Posts by Jordana

To cleanse or not to cleanse

Jordana

Posted on May 9th, 2013

Cleansing is always a hot topic around this season, and for good reason! After a long winter we typically feel heavy, bloated, and want to shed some of the winter weight for the summer season. What is a cleanse: There is a huge misconception that a cleanse refers to some sort of fast, or detox diet. A cleanse is any change in your diet that takes a load off of the digestive system and removes toxins. Most cleanses consist of raw foods full of live enzymes. These enzymes promote digestion so that the digestive system does not need to do all of the work. A few rules: No chemicals, No sugar, No dairy, No white flour Juicing: Juicing is a major part of…

Hibiscus in Kensington

Jordana

Posted on May 2nd, 2013

This past weekend I had the pleasure of going to one of my favourite brunch spots: Hibiscus in Kensington market. Somehow I was able to lure one of my friends into joining me who believe it or not, doesn’t exactly hart nutrition. Little did she know she would be eating a delicious crepe and not even know it was a gluten-free crepe of goodness. You walk in and it’s this TINY little family-run whole in the wall with limited seating. But this tiny little whole in the wall has A LOT to offer (clean, delicious, fresh, healthy) I can’t even begin to reveal how much i hart this place. I prefer a stronger cup of coffee but it was still tasty and…

Why i hart Smoothies

Jordana

Posted on March 13th, 2013

Why i hart Smoothies:

Smoothies are one of the easiest ways to get tons of nutrients in 1 go. You can balance protein, fat, and carbohydrates into 1 delicious snack/breakfast/dessert/meal.

Remember you want to include at least 3 servings of leafy greens into your daily diet. Why not get 1 serving out of the way by hiding it in your smoothie? You won’t even taste it…I promise!

Pineapple blueberry Spinach Smoothie:

½ cup of pineapple

½ cup frozen organic blueberries

½ scoop of vanilla protein powder

Bunch of spinach

½ cup of almond milk

¼ cup water

1 tsp cashew butter

1 tbsp of “Holy Crap” to sprinkle on top

Some Nutrient Benefits:

Pineapple → Contains “bromelain” a proteolytic enzyme that helps your body break down foods in the body.

Spinach→ Extremely nutrient dense! Anti inflammatory, rich in Vitamin K & magnesium (to name a few)

Holy Crap→ full of omega 3 & 6 (fats that make you skinny)

Heart Healthy Month

Jordana

Posted on February 21st, 2013

With love in the air, February is a time to keep our hearts pumping, and commonly referred to as “Heart Healthy Month” Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the number 1 cause of death in North America? To name a few, cardiovascular diseases include heart attacks, high blood pressure, and obesity (which by the way, collectively kills 1 in 4 people every day). Well…some good news- Most cardiovascular diseases can either be prevented or controlled. Reduce the risk with these simple suggestions: Diet: Increase fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, fish, and poultry Lower your sodium intake Increase fibre Limit saturated fat and bad cholesterol Increase HDL (the good cholesterol) fish oils, nuts, olive oils. Etc. Physical Activity:…

Beat the cold & flu this season

Jordana

Posted on December 11th, 2012

Well Kids, it’s cold & flu season. And that means it’s time to vamp up your immune systems and defend yourselves from those annoying, lingering colds. You could be the next cold victim if any of the following apply to your lifestyle: Long hours of work Lack of sleep No time for the gym A sugar diet (well, white sugar) Poor eating habits STRESS The problem with these lingering colds, is, THEY LINGER, and even though you may still function, you find yourself weak, tired, sneezing, coughing, and seriously annoyed. Fear not, follow this ihart protocol: 1. Echinacea- immune stimulant that protects your body from bacteria and viruses. When to take: Take short term. Start using the moment you feel a tingle…

Tips for an Easy Fast

Jordana

Posted on September 24th, 2012

Fasting this Yom Kippur? Here are some helpful tips to make the fast easier: Days leading up to Fast: Remember that thirst is the real difficulty to overcome! Not hunger. Hydrate your body Avoid “dehydrating” foods and beverages leading up to the fast (chocolate, tea, coffee, alcohol) Drink Plenty of water……this cannot be stressed enough! Drink liquids with electrolytes (coconut water) Eat complex carbohydrates Limit sugar intake because it creates cravings! Morning & Afternoon Pre Fast: Remember that you are eating an early dinner….make sure to save room for this meal! If you are a heavy coffee drinker, try limiting your intake to 1 Have a large breakfast, small lunch, so you can eat a normal size dinner Choose foods that will…

Shana Tova 5 Day Health Binge

Jordana

Posted on September 18th, 2012

The Holidays are often a time where the average individual suffers from a perma “food coma”. Get your body and health back on track by following a few simple rules for the next 5 DAYS.

Rules:

6-8 glasses of water daily
Limit carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, etc.)…..it’s just 5 days babe!
Limit Dairy
Warm water with fresh lemon every morning upon wakeup
One serving of leafy greens daily (spinach, kale, arugula, collard greens, etc.)
Include at least 1 serving of veggies at every meal
Have raw vegetables or fruit at every meal
Include Omega 3 & 6 fats daily (almonds, walnuts, eggs, fish, chia seeds, flax seeds, avocado, etc.)
Make your own food!

Avoid like the plague:

Everything white (pasta, flour, bread, sugar!)
Potatoes
Ketchup
Soft Drinks (even diet ones!)

Need some ideas:

Day 1:

Before breakfast:

Glass of warm water with lemon

Breakfast:

¾ cup of non fat greek yogurt with ½ cup of berries, and 10 raw almonds chopped up on top!

Snack:

Sliced veggies & hummus

Lunch:

Spinach Salad w/ tuna (veggies, 1 tbsp goat cheese, ½ can tuna)

Snack:

Apple with 1 tbsp cashew butter

Dinner:

Grilled Chicken with steamed cauliflower and Israeli salad

Day 2:

Before breakfast:

Glass of warm water with lemon

Breakfast:

1egg + 2 egg white omelette with onions, mushrooms, 1 tbsp light feta

Sliced tomatoes and cucumbers on the side with salt and pepper

Snack:

Pear with handful of nuts

Lunch:

Chickpea salad: (1/2 cup chickpeas, ½ cup diced red pepper, ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved, handful alfalfa sprouts). (dressing: olive oil, white wine vinegar, garlic, salt & pepper)

Snack: Simply Bar

Dinner:

Grilled salmon, arugula salad, and veggie soup

The truth behind water & lemon

Jordana

Posted on September 6th, 2012

The recipe for the hottest duo in town is here, and no it’s not peanut butter and jam or apples and honey… Drum roll please…..

It’s warm water with lemon! Drinking water is a no brainer. We know it’s good for us and blah blah blah. But is drinking warm water with lemon also a no brainer? It should be! And especially when you wake up in the morning. Get it? Got it? Good!

Okay fine, I guess this merits some explanation, so here it goes:

The Recipe:

“1 cup of warm water & 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice”

The Why:

Picture your body as a car, it needs to be serviced and maintained for optimal function. After a long tiring day you go to bed to get some rest, but guess what, your body is working at full force. It uses this recovery time to filter blood, process unwanted toxins, and restore the body. This process dehydrates the body, so when you wake up the first thing you want to do is rehydrate your system. Drinking warm water with lemon hydrates the body, while aiding the liver in removing unwanted toxins.

What’s so good about lemons?

High in vitamin C- boosts immunity, fights colds
High in potassium- stimulates brain function
High in pectin- Pectin is a fiber that helps battle hunger cravings. The more lemon you include in your diet, the less “bad” food you will crave. a.k.a weight loss!

More reasons I hart warm water with lemon:

Boosts your immune system
Aids in digestion
Prevents and soothes nausea
Relieves heartburn
Improves constipation
Helps the liver flush out toxins
Refreshing
Natural diuretic
Alkalizing
Clears skin
Hydrates lymph system

Tip- drink it with a straw so the acidic lemon juices do not damage the enamel on your teeth

5 Tips to Relieve Seasonal Allergies

Jordana

Posted on August 15th, 2012

Over the past couple years I have been experiencing seasonal summer allergies. Very normal. Very annoying. But bottom line, I totally DO NOT hart allergies. They are quite mild, but I do have this annoying itchy feeling at the back of my throat, and my sister often complains that I make weird and terribly unattractive facial expressions where I use my tongue to itch the back of my mouth…nobody else gets that? Any help here? Okay, needless it say…it is NOT OK. On the quest to stop hopelessly relieving the itch at the back of my throat I have learned that the summer heat, humidity, pollen, weeds, and pollution are all culprits causing me allergy symptoms. 5 tips for…

Vanilla Almond Blueberry Smoothie

Jordana

Posted on August 8th, 2012

Following my morning spin class, I came home and decided to replenish my body with a smoothie. I used a Vega Energizing Smoothie as my base and then added some of my own ingredients! Really you can simply add water to the mix and enjoy, but I wanted to spice things up a little! For the base, I chose the Vanilla Almond Flavour, which I had yet to try (it is a brand new product!). The base alone has 2 servings of veggies, 10 grams of protein, fibre, and omega fats. What i hart about the Vega brand is that it is totally natural and vegan. The beauty of a smoothie is that it’s liquid form allows for easy and quick absorption of…

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Mar
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31