diet

Reasons (Besides Weight Loss) To Embrace Exercise & Eating Right

Call me crazy, but I actually look forward to hittin’ the gym, and eating a healthy, veggie-packed meal afterward. However, getting to the point of loving the gym and wholesome, nutritious foods doesn’t always happen overnight.

Ultimately, I got a gym membership because I wanted to lose a few pounds. Then, along the way, I’ve discovered so many more added bonuses to working out than just weight loss.

Superfood 101: Black Beans!

Black beans are a species of the common bean and are native to areas in Central and South America. They were brought to Europe in the 15th century and became a major crop in India and China. Today, they are a staple in many international cuisines. Black beans are rich in nutrients and are used to prevent many diseases. Ayurveda uses black beans to regulate Pitta and Kapha doshas and recommends they be avoided by those with Vata dosha.

Make Your Pancreas Happy With These Foods

If you think your pancreas is not particularly important, think again. A healthy pancreas is essential for a healthy digestion; so here’s what to eat to make your pancreas function at its optimum…

 

Superfood 101: Flaxseed!

Flaxseeds have been cultivated in the Mediterranean basin as far back as 4000 B.C.E. There is evidence that man has been eating flaxseed as far back as the Neolithic Era. Flaxseed is comprised of flavorful meat which is packed with oil and has many nutritional and healing benefits. The non-food grade flaxseed oil is known as linseed oil, which is used commercially in paints and wood finishes. Flaxseed is used in livestock feed and is grown throughout the world.

Are Food Sensitivities Sabotaging Your Health?

Did you know food sensitivities could be affecting your health daily, and hindering your ability to lose weight? Food sensitivities are more and more common these days. If you haven’t already experienced them yourself, you probably know someone dealing with them. For many people, myself included, figuring them out makes all the difference to their health. I know it did for me – even though I thought I ate ‘healthier’ than anyone I knew. Yet I was struggling with poor energy levels throughout the day and had trouble getting through workouts.

Foods To Rev Up Your Metabolism

Whenever I notice naturally thin people eating greasy junk food non-stop, I can’t help but wonder if their presumably fast metabolisms are responsible. I’m sure I can’t be the only envious one who does this. Another thing that might have some women stricken with envy is the fact that men tend to have faster metabolisms than women. How great is that (for men)?

Magnesium: Why This Trending Supplement Matters

Magnesium is a trending supplement, and for more reasons than you might think. While stress and anxiety are at all-time highs due to our fast-paced lifestyles, our food is becoming less nutrient-dense due to the depletion of our soil. The widespread use of pesticides and the pressure to maintain a high crop turnover has left little room for our soil to replenish its nutrients through fallow fields or crop rotation.

Superfood 101: Walnuts!

The walnut tree is found from the Balkans to China. It is a slow-growing tree, and its fruit has been eaten by Europeans for more than 8,000 years. The ancient Greeks began cultivating the trees and the practice spread throughout Europe. The walnut tree came to North America with the English settlers in the early 19th century –  and thus the walnut got its name the English walnut. Today the largest groves of walnut trees are found in Kyrgyzstan at high elevations.

Superfood 101: Maqui Berry!

Deep in the heart of Southern Chile in South America lives a group of indigenous people called the Mapuche. According to legend, the Mapuche warriors were able to resist the Spanish by consuming a fermented beverage that gave them strength and stamina. That fermented beverage came from the maqui berry.

3 Reasons To Eat Cranberries

Cranberries are more than just the lumpy, coagulated red side dish on your Thanksgiving dinner table, and certainly more than the name of a 90s rock band. These acidic red berries do more for your health, and perhaps more for your taste buds, than you think. Read on to find out why it’s worth it to take a second look at cranberries.