The Body is a Wonderland...

Just paid $9 for a jar of this! I’ve never paid that much for a single jar of pasta sauce in my life. But if I’d spend it on a bottle of vodka or a cake I GUESS  its ok to spend on pasta. The reason I got it was because I had to do some quick grocery shopping at Target and it was the only one on the shelf with no sugar and a super low carb content (1%)! So I had to get it. Was it worth it…YES! At that price I would much rather make my own for the cost saving BUT if I’m in a bind again I would get it again. It tastes really good and fresh. It was just like sauce at a good Italian restaurant. So if I can’t make my own and am in need of a healthy low carb, delish sauce, I will get this again.

Choose one

(via craving-tiny-deactivated2012112)

Want to find a way to rev up your metabolism to speed fat loss? Try subbing your morning coffee a few times a week with Yerba Mate.

Yerba Mate is a beverage similar to a tea that is made from the leaves and twigs of a shrub that is native to Central and South America. Originally used as a stimulant beverage by the Guaraní, an indigenous culture of Argentina, Yerba Mate has recently become a coffee and tea alternative that is popular around the world.

According to a study published in Lab Animal Research, scientists have discovered the Yerba Mate can help speed up metabolism, prevent fat accumulation, and reduce markers of heart disease risk.

Scientists induced obesity in mice with a high calorie diet, then gave them Yerba Mate extract for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, the mice were checked for biomarkers like blood serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and glucose concentrations. They also took fat tissue samples for examination.

The results were substantial. Researchers found that after the 4 weeks of Yerba Mate extract supplementation, the mice desired less food but had a higher energy expenditure. The same mice also had improved glucose tolerance thanks to the high polyphenol content of Yerba Mate.

Yerba Mate also contains high levels of a class of compounds like saponins, which scientists attribute to the steep drop in cholesterol experienced by the mice who were fed Yerba Mate.

Although Yerba Mate’s grassy, earthy taste is certainly a big change from your morning skinny vanilla latte, try substituting a Yerba Mate drink in the morning just one day a week at first. The plant’s ability to activate your central nervous system to keep you alert coupled with the health benefits of the drink are totally worth it.

(Source: life.dailyburn.com)

(Source: lkweightloss, via iruntobehealthier-deactivated20)

Yum, tasty little flavor bites of Mango Salsa on toast. I would add a smear of avocado and black beans to add fiber and healthy fat. This is like food porn for me since I’m low carbing it right now. Lol

Superfoods don’t just come from your supermarket’s produce aisle and they don’t have to have weird names — like acai, chia and jicama — to qualify. In fact, those chocolate candy bars next to the gummy bears have superfood powers that often no one ever speaks of. Anyone can get on the superfood bandwagon without having to leave their comfort zone! Simply take a browse through your cabinet to find these unsung heroes — your secret superfoods, which are probably sitting in your kitchen right now!

Apples

Don’t underestimate apples! We all know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what else are these portable powerhouses doing for us? Apples are packed with flavonoids, such as quercetin, which is involved in the breakdown of complex carbohydrates and the regulation of blood sugar levels. Quercetin also acts as both an antihistamine and an anti-inflammatory power, and is therefore thought to be protective against heart disease and some allergies. This superfood has also been one of the only fruits to show protective benefits against lung cancer risk.

New way to eat it:To give apples a new spin, try very thin slices as a crunchy alternative to chips or crackers-they go with almost everything! Tart apples like Granny Smiths are a great snack smeared with two tablespoons of black bean dip or hummus.

Coffee:

Most of us can’t start our day without that morning cup of joe, and use the drink to keep us revved through sluggish afternoons. Although too much coffee can give you the jitters, a lower dose of caffeine will kick-start your metabolism and keep you alert. Studies show that coffee has powerful antioxidant properties and may help lower blood sugar by providing minerals that increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin. This means our favorite morning drink is potentially protective against diabetes. Just watch the caffeine - it is safe to consume up to 250 mg of caffeine per day, the amount in roughly 1-2 small cups of coffee.

New way to eat it: Also try mixing ground coffee into your yogurt or smoothie for an interesting jolt to your day.

Yogurt:

Both the USDA guidelines and your health-conscious neighbor proclaim that yogurt is healthy-diet staple. As most of us know, yogurt is a great source of probiotics, which help promote smooth digestion. But what else do these little bugs do? Probiotics are healthy bacteria that raise antibody levels in the body and compete with pathogens for food, nutrients, and survival. New research is also showing that probiotics tout other superfood powers and help to reduce the risk of breast cancer, stomach ulcers, and vaginal infections.

New way to eat it:When eating yogurt, make sure to choose plain low-fat or Greek yogurt for a high protein and low calorie snack. Yogurt is easily eaten by itself (add seeds and even grain like quinoa for texture), or dolloped on top of veggie chili or tacos. You can also try seasoning plain yogurt with herbs and spices and serve it as a dip for fresh fruits and veggies. With yogurt, you always win!

Eggs:

Eggs are one of our best sources of high-quality complete protein, which is easily absorbed and has all of the amino acids the body needs. Eggs are also high in choline, a phospholipid compound similar to B-vitamins that many cells in the body utilize. Choline plays a large role in gene expression, and may prevent long-term memory loss., Choline is also essential in the formation of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that sends messages between nerves and muscles. With more than 90% of Americans choline-deficient, incorporating eggs into your diet is an easy fix. Just be sure to use the egg yolk when making your morning scramble - since this is where all of the choline and vitamins are stored.

New way to eat it: If you love a runny yolk, try poaching an egg to get your fix without butter or cooking oil! Not so much? Mash one whole hardboiled egg with an additional hardboiled eggwhite, 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 Tablespoon Greek yogurt, salt, and pepper, for a healthier take on “egg salad.”

Avocado:

We’ve come to think of orange foods as the best source of carotenoids (carotenoids might make you think carrots, right?). But dark green vegetables actually get their trademark deep green color from a mixture of the green pigment chlorophyll with the orange-pigmented carotenoids. Avocados boast incredibly high carotenoid levels, which have potent anti-inflammatory properties. What does anti-inflammatory really mean for us?Inflammation is the body’s protective response to toxins, pollutants, and other harmful invaders. Inflammation can decrease short-term cell function and over time causes permanent damage. Nutritious foods with anti-inflammatory properties help us minimize those damaging effects. You already know that avocados are a great source of heart-healthy fats, and that just adds to their superfood status: avocados have a truly unique mixture of fat-soluble vitamins, antioxidant plant pigments, and antioxidants, which have been linked to decreased risk for cancer.

New way to eat it:Buzz equal amounts avocado and Greek yogurt in a blender with 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar for a delicious, high-protein salad dressing. Avocados are also a surprisingly portable snack. The skin makes a perfect “bowl” and the scoop in the middle is a perfect spot for toppings! Pop an avocado in your bag and cut it in half at lunchtime, to eat with a spoon. Try topping it with 1 teaspoon of vinaigrette or some of the following superfoods: tomatoes (high in anti-inflammatory lycopene), red bell pepper (for your daily vitamin C), or mango (high in carotenoids) for sweetness without the sugar.

Chocolate:

Charles M. Schultz said it right: “All [we] really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!” In fact, it doesn’t hurt at all; it actually helps! Recent studies published in Chemistry Central Journal have shown that the amount of antioxidants in dark chocolate is equivalent to or higher than those found in acai berries, blueberries, and pomegranates. Chocolate can also help lower blood pressure and increase blood flow, resulting in a happy heart and taste buds!

girlgrowingsmall:

1. Ginger: Anti-inflammatory and great for digestion. Add fresh ginger to juices, teas, and pretty much any vegetable dish. 

2. Cumin: Supports healthy blood sugar levels and is an anti-oxidant. It’s a great mild spice for curry dishes. 

3. Cinnamon: An anti-oxidant and supports healthy blood sugar levels. Add to cooking and healthy sweet treats. 

4. Turmeric: Contains curcumin, plus it boats anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant properties. Great in curries, rice and veggie dishes. 

5. Rosemary: Is an anti-oxidant and has anti-cancer properties. Add to veggie pizzas and tomato-based vegetable dishes. 

6. Thyme: Is a natural antibacterial, rich source of polyphenols and flavonoids and improves digestion. Great added to any vegetarian meal. 

7. Cayenne: Destroys bacteria and enhances your immune system, improves blood flow, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, diuretic, analgesic, expectorant, and diaphoretic properties. Add to soups, stir-fries, curries and rice veggie dishes. 

8. Garlic: Helps to lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, control triglycerides (fats) and thin the blood, reducing clotting in high-risk heart patients. It also supports general immune function, has a natural antibacterial and antifungal action, acts as an antiseptic, fights infection and contains chemicals that help to prevent cancer.

I love these informative posts. :)

(Source: artofbeinghealthy)

King Corn is a feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation.  In King Corn, college best friends from the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from.  With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America’s most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil.  But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat- and how we farm.

This really made me think about where my food comes from and what I eat! The parts about the effects of feeding corn to cows and the company Monosanto were  particularly disturbing to me.

I’d sworn off fast food since hearing about “pink slime” (especially McDonald’s, specifically burgers) but I was starving last night. Although we did have food, after my two intense workouts I was too tired to 1) clean or 2) cook so I was left with no choice.

I didn’t feel too bad about it since I had a chicken sandwich from Carls Jr. but still…on principle I failed…a little. McD’s is still a definite No, No for me! The only thing I will get there is a Parfait, a smoothie or a coffee! Officially at least. In a weak moment, I can’t say that I won’t be tempted by desert. I am sure as heck never “eating ” there again. No, McSlime Meals for me.

Looks yummy

daisyyy-daze:

Salad in a Jar:

These salads can be made up to 4 days in advance and will stay fresh in the fridge with a lid on. This is one of my tricks to eating salad everyday for lunch at work. I make a few jars on Sunday night and just grab one to bring to work everyday.

When you’re ready to eat, just shake it up.

(Source: endlesslyerica)