I’ve been obsessed with podcasts lately. I LOVE going for a power walk / jog outside and putting one on – it’s more mentally stimulating than music for me and I love to hear what other people are up to or interested in at the moment.
There are podcasts about just about anything, but I’m loving:
Anti-aging isn’t about restriction and discipline – it’s about optimal health, which means fun, friends and happiness.
Recently I was asked to speak at Eat to Live Nutrition here in Newport, RI about one of my favorite topics – holistic anti-aging and beauty! It’s such a powerful topic because I truly think that you can slow down the rate at which you age – and even turn back the clock.
After all, genes only account for about 30% of aging, which means that about 70% comes from how we live and take care of ourselves – our environment, what we eat, how we treat our body, our relationships, our attitude and our thoughts.
It’s not easy to come up with fresh gift ideas every year, so I’m here to help! Whether you have a health foodie or fitness lover on your list or you just want to spread a little healthy holiday cheer, here are 12 healthy gifts I’m loving this holiday season:
The easiest healthy win – especially with winter upon us – is hot herbal tea! It’s a health and beauty staple that’s comforting and delish, while delivering nourishing antioxidants and hydration with zero calories. Need I say more?
Herbal tea is an oldie but a goodie. And when I say oldie, I mean really an oldie! Chinese legend has it that tea was first discovered in 2737 BC, when an emperor was holding a cup of hot water and leaves from a nearby tree fell into it, creating the first cup of hot herbal tea! The emperor enjoyed the taste and restorative properties, and a major food trend was born :).
What’s one of the most foundational aspects of our health that we sometimes forget about? Hydration!
Our bodies are two thirds water, so staying hydrated is essential for everything from clear skin to efficient digestion and elimination. We all know we need about eight, eight ounce glasses a day (depending on your size, activity level and local climate), but do you know where your water should be sourced from?
I love granola, but I don’t always trust it – it looks deceptively like a health food but has a lot of added refined sugar 99% of the time. Sugar that’s going to make my blood sugar unstable and cause cravings and fat storage. No thanks! I found a really clean option I like, Paleonola, but it’s 9 or 10 bucks for a small bag! That’s where making it myself came into the picture – it’s super quick and easy and then I have huge batch that will last for the week.
With nuts, seeds, spices and coconut oil, this cinnamon pecan granola has protein, fiber and really nouishing fat that will make you feel super satiated and balanced – and it’s still sweet and comforting at the same time!
Not only are GMOs (genetically modified organisms) unhealthy for us, they’re also not living up to the hype. For years, industrial agriculture giants like Monsanto have boasted that GMOs are the key to feeding the exploding world population, which is set to hit 9 billion by 2050. They’ve also defended themselves by saying that the engineered traits in GMOs cut down on the use of toxic chemical pesticides.
The New York Times shot down both of those points last week, saying that after extensive analysis of data from the United Nations and other sources, they’ve found that genetic modification isn’t actually delivering on either of them.
This quick homemade basil and pine nut pesto with zucchini noodles is just so unbelievably fresh yet creamy and delicious I just had to share it with you. It’s also so easy to put together that I’ve been having it at least once a week. Fresh + plant based + creamy + delicious + warm + quick = ideal dinner.
Enjoying a walk with my little sis and nephew in Denver!
With the holidays right around the corner, you may have the urge to curl up in a ball on the couch and start winter hibernation immediately. But don’t put an oversize sweater on and put a hold on your gym membership just yet! You CAN stay super motivated to work out all winter long.
The secret is in how you view your exercise time. Just like with a nourishing diet, the key to a sustainable, healthy lifestyle is that you WANT to take those healthy steps each day. If you feel like you have to force yourself to exercise or you’re skipping it more often than not, here’s how to start changing how you view working out:
We all want to be happy. Unfortunately for us, happiness seems to be more elusive now than ever before. If you suffer from low moods, you’re not alone – we’re now ten times more likely to have anxiety and depression than we were only a generation ago, and one in five Americans takes a prescription drug to treat a mental health condition.
But don’t worry – you CAN improve your happiness, energy and motivation levels!
