab or that have a long list of ingredients. Avoid “diet” foods such as artificial sweeteners, “energy” bars and microwaved frozen dinners.

Myth 2: Milk – It Does a Body Good.

The dairy industry has spent a lot of money convincing you that milk is essential for good health. Over the years I’ve seen multiple claims about the healthfulness of milk including:

Eating two servings of low-fat dairy every day can help you lose weight.
Dairy products help prevent osteoporosis.
Dairy products help build strong bones and teeth.
Milk and other dairy is the best source of calcium and vitamin D available.
Yogurt can help build healthy intestinal flora and is good for dieting.

In fact, we’ve bought so deeply into the dairy mythology that our food pyramid even has a special section just for low-fat dairy products.

Nature creates a way for mammal mothers to nurture their young. After giving birth, mothers produce milk in order to nurse their young through the first few months or years of their life. Human babies are intended to drink breast milk for the first few years of life, not cow’s milk. That is intended for baby cows. In nature, cows stop producing milk after the calves are weaned. Dairy farmers continually breed the cattle in order to maintain ongoing lactation.

Milk contains two ingredients that are very difficult for humans to process: lactose and casein. Additionally, the milk contains hormones that may lead to sensitivity in humans, and many dairy cattle are injected with rbGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone), a hormone genetically engineered by the Monsanto Corporation to artificially increase milk production.

Human health problems associated with dairy consumption include:

Lactose leads to gas, bloating and discomfort
rbGH in dairy increases the incidence in IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1) in humans. This can decrease insulin sensitivity and may be a precursor to type 2 diabetes. IGF-1 may also increase risk of developing heart disease or cancer.
Casein is the protein in dairy products. In the China Study, Dr. T. Colin Campbell concluded that casein ingestion promotes cancer in all stages of development.

Dairy is extremely acid-forming.

Dairy is extremely mucus-forming, which means it is slow to digest in the digestive tract, which may lead to more toxicity being compounded in the digestive tract and throughout the body.

Avoid dairy products including milk, cheese, yogurt and kefir. Instead, eat a plant-based diet, and get your probiotics from Probiotic & Enzyme Salad and probiotic supplements. if you need milk, then try unsweetened almond, hemp, coconut or hazelnut milk. Goat’s cheese is a good transition cheese that digests better than cow’s milk cheese.

Myth 3: Breakfast Is the Most Important Meal of the Day

There’s probably not a mom alive that hasn’t repeated this myth at some point. Breakfast is entrenched in our belief system, and many people feel this means they should eat a heavy, protein-laden breakfast in order to get the day started right.

In fact, a heavy breakfast will start your day off just wrong! Every morning is a new opportunity to cleanse your body, since it has fasted all night and your food has digested. Eating a heavy meal in the morning can plug up the plumbing and decrease your energy stores as your body focuses on digesting all of that food you just ate. If you eat a huge breakfast, you will need more snacks and caffeine by mid-morning.

What should you do instead? Don’t force yourself to eat until your natural hunger kicks in, and then start yourself off with a Glowing Green Smoothie. Eat heavier meals later in the day when your body will have a long time available to digest them. Try it for yourself for 2 weeks, and notice how much better you feel than from having huge daily breakfasts! You will feel lighter, more energetic, and will be able to perform all functions more efficiently.

Myth 4: Grazing Every Few Hours Is the Best Way to Maintain Weight

Grazing doesn’t give your body time to fully digest the foods you eat. Instead, it causes foods to back up in your intestinal tract, forming a rotting, partially digested sludge in your gut. It also means your digestive tract is constantly working. This burns an incredibly amount of energy and can actually accelerate the aging process. Instead, eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner and minimize snacking. I sometimes eat a snack between lunch and dinner, but keep it to only that one snack.

Myth 5: There’s No Difference Between Organic and Conventional Plant Foods

Conventional produce is grown using toxic pesticides. At the same time, many conventional foods are also grown from engineered seeds that have been genetically altered in order to better accept pesticides and fertilizers. Every time you eat these foods, you are filling your body with toxins no matter how well you wash the plants. Additionally, most conventional plant foods are grown on “factory farms” that favor monocultures where they grow only one type of crop in a field. This can strip the soil of nutrients and leave the plants open to disease.

Choosing organic foods grown on local family farms on the other hand, allows you to eat chemical free produce that is far more nutritionally dense than conventionally grown produce. The soil of organic farms is more rich, and will therefore impart more minerals to the produce that is grown in it. Eating this way and purchasing your foods from local farmers markets or CSAs also allows you to support the dwindling number of small family farmers in this country.

There are many other dieting myths, especially those regarding the excessive consumption of animal protein, which is also acid-forming and slow to digest (and therefore aging). For further info on this topic and other myths, please check out The Beauty Detox Solution, it won’t all fit here. Wishing great health to all!

12 Desserts That Are Actually Good For You

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Sometimes you just have to have something sweet. The problem with conventional desserts, however, is they are loaded with sugar and empty calories. Not only that, but favorite desserts like cakes, pies, and cookies are usually made with wheat flour, which contains gluten, while creamy desserts like puddings and ice cream are made from dairy products. Gluten grains and dairy are two extremely difficult substances for the human body to digest, and they can clog you up with toxins and mucus.

People new to a healthier, plant-based way of eating often fear they have to give up dessert in order to pursue a healthier lifestyle, but you don’t! It’s okay to have a sweet treat, as long as you do it the right way.

So, what can you eat when you’re craving something sweet? I always recommend starting simply to see if that satisfies the craving. Before you dive into dessert, try a little stevia sweetened rooibos tea and see if that does the trick. If it doesn’t, it may be time to bring out the big guns. Here are a few to try.

1. Vegan Vanilla Latte

Try my Vegan Vanilla Latte. Warm a little unsweetened almond milk on the stovetop with the seeds from a vanilla bean or some organic vanilla extract. Add some stevia to taste. Grate a little fresh nutmeg on top and enjoy.

2. Hot Cocoa

Alternatively, try a little healthy hot chocolate. Try my Vegan Almost Raw Hot Chocolate.

3. Acai Rainforest Smoothie

This thick, satisfying smoothie is packed with antioxidants and flavor. I love acai berries, not just for how great they are for you, but for their complex, wonderful flavor that tastes like a cross between red wine and chocolate. To make the acai rainforest smoothie, blend 3-1/2 ounces frozen acai berries, 2 cups unsweetened almond milk, ½ tablespoon raw cacao powder and stevia to taste. You can also add ½ avocado to thicken the smoothie.

4. Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is so satisfying, and a little goes a very long way. Not only is it smooth and silky, but chocolate also stimulates serotonin, the feel-good neurotransmitter in your brain. It also contains resveratrol, antioxidants, and is a good source of magnesium. Make sure the chocolate is 72 percent or higher cacao, dairy-free, and organic.

5. Chia Seed Delight

Chia seeds contain high levels of antioxidants, as well as beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. The seeds also contain fiber, which slows down your body’s conversion of sugars. To make the chia seed delight, blend one cup of unsweetened almond milk, ½ tablespoon of raw cacao powder, and stevia to taste. Pour over chia seeds and allow to soak for ten minutes before eating. Here’s the official recipe for Chia Seed Delight.

6. Raw Cacao Fudge.

Avocadoes are creamy and make an excellent whipped dessert base.

7. Sweet Potato Custard

Combine a cooked, mashed sweet potato with ½ cup of unsweetened almond milk, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg and a dash of cloves in a food processor. Add stevia to taste and eat either chilled or warm.

8. Spirulina Smoothie

With protein, omega-3 fats, and natural electrolytes, this smoothie is just the dessert to healthfully eliminate your sweet cravings. To make it, blend two cups of natural, unsweetened coconut water, one tablespoon of spirulina powder, and stevia to taste.

9. Macadamia Nuts

Raw macadamia nuts are naturally sweet and make a great dessert by themselves. Don’t forget to soak them before you eat them to remove the inhibitor enzymes on their surface.

10. Raw Cacao Truffles

You only need one or two of these deliciously sweet treats to banish your cravings. Find the recipe HERE.

11. Organic Watermelon Slushie

Watermelon is very detoxifying. For this recipe, always use seeded, organic watermelons. To make, freeze three cups of watermelon chunks overnight and blend with 2-1/2 cups of coconut water.

12. Halvah

Use your food processor or blender to make this honeyed sesame treat. Don’t forget to soak your sesame seeds overnight before working with them, and rinse them well after soaking. Dry the seeds in a dehydrator on its lowest setting before using. Add ½ cup sesame seeds to the dry bowl of the food processor and begin to process to grind the seeds into a fine meal. Frequently scrape down the sides and stir seeds to ensure all are well ground. Mix in a little honey, a Tbs. of raw tahini and a pinch of Celtic sea salt by hand to form a dough, and then roll into balls.

Before we get to the delicious desserts, here are a few rules.

The Rules

Rule # 1: Agave, artificial sweeteners and sugar are out!

Artificial sweeteners may have zero calories, but they still have a profound effect on your body. Aspartame (NutraSweet) is an excitotoxin that can have serious negative neurological consequences. Sucralose (Splenda) has been shown to reduce the good bacteria in your intestines. Some studies have shown that saccharine (Sweet n’ Low) can lead to weight gain. Agave, which claims to be a “natural” product goes through multiple chemical processes before making it to grocery store shelves and contains high levels of fructose, a highly processed sugar that puts undue toxic load on your liver. Sugar raises blood glucose. None of these is a good alternative.

Rule #2: Stevia is a great alternative to sugar.

So how do you sweeten your desserts? Try stevia, which is a naturally sweet herb. A little goes a long way. I enjoy NuNaturals Pure Liquid Clear Stevia, which has a nice clean taste and no bitterness.

Rule #3: If you have a craving, find a healthy way to give into it.

Sweet cravings are a natural part of detoxification. Denying those cravings can make things worse, causing you a serious tumble off the wagon when you finally allow yourself to give in. If you have a craving, allow yourself a little something sweet. Just find a way to do it in a healthy manner. A piece of dark chocolate is an example.

Rule #4: Be present while you enjoy your sweet treat.

If you’re having an intense sweet craving, make sure you actually take the time away from distractions to enjoy it as you satisfy your sweet tooth. Don’t turn on the TV or distract yourself from the pleasure of the sweetness in some other way. Instead, sit down and really allow yourself the full enjoyment of your dessert, being present and focused in the moment as you eat it. The best way to truly satisfy a craving is by giving the act of eating or drinking your attention so you can take full pleasure from the nourishment you are providing your body.

7 Unexpected Foods to Boost Your Overall Beauty

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Beauty products in the way of anti-aging and acne creams, moisturizers and volumizing shampoos aren’t the only way you can boost your beauty. The foods you eat can be powerful tools to increase your beauty as well.

Most people choose foods based on how many calories it contains and how it will affect their weight. But foods can also improve your skin, nails and hair, as they simultaneously increase your health.

Check out these easy to find and inexpensive beauty foods. Beauty Foods are truly in abundance everywhere.

News Update

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I’m headed to Cleveland tonight for a few things, including Avengers, which is shooting there now. I’ll write a real post on Tuesday. But I wanted to share some things in the media from late last week. Above is my client Hilary Duff, pregnant and beautiful as ever, drinking her Glowing Green Smoothie.

I wanted to share this feature in InStyle that just hit stands. I love it because it promotes what we always talk about here- building beauty from your diet inside-out. See you back here soon!Love, Kimberly

Staying Slim On Vacation (or Business Trips)

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In honor of summertime, here are some of my secrets on how to stay slim and energized during your vacation. Contrary to popular belief, the foods we have access to on vacation are often extremely fresh, delicious, and sometimes are even better than the ones we can get at home! Locally grown fruit and produce can be very exciting, so take advantage of it. Don’t let a week-long vacation get you feeling bloated, blotchy or anything but beautiful! I invite you to embrace the following guidelines on your next journey away from home.

The key to success on vacation starts before you step foot outside your front door. Make sure to bring a couple staple items on vacation with you… namely a sweetener (xyitol or stevia), so you can add your own sweetness as needed if the need arises. I also bring along a ton of dulse sea vegetable (the chunks not the flakes), so I can add it to beef up the mineral content of my salads. I eat it like chips. You can also bring some flax seed crackers for a high protein high fiber snack that serves as a great accent to any snack or meal. You can find these items at your local health market.

Traveling can be stressful, and therefore can lead to unwise food choices. Don’t let anything get in the way of you and your health! Feel free to look at my tips for traveling.

Once you’re on vacation, start your morning with a brisk 30-minute walk. Walking is one of the most underrated and yet one of the most effective exercises. The oxygen that you get early in the morning will give you an extra oomph and it will increase your blood circulation, opening up channels of energy in our bodies. Going on a morning stroll will also set your digestive system into motion and you will start your day cleansed and renewed. It gets you feeling good, so you’ll be less likely to get in a rut and say, “I’m on vacation, I’ll just eat whatever I want!” Most importantly, it will get you up and out before those notorious big Continental or buffet breakfasts can tempt you, which will bring your whole day down like a sack of concrete in your stomach. Big breakfasts waste copious amounts of energy, and tie up digestion for hours. Eating heavy, big breakfasts is a great way to get fat.

If your accommodation has a mini fridge, check out your local market and stock up on a head of kale or spinach, avocados, and local fruit like mangoes and bananas for plenty of midday snacks (I find that I’m more prone to snacking when I’ve been in the sun all day). Quick and easy snacks are lettuce-wrapped avocados, tomatoes and sprouts. Or you could slice up an avocado on seed crackers. If you don’t have a fridge, you can still snack on all of the above sans tomato and lettuce. Either way, I encourage you to be creative and use the local culture and restaurants to inspire you!

Coconut Water: I can’t preach enough about this stuff! It is a powerful elixir and amazing (not to mention refreshing) drink in the hot sun. I am personally so glad that coconut water is becoming so widespread and easily accessible. The best part about vacationing is the access to these incredible sources of hydration and nutrients fresh. Coconut water gives you a ton of Beauty Minerals and is a natural detoxifier.

If there’s one thing we know, it’s that there is never a shortage of fruit on vacation. An abundant fruit plate is ideal for breakfast and is a great snack on an empty stomach. Depending on where you stay, maybe they can make the GGS for you. I’ve been having a huge container every day with the local kale, spinach, parsley, mango and papaya. Always avoid fruit for dessert. As a general rule, wait 20 minutes after a snack or meal before ingesting fruit.

Chances are, you’ll be eating out on your vacation. No matter where you are, always start with a green salad, or double it if they’re tiny. Then practice Beauty Food Pairing. If a restaurant doesn’t have the right combination of foods, don’t be shy and ask to substitute!

For example:

On the menu is chicken and fingerling potatoes
Instead ask to substitute the potatoes for steamed veggies.

On the menu is pasta marinara and meatballs
Instead ask to substitute the meatballs for steamed veggies

As always, stay away from cream based pasta sauces (like a la vodka, or alfredo) and stick to the more simple stuff. That goes for soups and drinks as well. The simpler the better!

Make sure to bring along your Beauty Food Pairing cheat sheet. You can just photocopy it and stick it in your wallet. As long as you follow the “Light to Heavy” principle and practice Beauty Food Pairing, your body will stay light and energized no matter where in the world we you.

For more tips on eating out, check out my previous post.

If you want some dessert on vacation it’s okay, but make sure it isn’t an every night occurrence. I usually keep some semi-sweet dark chocolate on hand to nibble on to nip those after dinner cravings in the bud (though here in PR I find I don’t need it at all). Not to mention, dark chocolate is packed with polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that protects against heart disease. Dark chocolate is healthier than other varieties because it has less sugar. Not to mention, chocolate is replete with mood enhancing hormones like phenethylamine and anandamide to be technical. For a craving ceasing dessert, try a piece of dark, organic chocolate with a glass of fine glass of red wine. Cacao should never be a daily food, however.

Speaking about red wine, think for a moment about the stereotypical vacation drink. I don’t know about you guys but for me, all I can imagine is a tray filled with daiquiris and piña coladas. For all your vaca drinks, avoid smoothies and blended drinks with high fructose corn syrup or rum. Instead of rum, opt for red wine or vodka. Red wine is packed with flavonoids and antioxidants and is the most nutrition rich alcohol you can put in your body. Second to red wine would be high quality vodka. Want a new summer spritzer? Try a grapefruit vodka. Grapefruit juice has a fat-burning enzyme that can help you digest starch and sugar better. Not to mention, it has essential minerals like folic acid, calcium and potassium.

I hope that these tips have you feeling healthy and energized on vacation. I know they sure make me do!

What’s your favorite healthy snack on vacation?

5 Easy Ways to Transition Your Diet

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Diet Transition
As I talked about in my previous post, breaking old habits is challenging and difficult. Many times you want to make a change, but you aren’t exactly sure where to start. That’s why I’ve written today’s blog, to give you specific ways to begin transitioning your diet and jump-start your Beauty Detox. The goal is to maintain a cleansing environment by keeping a slightly alkaline state in the body. Here’s how you can start:

Clearing Your Pantry
1. Clean out your closet: Before you even begin to change the way you eat, you have to set yourself up for success and get rid of temptations. Go through your pantry and clear out all refined and processed starches and sugars. Nix dairy, deli meats, soda, sugar, table salt, canned vegetables, and dusty old spices. In the future, look for spices that say on their label that they are “non-irradiated.” As a general guideline, you want to remove anything containing artificial preservatives, agave, artificial sweeteners or high fructose corn syrup. Get rid of cereals like Special K (On a side note, the reason those cereals are crispy is because of a browning phenomenon called the Maillard reactions. These create aging free radicals in the body) which contain wheat, gluten and additives and are low-grade foods. I provide a grocery list in my book The Beauty Detox Solution.

A note on caffeine: Many of you are accustomed to your daily cup of coffee/tea to jump-start your day and give you an extra boost of clarity and energy. But that is the same thing as relying on a drug because caffeine is a drug. Caffeine is taxing on your internal organs and your hormone processing systems. You must try to create a balanced lifestyle without relying on food drugs. If you are a habitual caffeine drinker, try to get your consumption down to one cup a day and eventually (ideally) cut it out completely. If you are seeking healthier alternatives, try caffeine free herbal teas, rooibos tea, which is full of antioxidants or white tea (lower caffeine content).

2. Grocery Shopping: The most positive way to reach your goals is by shopping responsibly. Your body is your temple! The act of eating and transforming those molecules into your own is a sacred exchange. Each and every thing that you put on and in your body has an effect on your vitality, health and beauty. Instead of iodized table salt, try out a high-quality sea salt such as Celtic or Himalayan. And instead of Splenda or sugar, try xylitol or stevia. At first, you want to strive to maximize alkaline foods (greens, ripe fruits, veggies) and minimize acidic foods (caffeine, processed foods, dairy). Be sure to stock up on millet bread, starchy vegetables (sweet potatoes, yams), quinoa and avoid refined and over processed starches like white rice or wheat. Remember to only purchase fruits in season and buy local and organic when possible. (For a more complete grocery shopping list, check out the appendix of The Beauty Detox Solution).

3. Drink more water: Cut out the soda (yes, even diet varieties). It has absolutely no nutritional value and is loaded with empty calories. Additionally, soda is extremely acidic and will therefore contribute to premature aging, acne and dark under-eye circles. It will deplete our body of precious essential minerals that are important for our vitality. Our body is made up of 70% water! Water helps improve blood flow, promotes the metabolism and activates the bacterial enzymes and flora in the intestine, which helps promote the excretion of toxins and waste.

Start each day with a tall glass of water with lemon. This will help jump-start your body in the morning and contribute to more energy throughout the day. Try not to drink your water during meals because it delays the digestion process. Instead I drink a tall glass before and usually after meals. Be sure to check out more details on water consumption in The Beauty Detox Solution.

4. Go Green: Get thee to the farmer’s market! Add greens to the start of every lunch and dinner meal for healthy plant minerals and easy absorption. I encourage you to practice variety with your greens. Add veggies, avocado, and switch up the type of lettuce and kale to keep the textures fun and enticing, and to ensure a wide variety of mineral absorption. For delicious and creative salad dressing try some of my personal favorites, Kim’s classic dressing, Sweet basil-lime dressing or my Oil-Free, No-Balsamic Italian Vinaigrette dressing.

5. Mold meals from smallest to largest: I am a fierce believer that it is not just what we eat that matters, but the order in which we eat our food. We want to understand the nutrients and absorption qualities of the foods we are consuming so that we can minimize gas, bloating and fermentation. Begin to order your meals from lightest to heaviest. For example, start your day out with some fruit followed by a Glowing Green Smoothie. For lunch, enjoy a full green salad with lots of veggies and for dinner, have a proper sit-down meal at least 3 (preferably 4) hours before you go to bed. This is the last meal before our bodies have 12+ hours plus to digest and move it through our bodies so this is the time to add cooked food, animal protein and a wide variety of veggies. If you worked in a field all day and went to bed at 7 pm, it might be a different story, but this is the best way to maximize the digestive potential of the average person in the Western world who works and is active during the day, and the end of the day is for relaxing and socializing.

Once you get these basics down, you are sure to have a strong foundation on which to continue your detox and healthy choices. It is very important that you realize that you don’t have to immediately adopt all of the recommendations that I make in The Beauty Detox Solution all at once. When you make drastic switches in your diet very quickly, your body is vulnerable to unpleasant side effects from irresponsible cleansing. The people who do drastic cleanses tend to flip flop right back to where they started, and they’re really no better off. Transition into your new lifestyle, so it sticks. Most important of all, be gentle with yourself! If you get off track sometimes, I know how to get right back on. And now you do too.

Diet Myths They Don’t Want You To Know: Part 2

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PART 2:
Artifical Sweeteners

Interested in more diet myths? Check out Part 2, below!

1.”Splenda is a diet-friendly sugar substitute”:
There’s a lot of debate over whether or not artificial sweeteners are healthy alternatives to sugar. When dieting, many people use packets and packets of splenda. Most people think because it contains zero calories, it won’t derail your health and weight loss goals. There have been many studies that actually show that these artificial sweeteners such as Splenda, Equal and Sweet ‘n Low can induce weight gain. The reason is because they can trigger the body to store fat and crave carbs. There are so many health risks connected to these ever-popular sugar substitutes, so I strongly recommend avoiding them altogether. The best choice when it comes to sugar alternatives is stevia. Stevia is a zero-calorie, natural herb that will add that sweet boost to your food and drinks. Another acceptable sugar substitute is xylitol, which is a naturally occurring sugar in fruit and vegetables. Both have become widespread, and can be found in grocery and health food stores.
Eating late
2. “It’s bad to eat after 7 pm”:
There’s a common myth that anything you eat after 7 pm will turn straight to fat. While I definitely do not recommend eating a highly concentrated meal close to bed time, I do not follow the 7pm cut off rule. Everyone’s diet differs depending on the individual’s lifestyle. If you are the type of person who works late and becomes hungry after work, it might be best to have some green salad and a light dinner at 8pm, so you are satisfied through the night. I recommend eating dinner at least 3-4 hours before going to bed, so if you go to bed at 11 or midnight, eating at 8 pm is okay. It’s not healthy to go to bed starving because you will just wake up feeling famished, and you might not make such great choices in the morning. Remember that morning is the time when our body detoxes itself. The best way to eat is light to heavy, starting off the morning with a Glowing Green Smoothie, then incorporating more concentrated foods as the day progress. If you follow that pattern on a daily basis, your body will get used to its daily routine, and the late night urges will be more manageable.

3.” Caffeine is the best energy booster”:
Caffeine is typically the go-to substance most people turn to for a morning perk them up, or an afternoon boost. I advise staying away from caffeine in general. There is no better energy booster than a Glowing Green Smoothie, fresh greens, and it is important to stay hydrated. I promise once you ween yourself off of your daily latte or afternoon iced black tea, you will realize the beauty of getting energy through natural foods. If you want to get more ideas of some energy boosting snacks, check out my previous blog post.
Vegetarian
4. “You should never snack between meals”:
I do recommend minimizing snacking, but it doesn’t mean you can’t ever snack. Especially if you wake up early and have a long day, you may need a snack between lunch and dinner, especially if you want to work out after work. Try choosing healthy snacks, like veggie sticks with salsa and dips, or if you need something more satiating try an almond milk and hemp protein shake, mid-late afternoon. Remember the importance of food pairing, which I stress in my book. You want to eat your fruits on an empty stomach, and wait 3-4 hours in between eating different concentrated foods or fruits. This is vital in order to make sure your digestion runs smoothly. Instead of worrying about when you should and shouldn’t eat, follow your urges. When you are hungry, feed yourself, but make a wise and informed choice. Make smart pairing choices, and make sure you wait long enough in between the different types of foods you consume. Soon enough, you will know how to listen to your body and you will feel great when you make these smart choices.

6 Drinks to Make You Look and Feel Your Best

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We all need to stay hydrated to keep our skin and hair looking its absolute best, and to keep an optimal energy level. The question is: what are the best beverages to beautify us and help with this process?

Let’s start first with a few drink categories to avoid.

1. Tap water: I rank tap water pretty high upon the avoid list, since it is full of chlorine, heavy metals and contaminates, and trace prescription meds that aren’t all filtered out at the water processing plants. Get yourself a good water filter!

2. Artificial sweeteners: We should also avoid beverages that contain any type of artificial sweeteners. Besides aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium and saccharin, also look out for chrystalline fructose, which is derived from corn. No artificial sweeteners are in line with promoting our natural beauty. Period!

3. Heavily pasteurized beverages: These include most every beverage that comes in bottles. Orange juice and those Odwalla smoothies are among the first thing that come to mind. I do not recommend them. They are high in sugar, acidic and their enzymes and natural nutrients have been destroyed by the high temperatures. There are different levels of pasteurization, and some products are more gently pasteurized than others, which is better b/c some of the nutrients are preserved. Coconut water is an example of a product which is gently pasteurized. It holds up pretty well, and coconut water contains important minerals versus vitamins; vitamins are more susceptible to high heat damage from pasteurization.

Now here are 6 great beautifying, hydrating beverages. These ideas are also featured in the current People Stylewatch over 2 pages (very exciting!), and I thought I would be great to share with you as well!

1. Hot water with lemon: Start the day off right, with a mug of fresh water heated up and some lemon to add a punch of Vitamin C and to help flush out your system.

2. Glowing Green Juice: Thirsty? If you have a juicer you can follow the same basic recipe as the GGS for lots of liquid packed with the bonus of antioxidants, enzymes and minerals!

3. Coconut water: Contains lots of potassium and minerals, and very hydrating. Comes in convenient recloseable cartons also!

4. Iced herbal teas: Right now my favorite is peach rooibos, which I have been drinking a ton of here in hot New Orleans during this film! Herbal iced teas add great flavor, antioxidants, and doesn’t have the caffeine of iced green or black tea. I drink mine unsweetened, bu you could sweeten yours up with stevia if you like!

5. Watermelon: At around 92% water, watermelon is so juicy! Remember you can hydrate with fruit! But in keeping with our blog heading, the way to make this is a drink is to simply blend it with a bit of cold water, then you have a great watermelon smoothie to sip on at your desk!

6. Last but not least….the GGS!: The Glowing Green Smoothie is incredibly hydrating, and the fiber keeps you full and energized, so you won’t need so many dehydrating caffeine-filled beverages. Some of my clients are doubling their amount of GGS in the heat, and they have a lot of energy and look even more fantastic!

Stay hydrated my beauties!

Love to all,

Kimberly