Family getting healthy

Get Healthy, Stay Healthy!

Last February, I completed a life changing journey. I carried a baby through surrogacy that wasn’t mine to give away to a family who couldn’t have a baby of their own. It profoundly affected how much I appreciated my own children and how much I took my fertility, and health, for granted. I joined several online support groups and learned that anyone lucky enough to qualify (Yes, lucky in my eyes! Pregnancy will always be my favorite parts of my life! I’m nuts!), you must be a pretty healthy person. Over and over, I saw women struggle with weight, blood pressure, thyroid problems… Women who had assumed they were healthy and would come through with no problems. I also saw the women who did carry and then had complications that were unexpected and changed their lives. I had the easiest pregnancy of all of mine (5) and delivered a perfect, healthy little girl into her mother’s arms. Then my life (and health) changed…

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Gluten Free Diet Benefits for

Gluten Free Diet Benefits for your Gut and your Mind

Have you ever stopped to notice how you might feel after eating a piece of birthday cake? A sandwich? A bowl of pasta? Pizza? Most of us don’t always take our time to mindfully ingest our food, and to notice how we feel while we are consuming it and also after we are finished. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to eating a piece of birthday cake, a giant chocolate chip cookie, a few slices of pizza, or a bowl of pasta, I tend to feel rather heavy and lethargic. Sometimes I even find I need to stop whatever social situation I am in, instantly, and lay down to take a nap, only to wake up with a somewhat unsettled stomach. There have even been a few times when I discovered that my skin started to take on less clarity and more blemishes. But, first things first: what is gluten, anyway?

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A Healthy Debate: Juicing vs Blending

A Healthy Debate: Juicing vs Blending

On average, Americans tend to consume about two thirds less fruits and vegetables every day than is recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of course, the caloric intake and the amount of each food group tends to vary person to person, based on weight, height, sex, and most of all, activity level. But, there is no denying that fruits and vegetables should be the main source of nutrition on our plates. But which is better in the battle of juicing vs blending?

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Chia Seeds in bowl with fruit

Chia Seeds Recipes

If you ask me, chia seeds don’t really have a taste, but some might describe them as slightly nutty. Either way, they are an easy add in to smoothies or morning oat topper. They can even be used as an egg substitute or, drum roll please… can make the most delicious and satiating breakfast, snack or dessert all on their own. And, without further ado, here are two of my favorite chia seeds recipes for you to try out…

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Gluten Free Brownie Recipe

Gluten Free Brownie Recipe with Black Beans. Surprise!

This gluten-free brownie recipe is quite simple with only 6 natural ingredients, and can be made with only ten minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of bake time. They will have a still-warm delicious taste after cooling for 5-10 minutes. Oh, to boot, one of these muffins has only about 159 calories (but who is counting these days anyhow?) and a whopping 4.2 grams of protein. A dessert with protein (in a non-dairy form), magnesium, iron, and antioxidant rich for fewer than 200 calories? Plus a source of healthy fat to restore what I need for proper muscle recovery and future workouts?

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Toothpaste tube

Triclosan Dangers: Does Colgate Cause Cancer?

Toothpaste is one item that has received a lot of publicity lately. Aside from the fact that there are an endless number of variations from whitenings and fluorides to “pro-health” and cavity-fighting, there is one ingredient that has raised some concern for its possible ties to certain types of cancers: triclosan. We decided to look a little deeper at what triclosan is, and whether or not we should be avoiding it all together…

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Glas of smoothie at the beach

My Low Sugar But Tasty Protein Smoothie Recipe (Vegetarian & Vegan)

As a vegetarian, I sometimes find it difficult to get enough protein into my diet. On average I was getting around 20 grams of protein per day by eating what I thought were high protein foods: mostly beans, lentils and nuts. I went to see a nutritionist and she said, “Girl, you are protein starved!” Everything else in my diet was great. I eat mostly whole, organic foods. I have been vegetarian for about five years now and have been a bit more tired than normal of late. So, the nutritionist asked me to keep a food diary for two weeks and her recommendation was to eat more protein. She also shared that it takes about a cup of beans to equal the protein in 1 ounce of meat!! Who knew?!? So unless I plan to eat 4-6 cups of beans each day, I need to look at some other sources for protein in my diet…

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Toothbrush

Is Sodium Fluoride Dangerous? Risks and Benefits Analyzed

I remember going to the dentist as a kid and dreading the experience. Why? Not that any kid loves going to the dentist, but I was definitely ending up with cavities more often than not. This continued into adulthood unfortunately, and when I asked the dentist what I was doing wrong, he would explain to me that I had “strong gums, but weak teeth.” Great, I thought. “What toothpaste do you recommend I use?” I asked the dentist, thinking that must be the culprit. He would reply with” it doesn’t matter, as long as you have flavor and fluoride.” Sodium fluoride has long been known to be a cavity fighter. And to my knowledge was never really a health concern until recently…

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Mom and baby in sling

Baby Carrier Reviews

I am pretty sure I have owned almost every baby wearing device (Baby wearing is strapping your baby into a carrier on your body rather than carrying them in your arms. It leaves your hands free while still keeping your baby close and secure.) out there from an old-fashioned Snugli, to a trendy Baby Bjorn, to a homemade sling. There are so many out there that it’s overwhelming and confusing, so I decided I am going to try to review the ones I have used and give my honest opinions based on fit, ease of use and, the most important aspect, how much my baby liked it…

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