Sergei Boutenko points out that wild edibles are packed full of nutrition. Even more so than regular produce, in many cases. They are the original ‘organic’ foods.

On his website, harmonyhikes.com, he explains that red clovers are rich in the following:

• beta carotene
• C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12
• biotin
• choline
• inositol
• bioflavonoids
• magnesium
• manganese
• zinc
• copper
• selenium

There’s also a video of him on YouTube explaining that you can make daisy jam by soaking daisies in honey for 3 days, then spreading them on crackers, toast, etc. Raw crackers & toast, of course.

We often beat ourselves up when we eat something “unsanctioned” by the health authorities, and tend to take our friends, family, and communities for granted.

• Being in a long-term, satisfying relationship
• Having close friends

So the next time you skip a workout day, make up for it by going out with friends or family. It’s loads healthier than allowing yourself to feel stressed and guilty over the workout.

Photo credit: Sarah Yates Photography

nature's original multivitamin

There are many brands of bee pollen granules on the market. Some are $5, some are $25, and some are much more. Why would you pay more for something that looks identical?

Cheaper brands actually mix in old, rancid granules with fresh, effective ones, to keep costs down.

A simple test can show the quailty of what you own:

• Drop a spoonful of bee pollen granules into a  water (a cup, bowl…)
• Granules that sink to the bottom are fresh
• Granules that float to the top are rancid
• This way, you’ll be able to tell the ratio of old:fresh

A good brand that I recommend is a kind that comes out of New Zealand, who also manufacture manuka honey. $24 CAD. Can also be found in the St Lawrence Market in Downtown Toronto.

Benefits:

• nature’s most complete source of essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes.
• good source of potassium, calcium and magnesium, iron, zinc and folic acid
• anti-oxidant effects + good source of vitamins A, some Bs, C & E.

sorry kids

Pom is going just nuts with their ‘we are healthy’ campaign. Buttt I definitely would not define it as ‘healthy’. I’d say they’re more neutral.

It’s because the juice is clearly pasteurized, meaning that it’s been treated at ultra-high temperatures in order to extend the shelf life + get rid of bad bacteria.

The trouble with pasteurization is that it breaks down, destroys, and denatures the good stuff inside: enzymes, vitamins, antioxidants.

Sorry kids! Pom juice isn’t technically “healthy”. However, it won’t harm you either.

I don’t like to hate…but their claims like “cheat death” are just too ridiculous to keep quiet about.

photo credit: chris kalani, yay!everyday blog

ain`t it something.

We have heard from dietitians that severe methods of calorie restriction, such as skipping meals, can trigger our body’s ‘survival’ instincts, which are counterproductive to a healthy diet, causing unwanted fat storage.

While these undesirable effects are true, there is tremendous scientific evidence revealing that a reasonable level of calorie restriction is one of the surest ways to reverse the aging process.

• In a study dating back to the 1930s, Dr. McKay of Cornell University found that the life span of rats doubled when their calorie intake was cut in half. In addition to living longer, they were more healthy and youthful compared to control subjects. The rats who were allowed to eat to their heart’s delight were much weaker and led less vigorous lives.

• In the 1990s, Dr. Weindruch and Dr. Prolla at the University of Wisconsin measured gene expression in mice, rats, monkeys, and humans. It was found that caloric restriction positively altered gene expression by slowing the aging process.

• Dr Spindler at the University of California found that calorie restriction produces a genetic anti-aging profile, and resulted in a reversal of the majority of age related degenerative changes.

Quite simply, when our calories are restricted, our “youthful” genes are activated; alternately, an excess of calories causes our “aging” genes to be activated.

The good news is that it’s never too late to start. These studies went further to prove that anti-aging effects can be seen quickly even with the oldest test subjects.

A fantastic, living example of lighter diets providing a longer, higher quality of life can be seen in the tribes of the Vilcabamba region in Ecuador, the Hunza region in Pakistan, and the Abkhasians region in Georgia. These tribes have some of the highest longevity rates, with an incredibly high incidence of adults living to over 100 years old. Further, these tribes see a higher quality of life in their middle aged and elderly members. By eating just 50% to 60% of the calories that we eat in North America, they are able to live much more adept and healthy lives.

If you’d like to try it, start by reducing your daily intake by just 25 calories. The further you take it, the more results you’ll be able to see.

Source: There is a Cure for Diabetes by Dr Gabriel Cousens

Photo credit: Chris Kalani

HouseOfVerona.com

Ken Fujioka, MD, of the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, California observed obese study participants, who were not dieting, add a half of one grapefruit before each meal for 12 weeks. Participants lost an average of 3.6 pounds even without any additional dieting effort (note that the study was sponsored by the Florida Department of Citrus).

What’s even more compelling is the fact that grapefruits contain the enzyme bromelain, which is both anti-inflammatory and skin-cleansing. Bromelain is also shown to help cut cellulite quickly.

If you’re going to indulge, make sure you eat it separately from other food groups. All fruits should be eaten alone, without the presence of other food groups such as vegetables, fats, or proteins (with the exception of leafy greens). Wait at least 20 minutes after eating a grapefruit before eating other foods.

Combining fruit with other groups inhibits digestion, causing food to improperly break down. This leads to fermentation in the stomach, causing gas to be formed. This also implies fat storage: if our bodies have trouble breaking something down, it means it also has a hard time expelling it. A food “in limbo” is thus converted to fat and stored in the body.

Sources:

• You Are What You Eat by Dr Gillian McKeith
• Eating for Beauty by David Wolfe
• Fitness RX Magazine

I’m very excited. An Australian company named Preshafruit has released a line of juices that are created through an innovative pressurization process. Instead of heat pasteurization, which most commercial juices go through (Tropicana, even Odwalla sadly) Preshafruit does not apply heat – their process eliminates the ‘bad’ stuff (bacteria) while keeping the good stuff intact – vitamins, enzymes, natural aroma. 

How wonderful.

It depicts photos of food taken with Kirlian photography, a technique that claims to capture the electric field emitted by the object in question.

Careful, there are sources that are skeptical of this method, so it’s not a fully supported idea.

However, these images inspired me anyway. It just reminded me of the beauty contained within living matter.