Brown Rice vs. Quinoa

Here’s a great infographic that compares the nutritional value of brown rice and quinoa.

Although quinoa has slightly more calories than brown rice, quinoa provides more protein, fewer carbs, more fiber, calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium than brown rice.

🙂

Friday Fitspiration

Abs are made in the kitchen, not in the gym. “Diet” is a huge factor in losing those extra pounds, so put down the processed food and reach for raw fruits and veggies.

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Rule #1

There’s no such thing as eating too many vegetables.

Eat your veggies.

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Breakfast: Green Smoothie vs. Cheerios

Which do you prefer?

Link to green smoothie recipe: https://raworganicvegetarian.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/variation-on-the-glowing-green-detox-smoothie-recipe/

Fountain of Youth

Juicing raw (not frozen) fruits and vegetables everyday has had a huge impact on my skin. The tiny wrinkles that were starting to appear around my eyes are now gone and it’s brought back a youthful glow.

I drink a green smoothie every morning with lots of organic green leafy vegetables (kale, spinach) and fruit to help detox my body. I also like to include other detox foods such as ginger, chia seeds and parsley, which helps to cleanse the entire blood supply.

Here is a link to my Glowing Green Detox Smoothie recipe: https://raworganicvegetarian.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/glowing-green-detox-smoothie/

I should also add that I exercise regularly and have made considerable changes to my overall diet. I’ve become mostly raw vegan/vegetarian. Although I eat animal products from time to time (cheese, seafood, etc – also known as “Flexitarian”), I’ve made the effort to improve my eating habits and am now reaping the benefits of making these changes.

I’ve also given up coffee, soda, processed juice, processed food, and foods that contain gluten (white flour, wheat bran, pasta, bread, cakes, etc) and try to sub in gluten free vegan versions.

All these changes not only improved my skin but also my waist line and overall health.

List of top anti-aging foods: https://raworganicvegetarian.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/top-anti-aging-foods/

🙂

Beauty Detox Foods to Restore Your Youth

I recently saw an episode of Dr. Oz where nutritionist Kimberly Snyder talked about detox foods that can restore your youth! I was very excited.

She believes that diet has a direct impact on how you look and how quickly you age (which I also believe to be true). Incorporating nourishing, cleansing detox foods can improve the look and condition of your skin (i.e., get rid of wrinkles), increase energy levels and improve overall health. 

Things to eat:

• Dulse – loaded with potassium and minerals, great for your hair (a dark red edible seaweed)
• Cabbage – vitamin C, eat 3-5 times a week, have red cabbage over green
• Watercress – oxygenating, lots of iron, full of antioxidants – eat raw
• Beets – contains antioxidants

Cellulite Fighting Foods – Cellulite are fat cells protruding through the skin, therefore you need to strengthen collagen to reduce the visibility of the fat cells. This can be achieved by eating the following foods.

• Cilantro – helps to rid the body of toxins
• Oat groats – eat them raw, can be found at Whole Foods and health food stores
• Citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, grapefruit) – strengthens collagen

For a complete list, you can purchase Kimberly Snyder’s book “The Beauty Detox Foods.”

Top Anti-Aging Foods

As I creep further into my 30s, I’ve become a bit obsessed with staying youthful and therefore doing a lot of research on anti-aging foods. Below is a list (courtesy of Dr. Oz) on the best anti-aging foods. These will definitely be added to my next shopping trip to Trader Joe’s.

• Spinach – excellent source of vitamin C and helps keep hair/skin healthy and glowing
• Blueberries – superfood with lots of antioxidants to fight wrinkles
• Blood Oranges – antioxidants
• Carrots – lots of vitamin A for healthy shiny hair
• Brazil nuts – only need 2 a day
• Cod – has selenium which protects your skin from sun damage
• Cucumbers with peel on – contains silica which boosts collagen and reduce wrinkles
• Kelp – vitamin C & E
• Guava – vitamin C and boosts collagen
• Mango – excellent source of vitamin C
• Avocado – contains Biotin for healthy skin
• Oysters – contains zinc and helps with collagen production
• Red Peppers & Brussel Sprouts – contains vitamin C and helps build collagen
• Watermelon – contains lycopene, which protects the skin from the sun

Also, exercise has its anti-aging benefits. It boosts your metabolism and keeps your heart and lungs healthy!

Annette Larkins on The Doctors Show

The 71 year old beauty shares her tips on eating raw along with some recipes.

She eats EVERYTHING raw….impressed.

Interview with Annette Larkins – 71 year old, size 4 beauty

Annette Larkins is a 71 year old raw vegan that doesn’t look a day over 40!

She’s been eating completely raw vegan for 27 years and looks amazing in her size 4 body.

This is an interview on the local news in Miami.

If this doesn’t convince you to go raw, then nothing will.

Glowing Green Detox Smoothie

Everything that I put into my daily green detox smoothie. I drink one of these every morning and it’s done wonders for my skin and energy!

Recipe:
– Baby organic spinach
– Organic kale
– 2 stalks celery (not pictured because I don’t have any at the moment)
– 1 organic Fuji apple
– 1 very ripe banana (the more ripe the sweeter your smoothie will be)
– 1 cup of water

Blend using the NutriBullet and enjoy