If you guys are tuned into the Olympics like I am you must be feeling motivated to get your health and fitness not track! You don’t need to head to Rio for a taste of Gold this summer. Zespri® Green and SunGold Kiwifruit are a refreshing and nutritious snack that will keep you on top of your game.
I was lucky enough to find an amazing box full of kiwi at my door step this week! Nothing screams refreshing like fresh Gold Zespri kiwifruit! I was excited because my box came with a little kiwi scoop that makes eating them a whole lot easier! They even gave me a nice apron to wear will I cut up the delicious green fruit.
kiwi
Did you know:
With just one serving of Kiwi there are over 20 vital nutrients and boasting more vitamin C than an orange, kiwifruit plays an important role in boosting your performance and maximizing recovery during athletic activity.
The green fruit are also power up with potassium. Any professional athlete will tell you an important factor in achieving a successful workout is remaining hydrated. As the intensity of the workout increases, key electrolytes (like potassium) are lost through sweat glands. Two kiwifruit contain anequal amount of potassium as an extra-large banana, and will also improve performance while replenishing lost energy.
Kiwi also help with alkaline balance. Did you know it is essential your gut has the proper pH balance. Foods like kiwifruit, which are heavy in alkaline, allow you to neutralize your stomach’s acidity, which gives you more energy.
Kiwi fruit are also a good source of fibre. Not only does fiber lower cholesterol and help maintain a healthy weight; but a high-fibre diet is a big player in muscle growth, and will provide you with the energy you need to perform at your best. Two kiwifruit contain more fibre than a bowl of bran cereal. Now that's a lot of fibre!
Thanks again Zespri for brightening up my day and refreshing my palate!
Larabar Lemon - Add Zest To Your Life
What's Larabar?
Larabar was founded by Lara Merriken in May of 2000. She believed that food should be fun, enjoyable and good for you. She tinkered with recipes an d made her own Larabar bars. She discovered how natural foods enlivened her mind, body and spirit and wanted to share that with the world.
Trends have changed over the years and Larabar has become even more popular because people are actively seeking out foods that are not derived from artificial flavours, sugar or high sodium while they are still looking for great taste. The Lara bars are also gluten free, non-geo, dairy free, vegan and kosher! Each bar contains no more than 9 ingredients and they are minimally processes and as close to their natural state as possible.
I came home last week and to my surprise there was not 1 but 2 packages at my door. I was lucky enough to receive not only the new special edition flavour of Larabar Lemon, but a sample box of flavours including cashew, peanut butter, apple, coconut cream, peanut butter chocolate chip, cocoa coconut chew, chocolate chip, chocolate brownie and blueberry. On top of the samples I also got my very own lemons and tree! This was a little confusing. There also was a bag of dates, cashews and almonds in the box.
Why were all these things included in my package? Why to make my own bars! Thats how little additive ingredients there are in Larabars that I can literally make my own lemon bar with just a food processor, parchment paper, rolling pin and a knife! How cool is that!
There was a little instruction card telling me to place all of the ingredients provided in a food processor and pulse until blended. Once the dough is formed put it into a disc with my hands and roll out between two pieces of parchment paper to my desired thickness. Then cut off excess edges and slice them into bars!
Thank you Larabar for sending me this amazing package. My lemon tree is now soaking up the sun in my living room window and my boyfriend and I are going to enjoy the delicious bars and our homemade zesty lemon bars!
The lemon is available for a limited time only in local grocery stores and online. To find out more about Larabar visit www.larabar.ca
The folks over at Freeman Formula recently sent this Organic High Frequency Superfood for me to try out. Since super foods and greens are in my prep meal plan this was great for me. This formula is for the health conscience individual that is striving for optimal health according to them. And I couldn't agree more.
This high-frequency superfood is a combination of three of nutrient dense alkaline ingredients. It provides your body with over 96 ready to use powerful nutrients with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, plant proteins, carbohydrates, heart healthy fats, fibre. What a crazy combination! One of my favourite ingredients is chia seeds. Chia leaves you feeling full and is high in satiety. Thats great for me since I am on prep and am constantly feeling hunger. This actually prevents that.
Besides the chia which holds 9 times its weight in water to help with hydration. High Frequency Super Food Formula has 9x Protein of Yogurt 15x Potassium of Bananas 25x iron of spinach and 17x calcium of milk.
According to research the ingredients help improve immune function and are anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial functions. They also are known to improve heart function, and circulation.
You can find out more information on their products and the superfood HERE. I really enjoyed the taste in my shakes and even mixed with just water!
Cubic Pharma’s Vitamin D For Indoor Lifestyles
Cubic Pharmaceuticals is a brand from the United Kingdom. They have recently made their Vitamin D supplements available across the United States. I was lucky enough to get sent some to try! I used them every day and felt an increase in my energy and alertness. The line of Cubicole Vitamin D3 came in a variety of strengths. I personally preferred the higher dosage for my active lifestyle. I actually just ran out of them and need more! I made them part of my supplement stack for all of my prep's.
“Vitamin D is well known for helping your body in a variety of ways... For example, it helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus as well as support heart health.”
What I like the most is that all of the Cubic Pharmaceutical supplements are lactose, gluten, gelatin preservative, salt, and yeast free. It is also great for vegetarians and is Halal. Non of their products havebeen tested on animals.
Joy McCarthy is a certified Holistic Nutritionist and founder of the hugely popular healthy living blog www.joyoushealth.com . She is the author of the Canadian bestselling book Joyous Health: eat and Live well Without Dieting. Her second book, Joyous Detox, comes out in December 2016.
I recently was sent a copy of the salad guide from Joy. And since I am a figure athlete and I am in prep for a November show I have found it very useful in changing up my greens daily. The guide has beautiful pictures and the directions are easy to follow!
Get your free copy of Joy McCarthy's latest ebook, the 7-Day Sensational Salad Guide. It features seven all-new, exclusive recipes chock-full of superfoods, plant-based nutrition and all-around goodness! Something I know you probably appreciate.
CYREX ARRAY 2 PROVIDES CANADIAN CLINICIANS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY FOR ACCURATE
ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING OF INTESTINAL BARRIER FUNCTION
Cyrex Laboratories, a clinical laboratory specializing in functional immunology and autoimmunity, offers Array 2, an intestinal antigenic permeability screen. The Array 2 is the most advanced test on the market to accurately measure intestinal permeability or “leaky gut” as well as assess systemic Lipopolysaccharides (LPS)—a byproduct of bacteria. The Array 2 is unique among clinical testing in its ability to identify the route of damage occurring in the intestinal barrier.
Knowing the pathway of degeneration helps the practitioner narrow his/her focus in identifying the triggers causing damage and choose the most effective gut healing protocol for the patient. Dr. David Perlmutter, a renowned neurologist and leader in preventative medicine who recently released the New York Times Best Seller Brain Maker, said, “I consider the Cyrex Array 2 to be the most effective laboratory study available for evaluating gut permeability.”
Array 2 is recommended for patients who have food sensitivities, abnormal immune cell count and function, or who present multiple symptoms suggestive of autoimmune disorders, such as chronic fatigue, joint pain, skin issues and/or cognitive impairment. Because of the significant correlation between the gut and brain barriers, Array 2 can also be used in combination with Cyrex’s Array 20, a potent tool for assessing permeability of the blood brain barrier.
"With gastrointestinal barrier integrity being a causal mechanism for so many autoimmune and metabolic diseases, there has never been a more important time for those practicing to quantify what is being observed clinically,” says Dr. Randall Gates, D.C, D.A.C.N.B. and Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist and Dr. Martin Rutherford, D.C., C.F.M.P and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner. “Simply, the Cyrex Array 2 allows us as practitioners to ascertain and demonstrate to patients the problem at hand.”
Physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals, as well as patients, interested in learning more about Array 2, 20 or any of the Cyrex Arrays that are part of the Cyrex System, are encouraged to visit www.joincyrex.com for additional information.
About Cyrex Laboratories
Cyrex is a clinical immunology laboratory specializing in functional immunology and autoimmunity. Cyrex offers multi-tissue antibody testing for the early detection and monitoring of today’s complex autoimmune conditions. Cyrex develops innovative testing arrays through continuous collaboration with leading experts in medical research and clinical practice. Cyrex technology is built on four pillars of excellence, including the antigen purification system, optimized antigen concentration, antigen-specific validation and parallel testing technology. Cyrex is a CLIA licensed laboratory based in Phoenix, Arizona and holds a Medical Device Establishment License in Canada.
USING MILK TO REFUEL, REHYDRATE AND REPAIR A GREAT OPTION AFTER WORKING OUT
Sports dietician offers advice on why milk has so many benefits for athletes
Milk and chocolate milk have been getting increased attention as go-to recovery beverages of choice for those who workout, but are they really as great as so many people believe? St. Vincent Sports Performance sports dietician Sigornie Pfefferle says absolutely.
So what makes milk so great? It's all about refueling, rehydrating and repairing:
Refuel
"During a workout, our muscles primarily use carbohydrates, which are stored in our bodies as glycogen, as a fuel source," Pfefferle says. "Well, just like gas for a car, as you work, those fuel stores get burned leaving you on empty at the end of a workout. In order to recover quickly, you have to refuel/refill the tank with carbs, and milk, especially chocolate milk is a great source of carbs."
Rehydrate
"It is essential to replace the fluids and electrolytes, primarily sodium, lost via sweat post-exercise," Pfefferle says. "Milk not only helps replace the fluid lost, but, because it contains about 150mg/cup of sodium, it can help replace some of the electrolytes lost in your sweat, too."
Repair
"Intense, long workouts break down muscle; in order to repair muscle, you need protein," Pfefferle says. "Milk is an excellent source of high quality protein needed to repair and rebuild muscle. In fact, research has shown that consuming protein and carbs, both of which are contained in milk, immediately post workout leads to a six times greater rate of protein synthesis vs. waiting 3 hours to refuel."
Pfefferle says milk not only covers the three R's of recovery, but it's also packed with other vitamins and minerals essential to everyday health, most notable are calcium and vitamin D, both essential to bone health.
"So next time you are looking for a post workout recovery option, go for a tall glass of milk," Pfefferle says.
About St. Vincent Sports Performance
St. Vincent Sports Performance has supported and helped develop world-class athletes since 1987. The first and largest hospital-based program of its kind in the United States, St. Vincent Sports Performance employs over 60 Certified Athletic Trainers, sports medicine physicians, certified strength and conditioning specialists, licensed sports psychologists and registered sports dietitians. Together they have trained athletes at every level from middle school, to Olympians, to the NFL and NBA, to Motorsports and NCAA athletes. Learn more at definingsportsperformance.com.
Inflammation: Why Food Matters
Did you know that inflammation is a component of the vast majority of diseases? It originates in the gut with an autoimmune reaction that advances into systemic inflammation. Examples of chronic inflammation diseases include cancer, arthritis, heart disease, chronic peptic ulcer, and Crohn’s.
Unfortunately, doctors have a tendency to prescribe medication instead of figuring out the original source of the problem. Why is this an issue? Because taking medications only blocks the inflammation, it doesn’t quell the disease process. Inflammation is the body’s way of defending itself, and for acute diseases it is beneficial, but for chronic diseases it exacerbates the problem.
Dr. Lanae Mullane, the Director of Nutrition at LifeSpan medicine is a huge proponent of helping treat inflammation by changing one’s diet. That’s correct, food matters. Everyone reacts to food differently, so why do doctors give blanketed statements about what to eat? To put it bluntly, they shouldn’t.
When clients come to see Dr. Mullane, blood is drawn to see which foods cause that specific person inflammation. Foods are then put into three categories: green, yellow, and red.
Green foods are what the client should focus on eating, yellow are neutral, and red are foods that should be avoided. Dr. Mullane always suggests strictly eating what’s on the green card for 4 weeks, and then slowly (one by one) incorporating foods on their yellow card to see if it causes inflammation.
For more information on inflammation and why food matters please visit www.lifespanmedicine.com. If you would like to speak with expert nutritionist Dr. Mullane and for all press inquiries contact Brooke Cockrell at brooke@kipmorrison.com or 818.209.3800.
ABOUT LIFESPAN MEDICINE
LifeSpan medicine is an integrative, functional medical practice with a team of doctors that offer the most advanced technology for non-invasive medicine. The practice has two locations in Santa Monica and Dallas. Clients range from the average person looking to be healthier to NFL, NBA, and Olympic athletes to movie stars and Fortune 500 executives.
ABOUT DR. LANAE MULLANE
Dr. Lanae Mullane conducts individual consultations and assessments to identify deficiencies and imbalances and customizes plans involving lifestyle modifications, diet, supplementation and exercise. Her clients include families, executives, athletes and young professionals looking to perform and be their best. She helps each client reach any nutrition or health goal they may have from weight loss, to more energy, less inflammation or just feeling and looking better overall. She utilizes her expertise in the kitchen to provide specialized menus and recipes to fit each clients’ individual preferences, food sensitivities, biochemistry, and overall lifestyle.
Canadians embrace food – we value family traditions, recipes passed down through generations, global trends and show a lot of heart for our local producers. For almost 150 years, Catelli pasta has grown up with Canadian families through a shared passion for food – not to mention a shared birthday, a proud heritage and strong ideals. And like our country, Canadian families have evolved. Blended, single-parent and multi-ethnic families are part of our modern mosaic and match our evolving tastes and preferences – from locally sourced yet globally influenced, to simple, healthy and trusted ingredients. But what has stayed the same is our love of pasta. That's why leading up to this special anniversary year, Catelli along with three celebrated Canadian chefs – Cory Vitiello, Martin Juneau and Michael Allemeier – are taking a journey with Canadians to explore this universal food and its relationship with families across Canada today.
And there's no doubt we love our pasta. Case in point, almost 9 in 10 households have it in their cupboard. What's more, it's a 'real' food in an industry striving to meet the demands of today's health-minded Canadian families. So what do Canadians love about it?
Quite simply, pasta makes us feel good. In fact, three-quarters of Canadians said they feel relaxed cooking pasta because it's easy meal making or like that it offers so many options, most strongly felt by Ontarians at 82 per cent.* Other feelings cooking pasta evokes? Nearly a third of Canadians say experimenting with new pasta recipes makes them feel excited and half of Canadian parents in particular, feel confident they can create a good meal when cooking pasta.*
"It's not surprising that cooking pasta makes us feel good, and we get excited to experiment with it," says Montreal chef and Dad to two, Martin Juneau. "Families today really value the 3 E's of a pasta meal – easy, efficient and enjoyable. It's why I'm excited to start talking with Canadians about its place in their homes. Food has never been a more talked about subject and pasta offers us a range of meal options and nutritional benefits – not to mention that its simplicity gives us back the gift of quality family time, one of the biggest challenges we struggle with today."
In fact, when it comes to the role pasta plays in Canadians' lives, the majority say it means less kitchen time because of its easy prep or that it provides a lot of options for their family.* Health is important too. Almost half say pasta is a healthy meal option due to its simple ingredients and the fact that it can be further paired with 'good for me' ingredients.* And with healthier pasta options such as Catelli Smart®, with its very high source of fibre, Catelli® Gluten Free and 100% whole grain Catelli® Healthy Harvest®, serving this quality, delicious meal to the family is adding to the good feeling too. Six in 10 parents with kids in the household shared that pasta makes their kids happy or their family feel fueled.*
"There isn't a typical Canadian family anymore – and few of us would say our lifestyles are typical," says Doyle Brown, Senior Brand Manager, Catelli. "Just like Canadian families, pasta has become such a versatile food with so many ways to experience it – we're moving away from the traditional view of it as just an Italian meal. Canadians also have a lot to do with the many ways we enjoy pasta today – whether it's a fresh spin on an old favorite or something completely new and inventive."
Look no further than our quest for recipes. In 2015, Spaghetti Bolognese was the 7th most searched recipe by Canadians according to Google Trends, with lasagna in close pursuit in 9th. And breakout recipe searches have recently included everything from 'one pot pasta' and 'pasta bake' to 'pesto pasta' and 'basil pasta'.** Additionally, our love of local means we're cooking more with real, simple ingredients grown or raised close to home and available in local grocers or farmer's markets.
"The popularity in using fewer and fresher, local ingredients is helping build pasta's quality reputation," says Toronto Chef Cory Vitiello. "Canadians are learning they don't have to be trained chefs to get creative with their pasta dishes, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they've been up to in their kitchens!"
Yet, Canadians don't shy away from practicality either. The top two reasons Canadians add pasta to their shopping lists include: how easy it is to make a pasta meal (59%) and how affordable pasta is (48%).* Whether a bustling family household or a single individual, pasta remains one of the most reasonable meals on the market. And, the taste factor is never far behind – 4 out of 10 say they just can't live without it!*
"Pasta has a special place in Canadian households – and what makes it special is different for every family," says Chef Michael Allemeier. "It's a comfort food, an easy meal time win, a quick dinner fix and a crowd-pleasing entertaining option – and the recipe options are really endless. Look how butternut squash provides a delicious twist to meat lasagna or how fresh goat cheese and pesto puts a new spin on spaghetti."
The Catelli Pasta Journey
The Catelli team is hitting the road in 2016 to learn more about how today's Canadian families are enjoying pasta and inviting them to share their stories, their recipes and even their pictures at #CatelliFamilies. This spring, a video series documenting some of these stories will be introduced and a new collection of recipes inspired by our modern taste preferences – and featuring favourites from chefs Cory Vitiello, Martin Juneau and Michael Allemeier, will be available at www.catelli.ca. The majority of Catelli pastas – including 100% whole grain Catelli® Healthy Harvest® and fibre rich Catelli Smart® – are not produced with ingredients that have been genetically modified.
About Catelli Foods Corporation
Catelli is a Canadian pasta company founded in Montréal, QC in 1867. It holds the ranking of #1 Canadian pasta brand and is the leader in the health and wellness pasta segment. With more than 75 products available in its line-up today, including Catelli Smart®, Catelli® GlutenFree and Catelli® Healthy Harvest®, Catelli offers pasta made from simple, wholesome ingredients for every kind of family taste and preference.
About the Research Study:
A study of 300 Canadians was completed online between December 3 – December 8, 2015 by Environics Research.
*Environics Research Study (in partnership with Catelli), 2015
**Google Trends, 2015
GoMacro® Partners with Grammy-Nominated, Fitness Icon Ellie Goulding
Viola, WI (February 2, 2016) — GoMacro®, a family-owned vegan food company with roots in organic farming, is thrilled to add a bit of international star-power to the company family: British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding. Ms. Goulding, a pop and fitness icon, has partnered with the Wisconsin-based natural food company in a far-reaching partnership that includes new product development, international brand promotion and customer sweepstakes.
The relationship began when Ellie, a long-time GoMacro fan, posted about her love for MacroBars on Instagram where she is followed by a large fan base deeply interested in the star’s healthy lifestyle. Commencing in March 2016, GoMacro and Ellie Goulding will launch the partnership with a North American sweepstakes entitled the “Goulding Ticket.” The sweepstakes will involve specially marked GoMacro MacroBars packaged with a ticket and code to win VIP tickets to a June 21st Ellie Goulding concert at Madison Square Garden or a trip to Los Angeles for a personal workout with Ellie. GoMacro also plans to release a co-created “Ellie Goulding” MacroBar flavor this spring with a portion of sales going towards the homeless.
“MacroBars are my go-to snack after a workout and when I’m on tour. I love the taste and how they keep me satisfied for hours,” commented Goulding. “I am excited to begin my partnership with a brand that shares my values of healthy living and giving back.”
Goulding, who will be performing at the 58th annual Grammy Awards this February, is also well known for her dedication to healthy living, veganism, and marathon running. Ellie turns to MacroBars to stay energized during her hectic daily schedule. The new brand partnership aligns well with Ellie’s priorities of health, fitness, and community outreach and GoMacro’s mission to provide organically grown, plant-based nutrition for on-the-go families and athletes.
“We couldn’t think of a more perfect partner for GoMacro than Ellie,” said Jola Sonkin, CEO and co-founder of GoMacro. “She is an exemplary woman managing an incredible and demanding career who still finds time to exercise, eat well, and give back.”
GoMacro is a family-owned Non-GMO food company that believes plant-based, organic eating can be both convenient and delicious. GoMacro MacroBars provide a healthy balance of natural sugars, carbs, and plant-based protein that sustains energy between meals and replenishes after workouts. GoMacro is thrilled to embark on a long-term partnership with an internationally recognized role model that shares the company values of healthy living and giving back to communities.
ABOUT ELLIE GOULDING:
Since the release of her debut Lights in 2010 and Halcyon in 2012, Grammy nominated recording artist Ellie Goulding has sold over nine million albums and 28 million singles worldwide, scored seven consecutive platinum singles in the US, won two Brit Awards, and has video views and streams both in excess of one billion. Last year’s “Love Me Like You Do” was a worldwide No. 1 single, hitting the top spot in 70 countries. Goulding recently released her third album, Delirium to rave reviews. Rolling Stone notes, “The British pop singer with the one-of-a-kind voice soars high” and Time calls Delirium“infectious…one dance-floor banger after another.” New York Magazine raves, “Her new album of sleek, soulful pop is sure to make her a household name Stateside.” Goulding, who has performed at the world’s biggest festivals, including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, and Outside Lands, embarks on her Delirium World Tour in 2016.
ABOUT GOMACRO®:
Starting on a small organic family farm in 2004, GoMacro is an internationally distributed organic food company that believes in the pursuit of thoughtful food choices and clean eating. Sourcing only the highest quality plant-based ingredients from the top organic and non-GMO certified growers, GoMacro has maintained a steadfast commitment the company’s roots in farm, family, and ingredients. GoMacro’s award-winning MacroBars and recently launched Thrive Bars are produced in Viola, Wisconsin, near the GoMacro family farm. For additional product information and more about our story, please visit GoMacro.com or call 1-800-788-9540. Find us on social media at @GoMacro.
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