Natlifestyle.com

Most of us are too busy to think about what we’re going to eat on a daily basis. It’s much easier to do that on a weekend when we don’t have to work. But what about a hectic  Wednesday? Most people barely have the time to sleep, let alone make sure they’re getting the right foods in their bodies.  

I’ve been reading more about Acai, which is a great way to integrate a Superfood into your diet because it comes in juice form. Dr. Perricone (featured on Oprah.com) believes Acai to be the number 1 Superfood.  For people like us who commute, spend (a lot) of time in the office, hit the gym, and then meet up with friends, acai is perfect for us. We can drink it as we’re doing all of those things that we do so well.   

Here’s are the benefits of Acai, courtesy of Oprah.com:

A remarkable concentration of antioxidants that help combat premature aging, with 10 times more antioxidants than red grapes and 10 to 30 times the anthocyanins of red wine.

A synergy of monounsaturated (healthy) fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols to help promote cardiovascular and digestive health.

An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to proper muscle contraction and regeneration.

The fatty acid content in açaí resembles that of olive oil, and is rich in monounsaturated oleic acid. Oleic acid is important for a number of reasons. It helps omega-3 fish oils penetrate the cell membrane; together they help make cell membranes more supple. By keeping the cell membrane supple, all hormones, neurotransmitter and insulin receptors function more efficiently. This is particularly important because high insulin levels create an inflammatory state, and we know, inflammation causes aging.

So, sip up and fight those premature wrinkles! You can find acai juice at any health store or Whole Foods.

I’m a big fan of reading up on diets and different types of food lifestyles. It’s kind of a geeky hobby.  My personal take on food is that I try to avoid the processed stuff and stick to local, organic foods as much as I can  (unless there’s a special occasion, like Halloween, where I needed sour patch kids). I’m about moderation, so it’s not about being so strict, but rather learning from different diets and incorporating them into my own every now and then for health benefits. Raw food is a perfect example — I have a blast going to these cool raw food restaurants in Santa Monica and Venice.

I wanted to learn a bit more about the Macrobiotic diet to see if there’s anything I can incorporate into my own diet. I found this great article on oprah.com that outlines what it’s about. I also plan on perusing the book the article mentions: “The Hip Chick’s Guide to Macrobiotics.” Enjoy!

Eating Your Way to Better Health
By Erin J. Shea
Following a Macrobiotic Diet

The word macrobiotic comes from “macro,” which means large, and “bio,” which means “life.” Practitioners of a macrobiotic diet generally seek a way of eating that incorporates physical and spiritual health. Rich in soy and phytoestrogens, which are a diverse group of nonsteroidal plant compounds found in food such as nuts, oilseeds and flaxseed, the macrobiotic diet is predominately vegetarian and emphasizes whole grains and vegetables.

“The real spirit of macrobiotics is about freedom,” says Jessica Porter, author of The Hip Chick’s Guide to Macrobiotics. “One eats healthy foods most of the time so that one can eat more extreme foods some of the time. People in good health can go out and play, having a glass of wine or a piece of chocolate cake. They return to their regular macro foods in order to maintain their health and eventually play again.”

Porter says the philosophy in macrobiotic thinking is explained through the lens of yin and yang. “We eat foods that are whole, local and in season [so] that our bodies get perfect yin-ness and yang-ness needed for the natural environment in which we live. When we harmonize with nature, we experience strength, flexibility, freedom and happiness.” For example, she says those who live in New York City and eat what she calls “yin foods” like bananas, yogurt and sugar on a daily basis become weakened and lose touch with the natural world.

Cooking macrobiotic food takes time. Porter suggest people start by cooking and eating whole grains on a daily basis, which can take up to an hour to cook. “Just make some brown rice and chew it well,” she says. “In my experience, after people begin to eat whole grains daily, [they'll] want to cook an hour a day.”

Though it can be expensive, Porter says certain items such as sea vegetables and miso last a long time and the elimination of meat and dairy in exchange for grains and beans balances out any high costs on a grocery bill.

“These days, with muffins, cappuccinos and microwave dinners making up our daily fare, we’re eating in a way that weakens our bodies and minds over time,” Porter says. “When we end up depressed or anxiety-ridden, we’re told it’s all in our heads, when very often, it’s all on our plates.”

You’ve got a deadline coming up, your to-do list is a mile long, you just caught a glance at your ATM receipt, and to top it off, you’re acquaintance at work (who you don’t even like that much) tells you to calm down. Like it’s so easy! It’d be great if had a switch on our bodies that we could flip to calm down. But we don’t. So, I did a little research on ways to relax. For me, an intense jog will do the trick, or a cuddle with my dog. But what if I’m at the office without access to a treadmill or canine? Here are some tips.

Take a walk. Getting out of your office space and walking around – outside, around the building, to your work buddy’s office, helps to remove yourself from the situation, regain composure, and even put you in a new frame of mind.

Take a breath. A nice, deep breath, like the kind you do in yoga class. Getting more oxygen into your body and releasing some physical tension helps you to calm down.

Aromatherapy. Some smells have relaxation powers. My personal favorite is lavender. I have it in spray, candle and/or beauty-product form in my office and at home.  

Take a mental break. Sometimes even a 5-minute diversion will do the trick. Closing your eyes and thinking of something positive. A beach on Maui? Ahhh.  If you’re feeling unimaginative, pick up a magazine or hop on your favorite website (yes, even trashy celebrity ones often do the trick).

Reframe your situation. This one is always the most helpful for me. The way we look at situations obviously affects the way we perceive them. Is there another way of looking at the issue that’s stressing you? Take a step back and look at it from a 10,000 foot view…is it that serious? Is it worth getting that worked up over? Chances are, probably not. Sometimes reframing a situation will help you to de-stress.

I hope this helps you chill out a little more…if nothing else, I hope it provided a nice little diversion from whatever you were stressed out a minute ago!

This weekend, I was visiting my family. Which meant that I was eating white pasta, full-fat cheese, bagels, pizza and summer bbq stuff (and the list could go on and on). It was delicious! But not without feeling it: since I normally don’t eat that stuff, my body actually felt different, and not in a good way. I felt tired and I even gained a couple of pounds. Now that I’m back in town, I’ve been eating ‘cleaner’ and exercising (and feeling normal again). Which lead me to write about eating clean.

I’m a big fan of this style of eating because it’s not a fad diet, so you can just make it a part of your life. According to Answer Fitness, the Clean Eating philosophy is really based on the natural health food movement of the 1960s, which then got transformed into the “whole foods” approach to eating, which emphasizes consuming foods (preferably organic) that are unprocessed or refined as little as possible before consumption. 

Here are the basics of clean eating.  If you follow this philosophy of eating and exercise regularly, you’ll definitely see a difference in the way you look and feel.

• Eat a wide-variety of whole, unrefined and unprocessed foods in a form that’s as close as possible to how the foods appear in nature
• Avoid processed sugars, especially sugary beverages like soda
• Avoid saturated fat and trans fats, and instead substitute healthy, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats
• Always combine complex carbohydrates with lean protein and some healthy fats at every meal
• Spread your food out over 5-6 smaller meals, consumed every 2-3 hours
• Eat for maximum nutrient density. In other words, avoid “empty” calories found in fast food, soda, snacks, cakes and cookies, and substitute in nutrient-dense snacks.
• Pay attention to proper portions and practice portion control
• Drink lots of water (at least 8 cups a day.)

By the way, it’s okay to splurge every now and then to stay sane!

Here’s the link to the full article that explains each of those points in greater detail:

http://www.answerfitness.com/204/clean-eating-eating-clean-answer-fitness/

The idea of completely changing the way you eat overnight and depriving yourself of all things sweet, savory, cheesy (and I mean that in the literal sense), and alcoholic is not realistic, and it’s no fun whatsoever. It’s all about moderation, and cleaning up your diet rather than cutting out completely. And cutting out a few calories here and there adds up over time. Here are a few easy ideas that helped me reach my goals (and drop pounds).

1. Swap bad carbs (like white bread/pasta) for good carbs (whole wheat/whole grain bread/pasta).

2. Pick a healthy program. I think the G.I. Diet is fantastic and healthy (based on low glycemic index foods): http://www.gidiet.com/

3. Eat 5-6 small healthy meals rather than 3 large mediocre ones. This type of eating ensures that you’re not starving, so you won’t overeat, and if you’re following the GI diet, you fill up on healthy foods that fuel your body and keep you full.

4. Use your creativity to come up with lower-fat renditions of your favorites. Bethany Frankel has great ideas for ’skinny’ chocolate chips, mojitos, pasta and meatballs, and the list goes on here: http://slideshows.health.com/slide_shows/10464/slides/11958

5. Make a couple of compromises, with yourself. An In-N-Out cheeseburger once in a while is not so bad, just skip the fries. If you’re eating a rich dinner, just have a few bites of dessert or skip it altogether.

7. Try to cut back on the drinking…or make swaps. If you’re a 4 glasses of wine kinda person, try and dial it back down to 3. If you love rum and cokes, switch to diet coke. My favorite cocktail is a Stoli O and club soda…but I mostly avoid the hard liquor and stick with 2 or so glasses of wine. Get creative with low-cal versions of drinks (check out my “Skinny margarita” post).

8. Diet and working out go hand in hand. I didn’t see results until I was consistent with both. Find a couple of classes you like, buy cute workout clothes, splurge on a trainer (gyms have good deals nowadays), make a commitment with a buddy…all those things help motivate.

9. Reward yourself regularly – that’s a must! A nice glass of wine, a shopping trip, a pedicure…all of those things will do the trick.

Health magazine published this article on how certain foods help you get rid of fat.

For example: artichoke hearts (canned) + white beans + olive oil is loaded with fiber, resistant starch and monounsaturated fatty acids, all of which are good for you and help you blast fat. Blend the 3 together and you’ve got a healthy dip.

Check out the rest of the pairings here: http://slideshows.health.com/slide_shows/10499/slides/12337

My local Whole Foods has a case devoted to these Kombucha drinks. I’ve tried them a few times before. I wouldn’t say it’s the most delicious thing in the world, but it certainly doesn’t taste bad (convincing, huh?) Anyway, I wanted to find out more about Kombucha.

According to the makers of the Kombucha drinks found at Whole Foods,  it is “a living culture of beneficial microorganisms. Our Kombucha is delicately culture – some liken it to fermentation – for 30 days. During this period, essential nutrients form like active enzymes, viable probiotics, amino acids, antioxidents and polyphenals. All of these combine to create an elixir that immediately works with the body to restore balance and vitality.”

Sounds like a science experiment, but I’m going to get a few bottles on my way home from work. I’ve been fighting a cold – perhaps these will help ‘restore balance’ to my body? By the way, you can get these all over the US (not just LA).

http://www.synergydrinks.com/

I love coffee and drink a lot of it. I hear mixed things about it though – some people say it’s great for you, others say not so much. I just read this article in Self Magazine that cites research about how antioxidant-rich coffee is a Superdrink – it can ”fight disease, fuel a tough workout, increase brainpower and even keep you feeling young.” Anything that justifies my habit is good by me.

http://www.self.com/fooddiet/2009/08/coffee

I had a really long day yesterday.  A 2-hour business meeting in San Diego, but we had to drive 3 hours each way to get there (5 of us crammed in a small car – and we did this all in the same day).  Ah, the business world, so glamorous! 

So, I was exhausted by the time I got back to the office at 7 pm, but still wanted to cram in a workout. I stopped into a convenience store and picked up two things that perked me right up: a Think Thin bar and Function: Alternative Energy drink. (btw, for those of you who are Tracy Anderson fans like I am, she recommends Think Thin bars in her diet). 

The combination of these two things immediately took me from sluggish to energized. I went on to have a quick workout that made all of those long hours crammed into a car melt away. The best part?  I went home and snuggled with my dog. A great ending to a long day.