Colorful Bean Salsa!

I thank my soon to be father in law, Frankie for showing me this wonderful and EASY recipe! This salsa is packed with nutrition; is a good source of fiber and a great way to get in a serving of colorful vegetables! Great for parties and get togethers. Serve with chips and/or keep in fridge for a few days to add to breakfast burritos, tacos, fish and whatever else.

Ingredients:

1 can low sodium black beans

1 can low sodium kidney beans

1 can low sodium corn

1 large red bell pepper

1 large tomato

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1 Tbsp jalapeno pepper

Directions:

Drain black beans, kidney beans and corn so they are dry. Simply add all of the ingredients together in a bowl and stir. There you go! Enjoy!

Natural Ingredients For Healthy Skin

Natural Ingredients For Healthy Skin

It’s important to pay attention to what we put into our bodies, but we should be conscientious to what we apply onto our bodies as well. Anything we lather on our skin has the potential of being absorbed through our pores and into our bloodstream. So many of today’s skin care products contain harsh synthetic chemicals and ingredients, which we are usually unaware of. Chemicals like parabens, which are commonly found in products, have a chemical structure similar to estrogen, which has been said to potentially interfere with production of the body’s natural hormones and contain potential links to cancer.

My tip in choosing a good skin care product- if it includes a name you can’t pronounce or is foreign to you, it’s better not to use it! Many health food stores will carry products with all natural ingredients. One great product line, I found is Honey Girl Organics (http://honeygirlorganics.com/) They create natural skin care products with the highest quality food grade, organic ingredients.

Many natural ingredients contain antioxidants with anti-aging and restoring properties. Using all natural products will leave your skin with a natural glow, with out drying out your skin. In addition to being good for you, natural products are better for our planet! It’s great to be committed to achieving a healthier life!

If you know of any natural health care products, which you have used and loved, please share! I would love to hear your comments!

Step Up To A Better You

Step Up To A Better You

Make lifestyle changes one step at a time

I know you have heard this before but diets do not work, lifestyle changes do! Instead of trying to change everything over night, adapt to a new lifestyle by making adjustments to your diet and physical activity one step at a time.

Choose a few unhealthy food groups to eliminate such as soda, sweets or processed foods. Do as much as you can without feeling like you’re completely depriving yourself.

Focus on foods you can have.

Replace unhealthy habits with healthy ones. Redirect your attention by envisioning and focusing on good food choices and the cravings for unhealthy foods will gradually disappear. Breaking bad habits will become easier.

Move to a whole foods diet.

Eating natural foods such as fruits, vegetable, beans, whole grains and nuts will provide you with all kinds of benefits. Unlike most processed foods, which have been striped of their nutrients, whole foods are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, cancer and disease fighting components. You will loose weight, have more energy and a better and clearer state of mind.

Exercise! You don’t have to start big, just get moving.

Anything is better than nothing. You don’t have to be a workout maniac at the gym and get to the point where you can’t walk the next day. That often results in never wanting to work out again. Just start out easy and be nice to yourself. Respect your body. Start off with some yoga or walking. After a while you will crave more exercise because it feels good and you will continue to do more and more.

Exercise your mind with positive thinking.
One of my favorite quotes is by spiritual leader Dr. Wayne Dyer. “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”. If you view weight loss, exercise, success, wealth or anything else as difficult then it will always be hard to achieve. Start training your mind to view life in a positive manner. Visualize yourself as thin, active and healthy. Catch yourself when you start thinking of something negative and change it. Eventually thinking positive will become more natural and you will find you are attracting more good things into your life.

Replenish Your Electrolytes With Pure Coconut Water

Replenish your Electrolytes with Pure Coconut Water

Coconut water is a great sport drink alternative and natural way to re-hydrate after exercise. Many sports beverages are loaded with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and flavorings. Pure coconut water however, is naturally low in carbohydrates, sugar and filled with electrolytes. A 10 oz drink is only about 60 calories with 650mg potassium, 25mg of magnesium, and 35 mg of sodium!

For intense workouts such as running a marathon, you may need a sports drink with more sodium but for most other exercise, coconut water is ideal. It is also easy on the digestive system. Doctors have been known to give it to babies and children because it is easy on their systems and similar to Pedialyte. This is good because it won’t upset your stomach during exercise if you drink it before or in the middle of you workout. It is also identical to human blood plasma and has been given through IVs to save lives in 3^rd world countries.

I usually have a 10oz coconut water before doing Bikram Yoga, which is practiced for 90 minutes in a room heated to 105 degrees and it is easy on my stomach and keeps me hydrated throughout the class.

Pure Coconut is now gaining popularity in the U.S. and you can usually find it in most stores. If it’s not in your local grocery store, try any health food store and they should carry it.

Have a happy, healthy work out!

About Breanna

Breanna is a Registered Dietetic Technician who graduated from the University of California Davis with a B.S. in Clinical Nutrition. She played NCAA Division One Softball and was an active member of the UC Davis Student Nutrition Association where she participated in and developed various Heath and Wellness programs.

After college Breanna has worked in Medical Nutrition Therapy for various hospitals while also attending several Medical Nutrition seminars and classes to continue her professional education.

Breanna has a passion for health, fitness and helping others improve their quality of life. She loves the outdoors, enjoys sports such as softball, tennis, surfing, yoga and of course eating healthy!

Information contained on this site should not be used to diagnose medical conditions. Persons with serious health issues should consult a physician before undertaking any new diet or exercise plan.