Weight Loss Wednesday- Are Sugar-Free Sweeteners Making You FAT?

October 31, 2012 3 Comments

You heard me right…artificial sweeteners, marketed for their “weight loss” effects, are actually causing various dangerous physiological effects that may cause you to GAIN weight over time. The weight gain isn’t the worst part either! Below I have listed the top sweeteners and their potential side effects.

1. Aspartame (AminoSweet, Nutrasweet, Equal, Spoonful, Benevia, NatraTaste)

(In nearly ALL chewing gum, diet sodas, diet products, sugar-free juices, sugar-free candies, desserts)

Neurotoxin. First, know that aspartame is able to cross the blood brain barrier which is designed to protect us from harmful substances- but not this sneaky little killer. Aspartame contains an amino acid called phenylalanine, which when isolated is a neurotoxin. An increase in this amino acid causes an influx into the brain where it is easily absorbed and over stimulates the brain cells and causes an increase in free radicals, ultimately causing holes in the brain. AKA…it KILLS OUR CELLS!! HELLOOO!!! When is our world going to wake up and realize that aspartame KILLS US?! It’s so sad how many of our loved ones don´t realize this and are daily damaging themselves. With our cultural pressures to fit into a size ¨zero¨, diet coke and sugar-free products are flying off the shelves and what’s scarier is how young this is starting. Here is a list of 92 official reported side effects of Aspartame.

Cancer & Tumor Causing. Aspartame (L-Aspartyl-L-Phenylalanine Methyl Ester) is made up of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, and bound together with methanol (Methanol is Wood alcohol). The wood alcohol (methanol) is widely distributed throughout the body including brain, muscle, fat and nervous tissue. These break down to formaldehyde (used for embalming DEAD PEOPLE and known to cause cancer), formic acid (a venom in ant stings) and DKP (known to cause brain tumors). ”Drinking even one diet cola a day can cause formaldehyde buildup in cells, so that the amount of the toxin increases daily,” Dr. Blaylock writes in Health and Nutrition Secrets.

Heart arrhythmia’s, damage, and death. Unfortunately, this is a personal issue for me, as my sweet grandmother was the victim of aspartame poisoning which caused her to have heart damage and now a permanent heart arrhythmia. This is nothing to mess around with or even consume every now and then. The slogan ¨Everything in moderation¨does NOT apply here. A group of doctors did an alarming study on the effects of aspartame on young athletes and they were troubled with the fact that aspartame has not been further studied in sudden death of young athletes, when it is obviously a cause for heart damage, arrhythmia’s, and in some cases death.

Weight GAIN.– The main reason aspartame and artificial sweeteners sell so much is because the population is beginning to become aware that if they avoid sugar, they will lose weight. This is TRUE…when you cut out sugar. Period. BUT when you add in artificial sweeteners, they are actually proven to stimulate hunger causing you to consume even more calories and leave you less satisfied. They also have detrimental effects on your hormones, causing stubborn belly fat. Not to mention, aspartame damages the pancreas, leading to ineffective digestion, bloating, blood sugar irregularities, and possible diabetes.

Sources:

http://www.safefood.org.nz/aspartaddict.html

http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/aspartame.htm

http://www.naturalnews.com/aspartame.html

http://aspartame.mercola.com/

2. Saccharin (Sweet n´Low; Sugar Twin)

Saccharin, was discovered in 1879 when Constantin Fahlberg, a Johns Hopkins University scientist working on coal-tar derivatives, noticed a substance on his hands and arms that tasted sweet. THAT is where Saccharin came from…need I say more?

Cancer Causing. Specifically bladder cancer. All the tests done in the Saccharin saga have shown that this sweetener causes cancer in lab animals and most likely in humans as well. Here is a formal article about the carcinogenicity of Saccharin.
Fatal to growing babies in the womb. Watch out preggo mamas! This sweetener (along with all of the others listed here) has been proven to be very dangerous to your developing baby.
Weight Gain. Studies have shown that Saccharine & other artificial sweeteners lower the metabolism & body temperature causing difficulties burning calories & fat.

3. Splenda (sucralose, asculfame k)

How many times have we heard that Splenda is healthier and much better than the other artificial sweeteners because it comes from sugar? It is marketed as natural even by the FDA who supported sucralose in their press release stating, ¨…it is made from sugar.¨- an assertation disputed by the Sugar Association who is suing Splenda´s Manufacturer. The truth is that Sucralose was discovered in 1976 by scientists looking for a new PESTICIDE! It is made of a sucrose — except that three of the hydroxyl groups in the molecule have been replaced by three chlorine atoms. SO, this is Chlorinated Sugar…you might as well pour a bunch of sugar into a swimming pool and go drink it.

More similar to a PESTICIDE than a sugar molecule. This is how it was discovered and independent researchers agree that the bonds holding the molecule together is a chlorocarbon, the same as pesticides, and not as similar to a salt or sugar like many believe. This carries with it all of the toxic and detrimental effects pesticides have on our bodies, including but not limited to disrupting our endocrine system (hormones, thyroid, adrenals, menstrual cycles), increasing risk of autism, birth defects, asthma, neurological defects, digestive disorders, cancer, tumors, and the list goes on and on…

No Calories because it is NOT a food…it is a chemical. When it reaches the gut, and is broken down, our bodies do not recognize it as a food, so it does not absorb it in the small intestine to be eliminated. Thus, it can be recirculated throughout the body causing more problems systemically. It causes our liver to work extra hard in attempts to break it down and filter it out, and who knows what kind of damage it is doing on all of our other organs. Point being, it is not making us more healthy or strengthening our bodies to fight against disease, but burdening our systems with more chemicals.

We are the guinea pigs in a trial run for Splenda/Sucralose. – The largest test done on Splenda was on a group of 128 people only lasting 3 months. What happens when one uses sucralose for 5-10-12 months?? Nobody knows… and now it is specifically marketed to elementary schools and kids! We are feeding this mysterious chemical to our kids when there is nothing but inconclusive studies on its safety.

Officially Reported Side Effects: migraines (major migraine trigger), skin rashes/flushing, panic-like agitation, dizziness and numbness, diarrhea, swelling, muscle aches, headaches, intestinal cramping, bladder issues, and stomach pain.

Sources:

http://www.womentowomen.com/healthyweight/splenda.aspx

http://www.splendaexposed.com/

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/02/26/artificial-sweeteners-once-again-linked-to-weight-gain.aspx

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/06/20/absurd-new-ways-splenda-is-deceiving-you.aspx

4. High Fructose Corn Syrup

OBESITY. This sweetener will give you a gut like no other! Princeton University research shows that rats fed a solution of water and half the amount of high fructose corn syrup present in a soda gained MUCH more weight than rats fed a solution of water and table sugar the full amount present in a soda. In the 40 years since the introduction of high-fructose corn syrup as a cost-effective sweetener in the American diet, rates of obesity in the U.S. have skyrocketed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Metabolic Syndrome or syndrome X. In a long-term study, the rats who were fed high fructose corn syrup all alarmingly showed traits portraying metabolic syndrome that many Americans deal with in our society. ¨Symptoms including abnormal weight gain, significant increases in circulating triglycerides and augmented fat deposition, especially visceral fat around the belly. Male rats in particular ballooned in size: Animals with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained 48 percent more weight than those eating a normal diet. In humans, this would be equivalent to a 200-pound man gaining 96 pounds.¨

“Some people have claimed that high-fructose corn syrup is no different from other sweeteners when it comes to weight gain and obesity, but our results make it clear that this just isn’t true, at least under the conditions of our tests,” said psychology professor Bart Hoebel, who specializes in the neuroscience of appetite, weight and sugar addiction. “When rats are drinking high-fructose corn syrup at levels well below those in soda pop, they’re becoming obese — every single one, across the board. Even when rats are fed a high-fat diet, you don’t see this; they don’t all gain extra weight.”

Genetically Modified! Corn is one of the top genetically modified foods. So, High Fructose Corn Syrup is in fact, one of the top genetically modified, highly processed toxic foods that is floating around everywhere. It is super cheap for food companies to use, so why would they want to lose more money on higher quality products right? Click HERE for more in-depth information on GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) foods and their harmful even deadly effects.

Sources:

http://www.anticancerbook.com/post/scientific-evidence-on-the-dangers-of-high-fructose-corn-syrup–promoting-cancer-cell-growth-and-obesity.html

http://search.mercola.com/search/pages/Results.aspx?k=high%20fructose%20corn%20syrup

What Do I Use, Then?

STEVIA is my #1 choice of sweetener. It has zero calories, zero sugar, and is extremely beneficial to our bodies…IF you get a good source. The absolute best stevia on the market that I’ve found is the Sunrider stevia. My experiences with this stevia have been unreal!

What are the Benefits of High Quality Stevia?

Naturally has 0 calories & 0 sugar
Feeds the pancreas to stabilize blood sugar levels! This benefits diabetics as well as those struggling with hypoglycemia.
Feeds the pancreas to optimally secrete digestive enzymes to improve digestion.
Through promoting stabilized blood sugar levels, hormone balance is improved as well.
Ideal for those struggling with candida or other yeast overgrowth in the body as it does not feed bad bacteria, but instead works to kill it with it’s anti-fungal & anti-parasitic properties!
Acts as a general tonic to increase energy, vitality, and mental clarity.
Has been shown to fight against cavities and tooth decay.
Can be used on the skin to promote healing in a number of cases including cuts, scrapes, burns, pimples, boils, cancer spots, eczema, cold sores, and dermatitis.
Naturally: anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-yeast, anti-??? pretty much everything bad I have found.
Has been shown to promote normalized blood pressure

Coconut or Palm Sugar is my second favorite and I use it mostly in cooking as stevia tends to lose it’s sweetness with cooking and baking. This type of sugar has a very low glycemic index so it doesn’t spike blood sugar levels very much when consumed, and it is filled with nutrients!

Non GMO Xylitol would be my third choice. I love that it has zero sugars, so it’s safe for diabetics, and when it comes from a good source (either corn or birch tree), it is a great alternative to use in baking. The only down side is that some people are more sensitive to xylitol and too much can cause gas or have a laxative effect.

Raw Honey is another great option! It has several benefits to our health.

There you have it! What are you putting in your tea today? What foods are you eating today? Be conscious about the foods going into your body. If you’re on a weight loss journey, your best bet is to experiment with these natural sweeteners and get off the junk. Get off white sugar and get off these toxic chemical sweeteners. You will be SO thankful you did!

Have a great Wednesday!

“A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”

Proverbs 17:22

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Weight Loss Wednesday- #1 Fat Burning Organ in the Body- The LIVER

October 24, 2012 2 Comments

Happy Wednesday!

I hope your week is going well! Time sure is flying isn’t it? Today, I want to talk to you about the liver and it’s relationship with effective weight loss. The liver is known as the “gatekeeper” of the body. It is responsible for filtering out the body’s toxins. In fact, every 3 minutes, the liver filters all the blood in the body! Isn’t that amazing! When the liver is clogged up and running slowly, it causes a domino effect in the body effecting just about everything… digestion, hormones, blood sugars, adrenal glands, energy, immune system, and more. One of the most common suicide avenues is swallowing a bottle of Tylenol. It is so common because people know that Tylenol kills your liver and if your liver is severely damaged and stops functioning, the rest of your body quickly shuts down.

What causes a clogged liver?

The major culprit for fatty liver is what you’re putting in your body. That could be an unhealthy diet, alcohol, drugs, medications, sugar, etc. Whenever you consume these toxic substances, it can get to a point where the body can’t store fat fast enough and begins storing it in the liver. This is known as a “fatty liver”. The liver is known as a filtration device, if it is being pounded day after day after day with unhealthy fats, sugars, and toxins, it starts to get backed up because it can’t efficiently filter out everything as fast as it’s coming in. This can cause stones, sludge, and all sorts of complications that slows down the liver, furthermore, slowing down your metabolism, increasing your waistline, and wreaking havoc on the body.

What about the Gallbladder?

Did you know that over 600,000 Americans have their gallbladder’s yanked out of them each year! That is MIND BLOWING! This 45 minute surgery costs a whopping $30,000!! Talk about a good salary! $30k per hour, eh? Not too shabby!

Unfortunately, I have been a culprit of the nation-wide gallbladder hijacking. I wish I knew then what I know now in order to prevent this unfortunate surgery, but now I am determined to help people live a healthy and normal life afterwards. The truth is that after my gallbladder surgery, my problems DID NOT go away, but worsened. I know have to put in 10 times the effort in my health in order to feel good. So, if anyone ever tells you the gallbladder is not necessary, tell them they are crazy. Who are we to say that God made a mistake in creating our bodies…I don’t think so!

Back to the liver…when the liver is overburdened, it spills over into the gallbladder. This is what causes so many problems with the gallbladder and creates gallstones. Behind every bad gallbladder is a toxic liver. So, how do you prevent gallbladder surgery & disease? Take care of your liver and make sure to clean them both out.

Congested Liver & Diabetes

The excess leptin production from the excess of stored fat from a congested liver causes a decrease in the hormone adiponectin. Low adiponectin causes insulin resistance in the liver, which raises blood sugar levels and simultaneously converts sugar to fat in the liver. When this happens, your liver cannot process carbohydrates effectively, causing easy weight gain. Having a fatty liver elevates the risk for type 2 diabetes by 500 percent. Fluctuating or high blood sugar levels and excess body weight are indicative of a fatty liver. If you are able to eat carbohydrates and do not gain any weight, it is a sign that your liver is functioning better than if you easily gain weight from carbohydrates.

Clogged Liver & Fat Metabolism

I can first hand tell you the issue with having no gallbladder, a clogged liver and digesting fats. Before my surgery, I had a horrible time digesting fats…well, anything really. And after the surgery, before I took care of my liver, if I ate something like an avocado or frozen yogurt, anything that had a good amount of fat in it, it would come right back up through reflux. So gross, I know, but the reality of the fact was that I could not digest these fats and they sat in my stomach.

Fats are incredibly important for many different processes in the body- your hormones, brain function, muscle restoration, metabolism, and more. Even if you are eating healthy fats, if you have a congested liver, your body may not be able to breakdown these fats into fatty acids and absorb them to be used as fuel. When the fats are not used as fuel, they tend to be stored as fat. So, if you notice you have a difficult time digesting fats, you may want to give some extra TLC to your liver and gallbladder.

Cholesterol, Triglycerides & The Liver

Did you know that your liver makes 80% of your cholesterol?? Most of the time high cholesterol levels in the blood don’t come from eating foods that contain cholesterol- unless you’re eating processed unhealthy foods! For instance, grass-fed beef and raw butter from grass-fed cows contain cholesterol, but they are healthy sources. YOUR BODY NEEDS CHOLESTEROL for healthy hormonal function.

I think it’s quite interesting when people are prescribed medications for their high cholesterol and triglycerides. Why? Because this medication is harming the liver. If you want to HEAL the real reason behind high cholesterol & triglycerides, one needs to heal the liver, not harm it some more. When you do this, the levels will return to normal on their own. If you change your eating pattern and are eating clean, whole, nutrient dense foods, and your triglyceride levels remain elevated, it is indicative of a clogged liver. We must not forget how POWERFUL the body is when it comes to knowing how to heal itself. It just needs the right tools!

Lack of Exercise- Effects on Liver

If you are consistently exercising, your muscles need fuel to regenerate and keep functioning. In this case, your liver can send fuel to help. If you are sedentary for long periods of time, your liver has nowhere to send the excess fat & sugar. Your liver is actually drowning in excess fat & sugar, and as a worst case scenario, it is forced to unnaturally dump excess calories back into the digestive tract. This process is definitely NOT what our bodies were designed to do. We were never intended to be poisoned by excess calories, yet this is becoming more and more common.

In order to achieve this magical process, your body needs to create extra cholesterol and bile to export the excess fat into the digestive tract. This causes increased levels of LDL (Bad cholesterol) and can cause indigestion & heartburn. The excessive amounts of bile produced can be damaging to the small intestine causing leaky gut syndrome, food allergies, and many digestive disorders including acid reflux. This is one reason why antacids never heal the real issue. It’s the liver that must be addressed in many digestive issues. These digestive disorders almost always cause an expanding waistline due to the inefficient digestion of food, which leads to bloating and inflammation.

Effects of Stress on the Liver

When we are stressed, it causes the hormone Cortisol, from our adrenal glands to increase. Studies have shown that when there is an increase in Cortisol, it increases a protein in your liver (HES1), which shuts of fat metabolism in the liver and contributes to weight gain as well as fatty liver.

How the Digestive System Effects the Liver

Not only does a congested liver effect digestion, but if you have a damaged digestive system, it causes another metabolic stressor that can lead to an inefficient liver. A proper balance of good-bad bacteria is essential for liver health, which is one reason why probiotics and cultured foods are so important.

TOP 10 KEY TRICKS TO UNCLOG THE LIVER

1. SUNRIDER FOODS

If you haven’t yet heard me speak about the Sunrider foods and how they’ve changed my life, make sure you check out my video and free PDF here! Sunrider foods, in particular, Calli tea, Fortune Delight, & Quinary are amazingly beneficial for the liver. They not only nourish this organ to regenerate itself and function how it was created to, but these “foods” nourish the systems and organs related to the liver such as the digestive tract, immune system, and circulatory system to make life much easier for the liver. Without the Sunrider Foods I believe I would still be desperately stuck in a miserable place with acid reflux with every meal, elevated liver enzymes, horrible digestive issues, and crazy hormonal issues. These truly changed my life and I’m so happy to scream it from the mountain tops!

2. PROBIOTICS

As you learned, an overgrowth of bad bacteria and candida in the intestines can be a major stressor on the liver, so make sure you are getting some good probiotics into your diet. My #1 choice is cultured foods and beverages. If you go through any one of my programs, I’ll teach you exactly how to implement this into your daily life to incredibly boost your immune & digestive systems. Cultured foods are MUCH more effective than probiotic supplements and much cheaper as well.

3. LEMON WATER

Make sure you check out my article on lemon water and its many health benefits!

4. AMINO ACIDS (PROTEIN)

High quality protein is very beneficial to the liver. My favorite sources would be Hemp, chia, Organic eggs, Grass-Fed Beef, fresh wild fish, Mercola’s Raw Whey protein, Sunwarrior Warrior protein, Spirulina, and Garden of Life. Unclean animal sources are HARMFUL to the liver, not beneficial.

5. DANDY BLEND

If you like coffee, you’ll LOVE Dandy Blend! Made from dandelion, it is incredible nutritious for the liver. Check it out on my amazon store!

6. COLONICS & COFFEE ENEMAS

Constipation wreaks havoc on everything. Getting a series of colon hydrotherapy (colonics) are a great resource to clean out the colon and get the liver flowing again! You can also do coffee enemas at home with your very own enema bag. This has been proven to clean out the liver and stimulate liver function. Read more here…

7. HERBS

There are many herbs that have shown to help the liver. Some of the most popular ones are: Dandelion root & Milk Thistle. There are also some great liver cleanses out there. I personally love the one from Advanced Naturals. I don’t recommend doing this without someone guiding you throughout it. If you are interested in working with me, I would love to guide you through healing your liver properly and ensuring your body is ready for each step. If you rush into a cleansing protocol, you can cause more harm than good. So, please do not do this on your own.

8. EXERCISE

Constant exercise is incredible beneficial to unclog your liver, as you learned above. A mix of HIIT- High Intensity Interval Training as well as Weight Training is most effective. No matter what your level of fitness, being active to some extent every day is highly recommended.

9. AVOID TOXINS

Obviously, this is one of the most important steps. Stop pouring toxins into your body. The top culprits of liver damage are: sugar, unhealthy fats, gluten, processed foods, dairy, non-organic animal proteins, alcohol, coffee (moderate amounts of organic coffee are ok), and non-organic produce covered with pesticides.

10.HYDRATION

When you don’t drink enough water, your blood becomes thicker, which makes it much more difficult for the liver to filter all of the blood in your body every 3 minutes. Bile is also created mostly of water, so dehydration puts a real downer on liver function and digestion. Make sure you are drinking CLEAN water, preferably not from plastic bottles, unless they are BPA free.

So, there you have it! I hope you enjoyed today’s info packed article on the liver and it’s relation to effective weight loss! How is your liver feeling these days? Do you see areas you could improve or are you taking care of your liver these days? I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment below!

If you enjoyed this article, I would so much appreciate you sharing it with your friends! You can use the pretty little buttons below for any social media avenue you would like. 🙂 Have a great Wednesday everyone!!

xoxo,

Jessica

“Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you.”

Jeremiah 1:5

More Resources…

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THRIFTY THURSDAY- Coconut Oil

October 18, 2012 No Comments

Hey Everyone!

I hope you’re having a B-E-A-UUUUTIFUL Day! I know I am! 🙂 Today I want to talk to you about Coconut Oil. Thrifty Thursday is a day when I like to talk about the things in life that will give you the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to living a healthy, full, vibrant life.

If you are a rookie to coconut oil, I can pretty much guarantee that you have not experienced it’s magical powers to the fullest. Honestly, one of the bummers of living overseas is that I can’t order coconut oil by the 5-gallon, because if I could, I so would! Its a HUGE savings! How in the world do I go through so much coconut oil? Well, my friend, let me tell you some of it’s amazing benefits…

Weight Loss- WAIT! Weight Loss…with a saturated fat?? Yes sir/ma’am! Coconut oil’s medium-chain fatty acids have been proven to effectively speed up metabolism. A study reported medium-chain fatty acids to be three times more effective in raising metabolism than long-chain fatty acids, leading researchers to conclude that effective weight loss can be achieved by replacing long-chain fatty acids with medium- chain fatty acids. (http://www.naturalnews.com/026808_oil_coconut.html). These healthy fats also make you feel fuller faster, therefore suppressing appetite preventing overeating.
Inside-out hair conditioner- The unique fatty acids in coconut oil have a small molecular structure and pass freely into the hair’s cell membrane, allowing for the oil to penetrate the hair’s roots; this literally brings out the deep conditioning from within compared to other conditioners that work from the outside in.
Improves cholesterol levels- A study done on women between the ages of 20-40, showed increased HDL (good cholesterol) and lowered LDL (bad cholesterol).
Lowers risk of heart disease & diabetes- This same women’s study showed that coconut oil shrank women’s waist circumference, lowered their BMI, lowered heart disease risk, and stabilized blood sugar levels quite effectively.
Effective against Alzheimer’s Disease- Dr. Mary Newport gave her husband with dementia 1 tbs. coconut oil twice a day for a month and watched him almost completely recover. WOW!
Antibacterial, antifungal, antiyeast, antiviral…
Fights against cancer, HIV, and other viruses
Improves bowel movements by lubricating the digestive tract
Strengthens the liver
Reduces inflammation
Known as a teeth whitener by swishing around in mouth
Relief from dandruff.
Decreases osteoporosis and improves bone health- Research has found coconut oil to help prevent osteoporosis because it helps in the nutrient absorption of minerals such as calcium and magnesium – important minerals that fight osteoporosis.
Improves chronic fatigue- These medium chain fatty acids create energy instead of creating body fat, fighting both body fat & fatigue.
Skin Protector- Coconut oil acts as a natural sunscreen, protecting 20% of the sun’s UV rays, while nourishing the skin and protecting from free radical damage.
Amazing for the thyroid
Great for rashes & eczema
Great for marriages 😉
Anti-aging moisturizer- It’s high antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, vitamin E, & caphrilic acid content have anti-aging effects on the skin & the body!
Pneumonia Healer- In a study presented before The American College of Chest Physicians on October 29, 2008, coconut oil was found to offer pneumonia patients faster and more complete relief from symptoms.
And substituting coconut oil for other unhealthy fats, especially when cooking can remove many carcinogenic & inflammatory oils and fats from the diet!
Coconut oil is the BEST oil to cook with because it has a very high smoke point and the fats don’t go rancid. Even olive oil can easily become carcinogenic when using it to cook.

So, how do I use coconut oil on a day to day use?

I wake up and swish around some coconut oil in my mouth- known as “oil pulling”
I’ll put 1 tsp in my warm lemon water from time to time
I put it in my green smoothie
Then I’ll make my husband some over easy eggs with coconut oil
During the summer, I use it on my skin while laying in the sun
Take a shower- sometimes using it as a conditioner
Use it as a moisturizer for face and body
Use it in my cooking & baking
Use it on my dry elbows & heels
And when my husband is exhausted and every muscle hurts from his line of work, it makes the best massage oil with some essential oils added.

If you live in America, you’re in luck, because you can order coconut oil by the 1-gallon and 5-gallon! Both options are offered through my amazon store- http://astore.amazon.com/wwwjessicalop-20. If you’re overseas, you can do what I do, and order from iherb.com. If you’ve never used iherb.com, you can use my coupon code, XAV152 for up to $10 off your order!

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COCONUT OIL

When you’re buying coconut oil. There are some things you need to look for…

Never buy refined coconut oil. Always buy extra virgin or virgin coconut oil.
It is always preferred to buy organic
Contact the manufacturers to make sure their plastic containers are BPA free because if not, the BPA can be extracted by the coconut oil and contaminate it.

So, have a blast with coconut oil! The nutrients and benefits you will get from 1 tbs. goes a VERY long ways, qualifying it for today’s “Thrifty Thursday” spotlight!

Have a great day!

xoxo,

Jessica

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
– Isaiah 41:10

Resources:

http://www.naturalnews.com/036156_Coconut_oil_superfood_healing.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/coconut-oil-benefits_b_821453.html

http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

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TASTY TUESDAY- Zero Calorie noodles in a kale mushroom cream sauce

October 16, 2012 No Comments

Welcome back to Tasty Tuesday!

This creation came to me in the spur of the moment last night when I had no idea what to make for dinner. It was a total success and I will definitely be repeating this again soon! Ever since I went gluten-free, I do have days where I miss pasta. I know there are gluten-free pastas, but most of the time they are filled with junk, so I just avoid them. These noodles however are calorie free! I’m not a big calorie counting fan at all, but I do love that these are full of fiber, totally natural, and have zero calories! Check out the recipe below…

INGREDIENTS

1 package of miracle or kelp noodles.
1 onion diced
3 garlic cloves minced
1 handful kale chopped
1 cup mushrooms- I found a frozen bag of mixed mushrooms including shiitake & boletus. If you can use shiitake or other medicinal mushrooms, that would be the best!
1 tbs. raw butter
3-4 tbs. organic coconut oil
1 tbs. Nutritional yeast (optional- give is a cheesy flavor)
Himalayan salt to taste
Optional: add in grilled chicken

DIRECTIONS

Melt coconut oil & butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.
Add onion & garlic and cover. Sautee about 5 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
Add mushrooms & kale and cover
In the meantime, drain and rinse the noodles. For some reason they tend to smell like fish when you open them. The weirdest thing, I know, but they taste NOTHING like fish. 🙂 Rest assured.
Once the mushrooms are cooked and the kale is wilted, add in the noodles, salt to taste, & nutritional yeast and turn to low heat. Cover for about 2 minutes to let noodles heat up.
I also chose to add in some grilled organic chicken breast. I cooked it seperately, cut it into strips and mixed it in at the end. You can choose to do the same if you’d like!
That’s all it takes! Enjoy your nice meal! As a tip, if you would like your sauce to be thicker, you can add a little coconut flour and mix it in. Be careful not to add too much or it may become too thick.

Try it out and let me know what you think by leaving a comment below! Have a great day!!

xoxo,

Jessica Lopez

Make sure you check out my new program, “THE EMPOWERED WOMAN”! Sign up to do a free consult with me to see if this is what you have been looking for!

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Sweaty Saturday!- Benefits of Zumba!

October 13, 2012 No Comments

Yay! It’s the weekend! Every Saturday I’m going to be bringing you some tips on exercise- workouts, reasons to exercise, and more! Today’s topic is….ZUUUUUUUMBA!

I had fun taking sweaty pictures today, as you can tell! I had a BLAST in today’s Zumba class. My gym here in Spain just started offering Zumba this week and I was SO excited! It’s funny because anyone who knows me, knows I am not the most graceful

person… I remember one day in Junior High, I was at a girls church retreat and I sprained my ankle and was in a soft cast and

crutches for a month! What was I doing you may ask….well, it wasn’t playing soccer, rock climbing, in an obstacle course, or snowboarding…I was running in place. Ha! Yep, clutzy me was able to manage to sprain my ankle pretty bad while running in place.

So, you can imagine how graceful I am in Zumba. It’s actually quite funny to watch myself in the mirror, but I LOVE IT! When people find out I’m half Mexican, they always think I naturally have rhythm and can bust a move like nobody’s business. But, I always tell them, the upper half of me is Mexican, the lower half of me is as gringo as it gets!

Back to Zumba…If there is a class around you, TAKE IT! It may take a few classes to get the hang of it, but it is an amazing workout and so much fun! The reason why so many people loathe exercise is because they make it so boring! Zumba is great for your core, arms, legs, butt, and amazing cardio! I recent study was done showing that the average calorie burn in Zumba classes is 817 per hour!!! Holy smokes that’s amazing!

For more info on the benefits of Zumba, check out this awesome article written by the Huffington Post. I couldn’t have written better than they did.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Get sweaty! I don’t care HOW, WHERE, or WHY you do it, just get sweaty at some point today! 😉 Then post your sweaty picture on my FACEBOOK PAGE HERE!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and remember to share this info with your friends!

xoxo,

Jessica

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” ~1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Make sure you check out my new program,

“The Empowered Woman”!

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Wednesday Weight Loss- Benefits of Lemon Water

October 10, 2012 9 Comments

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!

I hope your week is going well! Today is Weight Loss Wednesday! Every Wednesday, I’ll be giving you a tip on weight loss that will be easy to implement. Today’s is very simple. Check out my video below!

10 Benefits to drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning…

1. It helps alkalize the body

I will be expanding soon on the importance of maintaining a healthy pH in the body, but for now all you need to know is that lemon water helps your body get where it needs to. Research shows that those with a more alkaline pH have a much easier time with healthy weight loss. It is also CRITICAL that you know this very important fact: NO CANCER CELL CAN SURVIVE IN AN ALKALINE ENVIRONMENT, BUT EVERY CANCER CELL THRIVES IN AN ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT. That is powerful knowledge!

2. It hydrates the body

Hydration is essential for health and weight loss. 70% of our bodies are composed of water. That’s a lot! What do you think is going to happen if you don’t drink enough water…your body is going to begin to deteriorate. Makes you think twice before starting off your day with a huge cup of coffee huh? You can go for a significant amount of time without food, but without water, we would die after approximately 72 hours according to research. Many people will lose weight just by hydrating their body alone. When you are dehydrated, your body goes into starvation mode and begins to hold on to every ounce of water it gets just in case it won’t see any for a long time again. But, if you drink it regularly, your body knows it’s safe to let go of extra water weight. Of course many factors play into this, but hydration is KEY to health & weight loss.

3. Kick starts the digestive system

Lemon has been known for hundreds of years to help with digestive issues and constipation. Water as well is wonderful for digestion. Many times dehydration is the culprit behind constipation or acid reflux. Water and lemon together have a synergistic action on the digestive tract as it gently stimulates peristalsis (the wavelike movement throughout the digestive tract that pushes foods through), lubricates the colon to move waste through, and bulks up waste to push it out of the body. Lemons are also full of minerals that help to relax the digestive tract and loosen stored toxins along the colon wall.

4. It’s good for your lymphatic system

Your lymphatic system consists of your lymph nodes (those little nodules you feel in your neck that swell up when you get sick- they are found all throughout your body and act as mini filters to screen out the toxins in the body) and your lymph fluid. Warm water is one of the best things you can do to cleanse the lymphatic system. Lymph stagnation is a major cause of abdominal bloating and water retention. There are many different processes that play a role in lymphatic stagnation and abdominal bloating, but doing this simple tip can be a huge help!

5. Antioxidant morning boost with high levels of vitamin c

Lemons have a good amount of bioavailable vitamin C and antioxidants to boost the immune system and fight off viruses, colds, & the flu. Vitamin C also helps the absorption of calcium which research has shown to significantly aid in weight loss.

6. Strengthens and cleans the liver

Water is responsible for the fluid content of the blood. The liver is the organ that filters the blood, so blood viscosity plays a big role in how hard the liver will have to work. So, not drinking enough water will cause the blood to become thicker and more difficult for the liver to filter. According to Dr. Alexander F. Beddoe in Biological Ionization in Human Nutrition, the liver can make more enzymes out of fresh lemon juice than any other food. Lemons have a wonderful stimulative action on the liver to release toxins and improve a congested liver.

7. Ignites the Metabolism

Both lemon and water help rev up the metabolism. Adding cayenne pepper will be an even stronger metabolism booster and fat burner!

8. Blood purifier

A great trait of lemons is that they help purify the blood. They help improve liver function which is the liver filter and in turn improves the quality of our blood. If you add in Fortune Delight, you will get twice the benefit! Fortune Delight has shown to oxygenate and purify the blood as well.

9. Lowers sugar absorption

“It has been studied that even a little lemon can help you lower the absorption of sugars from the food you eat simply because of its high acidic content. You can go one step further and eat some lemon peels along with the juice, this acts like a double whammy on weight gain, because the pectin present in the peels helps in weight loss by becoming a gel forming substance in your stomach which reduces the sugar absorption from the food you eat.:- Read more here…

10. Acts as a gentle, natural diuretic

The mixture of warm water and lemon works excellent to remove excess fluid from the body. There are some theories that it improves adrenal function. The adrenal glands regulate a hormone called aldosterone that is key in fluid retention. It also helps release toxins from the body. When we have toxin overload in our tissues, it causes fluid retention. Drinking this simple concoction can help deflate the fluff in multiple ways. Woohoo!

* For more info on the Sunrider foods and Fortune Delight check out my Sunrider info page!

Here are some resources for you to check out…

http://www.quantumbalancing.com/news/lemon%20water.htm

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4769/Why-You-Should-Drink-Warm-Water-Lemon.html

http://www.liversupport.com/wordpress/2010/11/love-your-liver-with-lemon-water/

http://www.energiseforlife.com/wordpress/2006/02/10/lemon-water-alkalising-superstar/

In my new program, “THE EMPOWERED WOMAN”, we will dive into the biggest weight loss myths and the some key foundational elements to make weight loss easy and effective!