What Are You Drinking?

      "What can I get you to drink?" Everyone gets asked this question when they go out to eat or at a friends house. Sometimes we don't want yet another glass of water. I am going to provide you with a list of drinks that are on the healthier side, or better alternatives to just sodas or high calorie mixed drinks. 

Red Wine (known for helping the heart) 

Natural Fruit Juices (no sugar added, homemade) 

Regular coffee (in moderation with just milk and a little sugar)

Sparkling water drinks (they have a lot of good flavors now)

Tea (green tea has many health benefits) 

Light Beer

Vodka and Scotch (if you want alcohol those two are the ones with the least amount of calories, mix them with low sugar options, such as juices and soda water)

     Obviously water is the best option but sometimes that's not what you want or the occasion calls for something else. Hopefully you can make better choices because most people drink a lot of the calories they consume in a day! It is very important to pick your drinks just as wisely as your food!


Live Healthy, 
     Nadia 

Israeli Couscous Super Salad

     I have recently been introduced to Israeli couscous and I love it! It's a great alternative to pasta or rice. Today I am providing you as super salad recipe that I am sure you will love. 

Ingredients

1 1\2 cups Israeli couscous 
1/2 yellow pepper
1/2 green pepper
1 medium tomato 
1/2 large cucumber 
1 stick of celery
1/2 cup green onion
1 lime (juiced)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt and pepper

Directions 

-start by cooking the couscous as the box/bag suggests (boiled in salt water) 
-cut vegetables into small bite size pieces and put into a large bowl 
-once the couscous is cooked let it cool for a little bit (fluffing occasionally so it won't stick together) then add it to the bowl with vegetables 
-add juice of the lime, oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix it together,
TASTE! Now is when you can adjust the flavors, if you like more pepper add it now. 
-when it's just right refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes, or until you're ready to eat. 

I hope you find this as refreshing and delicious as I do. Once you have perfected it try switching out different vegetables that you like or that are in season. Enjoy! 

**this is a great pot-luck dish**

  Live Healthy,
        Nadia

Garlic

I love garlic!! Growing up my parents put garlic in everything. Now I put it in everything too. Garlic has so many healing properties. So not only does your food taste a whole lot better, it can make your body healthier as well.

      Let's start with the effects it has on your heart. Having garlic can lower blood pressure, lower triglycerides, lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and break up blood clots. These are hereditary traits that can be passed down from your parents or grandparents to you and your kids why not add more fresh garlic into your diet and try to lower you and your families’ risk.

      Next garlic had anti-inflammatory properties. There are certain properties found in garlic that can decrease inflammation in the body. It can help to protect your arteries, reduce the severity of asthma and it can help protect joints such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

      Lastly to go hand in hand with inflammation, garlic can help fight the common cold. To get the full benefit you should eat or swallow garlic raw. You can chop it up then swallow it like you would cough syrup. I like to add raw garlic to chicken broth.

      The main property in garlic that makes it so great for you is called allicin. If you try to have about 5 milligrams of allicin a day you should reap the benefits of it. With all these healing properties and how great it makes your food taste why not eat it as much as possible.

 

Live Healthy,
    Nadia

Stress

     Of there is anyone who says they are completely stress free I would love to meet them and ask them A LOT of questions. Stress seems to be a natural occurrence in our lives from our jobs, relationships, money and time. Many of us always feel like there is something that needs to be done. Many of us know that stress can effect out eating habits but the effect on our body is outstanding! Stress can lead to the exhaustion of many endocrine (hormone) glands. Also that makes pancreas and thyroid not function well. That then turns into the whole system slowing down. That in combination with the weight we gain (because who doesn't stress eat) makes it hard for our body to fight off diseases and even cancers. 
      With all that being said there are many things you can do to de-stress, one being exercise. Also relaxation needs to be part of your day, do nothing, or something that you enjoy and helps you relax ( for example, for me that would be doing a plastic canvas stitching project). If you find yourself in a stressful situation try to take 5 minutes to breath, calm yourself down, then figure out your next step. Reacting to situations when you are already stressed or angry will only make matters worse. Lastly always try to stay in tune with your body, are you eating because you are stressed? Try to stop and go for a walk instead or write down what is stressing you out and how you can lower the stress. 
      I know that stress is inevitable but hopefully these tips can help you manage it and in the end become less stressed! 

Live Healthy, 
     Nadia