I’m on my way to being a certified health coach! Received my package from the Institution of Integrative Nutrition today… woohoo. Raw food and health have always been a hobby of mine, but making it official now 😉

Did you eat fresh organic fruit today? If so what? This is what I munched on… Papaya with lime and pineapple. And my fav, banana with almond butter.

• Vitamin A – This vitamin is an antioxidant that helps produce healthy sebum in the scalp. Food sources: spinach, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, apricots and peaches.  
• Vitamin C – It is an antioxidant that helps maintain skin & hair health. Food sources: Citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe, pineapple, tomatoes, green peppers, potatoes and dark green vegetables.
• Vitamin E – This vitamin is an antioxidant that enhances scalp circulation. Food sources: Cold-pressed vegetable oils, wheat germ oil, raw seeds and nuts, dried beans, and leafy green vegetables.
• Biotin – This vitamin produces keratin that prevents hair loss and hair graying. Food sources: Almonds, peanut butter, banana, papaya, carrots, avocado, tomato sauce, and sweet potato.
• Inositol – This vitamin keeps hair follicles healthy at the cellular level. Food sources: Whole grains, brewer’s yeast, citrus fruits (oranges), nuts, and cantaloupe.
• Niacin (Vitamin B3) – This vitamin allows scalp blood circulation. Food sources: Peanut butter and lentils
• Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) – This prevents graying and hair loss. Food sources: Celery, cucumber, bell pepper, corn, mushrooms, avocado, and cauliflower.
• Vitamin B6 – It prevents hair loss and helps create melanin that gives hair its color. Food sources: Spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, squash, banana, eggplant, onion, grapes, and ginger root.
• Vitamin B12 – It prevents hair loss. Food sources: Dulse.

(Source: http://www.worldofhair.com/geo/vitamins.htm)

Yeah we had a REALLY good time this week 🙂

It’s important that we all get a break from our crazy lives, release some stress, relax, and recharge. I’m so ready to take on 2012! Bring it…

On our way to a river rafting tour through the rain forest in Costa Rica, we stopped by this organic fruit stand for coconut water! So refreshing….

Coconut water is a awesome drink to take as preventative medicine. It contains lauric acid the same as in mother’s milk. This lauric acid is antimicrobial, anti bacterial, anti fungal and anti protozoal.

Phew! Internet finally works and we are good to go. In Costa Rica right now, and have seriously been livnig on the most amazing mangos, papayas, pineapple and avocados for the past week. Here are some pics. Hope you all had a wonderful New Year! xx

AM run on Key Biscayne with my sister Louise.

Can’t wait to land in Costa Rica – a raw foodist paradise. That’s where the father of raw food Viktoras has his retreats, among many other big names. Bring it on!! I want to taste every tropical fruit possible. Will post pics from my adventures as soon as I can. xx

(Image: NationalGeographic.com)

How are you feeling right now? The Christmas food get to you yet? Well I recommend you start today with a green smoothie to get you on the right track. And even if you have more of this diary and meat based food to eat, this will help with digestion! Try popping a few enzyme pills too…. Help the body out… This time of the year is rough for the colon 🙂

Green Smoothie: 1 banana, water, and a handful of spinach

Soaking raw nuts and seeds stimulates the process of germination, which increases the vitamin C, B, and carotenes (pre-vitamin A) content. It is also easier for the body to digest nuts (love that) in this form. You can either buy them, as seen in the pic above, or do it yourself – see times for the various nuts below.

• Almonds, germination time 8 – 12 hours
• Cashews, whole, germination time 2 – 2 1/2 hours
• Sesame seeds, germination time 8 hours
• Sunflower seeds, germination time 2 hours
• Walnuts, germination time 4 hours