Calcium....why is it so important?

Alot of people think that you can get Calcium from milk.  "Milk does a body good!" right?  Well, the truth is that today's milk is so pasturized that the body cannot assimilate the Calcium from the milk.

Does anyone wonder why America is the largest consumer of milk and dairy in the world and we have the highest incidence of osteoporosis in the world?  If milk is so good for us, why are humans the only mammals that still drink milk after they are babies? 

The truth is that milk and other dairy is acidic in our diet.  Acidity in our diet can lead to all sorts of health issues not to mention the obvious ones like acid reflux and ibs. 


 So if dairy and other acidic foods like junk foods, nuts, etc. are a part of your diet, you need to take a high quality Calcium product that will get your body back to a more alkaline state.  Acid can actually ruin your heart so the body will rob calcium from your bones just to keep you alive.

I have found a high quality calcium supplement that is affordable ($18.50 for 90 servings), is highly absorbable by the body (isotonic), has the proper minerals for absorption (vitamin d, magnesium) and is a thoughtful formulation that will get your body to an alkaline (healthy state).Click below for more info.  Hope this info is helpful

 

Awesome Calcium Formula

Great Brand with Different Flavors of Agave Nectar

Delicious Agave Nectar

I found a great brand of Agave Nectar at Wholefoods the other day. It is called Agasweet. The fun thing about this agave nectar is that is comes in many different flavors such as vanilla, almond and hazelnut! Below is a little article I found on it. 

Health experts and nutritionists agree - agave nectar is a great alternative to refined and artificial sweeteners. Made from 100% pure organic agave syrup, Agasweet flavored agave nectar offers a whole new world of healthy gourmet recipes to diabetics and folks concerned with their glucose intake. Flavored with organic essential oils and pure extracts, this natural sweetener is perfect for a huge variety of uses - for coffee, tea, and cold drinks, but also as pancake and waffle syrup, and as a delicious glaze for hams and roasts.

Agasweet is 1.4 times sweeter than sugar. Use less - save calories and carbs! The low glycemic index rating means that you won't feel a sugar rush from consuming agave syrup. It absorbs into the body at almost half the speed of honey! Due to its purity, agave syrup never crystallizes like honey, and no refrigeration is necessary.

Agasweet flavored agave nectar is carried by stores with strict quality standards, such as Whole Foods Market (Vanilla, Almond), Central Market Texas (most flavor varieties), and numerous health food stores across the country. However, for those of you without access to some of these outlets, or if you prefer the convenience of home delivery - this page will provide the necessary ordering information.

I'm proud of my recent graduates!

Just got done teaching and supporting a group of ladies that want to live a healthier lifestyle.  Here are some before and after pictures of a recent graduate.  The group as a total lost 64 lbs and 64 inches off of their body!

Carolyn lost 25 lbs. and 16 1/2 total inches including 5 inches in the waist in just 12 weeks.  There is no doubt she will keep up her new lifestyle!

Stay tuned for more updates and success stories...

Check out my published article in the Jacksonville Times-Union

Very excited to have a published article in the Jacksonville Times-Union http://bit.ly/bofwKs
A helpful article on gluten and low glycemic foods!

Be sure to pick up a paper copy if you are in the Jax area otherwise click the link above to read it.  Please share this with others! 

Amazing find at Wholefoods!

Joe's Oat Patties

My husband and I were on our weekly Wholefoods shopping spree and they were sampling a local affair called Joe's Oat Patties. Joe's Oat Patties are essentially veggie burgers but all natural, organic, soy and wheat free made with oats, quinoa, dried peppers and spices. They are AMAZING! I could not believe how tasty they were, so I instantly ran over to the shelf and picked some up....good thing because they had already sold out of one flavor.

They come in a package and you have to mix the ingredients with water and get about 6 patties out of each package. Even though they are a small local company you can order online through their website at http://www.joesoatpatties.com/ at a very reasonable price. The patties have 8.5 grams of fiber per serving and 11 grams of protein and are only 90 calories per patty! This is for sure one of my best finds in awhile. Enjoy!

Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal/Buckwheat Breakfast

Serves 4


Top this nutritious, hearty breakfast with fresh berries, dried fruit, walnuts and ground flax seeds and then pour a bit of hemp or almond milk over the top. The flax seeds and walnuts add a ton of Omega-3 and fiber, which lowers the glycemic index of the meal. Only have frozen fruit on hand? Stir it into the pot during the last few minutes of cooking.

Ingredients
1 cup of gluten free whole rolled oats
1/2 cup buckwheat groats
2 cups pure apple juice
1 handful of walnuts
2 cups water
1 cinnamon stick

Directions
Put oats and groats into a medium pot and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until toasted and fragrant, 5 to 7 minutes. Meanwhile, put juice, water and cinnamon into a small pot and heat over medium heat until hot.

Carefully add hot juice mixture to oats and groats and return to the heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed and oats and groats are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove and discard cinnamon, ladle into bowls and serve.

Nutrition
Per serving (about 10oz/283g-wt.): 210 calories (15 from fat), 2g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 10mg sodium, 43g total carbohydrate (4g dietary fiber, 15g sugar), 6g protein

Choosy Mom's Should NOT Choose Jiff.....

American mom's have been brain washed to think that "Choosey Mom's Choose Jiff!" I ask myself, did these choosy mom's ever look at the label on a Jiff Jar? Jiff contains Fully Hydrogenated Oil! That is one of the worst things you can put in your adult body, much less your children's.

What is Hydrogenated Oil? It is a product that scientist was made a long time ago to harden soap! That's right, I said soap. Then the U.S. food makers thought it would be a great idea to add this to our processed foods to make them more shelf stable. How long do you think a twinkie can sit on the shelf before it goes bad - probably 100 years. It is so important to check the ingredients list on the foods that you are eating and feeding your children. So many foods these days have Hydrogenated Oil in them, such as crackers, peanut butter (Jiff), processed cheese, snack bars, cookies, cakes, dounuts, coffee creamers and if you think your doing yourself any favors with margarine, just stop now!

Eating Hydrogenated Oil is like eating plastic, it causes laseration in your arteries and can lead to high cholesterol and coronary heart disease, and many other things that we probably don't even know about yet.

A great alternative to Jiff, and all those other peanut butter brands that have hydrogenated oil, is Smuckers All Natural Peanut Butter, with or without honey. You will see the oil at the top of the jar, so make sure to mix it up good before using it. Smuckers only puts what you would think would be in peanut butter: peanuts and a very small amount of salt. So next time you "choose," choose Smuckers!

Summer Smoothie

This is a smoothie recipe that I created. It is low-glyecmic and delicious! The agave syrup and fruit gives it the perfect amount of sweetness without the blood sugar rush. You can find Agave Syrup/Nectar at pretty much any grocery store these days. It may be located in the "Health Section" and I would recommend buying organic. It is a natural source of sweetner without all the empty calories and it won't spike your blood sugar like regular cane sugar or honey. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 Serving

• ½ cup of nonfat plain Greek Yogurt

• ½ cup of frozen berries, can add 1/2 banana

• ¼ cup of skim milk

• 1 tablespoon agave syrup

• 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed

*Add a scoop of protein powder and fiber powder to give it an extra kick!

Directions: Take all of the ingredients and blend in a blender. It’s that easy!

Top 10 Superfoods

If you eat a diet with predominantly these foods, you will feel more energy, get rid of toxins and have overall better health.  Thanks to ExtendSnacks for the following Top 10 Superfoods:

1. Low Fat or fat free PLAIN YOUGURT:  Great for protein and potassium as well as that friendly good bacteria.  MAKE SURE IT IS PLAIN AND FEEL FREE TO ADD SOME BERRIES AND AGAVE SYRUP TO SWEETEN.

2.  Eggs:  This is a very complete food.  Contains 12 vitamins and minerals.

3.  Nuts:  Walnuts, for example have Omega 3's (good fat) as well as protein and fiber.  Limit to 1 handful per day because of the fat content.

4.  Kiwis:  One large kiwi will give you your daily allowance of Vitamin C for the day.

5.  Quinoa:  This is an ancient grain that is one of the best whole grains you can eat. It is high in fiber, protien and many essential minerals and nutriets. It can be used in place of rice or couscous.

6. Beans: Loaded with insoluble fiber and soluble fiber which may help to lower cholesterol. They are a wonderful low-glycemic carb which is high in protein and fiber and help to keep you full longer.

7. Salmon: This is considered a super food - very low in calories, but rich in omega-3's, which is great for your heart and cholesterol.

8: Broccoli: It is jammed packed with essentail vitamins such as vitamin K, vitamin C and vitamin A.

9: Sweet Potatoes: These are a wonderful alternative to a white potato. Did you know that a white potatoes are actually considered high-glycemic and will spike your blood sugar very quickly as compared to a low-glycemic sweet potato? Sweet potatoes have many essential vitamins and fiber and will keep you full longer.

10: Berries: These wonder fruits are low in calories and high in fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients. Anytime you have sweet craving grab for cherries, blueberries, strawberries or raspberries vs. something with refined sugar.

Found some great snacks that taste good and keep you full

Extend Snacks
ExtendSnacks were designed to do one thing particularly well - help stabilize blood sugar levels for up to 9 hours! Their patented formula converts gradually to blood sugar over 7 to 9 hours - instead of all at once like so many other snacks - to help even out blood sugar swings.


Click the link above for more info.  We love the chocolate peanut butter bars, peanut bars, and apple cinnamon the best.   You can get just bars or just snacks, etc.  These are great when you are in a hurry and you want to stay satisfied with no blood sugar swings.  Have a Healthy Day!