How to Reduce the Risk of Cancer with a Vegan Diet

Dec 9, 2012 Author: Katie Lara | Filed under: Health, Vegan

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The Huffington Post just posted an article about the benefits of eating a vegan diet. Now y'all know me and I try to eat Vegan most of the time. I do cheat though. I mean I can't give up all the most enjoyable things in life (enter, Buenos Aires tomorrow–you better believe I'm eating me some beef down there!). But I do make sure to eat vegan for breakfast and lunch almost every day and most nights for dinner too. Check out what this article has to say in the Huff Post.

Kimberly Snyder Opens Health Shop in California

Nov 28, 2012 Author: Katie Lara | Filed under: Beauty, Health

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For celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder, “health” is synonymous with “beauty.” This philosophy is at the heart of her breakthrough nutritional program, outlined in her bestselling book The Beauty Detox Solution, and is embodied through the unique menu offerings at GLOW Bio by Kimberly Snyder, open now in West Hollywood. Oh how I wish this was in New York!

At GLOW Bio by Kimberly Snyder, you’ll discover that true health and beauty are entirely within your reach. The shop, which features a comfortable, outdoor patio seating space, will also offer monthly classes led by experts in the fields of health, beauty, wellness, meditation and spirituality. An eco-chic respite, GLOW Bio by Kimberly Snyder relies on sustainable, energy-efficient practices such as composting, and houses its products in compostable, non-leachable, high-grade recyclable packaging materials. The shop uses LED lighting, and the tables are made from re-planed wood.

From Kimberly’s legendary smoothies (enriched with organic, beautifying ingredients that boost inner health to promote outer beauty) to revitalizing cold-pressed juices, loose leaf and fresh teas, as well as organic, shade-grown coffee and boosters, GLOW Bio by Kimberly Snyder is a one stop-shop for fueling your body with the healthy, natural foods it craves. These organic, benefit-driven ingredients are the secret tools for cleansing your body of toxins, so you are able to exude vibrant beauty from the inside out.

Come visit GLOW Bio by Kimberly Snyder at 7473 Melrose Ave (Cross Gardner), West Hollywood, CA 90046

For more information visit www.myGlowBio.com

Arsenic and Rice: What You Can Do to Be Healthy

Oct 15, 2012 Author: Katie Lara | Filed under: Food and Cocktails!, Health

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Am I the only one who has been bugging about the latest rice scare? It really stinks! I finally thought I had found a grain that I could happily enjoy. Jokes on me, right? Anyway, my sister sent me this rad article by Jeff Novick.

He provided these articles to familiarize yourself with the sitch:

Arsenic & Rice

Arsenic & Apple Juice

In addition, here is a link to the full press release from Consumer Reports on their investigation into the situation.

Consumer Reports Investigation: Varying Levels of Arsenic Found In Rice and Rice Products Show Need for Federal Action. 09/19/2012

Here is what he says you can do to minimize your exposure to arsenic:

When choosing rice…

1)When buying domestically grown rice, choose rice from California. In addition, look for companies that have documented low levels of Arsenic through independent testing.

2)When choosing imported rice, choose imported rice from Thailand, India and China.

When preparing rice…

1)Rinse it thoroughly with water, which depending on the type of rice, can remove up to 10% of any arsenic.

2)Boil the rice in extra water similar as you would do with pasta. Use at least 6 cups of water for every cup of rice. After boiling the rice for 30 minutes, drain the extra water, then return the rice to the pot and let sit for 10 minutes. This can remove around 35-45% of any arsenic.

3)Avoid calorie dense, concentrated and processed forms of rice and products made with or from these items, as this can concentrate the arsenic. This includes:

– rice flour & products made from it (cakes, crackers, dry cereals,

breads, tortilla’s etc.

– puffed rice

– rice syrup

– rice milk

In General…

1)Check your water supply as drinking water can also be a source of arsenic. Since you will be washing and cooking your rice in water, make sure your water is safe and if not, use purified water for drinking and cooking. To find a certified lab to test your water for Arsenic, contact your local health department or call the federal Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

2)Vary your rice consumption with other whole grains such as quinoa, barley, millet, buckwheat.

3)Choose whole grain brown rice

4)Apple and grape juice are also high in arsenic so avoid them.

5)Avoid Hijiki, a type of seaweed, as it can be high in Arsenic.
Be sure to visit his website.

Have a Body You Can Be Proud Of and Avoid the Freshman Fifteen with Tips from Kimberly Snyder

Sep 18, 2012 Author: Katie Lara | Filed under: Celebs, Food and Cocktails!, Health

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Kimberly Snyder, my go-to nutritionist (celeb favorite) has 10 great tips on how to stay healthy–even at college and how to steer clear of the dreaded “freshman fifteen.”

1. Head for the salad bar. Plant foods – living foods – provide vital nutrition and enzymes. While salad bars often have some bad choices intermingled with the good, you’ll do well to pile your plate high with fresh, colorful veggies. If the dining hall has a blender available, you can even grab some greens and fruit and make yourself a GGS from salad bar ingredients. If you’re eating salad, make a quick lemon and vinegar dressing, and avoid processed meats (ham/bacon), dairy-based dressings (ranch, blue cheese, thousand island), cheese, and croutons. You can also mash part of an avocado throughout your salad, which is a whole food rather than using oil for a bit more denseness. You can top your salad with a veggie burger if that’s available, or some avocado or cooked veggies like sweet potatoes.

2. Opt for oats. Skip pre-made cold cereal for breakfast. Instead, start with a piece of fruit followed by sugar-free oatmeal. Skip the instant oatmeal if that’s the only option available.

3. Get a dorm fridge and a blender. If you’re living in the dorms, there’s no need to be completely at the mercy of unhealthy snacks. You can stock your dorm fridge with fresh produce, almond milk, gluten-free bread, and raw nuts. If you’ve got a blender, then you can start your day with a GGS. You can also make my filling Power Protein Smoothie with items that you can easily stock in your room.

4. Avoid dairy. I’ve made no secret of the fact that dairy is really bad for you. Skip food products with dairy ingredients such as milk, cheese, and butter. Your skin will look so much better also.

5. Minimize alcohol intake. Alcohol is okay in moderation, but avoid mixing it with sugary mixers or drinking a ton of beer (no keg stands!). Instead, have an occasional glass of red or white wine or stick to simple drinks like vodka and soda water.

6. Skip the soda and energy drinks. Soda is full of acidifying chemicals, as well as sugar and/or toxic artificial sweeteners. Avoid those diet soda fountains also!! There’s not a single good thing I can say about soda, which is generally everywhere on college campuses. Instead, get a good water filter and a reusable non-plastic or non-leachable plastic water bottle to carry with you.

7. Minimize animal protein. Make an effort to eliminate meats altogether, or to only include it in your meals a few times per week. When you do eat animal proteins, opt for eggs or lean poultry. College campuses are most likely not going to have grass-fed, local animals- they are most probably sourcing from factory farms, where the animals are injected with steroids and hormones that become part of what you consume.

8. Find healthy entrees. Typically, cafeterias have vegetarian choices that include whole grains and veggies. Whenever possible, choose these for an entrée, and eat it after you’ve had a big salad. You can make requests too, and possibly band together with your buds to lobby to your school counsel for more vegetarian entrees!

9. Keep healthy snacks on hand. It’s easy to give into temptation when you are busy or stressed out. Keep healthy snacks such as fruit, veggies, gluten-free crackers, and raw nuts on hand so that you don’t head to the candy machine during a marathon study session.

10. Minimize caffeine intake. It may seem like the only way to make it through finals week is with a ton of caffeine, but caffeine can leave you jittery and strung out, and mess with your adrenals. If you need a little additional energy, up your intake of complex carbohydrates such as seeds or whole grains, and get some exercise.

Why All Of You Who Say You Need Meat Are Not As Smart As Me

Sep 13, 2012 Author: Katie Lara | Filed under: Health

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Just kidding…kind of. No but honestly I can't tell you how many people love to give me advice about how I need to eat meat to get protein and to be healthy when the overwhelming amount of biological research shows that you really do not need meat but that based on our teeth, stomach and organs that we actually are not built to even digest animal protein. Yep, true story. Check out this cool infographic that my sister sent me. It's from the cool people at GreenTidings.org. Eat your veggies and tell people who insist that you need to eat a veggie diet to go suck a carrot! (Weak insult I know…Got anything better?)

Why High Fructose Corn Syrup Makes You Fat and Why It’s Not Good for You!

Aug 9, 2012 Author: Katie Lara | Filed under: Food and Cocktails!, Health

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My sister sent me this awesome article from MindBodyGreen that explains really simply, Why high-fructose corn syrup is making our country fat! I wish everyone would just try to cut down on processed foods a little more! It would make our country so much healthier and happier!

Check out Why High Fructose Corn Syrup Makes You Fat!

The Controversial OMG Diet is on Its Way from London to the USA!

Jul 30, 2012 Author: Katie Lara | Filed under: Food and Cocktails!, Health

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Have y'all heard of this crazy new diet called the OMG! Diet. It's so nutso. The diet is about as stupid as it sounds. OMG! advises you on how to drop 20 pounds in 6 weeks so that you can look hotter than your "BFF." Whilst I can't blame girls (especially younger ones) for being tempted by such promises, most experts (unsurprisingly) do not endorse this extreme diet, which suggests starting your day with an ice cold bath, blowing up balloons, drinking coffee pre-workout and skipping breakfast. You know, pretty much anything that you find to be soothing and comforting–do the opposite! I'm all for dropping extra pounds and the diet does endorse a large veggie intake (except for broccoli) but the competitiveness that it tries to get you to be driven by (being better looking and skinnier than your friends), while effective and mildly humorous for someone of my age is a rather depressing and bleak way to encourage a healthy lifestyle among our teenagers.

OMG! indeed!

Have you tried the OMG! Diet?