As you know, I am a HUGE advocate of learning to eat better foods, and I love it when I continue to learn the amazing benefits of cleaning up one's diet.  It's amazing how life-changing it is, in so many ways.  

Today I wanted to share some tips that I learned from one of my IIN teachers whose book I just read, focused on the power of supercharging your brain for better health.

Did you know that your brain uses 20-30% of the calories you consume?  So, if you want your brain to be smarter and happier, it’s absolutely key to get your nutrition right.  You can exercise all you want, even take the right supplements, but if you are eating highly processed foods filled with sugar, bad fats, excessive sodium, harmful chemicals and preservatives, then there is no way that your brain will be working at its peak.

And if our brain isn't properly nourished, this will affect our overall health, energy levels, mental clarity, focus, our emotions and even our hormones and sex life.

To get you started, I'm going to share 10 key nutrition tips that you should apply regularly in order to optimize the health of your brain:

I've come to realize that we all (especially women, of course) spend so much time researching the newest beauty products to make us feel and look younger and more beautiful.  It's crazy how much money we spend on body and face creams, serums, makeup, and other other cosmetic treatments.  Even men have started to invest in face creams and such.  But what we often forget is that beautiful skin and hair really comes from within. 

Let's talk about what really leads to increased aging of our bodies and skin (apart from too much sun!).

Do you remember those pre-teenage years when we had so much energy, and didn't have to worry about our weight, much less the wrinkles on our skin?  So what changed?  

As we get older, we accumulate harmful toxins in our bodies from all the exposure to preservatives, additives, medications, pollution, and more, creating waste in our bodies.  This waste slows down the systems in our body, making it harder for us to maintain our weight or have the same energy, even if we’re eating the same way.  And unfortunately, expensive supplements and anti-ageing creams aren't able to fight the accumulated waste inside!

Changing what we eat and reducing the toxic burden in/on our bodies will change everything, inside and out.

So where do we start?

I admit that I’m a bit addicted to my exercise classes at Exhale – they’re just so effective, they’re not too hard on my body, and I love my teachers which keep me motivated throughout class.  I know that many of you are like me, and enjoy group fitness classes with a good, challenging teacher and a fun vibe.  Then there are those of you – men in particular – who prefer a combination of jogging, sports, and a quick stop at the gym to lift some weights.  Regardless, I find that we all struggle a bit when it comes to finding a routine to do on our own (without a class teacher or personal trainer) that really gives us a killer, full-body workout.

For me, the hardest part is when I'm traveling.  I'll usually go for short jogs outside, and sometimes step into the gym to do a few ab crunches, push-ups, then call it a day.  But I get frustrated because I’ve wasted over an hour, yet I feel that I’m not getting an amazing full-body workout like I do with my classes back home.  I lack the motivation when I’m on my own, and I’m just not sure what exercises to do that can get me a good workout in a decent amount of time.

So that’s when I called for the help of Miami’s hottest trainer (and my fabulous barre teacher), Julie Wiesman, to give me an effective (yet fairly simple) routine that can blast fat and tone the entire body, in just half an hour.

Here are 6 simple (yet challenging!) exercises that you can do from any basic gym or even at home – all you need is a mat, a pair of dumbbells, and a chair/stool.  The combination of these moves will tone your entire front body, back body and of course your obliques or side body, and will get you looking fabulous in no time (just look at her body!). 

Last month I attended an amazing 4 day conference at the Chopra Center that was focused on the power of meditation and Ayurveda in healing the mind, body and spirit.  It was definitely an enlightening experience, and reminded me how important it is to build a meditation practice, ideally every day.

So let’s start with – what is meditation all about?

Let me share what I've learned, and my interpretation.

Meditation is about tuning in to ourselves, and just being present in the moment.  Sitting in silence, letting go of our worries about what happened yesterday and what we need to do today, and just being aware of how we feel in the moment.  Meditation helps bring us to that peaceful place within ourselves.  If you think about it, throughout most of our day, we are just focused on all the chaos of our lives - the deadlines, the commitments, the never ending to-do list, the stress,...- so taking some time each day to forget the chaos and find a bit of peace is HUGE.

The way I see it, meditation brings us closer to our inner true self, so that we become more in tune with our bodies; it helps us listen to our bodies’ subtle messages.  It makes us more present, so that we pay more attention to how we feel at every moment.  We become more aware of everything going on around us and within us. 

Why does this matter?  There are TONS of reasons, but I’ll give you THREE.

Nowadays (especially in the US) there are a huge amount of labels being placed on the food (and non-food) items in the supermarkets.  And it’s becoming quite confusing for everyone!  

Have you found yourself buying organic produce and organic animal products, without fully understanding what it means?  And do you feel better about buying chocolate bars and packaged oatmeal labeled “non-GMO” though you’re not really sure why? 

There is a lot behind the different labels that should be better explained.  In particular, there’s a lot of confusion and debate around what non-GMO and organic labels really mean, and what we should be buying.

In recent months, I have become a HUGE fan of Aloe Vera, and for many more reasons than just it's skin soothing properties for burnt skin.  I now always keep a bottle in my fridge which I use in my morning water and green smoothies.  And I’ve also started buying natural skin products that are primarily aloe vera based.  

I use it for so many purposes, and the more I find how great it is for my body, the more I apply it and love it.  So I want to share with you some of the amazing properties and uses of this plant.

Aloe vera is a cactus plant, thick & short-stemmed, from the lily family (Liliaceae).  It’s found in dry climates, and has been used medicinally for years, particularly in Africa and India.  The leaves secrete a clear liquid gel that can be applied topically to heal wounds and soothe skin irritations and burns, but can also be consumed internally for additional benefits.  

Here are 11 benefits and amazing uses of Aloe Vera:

1. TREATMENT FOR SUNBURN. Aloe has long been known as an effective treatment for skin injuries, such as burns and sores. Aloe vera acts as a protective layer on the skin, helping to replenish moisture and heal the skin. Some studies have shown that aloe vera can reduce healing time of burns by around 9 days compared to other treatments.
2. AMAZING ALL-OVER MOISTURIZER. I absolutely love using Aloe as a face moisturizer as it hydrates without being greasy (and it’s effective for people with both dry and oily skin).  Aloe is also known to increase collagen production, improving elasticity of the skin and lessening the visibility of stretch marks. Lastly, it has antiaging properties as it improves the skin’s natural firmness and keeps it hydrated, helping to prevent wrinkles.
3. TREATMENT FOR ACNE. Aloe vera contains hormones that have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing skin inflammation and stimulating growth of new cells – allowing skin to heal quickly and with minimal scarring. In the Ayurvedic practice (the ancient healing system in India, which I’ve recently been studying more about), aloe vera is used to heal all types of chronic skin problems, including acne, eczema and psoriasis.
4. PROMOTES HEALTHY GUMS & TEETH. Aloe vera juice, when used as a mouthwash, has shown to prevent buildup of plaque, helping with tooth decay and gum diseases such as gingivitis. It reduces bleeding, inflammation and swelling of the gums. Additionally, given its antifungal properties, aloe helps to heal cracked corners of the mouth and mouth ulcers.

I love the concept of a cleanse or detox.  

DETOX is one of those words that has different meanings to everyone, but the most fascinating thing is that it has a role in all ancient cultures.  People have been applying some form of cleanse or detox in their lives for thousands and thousands of years; its an ancient art of healing.  It really is an important concept for everyone to understand, and to start implementing in their lives in some way.   

I recently attended a conference focused on Ayurveda - the ancient Indian healing/medical system - where people believe in doing a cleanse (which they call Pancha Karma) regularly; its suggested to do a cleanse every season to clear the channels of the body from built-up toxins (which they call Ama).  Additionally, they suggest doing a short fast about once a week, for example, not eating for 18-20 hours.

The idea is that we need to give our bodies a short break from all the hard-to-digest foods and more importantly, all the harmful chemicals that we’re exposed to every day.   Detoxing removes toxins that are stored in fat cells and throughout the blood, which eases the load on your body and causes your energy levels to rise.  It also helps to starve any bad bacteria, yeast, etc, and ultimately helps you reach a higher state of health and well-being.

I highly suggest starting with at least a 10 day cleanse once a year.  Every time I do a detox, I see positive results.  I feel lighter, my digestion gets better, and I feel more energized.  But additionally, I suggest finding little ways to detox on a regular basis to avoid too much build-up of toxins, and stay as healthy and vibrant as possible.  

Here are 15 tips to aid your body in its detoxification process on a daily basis:  

A client asked me the other day about Salt (Isn't it really bad for you? Should I get iodized or non-iodized? Is there any type of salt that is better?...) and I realized that it's a highly misunderstood, and I guess controversial, topic.  So I decided it was worth addressing today.  

Let me start off by saying that salt is not always bad!  Like most things, it depends on various factors specific to each person's health, but for the most part, some good quality, high mineral-content salt is actually good for you, and much needed!  

Salt is an important element in keeping the proper mineral balance in our bodies.  Our bodies need salt for proper circulation, bone density, and to stabilize blood sugar levels.  However, there are many types of salt available today, so it's important to distinguish between them to make sure you're consuming the right kind and avoiding the worst (most common) type of salt.

Why are most people afraid of Salt?

Because excessive salt can bind water in the bloodstream and raise blood pressure.  But this is primarily because people are consuming the worst type of sodium - refined Table Salt, which is a manufactured form of sodium, processed at high heat - and they're unknowingly consuming it in very high quantities through all packaged, processed goods.

Table Salt (like most other salts) is mostly just sodium chloride (NaCl), but as it's chemically produced and bleached, it's stripped of all minerals when processed, and then supplemented with synthetic chemicals.  These chemicals can include manufactured forms of sodium bicarbonate, fluoride, anti-caking agents, potassium iodide, even aluminum, and may also include some MSG or processed sugar to help stabilize the added iodine.  What's important to keep in mind is that these added chemicals can quickly become very toxic for our bodies!

Table salt can cause blood pressure to rise rapidly because the blood is attempting to move the toxic elements away from the heart.  Plus, excessive table salt will cause us to retain liquids, and can worsen many existing imbalances / health conditions.

However, do not despair because there are more natural occurring forms of salt that are actually good for you, such as Himalayan Salt and Celtic Salt, two types of sea salts which are harvested and dried in the sun.  Even Kosher Salt is way better than your regular table salt.

I've realized that extraordinary things are happening everyday around us, but sometimes we notice them more than others, and that's when we stop to ask ourselves- what does it all mean?  What impact does it have on my life, and what should I do about it?

Last week, a family member of mine passed away, which filled me with sadness, but even more so, with a desire to REALLY live my life.  It was a reminder that life can be shorter than we expect.  It made me think... What can I do now to make the life I live be as complete and happy as possible?

So I asked myself a few questions:  Do I feel great right now?  Am I happy with my life?  Am I enjoying my work?  Do I love my body and give it the care it deserves?  Am I enjoying the friends and family around me, and appreciating their amazing presence in my life?

The great thing for me was that I came up with positive answers.  The changes I've made in my life over the past 2 years have been really good for me, and I realized, they're all based on choices that I made.  Not luck.  No passive anything.  Difficult, conscious decisions.

So I want to remind you today that YOU HAVE CHOICES, and you should be aware of that, and grateful.  Ask yourself these questions, and make some good choices.  Take action where it's most needed so that you're answering YES to all these questions above.

What helped me with my choices was a lot of self reflection, and taking some action, day by day.  So I want to share with you 3 easy steps for you to apply TODAY to help you get closer to living your fullest, happiest life:

Have you found yourself experiencing frequent headaches, and you just don’t know why?  

Or maybe you’re experiencing other pains / bodily aches, like leg cramps?

Do you having trouble sleeping?  

Are you always craving chocolate?

If any of these symptoms resonate with you, then you are probably lacking in one essential mineral:

MAGNESIUM.

I personally started introducing more magnesium into my diet to help with my bowel movements, and wow, it became my life savior in that regard.  But also, I find that it helps me sleep better and my headaches (which were getting to be pretty bad) are gone!  Not only that, magnesium has helped me with my chocolate cravings, which are another sign of magnesium deficiency.

I now literally cannot live without my Magnesium.  It has so many amazing benefits, and yet so many people are deficient (as I was).  Let’s just say there is a very good reason why many holistic doctors and practitioners are referring to Magnesium as the “miracle mineral”.

Here are a few of those amazing benefits...