Archive for December, 2009

Simple Warming Carrot-Yam Soup for Detox

Posted by Alexandra on December 29, 2009 at 1:34 pm

Carrots and yams – simple, yes. Boring? Never! carrot-soup-su-1011251-l

These wonderful simple veggies will help you stay healthy in the winter. Carrots are an excellent way to get lots of antioxidants and vitamin A into your body. These aspects will help you protect your body against cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Yams are also great for potassium as well, and both vegetables are sweet – which humans crave! Garlic is a natural antibiotic and cayenne will help keep you warm in the winter, so drink up – it’s easy!

2 large organic carrots, washed and diced

1 small yam, washed and diced

1 clove garlic, minced

water

pinch of sea salt

pinch of cayenne powder

  • Combine the carrots, yam and garlic in a small pot.
  • Add enough water to just cover the vegetables and a pinch of sea salt and cayenne.
  • Bring the water to a boil, cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
  • Puree the entire contents of the pot with an immersion or stick-blender or by transferring the contents to a blender. Puree until smooth.
  • Drink while warm.
Filed under: Recipes, anti-cancer diet, women's winter wellness and weight loss
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Watch my book launch party here!

Posted by Alexandra on December 27, 2009 at 12:17 pm

I put together a short video showing off the fabulous vegan goodies we enjoyed at my book launch party for my new book Living Vegan for Dummies! A special thanks goes out to Frey Vineyards, Namaste Vineyards, Nibmore Chocolates and Dr. Cow’s Nut Cheeses. And of course to Amy Madden for hosting the party in her fabulous loft!

living vegan cover

Watch here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgpPpFIHDdU

Filed under: Uncategorized

Just like MSG! Watch out for this stuff….

Posted by Alexandra on December 22, 2009 at 9:39 am

A client of mine has been having strange reactions, so we started looking more closely at her daily foods. One of her favorite products is Morning Star’s Veggie Bacon Strips. My client is sensitive to MSG, breastfeeding and pregnant with her second child. I recently wrote a blog listing the aliases that MSG-like ingredients can be listed on foods, and my antennae went up.shocked_woman

On the list of ingredients were a few red flags, so we gave Morning Star (owned by food giant Kellogg’s) a call to ask some questions. The main suspect: Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein.

After being placed on hold by a very nice customer service representative, this is what Morning Star/Kellogg’s told me:

“We don’t put MSG in our products because the FDA would require us to label that the products contains MSG.

HOWEVER, the bacon (and other products) do contain  HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN which contain “free glutamates” and can cause similar reactions in people who are sensitive to MSG.”

So, it’s not MSG, but it’s enough like MSG that people who can’t eat MSG shouldn’t eat it?!! Confusing and misrepresentative. The FDA considers labels such as “No MSG” or “No Added MSG” to be misleading if the food contains ingredients that are sources of free glutamate, such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein.

Here are just a few symptoms associated with MSG sensitivity:

  • Burning sensation at the back of the neck and radiating down the arms and chest
  • Tingling and numbness in the same areas
  • Itchy eyes
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Occasionally, difficulty breathing, especially in those with poorly controlled asthma

I just wanted to remind everyone to be your own best friend and become a food detective, especially when you’re eating anything out of a box.

Be well, eat safely,

Alexandra


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What’s Alex up to for the holidays? (And a great detox tip!)

Posted by Alexandra on December 21, 2009 at 7:42 am

I just wanted to send you a little holiday cheer and a useful idea for true holiday health:

Pablo-Picasso-Sleeping-Woman--Face-of-Peace--164286This weekend is the true start of winter – today is Winter Solstice! And my house and yard are covered with 8 inches of newly fallen snow. To truly take care of myself and my clients (and my family!) I’ve made a commitment to myself to hibernate as much as possible for the next 2 weeks. That means I’m going to bed early and waking up with the sun – it’s natural, and it will lead me to better winter productivity. Let me explain:

Winter is about turning inward, laying low, and dreaming dreams of the year to come. The trees drop their leaves and most plants slow down outward signs of growth to protect their roots and their core. Until very recently, say the last 100 years, human activity was limited by the seasons and available natural light. Farmers worked hard the three other seasons of the year, put up enough food for winter, and people stayed put (except to hunt, but that’s another story).

Now we have electricity to give us light far into the winter nights which allows us to stay up late and burn our reserves. Rather than laying fallow, like the fields of grass and leafless trees, we keep working hard and don’t allow ourselves to rest or hibernate in the winter, even though we may feel the urge.

I’ve committed to going to bed by 10pm at the latest every night for the next 2 weeks, and I wanted to offer you the possibility of doing the same. Every hour you sleep before midnight will drastically increase the grounded energy you have available during the day. (A great way to reduce your need for caffeine, by the way!) The better rested you are, the less late night tv you watch, the deeper sleep you get during the dark hours, the more productive and healthy you will be this season.

Supporting my clients to make simple, though not always the easiest, choices for true health is one of my passions. I’m happy to say that 4 women are already signed up for my 8 Week January Detox Tele-Course. To join the group and get started with your winter wellness now, go here:

http://www.nutritionforempoweredwomen.com/services/reboot/

May your days be merry and bright, and your nights cozy and calm~

Alexandra

Filed under: Reboot Detox Program, Uncategorized, Women's Health, women's winter wellness and weight loss
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Warming Broccoli Soup (It’s 99% raw and yummy!)

Posted by Alexandra on December 15, 2009 at 9:56 am

This soup  takes 10 minutes to make and offers great warming nutrition and healing support for the winter. Greens like broccoli, kale, collards and bok choy are great for clearing congestion, cleaning the blood and healing the gut, so ramp up your green intake for winter wellness!broccoli

Ingredients:

2 cups broccoli florets

½ avocado

¼ cup diced red onion

1 stalk celery, chopped

1 cup raw spinach

1 inch peeled ginger root

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 clove garlic, minced

pinch freshly ground black pepper

½-1 cup room temperature water

  • Steam the broccoli for 5 minutes.
  • Place the broccoli and remaining ingredients in a blender.
  • Blend and add enough water to make smooth. Enjoy!
Filed under: Natural Energy Tips, Reboot Detox Program, Recipes, anti-cancer diet

Who has time to get healthy? You do! I’ll make it easy…

Posted by Alexandra on at 9:47 am

If you’re reading this post, you have some interest in living a healthy life. Getting your weight down so you can power through your goals confidently, eliminating food addictions or ramping up your natural energy on a daily basis are your aims.

My clients are busy, modern, professional women who have a lot on their plate (literally and figuratively) and think “I don’t have time to do all the things I know I want to do to improve my health!”

I’ve heard from several readers and past clients that they were afraid to start working with me because they didn’t think they could commit the necessary time to eating and living well. In the past, my 8 Week Detox members have had great results with the weekly 1 hour calls:

“I’m feeling an improved energy, without relying on toxic soda anymore.” – D.S.

“I’ve stopped eating fast food and I feel like I have more control.” Michelle, Librarian, Texas

Now I’m making my 8 Week Detox Tele-course even easier to ingrate into your busy life. Starting with the first call on January 13th, every live, 1-hour call will be recorded for easy listening later on your MP3 player or computer, and you’ll also have access to download the written transcript if you prefer to read the information (that’s how I learn best).

Not only will you get weekly live support, but the community we build together becomes an incredible resource to help you move forward with other women who want to achieve their best selves.

Interested in signing up? There are 4 spaces filled, so you still can!

Go here to become a member of my 8 Week Detox Reboot today!

Filed under: Uncategorized

Could getting healthy lead to a better income and more billable hours?

Posted by Alexandra on December 8, 2009 at 5:28 pm

I’ve had several clients tell me that they experienced unexpected side effects from working with me. Detoxifying their bodies and instilling new habits  of healthy eating and living actually lead to more time, more effective working hours and more billable hours!smiling-woman-cash_~e00008583

When you’re tired, unfocused, in pain and out sick, you can’t make the income you need or deserve. Feeling healthy, vibrant and ready to tackle projects is necessary for every professional woman. Women who work for themselves or manage employees especially need to have their focus laser-like.

Self-care and a dedicated focus on healing and maintaining your health every week should be a top priority for every professional woman I know. 1 hour a week investing in your health creates at least 3 hours of billable hours. Your energy, presence and ability to focus are built on true, balanced health.

A well-planned detox and healthy eating as a lifestyle are going to lead to more energy, more time and ultimately a better income:

Sign up today for my 2010 8 Week Detox Tele-Course: 24 spots open until 1/13!

Filed under: Reboot Detox Program

Aromatherapy from H Gillerman Organics – win free samples!

Posted by Alexandra on December 2, 2009 at 9:45 am

Essential oils and perfumes have been used by humans throughout history for enticing possible mates, but they’re also a fantastic natural method of healing and preventing disease and illness.

My friend Hope Gillerman, a talented Alexander Technique practitioner, has developed her own line of amazing organic aromatherapy blends which address the health and wellness woes of modern women.

I personally love her Pure Breathing Chest Remedy, which comes in a convenient roll-on bottle and smellschestmuch nicer than Hall’s for cold and flu season. It’s easy to put on children and smells good enough to wear to work.

Win free samples of H. Gillerman Organics Pure Essential Oil Blends!

Simply go to the website, find which formula would benefit you the most, and leave a comment here on my blog! I’ll choose a few random comments and send the winners a sample gift bag of Hope’s amazing blends.

**Don’t forget to order a couple of the gift and sample packets for Winter Relief, Chilling Out and Dream On!

Here’s to your health,

Alex

Filed under: Win Free Natural Health Care Products, Women's Health
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Greens for energy and winter health

Posted by Alexandra on December 1, 2009 at 12:29 pm

Sautéed Collard Greens with White Beans and Lemon Zest

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds collard greens, stemmed and cut into 1/2-inch ribbons

1 medium shallot, thinly sliced

1 15-ounce can white beans (1 1/2 cups), rinsed and drained

2 teaspoons lemon zest

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper

1/2 cup vegetable stock (I love “NO-Chicken Stock”)

hot sauce for drizzeling on the side

* Cook enough brown rice for 4 people!

Instructions:

1. To prep the collards, fold each leaf in half and slice off and discard the stem. Stack all the leaves together, and thinly slice them crosswise.

  1. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Stir in the shallots and reduce the heat to medium. Season the shallots with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the shallots are translucent, 2-4 minutes.
  2. Stir in the collard greens to the same pan. Cook, stirring often, until they turn bright green, 2-4 minutes. Season the collards with another pinch of salt and pepper and stir.
  3. Pour in the stock. Give the greens a good stir and cover. Cook the collards until they start to become tender, about 5 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring often, until the collards are dark green and tender, another 15 minutes. Stir in the white beans and zest, and cook 5 minutes more.
  4. Serve over cooked brown rice with hot sauce on the side.
Filed under: Recipes, Uncategorized

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