White Teeth? Naturally....

Looking for a natural way to get sparkling white teeth? look no further! This is a true tried and tested method which I have been using for just over a week now, and guess what? It really does work. So, how did I learn about this natural approach to teeth whitening I hear you ask? Well let me tell you: over the past few months I have been experimenting vigorously with a range of products, trying desperately to get myself looking and feeling my ultimate best for my up and coming wedding! My friend, is a huge advocate for using natural products instead of chemically enhanced and luckily for me she sent me some in the post for my bday! I LOVED them (esp the gooey seaweed face mask) anyway, since then, and thanks to her, I have been seeking out more and more new ways of enhancing my own beauty..naturally.

I have tried everything from egg in my hair to rubbing banana peels on my face (which btw works like a charm!) and my most recent discovery...yup strawberries to whiten teeth! Apparently, Catherine Zeta Jones swears by it...have you seen her teeth?! So if you are looking for super sparkly whites then this is what to do:

You need 1 strawberry and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

Crush the strawberry to a pulp, then mix with the baking soda until blended. Use a soft toothbrush to spread the mixture onto your teeth. Leave on for 5 minutes, then brush thoroughly with toothpaste to remove the berry?baking soda mix. Rinse. (A little floss will help get rid of any strawberry seeds.) Apply once per week. 

If you don't believe me then here are my (genuine) results.....

And if you still don't believe me then check out this article http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/09/27/whiten-your-teeth-with-strawberries.aspx

Burn Baby Burn!.....

Down here in Louisville the weather is really heating up and that makes running outside far more miserable. 31 Celsius combined with 80% humidity is NOT my idea of fun! It is def time to take the workouts indoors. In my search to find the best fat burning treadmill workout I came across this one from www.toneitup.com. This workout is definitely not for the faint hearted but it sure does what it says on the tin: burn fat! So the next time you hear yourself say 'it's way too hot to work out, i'd much rather sit in an air-cond cafe eating ice cream' then pick up your phone (for workout tunes obvs) and head for the gym. There are NO EXCUSES!  

Crazy about Chia......

C/O www.uschia.com

Ch-Ch-Ch- Chia! If you haven't heard about it, I am sure you will soon. It is the next super food that everyone from Oprah to Miley Cyrus are raving about, and the good news is it is now available to buy right here in the US! Up until about 9 months ago I had never heard of Chia seeds and had certainly never tried any. Then...I met the lovely Zack Pennington (CEO) and partner Jacy Cruz who are the founders of the vastly expanding company US Chia. Both Zack and Jacy are Chia lovers and they were the ones  responsible for getting me started with this latest 'craze'.

The thing is, Chia is not a craze like a bunch of these other super foods out there. In fact, you would be 'crazy' not to be eating it. Adding Chia to your diet by sprinkling some on your salads, in your yogurt or on top of your morning oats has an unbelievable amount of health benefits including: feeling fuller longer, promoting weight loss, fighting belly fat, full of fibre, improve heart health, glowing skin, hair and nails,  packed with protein and full of Omega 3! These are just a few. It does not get the name 'Super food' for nothing.

Luckily for all of us Chia is now readily available here in the US. Up until recently Chia was only grown in South America and imported onto our shelves. Thanks to Zack, Jacy and the gang from US Chia it is now being grown right here in Florida and other parts of the country. We can now get Chia faster, cheaper and more nutritional than ever! To get your own Chia log on to their website at www.uschia.com and start reaping the benefits today!

10 Days of Real Food....

c/o www.100daysofrealfood.com

Yeahhhh, I have just completed my '10 Days of Real Food Pledge!!'. What a beneficial and educational challenge this has been. Not only have I learned so many new things about food and nutrition but I feel way less bloated, have lots more energy and my skin is glowing like never before (I did also lose 4lb in 10 days which is a little bonus to top it off).

For those of you who want to give yourself a kick start into eating more natural/real and clean foods then I would highly recommend signing yourself up for the 100 Days of Real Food 10 Day Pledge. Whether it is to lose weight, feel better or to simply eat more naturally I guarantee this will give you the little boost you have been looking for.

Before my '10 Day Pledge' I considered myself to be quite a healthy eater but what I didn't know was that just a few items in my diet were responsible for my added weight and a bloated stomach. I am sure they were probably reaping havoc on my insides too! My one can of diet coke a day rule is gone, my Friday night bag of chips is gone and the only grains I now eat are 100% whole wheat. I also try and stick to alternatives such as beans or sweet potato if I want a side with my dinner. By excluding just a few items and making small changes you can make a big difference to your health. Processed/ refined foods should be avoided as these are the foods that your body finds hard to process and therefore stores as fat. Stick with these rules and you will notice a difference to your health in no time!

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe people can be 100% good, 100% percent of the time but I do think it important to follow the 80/20% rule when it comes to eating: 'According to the rule, you must choose healthy foods 80 percent of the time. Because you eat healthy the majority of the time, you are allowed to indulge in a few favorite treats 20 percent of the time'. I like to have a cheat day one day per week. This doesn't mean spending the whole day binging on chips and chocolate but it does allow you to be a little bit more relaxed: have a slice of cake with your coffee or make a homemade pizza. Cheat days make it easier to stay focused and make you feel like you are still living!

What you waiting for,,,,sign up now and GO CLEAN!

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/take-the-10-day-pledge

500 Calories and Counting.....

Chicken and goats cheese flatbread

On a mission to lose my last 7lb and get myself 'wedding day ready' I have ventured down the road (for the very first time in my life) of counting calories! After all isn't that the most basic and sensible way to lose weight, reduced calories = reduced fat. Simple really.

With a 1400 calorie a day limit (thanks to 'My Fitness Pal' app) I am on a tight budget! Up until now I have pretty much been eating whatever I like and not actually realising how easy it is to accumulate calories each day. A handful of m&m's here and there won't kill anyone right?

Anyway, I am now on day 4 and have lost 2 lb already! 'It is working' I hear myself scream, this is the encouragement I need to keep going. So, how can you prepare evenings meals that are delicious and still low calorie I hear you ask? I asked myself that question at first too but after many nights of researching and sampling some of the best meals under 500 calories I am here today to share them with you and assure you that calorie counting, really does work!

Click  HERE  to see how you can make your very own 440 calorie Chicken and Goats Cheese flatbread)

Ten Reasons to Smile!......

1. It makes us more attractive

2. It changes our mood

3. It is contagious

4. It relieves stress

5. It boosts your immune system

6. It lowers your blood pressure

7. It releases endorphins, natural pain killers and serotonin

8. It lifts the face and makes you look younger

9. It makes you seem successful

10. It helps you to stay positive

So go on......give it a try and SMILE! x

Hail to the Kale!

It is that time of year again. We have all indulged a little too much over the festive season and are now struggling to get in to those skinny jeans that we once rocked! If you are like me, then I am sure your health kick has got off to a slow start but with a little determination and motivation you have promised yourself that by Monday you will be working out 5 times a week and the body detoxifying process will be well under way! Well that's my plan anyway! 

I love the idea of detoxing and giving your body's digestive system a well deserved break. I think it is important to think consciously about what you are putting into your body and making sure that it gets all the the right nutrients that it needs. That is where Kale really does become your best friend....this 'superfood' is rapidly growing in popularity thanks to its exceptional nutritional richness, health benefits and delicious flavour! 

Eating a variety of natural, unprocessed vegetables can do wonders for your health, but choosing super-nutritious kale on a regular basis may provide significant health benefits, including cancer protection and lowered cholesterol. Here is a list of the top ten benefits of eating kale:

1. Kale is low in calorie, high in fiber and has zero fat

2. Kale is high in iron

3. kale is high in vitamin K

4. Kale is filled with powerful antioxidants

5. Kale is a great anti- inflammatory food

6. Kale is great for cardiovascular support

7. Kale is rich in vitamin A

8. Kale is high in vitamin C

9. Kale is high in calcium

10. Kale is a great detox food!

For all of these reasons listed above I definitely 'HAIL TO THE KALE!'