Did you know that when you make juice from raw vegetables, your body absorbs the nutrients within 15 seconds? Talk about an energy shot! No need to buy those sugary and chemical-ish concoctions from your local drug-store or mini mart. Juicing is an all-natural way to boost your energy and feel amazing. When you juice your fruits and veggies, you end up extracting all the water and nutrients from them and leave behind only the plant fibers. By separating the fruit or vegetable from its fiber, we gain access to all of the amazing vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and phytonutrients which are much more easily assimilated by our body than if we were to eat them. This allows your body to absorb the nutrients more quickly, without having to digest the dense bulk of the plant. You can also fit an amazing amount of veggies into a single glass of juice, making it a great way to use up those extra veggies from your garden or CSA share. PLUS, you will end up with a glass of deliciousness that packs a powerful nutritional punch. Although some would also say that the cost of stocking enough fresh 8 organic vegetables to make daily juices can be somewhat expensive, my feeling is that if you stop buying all of the pre-packaged foods/snacks you were buying, you will end up saving money in the long run on your food AND your doctor bills. One more thing before I go: while you can control the quality of ingredients when you are making fresh juice at home, always read your labels when it comes to buying store-bought juice. These juices can be high in sugar and have a high glycemic load, which may cause blood sugar imbalances.   I would love your comments, or questions.....post below.  If you find this interesting, please  share.

Green Beauty
 3 kale leaves
 ½ cup spinach
 4 celery stalks 
 5 basil leaves 
 1 cucumber 
 Juice from 1 lemon
 Juice from 1 lime  

You know how nice it feels to drive your car home after getting a tune up? The oil is squeaky clean, the fluids have been topped off, windshield wipers have been changed, tire pressure is at that perfect level, and it’s been washed inside and out? Well, just like our cars need a tune up, a seasonal detox allows our bodies to become shiny and new again too. It allows our body to reboot our metabolism, boost our immunity, clears the cobwebs from our minds, gives our skin a chance to glow, and allows us to lose weight effortlessly. Are you afraid that it will be too hard or that maybe you aren’t worth it? I know for a fact that you ARE worth it, because I know deep down you are just like me. You want to be happy. You want to feel energetic, vibrant, and full of joy. Do you remember what that feels like? You can be confident in the fact that you are worth it. You are enough! AND, I will be with you every step of the way supporting you, answering your questions, and cheering you on, because I know you can do this. Maybe a little fear comes up for you at the thought of not being able to eat your favorite foods. Are you concerned about giving up your daily coffee, chocolate, or evening cocktails perhaps? Are you afraid I’m going to make you drink juice and smoothies all day? 7 Maybe you think that you will feel hungry or deprived. No worries, my friend, because I’ve created this detox so you can pick which level of detox adventure you want to go on. Having all these feelings are natural, but you know what is not natural? Feeling like we have to constantly count calories, not eat any fat, and go around in circles from one diet to the next. The thought of doing that for the rest of my life sounds just plain exhausting! There is no reason to be scared because you will NOT feel deprived. We are going to keep it simple and eat wholesome, nourishing foods. The only thing you have to lose is some unwanted poundage, dark circles and puffiness under your eyes, and that feeling of lethargy that has been dragging you down. You will discover your blueprint for the foods that work for your unique body. I have everything you will need: a step-by-step guide, the recipes, a shopping list and meal planner, as well as a transition recipe packet & food diary. I will be with you every step of the way with daily e-mail support and to cheer you on. Check out all the details here.  Register now and change your life forever!   Want to try or see what a sample detox would look like?  Get your 3 day here free

What does the gut have to do with your mood? Your gut, aka "inside your belly", has been proven to be your bodies literal "second brain". For years, the medical world has been trying to figure out what causes our moods to change and what causes common problems that most of us face like stress, anxiety, and even depression. These are common problems, and we know they are linked to serotonin, but did you know that 95% of serotonin isn't even produced in the brain? Serotonin is actually produced in the gut. What we put inside of our bellies is directly related to our emotional health. Our gut consists of bacteria and we need that bacteria to have a healthy balance or the rest of us will not be balanced including our mood. Your gut and your brain work together, so if one is out of balance the other will be also. Have you ever had an upset stomach because your mind was stressed? Well, think about it, if it works one way it works both ways. There have been many scientific studies that have linked mood 6 problems to gut problems and vice versa. Is your gut balanced with 85% good bacteria and 15% bad bacteria? That is the recipe for a healthy gut and a healthy mood. The best way to make sure your body has healthy bacteria for your gut is to feed your gut healthy bacteria. Some symptoms of an unhealthy gut include gas, bloating, nausea, sugar cravings, and more. The best way to make sure that your gut is getting the healthy nourishment it needs is through probiotics. Probiotics can be in pill form, or you can get them right through your diet. Excellent sources of probiotics include kefir and fermented or cultured foods and beverages. Keeping a healthy gut in check will help you to digest food properly, absorb vital nutrients, and maintain a healthy state of mind aka your mood.   
           Grab your free guide........5 Vital Steps to Optimal Health

 Well, I am sure at one time or another we have all found ourselves on the drive thru line, starving, and craving some food that will provide a solution to that crazy grumbling sound in our bellies. So, we go for something quick and fast. It also doesn't help that each town has at least one to two or 5 even more fast food joints to offer some quick yet unhealthy options for us. How do we avoid this? How can we avoid being that hungry, craving, cranky, and in a need of a fast fix person who has lost all control for healthy determination? Well, it is much simpler than you'd think. The real fast food, before corporations built these multi-million dollar unhealthy options for us, was good old-fashioned fruits and veggies. Imagine that! Fruits and veggies should always be the number one option, and they are sold everywhere we turn as well, although they don't usually have a drive thru. So, if it is about convenience then we need to prepare ahead of time. If we pack snacks and quick foods to go in our purse or brief case then we will always have a fast food option that aligns with having a healthy determination. I suggest packing apples, bananas, oranges, and even some healthy homemade trail mix! Trail mix is my favorite go-to snack when I'm on the go. I put some nuts, raisins, and dried fruit like cranberries in a little Ziploc back or plastic Tupperware container. It is always there and it doesn't fail me. It also quick to prepare and if I make a bunch of it I can take little servings for a couple days so it lasts. The best way to avoid fast food joints while on the go is to always make sure you have a fast food option in your purse. 

 Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and sometimes it just doesn't fit into our schedule the way it should. How we begin the day will determine how the rest of the day goes. It will determine if we feel 4 energized or if we feel dragging with a lack of energy. What we put in our bellies is directly related to how we physically feel. So if you are a skip breakfast and grab the coffee mug morning person then this blog is totally for you. We all need and crave energy. I know I do! Sometimes it is so easy to want to grab a quick bowl of cereal or even forget breakfast and just get through the morning on 1-2 cups of coffee for the energy needed to survive the day. I don't want you to just survive through the day though; I want you to thrive through the day. I also don't want you to go on the "crash and crave" roller coaster for the entire day. If you begin your morning with caffeinated coffee and sugar, you will crash, and you will be either too tired to make it through your responsibilities or you will be reaching for another cup of coffee to get through a few more hours. Smoothies are another quick alternative to a fast breakfast that can help energize us throughout the entire day. When you toss in some greens, a little fruit, and a healthy liquid like coconut water you are bound to feel energetic and ready to take on the day. Starting the day with a smoothie also gives you well needed antioxidants which help protect our bodies from free radicals, and it is a great low glycemic start. Eating a low glycemic breakfast will help curb your sugar cravings for the entire day and it will also help with not crashing. Next time you want a quick breakfast, try a delicious smoothie that will leave you feeling energized and motivated. A morning smoothie will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to produce natural energy and naturally boost your metabolism. So, what are you reaching for tomorrow morning? I know I will be pulling out my blender and getting ready for some long lasting energy

MANGO DREAM 

1 cup almond or coconut milk 
1/2 cup coconut water 
2 leaves kale or Swiss chard, coarsely chopped
 
1/4 avocado
 
                                           1/2 cup mango chunks (the freezer section is great for this)
                                           Ice (optional)

Want more?  Work with me.

                                            Grab your free E Guide 

One way that you retain weight is when your body holds onto metabolic waste, fluid, and toxins. Your body retains fat to protect itself from fat-soluble toxins. Until you let the toxins go, your body will not release the fat. You want to help you body get the existing toxins out, while reducing the amount of environmental toxins that you put into your body.

Some toxins also affect or endocrine system, our hormonal balance, our thyroid function, and our metabolism.

The human body is very intelligent. Many organs perform the function of detoxification and elimination. The first step is just simply to put less “junk” and toxic substances into your body, so that your detox organs can free up bandwidth to deal with toxins that have been accumulating in your body.

 Here are 3 tips to help you reduce your toxic load:

• Buy organic produce as much as possible – learn about the dirty dozen list.  http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/
• Reduce and work toward eliminating processed and packaged food from you life.
• You can also facilitate your body’s elimination process, reduce fluid retention, and aid your body’s natural detoxification process by eating cleansing foods such as berries and leafy greens.

     And lastly......en extra tip, Drink water with lemon in it daily, the lemon will help cleanse your system, 
     and help your liver flush out the toxins.  

Stay tuned for my Spring Cleanse, coming soon.......and also for recipe testing in upcoming week
    
                       Grab your free Hormonal Weighloss guide here
 

Want a snack that’s not only healthy, but tasty and full of nutrition?  One that will maybe even help you to whittle your waistline? 


Introducing…. The protein ball. These bite-size snacks are the perfect way to enjoy something yummy while also packing a whopping nutritional punch.  You can use any kind of protein powder for these balls, but I highly recommend giving hemp protein powder a try. Living Harvest and Nutiva are two great brands of unrefined, pure hemp protein. This protein ball has a lot of healthy ingredients. In one serving, you’re getting: 

•  Antioxidants from raw cacao 
  
• Omega-3s from flax seeds 
  
•  Magnesium for muscle relaxation from sunflower seeds 
  
•  Anti-parasitic and anti-viral properties of shredded coconut 
  
•  Metabolic boost from coconut oil Try whipping up this tasty treat to satisfy your taste buds AND provide a whopping nutritive punch! 

HEMP PROTEIN BALLS (Makes 5 balls) 
2 tablespoons hemp protein powder
3 tablespoons hemp seeds 
3 tablespoons sunbutter 
1 tablespoon coconut oil ½ teaspoon cinnamon 
1 tablespoon raw cacao 1 tablespoon honey or stevia (only a few drops needed) shredded coconut

 COMBINE THE INGREDIENTS. 
Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Stir until ingredients are combined and mixed well. 

MAKE THE PROTEIN BALLS. Once ingredients are mixed well, Roll into 5 even balls. Roll each ball in a bowl of shredded coconut - feel free to dust them with more cacao for an extra boost of antioxidants. Place on a wax paper lined dish and place in freezer for 10 minutes.