A weekend of Raw Food and Yoga

This past weekend my daughter Hannah and I hosted our first Raw Food and Yoga workshop at her studio in Memphis TN. It was such a fun filled weekend full of off the chart yoga and out of this world raw food and superfood smoothies. We served raw zuchinni pasta with pesto, sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts on Friday night. Hannah taught yoga and I spoke on introduction to raw food eating. We ended the night with dark chocolate and a lot of happy people.
On Saturday after our yoga session I demonstrated how to make superfood smoothies with my recipe of superfoods!! I talked about each different superfood, then I made them for everyone. ( I learned a valuable lesson...don't pass out the smoothies until the very end-the energy level and the talking level went up 100%!)
It turned out to be an amazing weekend. Here are some pictures of how it all came together.

What a great way to spend a weekend, learning how to eat healthier, feel better and improve the quality of your life!!!

Until next time,

Jan

PS: A special thanks to Olivia Lomax for all her help and support!

The little pink pill

I have been hearing and reading about this little pink pill for weeks. I haven't really heard a lot of good things about it , actually more negative than positive. Some of the information coming from the associated press states:

"A pink pill designed to boost sex drive in women-the latest attempt by the drug industry to find a female equivalent to viagra-fell short in two studies, federal health regulators said Wednesday.

The FDA also noted increased side effects like depression, fainting, and dizziness among the women taking the pill.

According to the report there is no other treatment currently on the market to help women suffering from a low sex drive."
The pink pill (flibanserin) came up for approval from the FDA last Friday June 18 and did not pass, so they were sent back to the drawing board...

The Female Viagra, flibanserin, disappoints FDA

June 21, 2010 at 11:11 am by Shawn Alff


The FDA advisory panel agreed that flibanserin wasn’t significantly better than a placebo and that its slight benefits don’t justify its side effects: dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and depression.

As reported by CBS news, the FDA needed to be convinced that the drug increased sexual desire regardless of the occurrence of sex. However, an independent study revealed that the women taking the drug only reported a slight rise in sexual satisfaction.

So what are women to do that actually suffer from a low sex drive?????

Well there may not be a pharmacutical drug to boost a low sex drive in women, but there is a plant called maca root that that has helped women  for centuries.

I have written about maca before, but I felt like is was worthy of a repeat in light of all the attention on womens low sex drive and this little pink pill.

The results of clinical research has proven that maca helps in sexual performance and helps boost libido. Clinical case studies have shown that Maca can help relieve the discomforts of PMS and menopausal symptoms.

New York-based Dr. Viana Muller introduced Maca to other medical doctors at the 1997 Anti-Aging Medical conference and noted that Maca Root had been used successfully by Peruvians to regulate hormonal imbalances, menstral irregularities, fertility, and menopausal symptoms, including loss of energy and libido and temporary depression.

I have been taking Maca for 3 yrs, and there is no low libido in my house!!!

Maca is also considered an adaptagen, which means it has the ability to balance out your hormones, and free yourself from PMS and menopausal symtoms. Some people who take maca see immediate results, others may take up to 30 days.

So if you suffer from low libido or have problems with PMS or menopausal symptoms-run get yourself some maca root. I believe every woman needs this in their daily diet even if they aren't experiencing these symptoms. By the way it works great for men also.

I buy organic raw powder and put 2 heaping tsps in my smoothies everyday.

Get some balance and fun in your life-get some maca!!

Until next time,

Jan

A few smoothie recipes

Okay, so I have been bombarded with requests for smoothie recipes. So here are a few great recipes to beautify, energize and radiate your life.

These are simple recipes and you can use a regular kitchen blender. Put all ingredients in the blender and mix on high until fully blended. Add as much or as little coconut water as you want for thickness.

Banana Coconut Goji
8-10 cubes of ice
2 organic bananas
5-7 organic strawberries
2 heaping tsp raw organic maca
15-20 organic dried goji berries
1/2 dropper of marine phytoplankton (liquid form)
1-2 cups of coconut water

I squirt the marine phytoplankton in the bottom of my glass then pour the smoothie on top and stir.

Banana Strawberry Bee Pollen
8-10 cubes of ice
2 organic bananas
5-7 organic strawberries
1 large organic peach peeled and quartered
handfull of organic blueberries
2 heaping tsp of raw organic maca
2 tsp of organic bee pollen
1/2 dropper of marine phytoplankton
1-2 cups of coconut water or if I want a milk base I substitute coconut water for organic almond milk.

The marine phytoplankton is clear and almost tasteless and is a very good protein source along with many other benefits. It has been so amazing for my skin. You can check out a lot of these ingredients and their benefits in my archives.

If you are not picky about taste and the color green doesn't bother you, add a 2 tsp of organic spirulina powder to the smoothie.
Some children will not drink the smoothies if they are the color green-not sure why, but I know quite a few that won't-so by using the liquid marine phytoplankton they will be getting protein and it doesn't turn the smoothie green.
You can add and subtract any of the friut, if there are some that you
like more than others. Also if you have a sweet tooth you might want them sweeter so you can add some type of organic raw sweetener like agave.


If you have a vita mix or blendtech blender you can make the same smoothies and add a handful of fresh organic kale or organic spinach or both.

Try these out and see what you think-
Also sometimes it is easier to drink these with a straw.

If you are pregnant, do not add the maca root to your smoothies.

Until next time,

Jan

Smoothie for a Soldier

My daughters husband John is in the Army and currently deployed. I think about him so much and pray for a safe mission and speedy return. You really have no idea what these military families go through unless you know them personally or you are related to them. John is an amazing husband and father, and I am so happy that he is part of our family.


Of course being the health nut that I am, I was concerned about him and his ability to get good nutritious food while he is deployed. He is very conscientious about his diet and exercise, so I asked her if he was happy with the food that he was getting. She told me that he has had a hard time getting his hands on good healthy food . So I suggested to her that she buy him a blender and the 10 superfoods and ship it to him. This way he could make superfood smoothies every day and be assured that he was getting everything he needs nutritionally on a daily basis, So that day she ordered everything and shipped it to him, and he couldn’t be happier!!


Here are a few of the  10 superfoods that she sent him, ( I have already blogged about 4 of them, just check the archives.)

Blue Green Algae-The benefits are endless-

Loaded with chlorophyll

Contains 40 major trace minerals which are necessary in the building of every tissue including hair,
skin, nails, and bones!

Excellent source of B vitamins which is needed for energy, stamina and endurance.

Great source of PROTEIN
A complete source of protein containing 60% protein-18 amino acids

PEA="The love chemical" Helps to create feelings of euphoria, excitement and attraction

I buy the Klamuth Blue Lake blue green algae.

Another superfood is Aloe Vera Gel

Here are the benefits...

Lubricates the joints and skin

Great for the digestive system.

Reduces inflammation

Normalizes blood sugar

Hydrates your cells

Reverse the aging process, feel incredible, look younger,  and have more energy than you can imagine! Drink yourself some GREEN!!

The best part of this whole post came from my conversation with Amy today when she told me that her husband was so thankful to have the superfood smoothies because he pretty much lives off of them.

How rewarding to know that you are contributing to someones happiness and health  and making the quality of their life better. Just makes me SMILE...:-))))))))

John, we miss you, and look forward to your safe return. O,  I just wanted to let you know, I've got you covered on the labor and delivery of baby Hannah! She will be in good hands with her Nonnie!

Until next time,
Jan


PS...If any of you readers are near the Memphis area, my daughter Hannah and I are doing a weekend workshop on Yoga and Introduction to raw foods and superfood smoothies on June the 26th at Give Yoga Memphis.