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Bottoms Up!

Let’s drink till we are nice and Healthy! Well, it sounded fun in our head anyway.

For most of us, the hardest part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be more in what we drink than what we eat! We are so focused on tips that help us eat healthy and forget to acknowledge all the health benefits of consuming the right liquids.

Here are some of our favorite healthy concoctions that can help you not only add a pep in your step but also leave you absolutely “glowing!”

H2O – yes Water! Most of us do not get enough of it, and no, iced tea does not count. So just how much of the wet stuff should be downing daily? We’ve all heard of the “8 on 8 rule” …drink 8, 8oz glasses of H2O a day. Well, while this is an easy and good rule of thumb to remember, you also must take into account your level of activity each day and perhaps climate. For example, if you are a daily “sweat breaker” you should be consuming closer to 10-12 (8-10oz) glasses per day!

We like to consume about 80oz. a day to do the trick.

If you want to take it a step further, read up on PH and how the PH of your water can boost your health and neutralize the acidity in your body from other toxins we consume.  We love this video from Meg McCall, My Fit Foods Nutritionist.

Green Tea Power!

For those of us who just cant seem get our day going without a cup of good old coffee, Green Tea might be a great alternative for you.

The jury is still out on the debate. “Is coffee good or bad for you?”

Here’s my rule of thumb, when I stop feeling the effects from my daily Venti coffee from Starbucks, I make the switch to green tea for a bit. Its always good to give your body a break from any stimulants.

So, Why Green Tea?

• Packed with Antioxidants
• Disease Prevention – (Studies have show benefits with Cancer & Heart Disease prevention)
• Weight Loss power
• A little jolt - caffeine is still there in green tea so if you need that little jolt you can still get it.

Recipes, we’ve got em!

Now, I think we have all read up enough on all those horrible “smoothie” drinks that are packed with more sugar than anything healthy.

Here are a few healthy protein and juice blends you can start working into your diet to see some added benefits to your physique and natural glow!

Meg McCall of My Fit Foods, is a wealth of info on ways you can stay healthy and fit with simple little tricks you can make at home. She writes a regular series of healthy tips called “The Tip of the Week” for My Fit Foods, a healthy pre-portioned meal company we love.

Meg shared a great recipe for a Whey Protein Smoothie that we’ve tried and tested and can report its fantastic tasting and is packed with health benefits you’ll love.

Meg McCall’s My Fit Foods – Protein Smoothie

First, let us explain Whey Protein and why its so great!

Whey Protein:

• Supports Healthy Muscle Mass (something we can all use more of).
• Easy to digest & great for muscle recovery after a workout session
• Supports production of Antioxidants in your body we need for repairing and liver detox
• Supports Healthy Weight Loss – balance blood sugar levels & encourages muscle mass support. Keeps that metabolism reving through the day!

On to the good stuff:

Meg's Whey Protein Small Smoothie:

1 scoop My Fit Foods Whey Powder
1/2 cup frozen berries (any kind)
1 tsp Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
1 TB psyllium husk (unsweetened, unflavored)
1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Milk
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
add ice or water to improve consistency
add one stevia packet for more sweetness

Calories: 235
Fat: 9
Carbs: 16
Fiber: 7
Protein: 26

Green is Glowing!

Another nutritionist we love is Kimberly Snyder. Kimberly Snyder is the author of a book called the Beauty Detox Diet and it’s a great read! She really tries to focus on the notion of eating from the inside out. Its true ladies, what you put into your body usually shows up on the outside. "You are what you eat!"

Try Kim Snyder’s Green Glowing Smoothie Recipe. I’ve done this for a stretch of 30 days before. Drink once a day for 30 days and see how "glowing" you can be! Remember, "you are what you eat." We also like to follow her on Twitter for extra tips she adds daily.

Kimberly Snyder’s Green Glowing Smoothie Recipe:

Ingrediants (64 ounces/ 2-4 servings)

• 1/2 - 2 cups very cold, filtered water
• 6 cups spinach, chopped
• 15 cups organic romaine lettuce, chopped
• 22 stalks of organic celery
• 31 organic apples, cored and chopped
• 41 organic pears, cored and chopped
• 61-2 Tbs. fresh organic lemon juice

Optional Ingrediants:

• Ice Cubes (the extra coldness can help with the taste)
• 1/2 cup of organic cilantro
• 1/2 cup of organic parsley

Directions: Add water, spinach and chopped romaine to the blender. Starting the blender on a low speed: mix until smooth. Gradually move to higher speeds and add the herbs, celery, pear, and apple. Add the banana and lemon juice last.

Kimberly does note, "You cant just drink the GCS and expect maximum results. Be sure to read the Beauty Detox Solution to learn the entire program. It includes the crucial information to understand how to eat for beauty, as well as recipes, meal plans and much more."

So drink up! There are tons of ways you can boost your health by just saying “bottoms up!”

If you have any great recipes or healthy tips you’d like to share with the LifeSushi community, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we’ll “pay it forward.” We love to share what we learn from you & we’re all in this together!

Cheers!

Sources:

 www.kimberlysnyder.net

www.myfitfoods.com

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea?page=3