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On the Go?

People are constantly on the go and use time as the excuse for not eating properly. Well, here is an easy guide to ensure that even at school, work, traveling or home you can ensure your fueling your body properly.

Eat at least one dark green and one orange vegetable each day. Choose green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, spinach, asparagus or artichoke. Choose orange vegetables such as carrots, sweet potato, bell pepper, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, or acorn squash.

Eat vegetables and fruit that have been prepared with minimal fat, sugar or salt. Enjoy vegetable steamed, replace oils or butter with water, add fresh herbs in place of salts. Opt for the baked option rather than stir-fried or deep-fried.

Enjoy vegetables and fruits more often than juice. Pick a juicy orange, apple or watermelon to hit that juice craving. Carrots, celery, and cucumber add a delicious high water content to your diet to quench thirst. Freshly juice your veggies and fruit and drink within the first 10 minutes to get all of the vitamins and minerals.

Make at least half of your grain products whole grains each day. Eat a variety of whole grains such as barley, brown rice, quinoa, lupin seed, hemp seed or wild rice. Enjoy the true taste of grains by using minimal amounts of sauces, spreads or oils.

Make a healthy choice in grains that are lower in fat, sugar and salt. Compare nutrition fact labels and make a wise decision. Remember if you cannot pronounce it leave it on the shelf.

Minimize your dairy intake as they can cause bloating. Try alternative milks from soy, almonds, cashews, coconuts and rice. Check labels to get the purest form of this product and watch for added sugars, salts, and other ingredients.

Have red meat only once every other week. Keep animal proteins to a minimum as our body cannot digest these proteins as well as plant based proteins. Make alternative choices such as portabella mushrooms, beans, legumes, grains or soy products. Make a point to eat vegetarian at least one to two days a weeks to help reset your body’s pH.

Drink plenty of water. If you prefer flavored water naturally infuse your own with mint, lemon, orange, cucumber, or frozen fruits. We need to stay hydrated inside and out.

Remember to eat to live not live to eat. We have one body so take care of yourself!

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Acne is a common skin condition characterized by inflammation of sebaceous glands. There is no magic cure for acne. Gradual improvements will come over time.  Factors that trigger acne are diet, stress (emotional & environmental), oral contraceptives, hormone changes, allergy changes and rigid exercise. Acne can be cleared you just have to get the correct balance for your body.

Some lifestyle changes will help clear up acne. Wash twice a day with normal soap and after exercise to remove sweat from skin. Avoid oil-based skin care as it will cause irritation to skin. When you have a break out try to avoid, scraping, picking or squeezing as this will irritate the troubled area and make worse. Squeezing can burst the gland there for furthering the irritation.

When it come to diet try and remember you are what you eat. If you have a high saturated fat, high sugar, high sodium based diet you will tend to have more oils in your face. Keep hydrated to ensure your skin can keep it’s luster. Try and eat a well balanced diet with plant based proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid dairy as milk can cause inflammation in some acne sufferers. Avoid additives and preservatives. Shop the outside perimeter of the grocery store to keep your diet fresh and whole.

Vitamin E, A, Zinc and Copper are all very effective in fighting acne from the inside out. If the acne comes upon menstruation B6 is great for female acne sufferers. Take 200 IU of Vitamin E, 2500 IU of Vitamin A, and 135 mg of Zinc and 2 mg of Copper a day. These can be taken in supplement form. Vitamin E can be added in liquid form as a flax seed oil or coconut oil.

Tea tree oil is a great topical remedy for acne. On the onset dab area dry with cotton swap and apply liberally to affected area. Try and cycle tea tree oil every three months as your body will build immunity to the healing benefits. Lavender oil is another lighter remedy for acne. Being less astringent lavender oil would be great to use in between cycles of tea tree oil.

When treating acne remember to not give up. There may be a few trial and error remedies, but you will find the best fit for your skin. Everyone has a different pH, therefore whats works for one person may not work for another.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

There are benefits and controversies surrounding Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods. These are plant crops and animals that have been modified and achieved by DNA manipulation and biotechnologies. With this the seed or animals are genetically modified to meet the needs of consumers. Making consumers look at the supply and demand of these crops and animals in our nation.

The benefit of the these GMO crops is it will enhance taste and quality of produce. GMO crops are reduced in maturation time. There is an increase in nutrients, yields, and stress tolerance. Improved resistance to disease, pests, and herbicides. With these crops there are new products and growing techniques for farmers.

As far as GMO livestock the animals will increase in resistance, productivity, hardiness and feed efficiency. Better yields of meat, eggs and milk. Improved livestock health and diagnostic methods.

GMO corporate claims as the impact of the environment is that GMOs are “friendly” bioherbicides and bioinsecticides. Conservation os soil, water, and energy. Better natural waste management. They claim more efficient processing. GMO corporations fight that they provide increased food security for growing populations .

Here are the controversies surrounding GMOs. First and foremost if the safety of GMOs as they have potential human health impacts, including allergens, transfer of antibiotic resistance markers, and the unknown effects. The potential of environmental impacts, including unintended cross pollination, unknown effects on the soils and microbes and loss of flora and fauna biodiversities.

There is a fear of domination of world food production by few corporations. Increasing our dependencies on industrial nations by developing countries. Biopiracy, or foreign exploitation of natural resources.

As far as ethics go; there is a violation of natural organisms’ intrinsic value. The effects of tampering with nature by mixing genes among species. There are many objections to consuming animal genes in plants and visa versa. Along with the concern of the stress this puts on animals.

Labeling is not mandatory in some countries including the united States of America. Mixing GM crops and non-GM products confounds labeling attempts. This new advance might be skewed to interests of rich countries.

There is a lot that we have not heard as far as the longterm impact GM crops will have on our health and environment. Until, we have all of the facts it should be advised to choose GMO free foods. We have one body, fuel it smartly.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.