You are currently browsing the Nutrition category
(A post by Leona Laurie)
Since discovering the many evils of soy milk, and because I’m with Kendra on the perils of dairy, I’ve become an almond milk devotee this year. Originally I was using Silk exclusively, mostly because that was the soy milk brand I’d preferred when I was still drinking it. One day recently, though, my nearby market was out of Silk, so I had to try Blue Diamond’s Diamond Breeze, and it was terrific. Then I discovered that Trader Joe’s has their own almond milk, so I decided to share with you the results of my informal taste-testing.
3. Loser: Trader Joe’s. I’m sorry, TJ’s. I love you for all the things you do well, but your unsweetened vanilla almond milk is not one of them. It just tasted like fake vanilla powder. I didn’t even note the nutritional elements because one taste convinced me I would never be buying it again.
2. Runner Up: Silk. Silk has a lot of advantages. Their unsweetened almond milk only has 35 calories per serving, and the list of ingredients seems to have fewer additives than their competition in the refrigerated section. Sadly, though, they seem to be late to the market with an unsweetened vanilla option, and their regular vanilla is 90 calories per serving– quite a jump. At a friend’s suggestion, I tried adding a little vanilla extract to their unsweetened original, and it was very good, but if I’m judging on out-of-the-box taste alone, I have to rank them at second.
1. Winner: Diamond Breeze! Their unsweetened vanilla clocks in at 40 calories per serving, and for my purposes, the taste and consistency are perfect. When comparing this one nutritionally to the others, a friend raised the issue of it containing carrageenan, which has raised some red flags for health issues, so I’m not sure I’ll stick with it long term, but in a taste test, it wins. It also has significantly higher levels of potassium than the Silk almond milk does, and the RDA for potassium is much higher than I’d imagined, so I guess that’s a benefit. Finally, it’s made from California almonds, so it’s closer to a locally produced option than Silk is. Congratulations, Diamond Breeze! You’re in my fridge right now, and we have a date at breakfast.
Are you on the almond milk bandwagon? Would you support or challenge these results? Leave your thoughts in the comments!
I am thrilled to announce that I now have the 28 Days To Health products available for purchase on my website. These products support the full detox and cleanse program along with some additional dietary supplements.
Most of you know that I have taught the 28 Days To Health program for the past 18 months. While most of my clients have completed the program utilizing the protein powder, fiber, detox tea and colon cleanse products I now can offer these additional products to further enhance the results on the program.
The Ultra Body Cleanse Capsules and Functional Food powder will really step up the detoxification of your liver and ALL the soft tissues in your body. These two products in particular should only be used during the 28 Days To Health program or when you are already eating really clean. The capsules have active ingredients to draw out toxins from the body while the powder works with enzymes and nutrients to support the cleansing process and protect your body from experiencing detox symptoms.
The Ultra Body Omega supplement and the Greens powder are great additions to anyone’s supplement regimen. The benefits of an Omega supplement have been well document and are vital to metabolism, brain function, heart health and improved immune function. What makes this supplement unique is it’s amazing taste and NO fish burps! Rarely do people look forward to taking their Omega supplement but you will with this brand.
For those of us who do not get enough leafy greens in our diets you need to have the Ultra Body Greens powder. The greens are a blend of 13 different vegetables to help promote optimal nutritional, increase the body’s alkalinity and are rich in phyto-nutrients, antioxidants and supportive enzymes.
You can shop for these products now on my site or for more information please contact me.
The first stop on my Freedom and Flexibility Tour is in the Oakland Hills and I am staying with the family I used to nanny for. I started living with them 10 years ago when I began working as a personal trainer. I can remember eating a lot of pasta dinners and there were kid-friendly carb snacks galore. I would pass out Balance Bars and other snack bars as I shuttled the girls around to their various activities.
My first morning back in the house this week I sat at the breakfast table and watched the flow of the family as everyone got ready and out the door. I watched one by one as every kid and adult made themselves 2 or 3 pieces of toast with butter for breakfast. I politely turned down the toast, banana and cranberry juice I was offered and decided that my first order of business would be to have a gluten intervention in this household.
When everyone returned in the afternoon I began talking about the protein powder I had set out on the counter and that tomorrow would be protein shake day. They all happily agreed and I even talked with the youngest about the possibility that gluten was playing a part in her insomnia issues. To get prepared that afternoon I headed to Trader Joe’s and stocked up on rice and almond milk, organic strawberries, some gluten-free snacks, brown rice pasta and some sunflower seed butter to make the kitchen work more in my favor.
The protein shakes went over so so. “Mom and Dad” were into them but I had a harder sell on the youngest kid. Perhaps I went a bit too far by adding in the spinach and sunflower seed butter on the first try. I did a re-do the next morning and kept it simple with just the chocolate protein and water. It finally came down to me getting back to my bossy nanny roots and saying, “Oh come on just chug it. It’s good for you!” Even though my Arbonne protein tastes phenomenal in many people’s opinions, if you aren’t used to a protein supplement it may take a while to acquire the taste.
The snacks went over very well and “Mom” is happy to incorporate them into the mix. Trader Joe’s Rice and Bean Chips are fantastic and the Sea Salt and Pepper Crisps and a low calorie “go to” for the snacking cravings.
I am only here for one more night but I will be back in a couple of weeks. My goal here is to make the family aware that we need protein in EVERY meal and snack we have. Like I teach in the 28 Days To Health program, having a hormonally balanced meal with a combination of carbohydrates, proteins and fats is how to maintain blood sugar and energy levels throughout the day.
As “Dad” says, “You’re not going to leave us alone are you…..?” Nope!
I found this article through my colleagues at Heller Chiropractic Spa where I teach the 28 Days To Health classes each month. Every month I find people are shocked to hear that whole eggs (INCLUDING the yoke) are a great source of recommended protein. Science has proven that the cholesterol found in eggs is NOT the culprit for rising cholesterol numbers and heart disease in our society. Dr. Mercola is highly respected in the nutrition industry and he explains in all in this great article.
Story at-a-glance
- Eggs contain high quality proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. And, according to new research, you can also add antioxidant properties to the list.
- The antioxidant properties are due to the presence of two amino acids, tryptophan and tyrosine. Two raw egg yolks contain nearly twice as many antioxidant properties as an apple.
- Egg yolks are also rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, a class of carotenoids that offer powerful prevention against age-related macular degeneration; the most common cause of blindness.
- The research also illustrates how destructive cooking is. The antioxidant properties were reduced by about 50 percent when the eggs were fried or boiled, followed by microwaving, which resulted in an even greater reduction.
I was surprised to learn that he recommends eating raw, organic pastured eggs. That is a couple of steps beyond where I am now but I will definitely be poaching or soft-boiled now as opposed to scrambling them for maximum nutritional value.
Click here to read the entire article.
At 11:45am today I dragged myself up a short flight of stairs and chose to take the elevator up the remaining two flights. Lazy? Yes! But I had just finished an hour of Cardio Barre in Hollywood and that is no sissy workout. All I could think about was getting to my protein shake and getting to add some delightful sugary mango to replenish the sugars and protein my muscles were craving.
Some of my clients that do the 28 Days To Health program don’t want to have an extra shake because they say “I’m trying to lose weight.” It’s actually the opposite! If you do not feed your muscles then you are simply breaking them down and you could end up with a higher body fat percentage. Per the 28 Days manual, “If you workout in a way that produces muscle fatigue or oxygen debt such as interval training, weight lifting or long endurance training then you need to have a workout recovery shake.”
When you train you are breaking down and literally tearing the muscle fibers in your body. Immediately after the workout your muscles are looking for protein and glucose to rebuild and repair the muscle tears. I aim to get my recovery shake within an hour of completing my workout. My favorite recipe is a 1/2 cup of rice milk, 2 scoops of Arbonne vegan protein powder, 1 cup of water and one piece of frozen mango halves from Trader Joe’s.
For those who have done the 28 Days To Health program it’s important to note that the recovery shake SHOULD NOT include the fiber booster and the healthy fat. Fiber and fat will slow down the absorption of the protein and glucose.
In truth, when I am mid-workout and starting to question why I committed to an hour long class I stay motivated by the fruity chocolate treat that awaits me after class. Hey, whatever works!
We found this great article full of belly-flattening tips via Yahoo! Shine, and we thought it was worth sharing. Although some of the tips might seem like no-brainers, you might be surprised to see some of the things contributing to belly bloat (sugar-free gum???). Here’s an excerpt, and there’s a link to the full article below…
Another reason to hate Mondays? Tight post-weekend waistbands. Unless you spent the past 2 days living like a monk, the cocktails, movie snacks, and dinners out can all add up to one thing: belly bloat.
“If you wake up bloated on Monday morning, your weekend food choices are likely to blame,” explains Keri Gans, RD, author of The Small Change Diet. “In fact, overindulging for two days straight can easily cause a gain of three pounds. Fortunately, this weight gain is usually temporary and easy to get rid of in less than a week.”
Feel flat again by Friday with these nine easy tips:
Season Food Differently
You may be attracted to your saltshaker, but water is too. When you take in higher-than-usual amounts of the salty stuff, you’ll temporarily retain more fluid, contributing to that sluggish feeling, a puffy appearance, and extra water weight. Avoid salt, overprocessed foods, and salt-based seasonings. Gans suggests you also ditch the frozen microwaveable meals while you’re de-bloating—they’re packed with sodium. Instead, she recommends a simple turkey sandwich or a salad with chicken for lunch this week. And eat plenty of fruits and vegetables that are packed with water.
Add zest to your dinner recipes with fresh herbs and salt-free seasoning blends such as the Original and Italian Medley Mrs. Dash.
Read the full article HERE!
photo by T Nguyen
Tien Nguyen wrote a great article for LA Weekly on the recent analysis of popular Coconut Water brands & its findings. Here’s an excerpt, and there’s a link to the full story below. Check it out:
Drink Vita Coco or O.N.E. Coconut Water because of its health benefits? Use either liquid as a cure for a nasty hangover? Shocked to learn that, according to a recent study, neither brand of coconut water has as many nutrients they claim? If so, you may be putative members of one or both class action lawsuits filed last week against the manufacturers in Los Angeles Superior Court.
ConsumerLab recently tested the waters, so to speak, of three of the major coconut water brands: Vita Coco, O.N.E. Coconut Water, and Zico. Of those three, only Zico delivered on its nutritional claims. The study found that the other two had “far fewer” electrolytes, sodium and magnesium than the amounts printed on their labels.
Read the full article HERE.
Arbonne Chocolate and Vanilla Protein Shake Mix
The Arbonne Protein Shake is a beautiful thing. Every morning, I wake excited to have a chocolate milkshake for breakfast. When thinking recently about how sustainable this breakfast model is (will I get tired of it?), I decided to come up with a few recipes to keep things fresh as time goes by, and here they are for you!
1. The Chocolate Banana: Place two scoops of Arbonne Chocolate Protein Shake Mix, 1.5 cups of Unsweetened Almond Milk (optional: add a splash of Vanilla Almond Milk for flavor), one Banana, and 5-7 large ice cubes in the blender. Blend until smooth. Enjoy!
2. The 50/50: Place two scoops of Arbonne Vanilla Protein Shake Mix, 1 cup of Unsweetened or Vanilla Almond Milk, and 1 cup of Fresh Orange Juice in the blender with 5-7 large ice cubes. Blend until smooth. Enjoy!
3. The Pina Colada: Place two scoops of Arbonne Vanilla Protein Shake Mix, 1 cup of Unsweetened Almond Milk, 1 cup of Fresh Pineapple (pineapple juice will do in a pinch), and 1/4 cup of Unsweetened, Shredded Coconut in the blender with 5-7 large ice cubes. Blend until smooth. Enjoy!
4. The Strawberry Shortcake: Place two scoops of Arbonne Vanilla Protein Shake Mix, 1 cup of Unsweetened or Vanilla Almond Milk, and 1 cup of Fresh Strawberries in the blender with 5-7 large ice cubes. Blend until smooth. Enjoy!
5. The Chocolate Macaroon: Place two scoops of Arbonne Chocolate Protein Shake Mix, 1 cup of Unsweetened or Vanilla Almond Milk, and 1/4 cup of Unsweetened, Shredded Coconut in the blender with 5-7 large ice cubes. Blend until smooth. Enjoy!
Have you tried the Arbonne Protein Shake Mix yet? It’s vegan, it’s delicious, and it’s inspirational in the kitchen. Contact Kendra Cannoy via the contact form on this site to try it.
If you’re already a fan, leave your favorite recipe(s) in the comments!
A client in my most recent 28 Days To Health class at Heller Chiropractic Spa asked me for a restaurant recommendation list. At one point I believe I mentioned I had a list but in reality this list is only in my head. So without any other research these are the places that I frequent the most especially when I want to stay on track with the cleanse program. (For all of you who didn’t just click on that link that means places that offer menu items without gluten and dairy and feature organic meats and vegetables as much as possible.) § Read the rest of this entry…
Since starting to teach the 28 Days To Health cleanse program I have had the opportunity to effect hundreds of lives. The results range from weight loss to improved sleep to balanced moods to living without pain. Occasionally I come across clients who have been suffering with intense health conditions that has literally made it impossible to lead a normal life. My friend Laura had posted on Facebook a few months ago something to the effect of “I’m sick of my stomach rejecting food!” I took that opportunity to recommend she try my cleanse program to see it would help her digestive system. Long story short, she had amazing results and has become a huge fan of the program. I love getting her picture text messages that she sends me of her gluten and diary-free culinary creations that fit within program. She has inspired me to get creative in the kitchen to have more fun with healthy and delicious food.
Here is the amazing testimonial that she just sent me:
“Kendra’s coaching, cleanse and knowledge on wellness was literally life changing for me. For almost a decade I suffered with severe digestive issues and doctors/specialists treated only the symptoms, never the cause. Not only did Kendra recommend the cleanse as well as dietary changes, but after finding out about my history and asking the right questions, she was able to pinpoint the root of my problem! § Read the rest of this entry…
« Older Entries
