Sunday, May 15, 2011

Strawberry & Banana Hemp Milk Smoothie

Ready in Blender
Strawberry & Banana Hemp Milk Smoothie

~Ingredients~

1 Cup of Organic Hemp Milk (chilled)
1 Scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder
1/2 Banana Sliced
5 Strawberries Sliced

Blend on high and enjoy!


This is such a great shake.  You can use Skim milk, Almond milk or even Water.  I used Organic Hemp Milk to change things up a bit, it was delicious! It was thick and creamy and full of Omegas!
Organic Hemp Milk gives a really creamy base and tasted great with the Vanilla Protein Powder.  

 Organic Hemp Milk is made from hemp seeds  Hemp seeds are a natural source of Omega-3 ALA-a good-for-you Essential Fatty Acid.  This silky smooth beverage is also an excellent source of Calcium and a good source of Vitamin D, making it a great choice for those looking for a dairy alternative.  You can use it just like dairy milk in cereals and recipes and drink by the glassful.  I also use Hemp Milk in my Oatmeal from time to time.  Try it out it tastes great!



One 8-Ounce glass contains the following healthy nutrients:
  • 900mg Omega-3 Fatty Acid
  • 2800mg Omega-6 Fatty Acid
  • All 10 Essential Amino Acids
  • 4 grams of Digestible Protein
  • 46% of RDA of Calcium
  • 0% Cholesterol
  • Potassium
  • Phosphorous
  • Riboflavin
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin B12
  • Folic Acid
  • Vitamin D
  • Magnesium
  • Iron
  • Zinc
  • And more…




Saturday, May 7, 2011

Marinated Flank Steak with Frisée Salad

Always Start with Fresh Organic Ingredients


Marinated Grass Fed Flank Steak with Frisée Salad

Steak Salads are nutrition Powerhouses!  This is one of my favorite recipes to make, quick and easy and lots of flavor!  The days of iceberg lettuce are over.  Other more interesting greens are the new salad greens, frisée, arugula, endive, baby spinach just to name a few. The bitter greens in this recipe are a great compliment to the grilled steak.  

A Perfect Power Meal

Grass Fed Flank Steak is a lean, nutritious and flavorful cut of beef.  Marinading flank steak is the way to go!  It definitely tenderizes your steak.  It is best cooked medium rare and thinly sliced on an angle.  Thinly sliced Marinated Flank Steak cooks quickly on your barbeque using high heat and practically melts in your mouth.  This recipe calls for grilling the steak, but if you don't have a grill, you can prepare the steak on a large cast iron frying pan or an indoor grill pan.  Paired with a Frisée Salad it's truly a complete meal.


Nutritional Benefits of this meal ~

Grass Fed Beef is a great source of Protein (helps build a strong muscular body), Zinc (helps create a healthy immune system and heal wounds), Phosphorous (necessary for strong teeth and bones), Iron (helps carry oxygen in the blood to all cells and muscles to prevent fatigue), B-complex Vitamins (Vitamins B12, Niacin, Vitamin B6, and Riboflavin-(helps release energy from food).  Grass Fed Beef has less total fat, Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, and Calories.  It also has more Vitamin E, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin C, and a number of health promoting fats, including Omega -3 Fatty acids and CLA.

Salad Greens~
Frisée is packed with nutrients, an excellent source of folic acid, vitamins A, C, K and Manganese.
Radicchio is a good source of vitamin B & vitamin C, calcium and phosphorus & iron.
Romaine lettuce contains vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, chromium, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, beta-carotene, folic acid, and minerals like potassium, molybdenum, iron, phosphorus, and of course fiber elements which keep the digestive system healthy.




Serves 4, Easy & Fast Preparation

Ingredients 

Flank Steak & Marinade
2 lbs Flank Steak - marinade -
1/3 Cup Olive Oil
2 Cloves Garlic Minced
2 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice or Lime Juice
1/3 Cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
1/4 Cup Agave Nectar or Honey
Freshly ground Black Pepper & Sea Salt to taste
*Place above ingredients into shallow dish to marinade. Marinade a few hours turning the meat to coat. Then oil the grill grate and preheat grill to medium high heat.  Place Flank Steak on grill, discard the marinade and grill the steak for 4 or 5 minutes on each side or until desired doneness.  Let rest a few minutes before slicing on an angle. 


Bon Appétit!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Stadium Stairs


Are you looking to shake up your boring treadmill or cardio routine?  Sick and tired of training indoors with crowded & sweaty classes?  Looking to move your training to the sunny outdoors? Absorbing some Vitamin D while training now that spring is here?  If you enjoy a challenge and you are ready to build some serious lower body strength then this is the workout for you! 

Running Stairs has been used by athletes for decades and is guaranteed to build your cardiovascular threshold and build some serious lower body power and strength.  This workout is guaranteed to define your thighs and calves.

There are so many ways to use this workout.  You can start by jogging for 20 minutes to warm-up, and instead of walking down the stairs you can jog down (depending on your current fitness level).  You can also add hand weights or a weighted vest to increase your intensity.

If you are looking to build lower body strength while shaping and defining your lower body and abs, you will love this workout.  I use the Rye Stadium stairs and track for my Stadium Stairs workout.

Your Stadium Stairs Workout
 You can customize this workout for your fitness level.
First up, you’ll need to find a flight of approximately 30 stairs - perhaps there is a track with stadium seating nearby or even an apartment block or car park with a series of flights of stairs. Improvise and find something that you think could work.
1.) Once you have found your set of stairs or steps you need to begin your warm up. Walk up the stairs all the way to the top and back down again - continue this for 3-5 minutes or until you feel hot and are puffing slightly.
2.) As you finish your warm up return to the bottom of the stairs and then sprint up them with 100% effort.
3.) Once you reach the top, walk down to the bottom - this is the recovery phase.
4.) After reaching the bottom of the stairs, turn around and sprint up them again.
5.) Keep repeating this sequence. Depending on your fitness level you could complete anywhere between 3 and 15 sets - work until you feel like your have worked enough - your legs should feel rubbery and you should be breathing heavily.


*Results of Stair Climbing*
Easily Reduce Body Fat
Achieve and Maintain your Ideal Bodyweight
Eliminate or Reduce Joint Pain.
Build Legs that look Amazing
Build Buns of Steel
Build strong and sleek Abdominals
Build a strong and sleek Upper Body
Increase your Strength
Increase your Power
Improve your Flexibility
Improve your Balance & Coordination

You can also check out Stair Climbing / Stair Exercises for more workouts.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

10 Foods That Detox The Body




When it comes to detoxing your body, there are many techniques you can follow and supplements you can take. But, the best way, is to eat lots of foods that detox the body. Below is a list of detox foods that I thought would be an great addition to everybody’s diet.
Detox Foods Apple

1. Fruits

Fruits are extremely high in liquid-content, helping the body wash out toxins. They are also very easy to digest and are high in antioxidants, nutrients, fiber and many important vitamins like vitamin C.



2. Green Foods

Detox Foods Spinach
When you are ready to detox your body, fill your refrigerator with blue green algae, barley, wheatgrass, kale, spinach, spirulina, alfalfa, chard, arugula or other organic leafy greens. These plants will help give a chlorophyll-boost to your digestive tract.
Chlorophyll rids the body of harmful environmental toxins from smog, heavy metals, herbicides, cleaning products and pesticides. They also aid the liver in detoxification.


3. Lemons, Oranges & Limes

Detox Foods Lemon
These citrus-wonders aid the body in flushing out toxins, as well as jump-start the digestive tract with enzymatic processes. They also aid the liver in its cleansing processes. To increase detoxification, start each morning with a warm glass of lemon water.

Remember, vitamin C is one of the best detox vitamins around, as it transforms toxins into digestible material.
Detox Foods Garlic

4. Garlic

This pungent bulb stimulates the liver in producing detoxification enzymes that help filter out toxic residues in the digestive system. Adding sliced or cooked garlic to any dish, will help aid any detox diet.






Broccoli

5. Broccoli Sprouts

Extremely high in antioxidants, broccoli sprouts can help stimulate the detoxification enzymes in the digestive tract like none-other. The sprouts are actually more effective than the fully-grown vegetable, despite the picture on the right.




Green Tea Detox6. Green Tea
Packed full of antioxidants,green tea not only washes toxins out of the system through its liquid content, but also contains a special type of antioxidant called catechins, known to increase liver function.




7. Mung Beans

Mung Beans
The mighty mung bean has been used by Ayurvedic doctors for thousands of years. It is incredibly easy to digest, and absorbs toxic residue on the sides of the intestinal walls.


8. Raw Vegetables

Detox Foods
Best for juicing detox regimens or eaten raw: Onions, carrots, artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, garlic, beet, turmeric, and oregano. The combination of these foods will help your liver purge toxins during the cleansing process. These are high in naturally occurring sulphur and glutathione. Sulphur helps the liver detoxify harmful chemicals.


9. Seeds & Nuts

Walnuts
Incorporate more of the easily digestible seeds and nuts into your diet. This include flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, Siberian cedar nuts and sunflower seeds. While detoxing, avoid nut butters.
Avocados

10. Omega-3 Oils

Use hemp, avocado, olive oils or flax seed oil while detoxing. This will help lubricate the intestinal walls, allowing the toxins to be absorbed by the oil, and eliminated by the body.



Source:  Global Healing Center/Natural Health & Organic Living.