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Loving Yourself... 5 Super Healthy Foods That Can Help Your Ticker Stay in Tip Top Shape!

2012-02-17T16:00:00Z

February is the month of love and what better way to celebrate than keeping your heart healthy! We all know exercise, low stress, not smoking, and avoiding cholesterol make our hearts happy, but so does a nutritious diet. Here are 5 Super Healthy Foods that can help your ticker stay in tip top shape!

Spinach

Spinach is loaded with antioxidants which move toxins out of our blood as well as a variety of heart healthy phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals that protect against heart disease; including Lutein, B-complex vitamins, folate, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and fiber.

Toss some fresh organic spinach in with some beautiful fresh organic strawberries and/or mandarin orange slices and raw walnuts for a delicious salad. Top it off with an amazing dressing and you're all set for a beautiful meal. Click here for recipe. Add a handful or two of fresh organic spinach to your juices and smoothies for a powerful nutritious punch!

Blueberries

These mighty little berries are big on nutrition and contain disease fighting heart healthy anthocyanins, the antioxidant responsible for their majestic color.

They also contain beta-carotene, lutein, and ellagic acid, all of which are heart healthy nutrients!

Blueberries also make a great addition to juices, smoothies, and salads.

Toss blueberries, strawberries, and a handful of spinach into your blender, blend, and enjoy!

Broccoli

Like most green vegetables, broccoli contains loads of nutrition including beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E potassium, folate, and calcium.

Chop it up and add raw broccoli to your salads and zucchini pasta dishes. Keep the hearty stalks to add to your juices or create a broccoli coleslaw from the stalks.

You can also create amazingly delicious soups that whip up in a snap; simply add some chopped broccoli into your blender with a cup of warm water and a dash of salt , some of your favorite spices and blend into a soup!

Almonds

Almonds contain mono- and polyunsaturated fats as well as omega 3s, good fats that every heart needs as well as vitamin E and magnesium.

Soak almonds overnight, toss out the soaking water, and rinse before eating. This breaks down the enzyme inhibitors allowing you to soak up all their heart healthy nutrition!

Toss almonds into salads or if you are feeling especially fearless, learn to make almond yogurt (Click here for my free recipe - simply substitute the cashews with almonds) or almond cheese.

Chocolate

Those who know me, know chocolate would make this list! Dark chocolate or better yet, cacao is loaded with heart healthy antioxidants and, keeping with the spirit of the month of love, it's also an aphrodisiac!

Add your favorite natural sweetener and a heaping tablespoon of cacao to some warm almond milk for a divine treat! Visit the dessert section of my website for my "Double Trouble Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake" recipe and be sure to scroll down and peruse my other heavenly chocolate recipes!

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

Spice up Your Love Life with these Therapeutic Culinary Herbs and Spices

2012-02-09T16:00:00Z

Culinary spices that add heat and/or sweeten up your foods can also spice up your love life! In fact aromatic spices such as cinnamon, clove, and vanilla might have first been introduced to foods to do just that.

Many of the aphrodisiac spices contain a substance called eugenol, an essential oil with many beneficial qualities in addition to spicing up your love life! The aromatic fragrance in this essential oil is said to ignite the senses and turn on the love hormones in both men and women alike. If you've ever used clove oil to relieve a tooth ache, it's the antiseptic and analgesic qualities of eugenol in the clove oil providing that glorious relief! Ever used vanilla oil to alleviate a headache? Yup, that's eugenol at work too.

Here are some other spices that contain this powerful healing oil and ways you can use them to spice up your love life as well as your food:

Add cinnamon to homemade desserts, hot chocolate, or simply have a cup of cinnamon tea. My bff's husband makes a delicious tea by steeping fresh guavas and cinnamon sticks in hot water for a naturally sweet and stimulating treat! Here is one of my favorite sexy desserts: Chocolate Espresso Shots Filled with Cinnamon Chocolate Mousse and Raspberry Chasers.

Clove oil is an excellent remedy for tooth aches and pains and can even be diluted in a carrier oil and rubbed into sore muscles or used for a stimulating romantic massage. Just remember, a few drops go a long way! I love using cloves when making my sweet & sour pickles and when fermenting foods. It's a fabulous addition, but remember, a little goes a long way!

Lemongrass can be added to rice dishes, salads, soups and dressings or steeped in hot water as a tea. It also makes a lovely addition to my Asian salad rolls. Click here to get my free recipe located on my website. Adding the lemongrass is a snap. Simply julienne some lemongrass and add it to the other vegetables before you rap and roll! You can also chop it up and add to my fabulous Thai soup recipe too. And aren't you lucky! That just happens to be the free soup recipe currently featured on my website. Get it here.

Basil is one of those herbs I can eat right off the plant. In fact, I often do every time I step out into my garden. Chiffonade a few leafs (a fancy term for stacking, rolling and thinly slicing your basil) and mix into a tomato salad with finely minced raw garlic and red onion (ALL aphrodisiac foods FYI). Just be sure you both eat this salad if you're looking to get romantic! Basil makes an excellent addition to your favorite soups, salads, or pasta dishes.

Like cinnamon, Vanilla makes a great addition to many a dessert as well as a great addition to a warm cup of cocoa. And it's not just the flavor but also the sweet and subtly sexy aroma of vanilla that will have your Valentine on his/her knees! One of my favorite and simplest healthy desserts is chia seed pudding. Use your favorite flavors to sweeten it up! I alternate between cacao powder (and we all know chocolate is an aphrodisiac, right?), vanilla, and cinnamon or sometimes I use all three.

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

Get your Maca On!

2012-02-03T16:00:00Z

Maca root is an amazing super food grown high in the Andes Mountains that Peruvians have been touting as a miracle food for centuries! Not only does this little turnip-like root pack some amazing nutritional benefits, but it's well known by Peruvians as an aphrodisiac as well as a remedy for ALL types of sex hormone issues and sexual dysfunction. It increases fertility and libido in both sexes and provides a feeling of increased energy and vitality. In fact, it is believed that maca root can increase one's libido as much as 200%. Now if that certainly ought to heat up your Valentine!

Maca root contains no hormones or hormone-like substances as found in other plants. Let me repeat that - Maca contains no hormones or hormone like compounds! Maca is known as an adaptagen meaning it works in harmony with our bodies by adapting to our individual needs based on our metabolisms regardless of age or sex. The compounds in maca root simply stimulate the endocrine system to balance itself naturally!

In addition to its powerful effects on one's sexual appetite, maca root contains significant amounts of amino acids, complex carbohydrates, vitamins B1, B2, B12, C and E, minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium and iron, and dietary fiber. And did I mention that maca root has a very pleasant taste when mixed with other ingredients?

Add a teaspoon or two of maca to desserts such as my I heart chocolate walnut brownies or my chocolate heart macaroons and heat up your love life all winter long!

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

Not All Water is Created Equal

2012-01-27T16:00:00Z

We all know that water does a body good but finding a pure source of water seems to be getting more and more difficult these days! Nearly all tap water in the United States contains added chlorine and fluoride; dangerous chemicals that have been linked to serious disease. It may also be contaminated with pesticides from farm runoff and other toxic substances from industry waste. If you think you are in the clear because you drink bottled water, think again! Plastic bottles leach chemicals into the water which may not even be pure water to begin with.

We drink ionized alkaline water in our house and I reallCy believe it is the answer! Alkaline water is ionized, anti-oxidant and electron rich, restructured, micro- clustered, active hydrogen saturated, and oxidation reduced, powerful living water! I know, it's a mouthful; but in my experience it really makes a world of difference!

I'd been suffering with debilitating migraines EVERY day that disappeared when I was away at school (Living Light Culinary Institute). I returned home and the headaches returned with me! The big difference between home and school was the water! Living Light used alkalized ionized water. We installed our own ionizing unit and the headaches disappeared. Well, that certainly made me a believer!

Alkalized water can flush toxins and neutralize acidity in our bodies. Most disease occurs when our body is acidic. Water which has returned to its pure and natural state can literally help our bodies return to their original alkaline condition.

Alkalized water is a powerful antioxidant, perhaps more powerful than any single food or vitamin supplement because the water contains active hydrogen which supplies huge amounts of extra electrons to our bodies. I know I can certainly attest to some of its healing properties. As with anything, please do your own research but take heed of my experience and make sure the water you are ingesting is pure water.

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

"45 Lessons Life Taught Me," By Regina Brett

2012-01-20T16:00:00Z

I believe that everything happens for a reason and every moment of my life brings a lesson to help me grow. This is a perfect time of year to reflect upon those life lessons and this list, "45 Lessons Life Taught Me," by cancer survivor and author of God Never Blinks, Regina Brett has always been so inspiring to me! I hope you appreciate her inspirational words as much as I do!

Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
When in doubt, just take the next small step.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
Your job won't take care of you when you are sick Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
Pay off your credit cards every month.
You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
It's OK to let your children see you cry.
Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
Over prepare, then go with the flow.
Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
The most important sex organ is the brain.
No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
Always choose life.
Forgive everyone everything.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Believe in miracles.
God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
Your children get only one childhood.
ll that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
The best is yet to come.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
Yield.
Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Visit Regina on the web at www.ReginaBrett.com

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

Small Steps Make Big Differences for Your New Year's Resolution

2012-01-13T16:00:00Z

I love that the New Year sparks conversations about opportunities for change! Most of us experience colder weather this time of year, less outdoor activities, and more time inside. For me, winter's cooler temperatures signals a time for going inward to look at what I want to keep doing, what I want more of, and what I want to do less of! As I reflect across the themes in my life that I will create change, I can quickly become overwhelmed by the amount of work it could potentially take to make sustainable changes in my life. But, getting overwhelmed with ideas of completely stopping "this", or finally finishing "that", is wasted energy!

One thing that helps me not waste valuable energy is to remember that "Small Steps Make Big Differences". Think about where a space shuttle on a mission to the moon would end up if the trajectory changed by a single degree. The further the space shuttle travels the more the trajectory is altered. Think about that when it comes to making effective and sustainable changes in your life! Take "Small Steps" in the beginning that will alter the trajectory of your long term path, bringing you to a Healthier Life! Don't YOU LOVE THAT? It's so simple and so true; if we make "one" small change today we will be in a completely different place further down our paths. How exciting is that? We can choose smaller and easier steps now and effortlessly achieve New Year's Resolutions to improve the quality of our futures!

Here are some simple ideas on how to change the trajectory of your life to open the door to a happier, healthier, you, in 2012.

1. Reduce Sugar - Most of us know how harmful sugar is to our bodies. Try a new dessert using a natural sweetener.

2. Join Meatless Monday's - For those wanting to reduce their meat intake; how about trying my fabulous new "Meatless Monday's" program? For more information click here.

3. Drink One Smoothie a Week - Or one smoothie a day if you are feeling especially fearless!

4. Drink Naturally Sweetened Water: It is so easy to pick up a soda pop or one of those carbonated drinks that taste like vacations and tropical breezes. Most of them contain sweeteners that are harmful to our bodies; not a very refreshing thought! The good news is you do not need to give up wonderfully refreshing drinks. There are many ways to naturally sweeten your drink. Try using stevia flavored drops.

5. Try a Meditative Walk - Walking meditation can be just as profound as sitting meditation, and has the advantage of bringing the meditative experience into our activity. There are a number of different walking meditations. For example, Silent Walking which allows you to be more present in your body and in the present moment. The simple experience of alternating steps with the left and right foot naturally helps create a meditative state. Click here for more information.

6. Bring Awareness to Your Breathing - "Be aware of your breathing. Notice the sensation of the breath. Feel the air moving in and out of your body. Notice how the chest and abdomen expand and contract slightly with the in and out breath. One conscious breath is enough to make some space where before there was the uninterrupted succession of one thought after another."~ Eckhart Tolle

7. Experience Silence for 30 Minutes - We have so many influences coming at us, music, talk shows, our news programs, TV shows, movies, magazines, and on and on... Take just 30 minutes each day and turn off, put down, or walk away from all forms of media. Give yourself the gift of allowing your own thoughts to emerge without the influence of "other" people's ideas, emotions, opinions, or agendas.

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

Join the Meatless Monday Movement!

2012-01-09T20:21:08Z

I'd like to personally invite you to participate in an exciting new program that will effortlessly and gradually bring you to a whole new level of health and happiness this New Year! Join me each and every Monday beginning in February on my new "Meatless Mondays with Chef Tina Jo!"

http://www.fmgradio.com/show/cheftinajo

I challenge you to challenge yourself and try something new and fearless! Join me and millions of other folks all over the world by committing to Meatless Monday meals.

WHAT IS MEATLESS MONDAY?

"Meatless Monday" is an international movement taking the world by storm! By reducing our meat consumption by just 15% we can improve personal health as well as the health of our planet. The non-profit ground breaking initiative was founded by The Monday Campaigns in association with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

WHY MEATLESS?

On average, Americans consume 8 ounces of meat per day; 45% more than the USDA recommends. It may not seem like much, but do the math, friends! It sure adds up when we think in terms of weeks, months, and years! We've all heard that statistic about all that undigested food sitting in our intestines. Well, that's a major cause of disease, my friends! Going meatless once a week is a super easy way to reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic inflammation, and obesity. And we are not only helping improve our own health, we are also helping to improve the health of the planet as we begin to limit our carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.

WHY MONDAY?

Multiple studies have shown that periodic health prompts lead us to make positive changes in our lives. Monday is the beginning of the week, making it the perfect time to reevaluate our food choices and set our intentions for the week ahead. With a Meatless Monday, we have a scheduled, recurring reminder to start our week off on a nutritious note and my pledge to you is to make your Meatless Mondays as delicious as they are nutritious! And if a particular Monday happens to pass by, there is always another opportunity to refocus on health the following Monday!

WHAT WILL CHEF TINA JO OFFER?

I will offer delicious meat-free recipes every Monday and as if they wasn't enough, compelling interviews and reviews, relevant nutrition and health news, helpful meatless cooking demos, and a weekly email newsletter as a reminder along with a delicious vegan recipe to help bolster your success!

SPREAD THE WORD AND SIGN THE CHALLENGE!
Click here to join me and millions of others in the Meatless Monday Pledge. Please share this email freely and spread the word! Get your friends, family, and co-workers on board too as we begin yet another phase of our journey to a whole, new, healthier, you!

Sprouting For Health

2012-01-06T16:00:00Z

As the cold weather approaches and my fresh local organic produce choices lessen, I find myself sprouting more. I love sprouts and eat them all year long, but I tend to eat a whole lot more of them in the winter months. A lot of us depend on fresh produce that is transported across half a continent. True, we may garden in the summer or shop our local farmers markets, but winter stops all but the most dedicated, or most southern, gardeners and small farms. By sprouting at home, we can supply delicious, healthy, fresh food to ourselves and our families - without the environmental drawbacks of large corporation farm raised produce - at a fraction of the cost.

Sprouting at home takes only a few minutes a day and can produce a good part of your daily nutritional requirements. Because they're grown right in your kitchen counter/garden, they have not been in cold storage, or on supermarket shelves, losing valuable nutrients. I add them to my sandwiches , soups, smoothies, and even put a handful on top of my raw pizza and lasagna.

One of the greatest benefits of all raw foods, but especially sprouts is the amazing health benefits available in every bite or sip you take!

Sprouts have an abundance of vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes and are easily digested and assimilated by your digestive tract.

Here are some of the benefits of some of my favorite sprouts. This list is by no means exhaustive so please experiment on your own and find what sprouts you like best. They are ALL excellent for your health. With sprouting you just can't go wrong!

Alfalfa sprouts are loaded with saponins; plant molecules that have a direct stimulatory effect on the immune system to reduce the production of inflammatory toxins in the entire GI tract. Saponins encourage the growth of friendly bacteria while decreasing the harmful ones in both the small and large intestines. They also flush pathogens through the gut without allowing them to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Broccoli sprouts contain a compound in broccoli called sulforaphane glucosinate that stimulates the body's immune system in such a way that it can greatly reduce and virtually eliminate toxins in the body BEFORE they can ever damage DNA. This stuff literally cause cancer cells to self- destruct. So, eat your broccoli, juice it, and definitely sprout it! Just 1 ounce of broccoli sprouts contain as much sulforaphane glucosinate as one and one half POUNDS of broccoli!

Clover sprouts are loaded with chlorophyll as evident by their dark green leaves. They are known as a blood tonic; they cleanse and build blood and have been used for centuries to relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.

Fenugreek sprouts have many health benefits as fenugreek is a mighty powerful herb. It's known to be a blood cleanser, a diaphoretic, and a lymphatic cleanser. It is extremely beneficial to the digestive tract as it creates a protective coating over inflamed areas of the stomach and intestines, including peptic ulcers.

Mung beans have been revered as a super healing food in both Ayurveda and Chinese dietary therapy for thousands of years. In fact, both of these ancient healing traditions believe that mung beans balance the body's three principal energy centers. Mung beans are a legume and ALL legumes should be sprouted in order for the body to properly digest them.

Wheat (aka wheat grass) Wheat grass has got to be the king of sprouts! It contains ALL contains all of the vitamins that science has isolated, over 90 minerals, and 30 amino acids and is a complete protein. One of those enzymes, superoxide dismutase is known to SLOW cellular aging. Additionally, wheat grass suppresses the appetite and stimulates metabolism and circulation which is not only beneficial to your health but may actually help you shed a few pounds.

For more about sprouting see my 4 Part Fall Sprouting Series where I discuss why we should eat sprouts, why we should grow them ourselves, what we can sprout, and how to sprout!

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

www.ChefTinaJo.com

5 Superfoods That Should Be In Your Kitchen All Winter Long

2011-12-30T16:00:00Z

Are you looking for some simple ways to keep warm, lose a few pounds and add some spice to your life this winter season? Why not give these superfoods a try?

Coconut: is a natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and an anti-viral agent making it a excellent super food to help your immune system fight off winter colds and flus. It is also a good source of healthy saturated fats which help insulate the body and keep you toasty warm.

Almonds: All nuts are loaded with protein, heart-healthy fats, and antioxidants as well as being a good source of fiber. I always have almonds on hand and use them to make nut milk, cheeses, yogurt, and nut meal in addition to adding them to salads and just snacking on whole sprouted (soaked) almonds. Almonds contain calcium and magnesium which contribute to strong bones, vitamin E, and phytochemicals which are believed to protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Chia seeds: are a miracle food! They are loaded with antioxidants, more omega 3 oil than salmon, both soluble and insoluble fiber and are a source of complete protein. Chia seeds will take on the flavor of whatever you add them to so experiment to your heart's desire and don't be shy! Ground them up or use them whole. Sprinkle them into soups, salads, sauces, smoothies, desserts, or whatever you choose. Chia seeds are especially helpful if you've got a few extra holiday or winter pounds to shed; they fill you up and keep you feeling full for hours due to their unique gelling action!

Beets: Beets are loaded with absorbable iron in both the leaves and root; the leaves actually contain more iron than spinach as well as being a good source of calcium, copper, magnesium, sodium and phosphorus. Wwhile the root contains a good amount of choline, folic acid, iodine, manganese, organic sodium, potassium, fiber, digestible carbohydrates in the form of natural sugars, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and C. Wow; that was sure a mouthful! Chinese medicine uses beets as a cure all because they have strong blood cleansing properties and flush many harmful and toxic substances from the body. Beets also build up your blood which will help keep you warm! An important thing to be aware of is that the greens contain oxalate which is known to cause kidney stones with excessive consumption so don't overdo it; consume only one or two leaves a day.

Peppers: We all know that peppers heat things up! That's because they contain heart healthy compounds called capsaicinoids. These compounds are known to fight cancer and inflammation as well as possess antibacterial and analgesic properties. The capsaicinoids in peppers can help relieve headaches, joint pain, sinus congestion, and even belly aches. Peppers also contain disease fighting antioxidants and loads of vitamin C. The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicinoids. So be brave my friends and heat up your life!

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

For recipe ideas using the above ingredients, check out my recipe section here http://cheftinajo.com/recipes

Gifts to Avoid Giving This Holiday Season

2011-12-23T16:00:00Z

Tis' the season of giving and all though we may have the best of intentions in mind, we may unknowingly wind up giving our friends and family toxic gifts.

To prevent this holiday mishap here is a list of commonly purchased gifts that are best avoided and some eco-friendly, safer alternatives.

Perfumes and Colognes: The average bottle can contain some 20 or so carcinogenic ingredients! Yes it may smell good, but really, who wants this stuff on their skin! Give essential oils instead. Rose, lavender, vanilla, and jasmine are delicious scents for women while sandalwood, patchouli, cinnamon, and lemon balm are fabulous choices for men.

Anything made in China: There are a myriad of reasons to avoid products from China these days like formaldehyde, lead, pesticides, and other chemicals found in both toys and clothing. Spare the risk of giving your loved one chemical laden PJ's and search out products that are made in the US or that are Fair Trade.

Non-organic bath products: Shampoos, soaps, and yummy smelling lotions seemingly make great gifts but take a look at the ingredient lists and you'll find they are loaded with all kinds of toxins! Choose Morrocco and Body Deli products for amazing raw vegan goodness that truly is good enough to eat! Remember, is it just as important to care about what goes on your body as it what goes in it.

Plastic: These days it is nearly impossible to completely avoid plastic! Even some of the most eco-minded non-toxic products come in plastic packaging. My advice is to just do your best to avoid it and don't sweat it when you can't!

Processed Foods: Don't be tempted by those pretty food baskets adorning the windows of specialty stores. They may look pretty but they are loaded with ugly toxic ingredients! Make your own with fresh organic fruits and homemade goodies. You'll find a plethora of healthy and delicious raw vegan treats in my latest e-book, Real Life Raw: Holiday Gift Foods, available here: http://cheftinajo.com/holidayfoods

Have a safe and healthy holiday season, my friends!

Make your life and holidays delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

Combat the Symptoms of Holiday Overindulgence

2011-12-15T16:00:00Z

It happens to the best of us. You're all set to go to a friends or relatives house for holiday celebrating. You've created a fabulous raw vegan dish. You had your smoothie or a big salad before you left the house.

But then, you come face to face with temptation and you just can't resist! Maybe it's Aunt Helen's mashed potatoes or your cousin's baklava or just the orchestra of smells wafting through the air...Whatever it is that grabs you, you temporally go insane and overindulge! You go home and you feel it; stuffed, bloated, and uncomfortable, to say the least!

Well, don't just sit there beating yourself up about it, get off your bum and do something!

Here a few things you can do before that holiday indulgence turns into holiday bulge:

Go for a walk. It burns calories and speeds up your metabolism and the fresh air will help wake you out of that food coma.

Eat fermented foods. Those friendly bacteria found in ferments will get to work helping you digest that mess sitting in your intestines.

Dink some spicy tea! Steep some ginger, cinnamon, and cloves for a delicious treat loaded with antioxidants that will help mop up the mess in your belly, keep insulin levels in check, and may even slow the absorption of fats into your blood stream.

Snack on some raw broccoli, cauliflower, a small salad or better yet have a green juice. Yes, I did just advise you to eat more! We Italians traditionally eat salad after a meal. Why? Well, as my mom always said, "think of it as little brooms."

Chew on some bitter herbs. Fresh chamomile, peppermint, fennel, spearmint, sage, and anise are pleasant tasting herbs that will relieve an array of gastric distress simply by chewing on them. You could also make a tea with one or a combination of these herbs to achieve the same results. Most importantly don't sweat it, tomorrow is another day.

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

Food, Your Body and the Doctrine of Signatures

2011-12-09T16:00:00Z

Have you ever noticed that certain foods look like parts of our body? Mother Nature's bounty is filled with healing foods and you don't need a degree in nutrition to figure out what foods benefit what parts of your body. It just makes perfect sense. Eating or juicing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and keeping this "doctrine of signatures" in mind is a great way to ensure that you are getting an abundance of nutrition and nourishing your whole body. If you're looking to heal or focus more on a particular part of your body pay close attention to the shapes of the fruits and vegetables you're eating for guidance.

Picture a strawberry, a red bell pepper, or a tomato, notice how they resemble a heart? These are all heart healthy foods, tomatoes' even have four chambers, just like a heart. Now conjure up an image of a walnut with its folds and two sides connected by a little bridge in the middle. Makes you think of a brain, doesn't it? Well, I'm sure you already guessed that eating walnuts are good for your brain.

Start paying close attention to the shapes of food in nature and soon you'll be guessing what organs they benefit. Slice a carrot and notice how it looks like an eye. Kidney beans look like little kidneys. Cauliflower and broccoli look like the bronchial passages in the lungs. Blueberries look like blood cells and you guessed it, they are great for your blood. So are beets with their deep reddish purple color. A glass of freshly juiced beet juice is always a perfect pick me up!

Avocados, pears, and eggplant are shaped like the womb and are in fact beneficial for it. They also act as aphrodisiacs. Olives look like little ovaries. Figs grow in pairs, are shaped like testes, and are full of seeds. Figs help increase the number of sperm and motility. Sweet potatoes are shaped like the pancreas and they balance blood sugar. Celery, bok choy, and rhubarb are beneficial to bones and they too, look like the body part they help the most and just like our bones they're 23% sodium. Amazing, isn't it?

Slice open many citrus fruits and the center looks like the mammary glands of the breast. Onions look like human cells and they help clear cellular waste out of our bodies. They even make our eyes tear to help with the cleansing process.

So next time you are out purchasing produce remember the "doctrine of signatures" and have fun with it. See how many fruits and vegetables that resemble organs you can find and try to incorporate as many different ones as you can into your daily diet. What a fun and easy way to stay healthy!

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

http://www.ChefTinaJo.com

Getting Out of the Hum Drums with Fruits and Vegetables

2011-12-02T16:00:00Z

Fruits and vegetables are loaded with nutrients that keep our bodies strong and healthy. A diet rich in whole organic raw foods reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as strokes, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, some inflammatory diseases, and heart disease. You know this; you've heard it all before, but if you're just not sure how to get enough raw vegan goodness into your diet and continue to find yourself a bit bored by your choices. Have no fear; I am here to show you how you can change that effortlessly and deliciously!

Fruits are easy for most of us. They are Mother Nature's version of candy. It's veggies that most folks tend to have difficulty with, so let's make that our primary focus.

Most people eat the same 5 - 7 varieties of vegetables over and over again. Think about it; what were the ingredients in the last salad you made? I bet visions of that same old lettuce you've used for years popped into your mind with perhaps some tomato, cucumber and croutons which may sadden many of you to know that croutons don't count. Come on let's face it, that same old thing can be just plain boring!

Try adding a new variety of leafy greens such as spinach, Swiss chard, kale and dandelion; as for lettuces the list is endless. Challenge yourself to add one new green and or lettuce to your eating experience every week.

Then once you get your green groove on, try adding more variety to your salad base like grapes, berries, raisins, craisins, olives, nuts, seeds, sprouts, avocados and beans. I like to add marinated mushrooms and veggies like broccoli, cauliflower and baby corn. One of my favorite things to add to my salads is grains. Try adding a cup of wild rice, quinoa or other grain for a hearty healthily meal. Whatever is seasonal, fresh, local and organic can be added to take that hum drum salad from boring to bodacious, big, and beautiful.

For more inspiration visit my salad section on my website! http://cheftinajo.com/recipes/salads.html

Get Juicy! Juicing is an excellent way to start your day. It provides a boost of energy and more raw vegan nutrition in one glass than many folks could possibly eat in one sitting or even a whole day. Stick to the ¼ rule; use 1 sweet vegetable, such as beet or carrot, or an apple to 3 other veggies and make sure at least one of those is a leafy green. This will ensure that your juices are as delicious as they are nutritious!

Visit the recipe section of my website for more juicy recipes! http://cheftinajo.com/recipes/juices-and-smoothies.html

If you don't have a juicer I strongly urge you to get one but in the meantime, try smoothies! Smoothies are also an excellent way to avoid temptations when hunger strikes between meals.

Here are a few smoothies that are sure to satisfy your taste buds and fill your belly:

1. blend 1 apple, 2 carrots, a big handful of spinach, and ½ cup of water.

2. Blend 1 cup fresh pineapple, 10 leaves of kale, 1 medium - large banana, and ½ cup of water.

For a frothy smoothie add some ice.

Visit the recipe section of my website for more smoothie recipes! http://cheftinajo.com/recipes/juices-and-smoothies.html

Bottom line here is, try new things!

Look around your produce area or farmers market and buy a new vegetable every time you shop.

Try marinating it, steaming it, adding it in a big salad, a juice, or a smoothie.

As that old saying goes; variety is the spice of life!

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

http://www.ChefTinaJo.com

Where Do Raw Vegans Get Protein?

2011-11-25T16:00:00Z

Contrary to what many of us have heard our whole lives, we do not need to eat animal products to ensure we are getting enough protein. Protein is actually one of the most abundant nutrients on the planet. All, yes ALL living things contain protein.

Protein is composed of 22 amino acids. Our bodies make 13 of those amino acids and we get the rest from the foods we eat.

Scientists used to think that it was necessary to eat animal products to get those other 9 essential amino acids, but we now know that is absolutely not true.

We call those 9 amino acids essential because it is essential that we get them from foods.

There is an abundance of protein in the plant kingdom! Just about all plant protein contains all 9 of those essential amino acids.

Most nutritionists believe that if 3 - 10% of our daily caloric intake comes from protein, we are getting enough. Every single vegetable on the planet has more than 10% protein and most fruits have more than the minimum requirement of 3%. Eating a variety of raw living foods will ensure that you are getting a sufficient amount for a healthy vibrant life.

Here are some foods with high protein content to get you started:

Nuts and seeds; particularly almonds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and pistachios. Soak nuts and seeds overnight to make them easier to digest.

Sprouted nuts, seeds, and whole grains are an ideal source of raw vegan protein and are loaded with just about every nutrient you can think of! Sprouting is also a terrific way to incorporate whole grains into a raw vegan diet. Sprouting is quicker and easier than you might think and it's really inexpensive! So if you're looking to stay healthy and keep some dollars in your pocket, check out my Fall sprouting series for complete step by step instructions.

Dark leafy greens; especially Bok choy, kale, chard, dandelion greens, and spinach. Remember Popeye's super strength when he downed a can of spinach?

Cruciferous vegetables; especially broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are a good source of easily absorbed protein.

Sea Vegetables such as seaweed, kelp, nori, dulce, and sea lettuce are another great source of easily digestible proteins.

Root vegetables; particularly sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, beets, and parsnips.

Other vegetables: mushrooms, asparagus, okra, corn, peas, butternut squash, and pumpkin.

Fruits: peaches, figs, coconuts, dates, avocados, and pineapples.

So you see, with so many plant sources of protein it is virtually impossible for raw vegans not to get enough. The key is simply, variety! A balanced raw vegan diet consisting of nuts, seeds, vegetables from land and sea, and sprouted whole grains will give you all the protein you need!

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

http://www.ChefTinaJo.com

Raw Vegan Doesn't Necessarily Mean Cold Foods

2011-11-18T16:00:00Z

There is a common misconception floating around that we raw vegans eat only cold foods. Oh my goodness; I couldn't last a week if all my food was cold! I see how confusing it can be because most raw foods are cold, right? Well, once upon a time that's exactly what I thought too, but thankfully I quickly discovered how wrong I was.

Well then, what exactly is raw vegan food? Raw vegan foods are whole plant foods such as organic fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs and leafy greens; then there are nuts and seeds, seaweeds and amazing wild-crafted super foods, fermented foods and even sprouting.

Raw vegan foods contain no animal products and have all their enzymes intact. Although you'll find no white flour, gluten, refined sugar, cholesterol or trans-fats in my raw vegan diet, I do enjoy bread, cheese, decadent desserts, and even warm foods like stuffed portabella mushrooms, hearty soups, and spaghetti with "no-meat" balls; all made from those whole foods mentioned above.

It s believed that cooking foods above 115 degrees Fahrenheit actually destroys vital nutrients and enzymes. Did you catch that? Let me repeat myself...cooking foods ABOVE 115 DEGREES Fahrenheit destroys vital nutrients and enzymes. In other words, raw does not mean cold, but rather food that is heated in such a way that it has all its enzymes intact.

Raw vegans enjoy warm lasagna, ooey-gooey mac and cheese, pizza, and so much more. It's just not cooked or made in the traditional way. We warm our food in several ways; blending it at high speeds, adding warming spices or using a dehydrator. A dehydrator is simply a slow cooker, kind of like a crockpot, which heats foods without destroying vital enzymes and nutrients.

Curious now, aren't you? I certainly hope so!

I cordially invite you to try a raw vegan diet with me for 3 days with absolutely no cost to you. Well, of course you'll have to buy the food, but I provide the steps, the recipes, and even coaching emails to help get through.

Just click here to download your own free copy of Real Life Raw: 3 Day Challenge and let me introduce you to the fantastically delicious world of whole raw vegan foods!

Make Life Delicious,

Chef Tina Jo

http://ChefTinaJo.com