HOLIDAY FLUFF...

So it's that time of year - the clocks are about to change, there's a chill in the air...holidays are a-coming...you may find yourself more sluggish, cozy, melancholy, joyous and everything else in between. This tends to be a very bi-polarish (as in if we were polar bears we might hibernate) time of year if I do say so myself. I say this with LOVE and sensitivity...

On a personal note, my family has experienced a lot of loss this time of year so we need to be extra loving to ourSELVES...and I know we are not the only ones so please take SWEET care of yourself and your lovebugs xo

It is not unusual for some of us to be deficient in Vitamin D as the beautiful sun makes it's way further from PlanetEarth. I myself have a "Vit D Opportunity" and it was particularly TERRIBLE when I was living in Nashville. SoCal sun is definitely helping, but I'm still teetering on low. 10 minutes a day of sunshine (with no sunscreen) is truly the best solution when possible.

FYI...most Vitamin D supplements are synthetic chemicals that contribute to a whole other set of challenges. I admit that I had to succumb to a tanning bed while in Nashvegas for a few minutes periodically because that is the second best way to get it. I know...but when the choice is skin cancer or hopeless depression from the cold, gray climate, you do what you have to.

On a bouncy note...I just got myself a bottle of Metabooster (it's been a long while) and my energy is absolutely back!! ZING. I also find my 40-something year old self kicking some serious 20-something year olds butts (energy and endurance-wise) in my newfound kickboxing class. Woot.

So back to the HOLLY-days! I myself (and my best friend) are super-excited about the holiday menu at Follow Your Heart. I salivate just thinking about it. Tis the season to add some extra FLUFF to our otherwise perfect flesh temples...the ones we work so hard on daily will be pummeled with decadent yams, mashed potatoes, animal friendly "turkey" and my personal fave vegan pumpkin pancakes. YUM.

All I can say is: I URGE you to continue your Sunrider regime...if you have fallen off track, giddy-UP!! Prices are substantially lower since last year if dinero is a problemo. If you are not drinking Calli, I suspect you may be drinking coffee.

Need I remind you that a cup of joe at Starbucks costs MORE than a Vitashake, Calli and Fortune Delight combined? And your breath SURELY stinks. Plus it's all ACID and sugar and if you are using artificial sweeteners, I beg of you to at the very least use Sunnydew (stevia in the best possible formulation).

Side note: Vitashake Strawberry is now available in 10-packs. Starting November 1st, Cocoa will be as well...so you can mix and match. If you are a choco-holic however, buy your shakes this month while you can still get a 40-pack box. You will save a few dollars and that is always a good thing!

Low in iron? Drink your greens with Evergreen...it works wonders! It is an oil-based infusion of chlorophyll and peppermint which not only oxygenates your blood and soothes the digestive tract, it eliminates body odors. Who wants to be stinky? Not I said the FLY.

In closing, let's recite our NBC's...Nourish (Vitashake), Balance (Quinary) and Cleanse (Calli and Fortune to push the fat and toxins away) with a side order of Sunnydew to regenerate the pancreas and eliminate cravings. Yes, I Sheri, former sugar addict can eat a bite or so of cake, get a nasty headache and stop the cravings in it's tracks.

You know you are healthy when you crave Kale instead of Kit Kats. Just saying.

If you need a plan of action, some help or want to join forces for a group order to save on shipping or perhaps even a jaunt down to Torrance to pick up your goodies and oooooh and aaaaah about how impressively beautiful SR headquarters is, give me a jingle. We can even try on the toxin free plant based face products and make-up if you haven't had that experience yet.

NO FUPA this year for me. My sister understands that one if nobody else does :)

I wish you all the HEALTH, LoVe and Peace in the world. Love each other all-ways. Be kind to each other, Planet Earth and all the animals that share the planet with us. We are not in charge...please do your part.

xoxo

What is REAL asked the Rabbit one day...

I will start this off by saying that the abbreviation for the Standard American Diet (SAD) says it all. So I guess I don't have to say anything ;)

Oftentimes I am asked about where vegetarians, vegans and raw foodies get their protein from. I always highly recommend that EVERYone read The China Study by T. Colin Campbell for the scientific evidence that there is more protein in plant-based foods then in animal protein (if you eat raw human flesh, that is the #1 source of protein followed by PLANT food, need I say more?) AND that Americans are under the misconception that we need exorbitant amounts of protein to thrive. Since not all of us are avid readers and just want some simple facts, I am happy to provide that for you.

I came across a very simplified FACT vs FICTION resource written by MEDICAL DOCTORS. Yes it's true...the medical community is progressing in leaps and bounds (well some of them are anyway).

So here we go:

FACT vs FICTION

From protein and oil to carbohydrates and dairy, clear up the confusion surrounding nutrition, health myths, and medical misconceptions. Sorting out fact from fiction is key to achieving success. Read on for a few of these truths revealed...

PROTEIN

Fiction: Plants do not have protein so we must eat meat to get it.
Fact: Per calorie, broccoli has more protein than beef.

Fiction: “Carbs” and vegetables do not contain protein or fat.
Fact: Foods categorized as carbohydrates are those that are high in carbohydrate, but they also contain fat and protein. Mushrooms are 50% protein and in 2000 calories of rice there is about 50 grams of protein.

Fiction: Humans need a lot of protein and need to work hard to make sure they get enough.
Fact: The average person needs less than 5% of calories from protein, which is 25 grams on a 2000 calorie-per-day diet. If you consume 2000 calories of whole plant foods, it is impossible to design a diet deficient in protein.

Fiction: Plant foods do not contain complete proteins so we need to mix and match foods to make them complete.
Fact: All starches have more than enough of each of the 8 essential amino acids. The only food that does not contain all 8 essential amino acids is an animal product: Gelatin.

OIL

Fiction: The Mediterranean diet is healthy because of the olive oil.
Fact: Studies show that the Mediterranean diet is healthy because of the high amount of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits consumed. This is despite the olive oil, not because of it.

Fiction: We need to add oil to our diet to get our essential fats.
Fact: All plants contain fat in small amounts, most of which is essential fat. Furthermore, eating a varied plant based diet will provide more than enough essential fats to our diet.

Fiction: Fish like salmon make essential fats like Omega 3 fatty acids.
Fact: Fish get essential fats from plants either directly or by eating other fish that eat plants with Omega 3 fatty acids.

Fiction: It is easy to meet daily Omega 3 essential fat requirements using olive oil.
Fact: To get enough Omega 3 from olive oil you would have to drink 8 oz of it, which is 1900 calories and 42 grams of saturated fat.

CARBOHYDRATES

Fiction: Carbohydrates make you fat.

Fact: It is very hard to turn glucose (a carbohydrate) into fat. Rather it is the fat mixed in with the carbohydrates that causes problems. As Dr. John McDougall says, “The fat you eat is the fat you wear.”

Fiction: Carbohydrates have no protein.
Fact: Carbohydrates encompass a wide range of foods (including corn, beans, vegetables, and fruits) all of which, when consumed to meet caloric need, are abundant in proteins and provide ALL of the essential amino acids.

Fiction: Carbohydrates are not the preferred source of fuel.
Fact: Our most important organ (the brain) will only run on glucose (a carbohydrate). Most organs in our body prefer glucose for fuel, as it is the cleanest fuel with only water and carbon dioxide as breakdown products.

Fiction: We don’t need to eat starches if we consume fruits and vegetables.
Fact: Fruits and vegetables do not contain enough carbohydrate to provide the calories required to meet daily energy needs. Fruits are primarily a simple sugar, fructose, and not a good source of sustained energy.

DAIRY

Fiction: We need to eat dairy to get enough calcium.
Fact: Calcium is a mineral found in the ground and absorbed by plants. Cows don’t make calcium. In fact, adult cows do not drink milk and yet they are able to maintain a much larger skeletal system than humans.

Fiction: Vegetables are low in calcium.
Fact: Dairy has 25 mg of calcium per 15 calories, whereas collards have 75 mg of calcium per 15 calories.

Fiction: Dairy is necessary to build strong bones.
Fact: Studies show that populations that consume the most calcium and dairy products have the most hip fractures and osteoporosis.

Fiction: Milk is necessary for vitamin D.
Fact: 90% of vitamin D is produced by sunlight on our skin.

MISCELLANEOUS

Fiction: Supplements (other than B12*) are important for health.
Fact: Not only are supplements unnecessary for most people, but they can also be dangerous. They cause metabolic imbalances that increase morbidity and mortality in an otherwise healthy person. On the few occasions that supplements must be used, they should be treated like medications and their risk/benefits should be thoroughly assessed.

*For people who do not eat animal products, Vitamin B12 should be supplemented at a dose of at least 10 micrograms a day.

Fiction: Treating risk factors like high cholesterol and high blood pressure is important.
Fact: Treating risk factors (like high blood pressure and high cholesterol) is essentially just treating the symptoms of the problem rather than the problem itself (blood vessel system poisoned with fat and cholesterol from our diets). It does not work any more than would solely treating a fever with Tylenol if one has pneumonia.

Drs. Alona Pulde and Matthew Lederman are licensed medical physicians practicing nutrition and lifestyle medicine in Los Angeles, California. Their clinic, Transition To Health, empowers patients to achieve and maintain their optimum health – physically, emotionally, and medically – through a comprehensive, patient-centered approach.

Since I am not a Medical Doctor, as always I make no medical claims. However, this was found on the above-mentioned doctor's website and so I get to tell you that THEY are confirming what I already knew but cannot tell you that other then stating it's my own opinion. As always, I am available as your happy, hoppy Nutritional Coach and as a friend. OH, it's a complicated life but so much FUN when you feel healthy and bouncy.

LOVE EACH OTHER...LOVE THE PLANET xo

REPLENISH GEL TO THE RESCUE!!

So my skin here in Nashville has been DRY DRY DRY!

Razor lips and all...it's terrible considering the amount of rain that occurs here (although now it's mostly just "raining" pollen and quite beautiful)...

Anyway, I had a sealed bottle of Oi-Lin Replenish Gel that I must have ordered months and months ago and forgot about. I decided to slather it all over my eyes, face and lips about 3 nights ago and CANNOT believe what it has done for my skin...it feels like a babies behind and my lips have healed after months of trying EVERYTHING :)

This has made me a very happy camper so I thought I'd share...NO TOXINS, NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS OR TESTING, no clogging, blemishes or anything other than clear, moist (a word that freaks me out) skin!! Yipppppeeeeee!!!

Sunrider has an extensive line of skin care and I've tried them all...I have some favorites if you are a Curious George.

Keep in mind, that whatever you put in and ON your body goes into your blood stream within seconds! Sunrider has the only manufacturing plant in the US that manufactures their foods, skincare and cleaning products IN THE SAME PLANT!! Reason being that it is all FOOD GRADE and safe to ingest. Not that I'd eat my face cream, but it's nice to have options if I want a little snack and out of food :)

If you are in the skin industry or know somebody who is, Sunrider's line of skin care is AWESOME....Halle Berry's make-up artist uses it and has been a fan for many, many years. Just saying.

Stay Beautiful inside and out!! xoxo

Description Recommendation Oi-Lin® Replenish Gel Oi-Lin® Replenish Gel is designed to hydrate the delicate eye and mouth areas that are especially prone to wrinkling. It also is ideal for other areas of the face that require gentle yet intense hydration. This anhydrous gel helps moisturize and smooth the skin. The antioxidants in this advanced, rich formulation help combat the effects of free radicals, which cause fine lines and wrinkles in skin. Owner expertise produces an exclusive formula that seals in moisture in wrinkle-prone areas and provides a gentle emollient effect without a greasy feel. Wake up with the softest skin imaginable by applying a thin layer to your face at night as an intensive moisturizing mask.