Tips

New Year And Truly New You

Tips

Our Founder and Editor in Chief sat down with some all-star trainers, nutritionists, and doctors to get the scoop on what you really should be doing to live your best life. Here’s a hint: You’ll be doing a lot of meditating and eating tons of avocados!

BY DANNY SEO

As a 20-year veteran of the magazine business, I know it’s inevitable that when the December issues hit newsstands, covers will scream: “New Year, New You!” “Try this diet!” “Eat This, Lose Weight Fast!” “One Superfood to a Super You!” They can feel like false promises that border on—dare I say—fake news. But hitting refresh at the start of a New Year isn’t a bad idea. I mean, who doesn’t want to feel happier, be stronger—truly strive to live your best life? Obviously, fad diets, quick fixes and extreme makeovers aren’t the answer. But to get to that New You(!), I turned to some of the gurus of healthy living we’ve seen in the pages of Naturally over the years. I wanted to get their sensible and real-world advice. In a (superfood) nutshell: How do you live Naturally? How do you supercharge your mornings to kick-start every day in the right direction? So here it is—their real advice for real people. From really smart, super healthy people. My all-star group of gurus that will truly help you ring in 2018 just right.

THE EXPERT: LEE HOLMES; @LeeSupercharged; superchargedfood.com

Does Lee need an intro? She’s been a contributing columnist with us from almost the beginning of Naturally, and is just one of those people you wish, hope, and pray becomes your best friend. If you’ve got digestive issues, Lee is there to help you heal your gut. But she’s much more than that, and I am so proud to have her as one of my all-star contributors to this magazine. —Danny

What’s Lee doing first thing in the morning in Sydney, Australia?

The first thing I do when I wake up is have a tablespoon of my Love Your Gut powder with a glass of water. Gut health is the gateway to good health, beauty, and happiness—so I like to start my day off on the right foot.

I love your recipes. What’s your favorite breakfast?

Lee’s Chia and Berry Overnight Breakfast Jar with my Love Your Gut powder. The powder is made of organic diatomaceous earth, and helps clean out the accumulated build-up of toxins within the body. It gently sweeps away these impurities on a daily basis to keep our insides toned, clean, and efficient. (Editor’s note: If you can’t get your hands on Lee’s Gut Powder, look for food-grade diatomaceous earth online or order Lee’s at superchargedfood.com/shop).

Chia seeds may be small in size but they’re huge in terms of their nutritious properties, containing omega-3s, antioxidants, fiber, calcium, and protein. These little guys can even boost the immune system and burn fat.

LEE’S CHIA AND BERRY OVERNIGHT BREAKFAST JAR

GATHER:

  • □  1⁄2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries, plus extra to serve
  • □  1⁄2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, plus extra to serve
  • □  Pinch vanilla powder
  • □  Pinch cinnamon
  • □  3 tbsp coconut flakes
  • □  3 tbsp chia seeds
  • □  1 cup milk of choice
  • □  1 tbsp nut butter (optional)
  • □  1 tbsp Love Your Gut powder

► Combine all ingredients apart from milk and nut butter in mason jar, gently mashing berries, then pour milk over and pop lid on. Place in fridge overnight.

► In the morning, serve with a spoon of nut butter and extra berries.

THE EXPERT: AMIE VULPINE; @TheHealthyApple, author of Eating Clean

Amie is an inspiring expert who turned her own personal triumph over a life- threatening illness into a platform to help others. If Amie can use the power of nutrition to transform her life, you can seriously do it, too. Her recipes aren’t just deliciously healthy, they taste mighty good. —Danny

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Meditate.

Okay, your go-to healthy breakfast?

Two organic eggs, half of a large ripe avocado, and two cups frozen 365 brand Whole Foods cauliflower sautéed with avocado oil, a few fresh basil leaves, sea salt, and freshly ground pepper.

Tell me why you love this dish…

I just started to be able to eat eggs again after healing my gut the last 10 years, so eggs are a big part of my life now. They’re full of protein and super nourishing for me first thing in the morning. They’re not too heavy and not too light so they keep me full because of their healthy fats. Speaking of healthy fats, avocado is my go-to healthy fat, and I can’t get enough of it. It’s creamy and satisfying especially with eggs for breakfast, plus it contains almost 20 vitamins and minerals so it’s a powerhouse superfood in my home. Cauliflower is a cruciferous veggie and a great detox veggie that has helped me tremendously with balancing my hormones. It’s also rich in vitamin C so it’s ideal for eating all year long to keep your body healthy!

Best afternoon snack?

A handful of walnuts because they’re full of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, they’re a healthy fat, and just a handful keeps me satisfied all afternoon. Eating more healthy fats has helped me in SO many ways—especially with my hormones, ladies! Please do not fear fat!

What do you think is the biggest mistake people make trying to reboot their lives?

Cutting calories and dieting. It only leads to failure. I have so many clients that come to me counting ‘points’ and calories—and their health is awful. They’re focused on the wrong thing! 100 calories from a 100-calorie pack of Oreo’s is not the same as 100 calories of almonds. One is highly inflammatory with ingredients your body does not recognize and the other is an anti-inflammatory and a healthy fat that allows your body to do its job! If you stop putting your attention on calories and points, and you start eating real, whole, one-ingredient foods like organic chicken, spinach, apples, walnuts, etc., you’ll see your inflammation lower, your weight drop, and your overall health improve! The focus should be on the quality of the food.

If you could only do one thing to be healthy, what would it be?

Years ago, I would have said something like eat more salads or work out, but that only gets you so far. I see hundreds of clients who eat salads and work out—and aren’t healthy. So, my mindset has shifted, especially after healing my body during years of health issues. The idea is to learn how to slow down, get your body out of fight/flight mode, and make time to nurture yourself. You can eat all the kale in the world, run marathons, and still not be healthy if you’re beating yourself up and your body is in its sympathetic nervous system mode, which makes it feel like it’s being chased by a tiger. Think of the tigers as your emails, your in-laws, your boss, traffic, etc. To be healthy, find ways to cope with stress to get your body back into its rest/relaxation mode.

THE EXPERT: KIEL POLLITT; @Kielp; KielPollitt.com

I met Kiel when I was commuting between the East Coast and LA for work and would stop by his LA Juice shop to get some fresh-squeezed deliciousness. We’ve turned to Kiel for tips and advice to demystify juicing and he’s always been a wealth of knowledge. —Danny

Alright, I know you meditate, too, so we’re moving on…what’s for breakfast?

Recently I’ve been making a shake using Garden of Life’s Chocolate Raw Organic Protein meal. It’s vegan and packed with protein, greens, and other superfoods. It tastes great and is very satisfying. I usually mix it with almond milk, but it tastes nice with water, too. If you have more time you can always add banana and blend it in as well.

Sounds really easy. Why is this your perfect start meal?

This contains every healthy grass imaginable from wheatgrass to alfalfa to barley. It’s got immune-boosting bulbs plus roots like garlic and ginger. Garden of Life products are known for all containing probiotics and enzymes as they are super beneficial in keeping good bacteria up and harmful away. One would think with all these ingredients the product would taste horrible but its’ super delicious. It is sweetened with stevia and I buy the chocolate one made with cacao. I feel great consuming it—I know I’m nourishing my body with exceptional organic ingredients.

Whatcha snacking on these days?

I love dried Organic Mango Strips from Trader Joe’s. They remind me of healthy fruit roll-ups, a little bit of childhood nostalgia. I tend to be driving in my car a lot so they are super easy to eat on the run.

Biggest mistake people make trying to reboot their lives:

Extreme cleansing and rebooting can be a major mistake because many become overwhelmed and end up throwing in the towel, or they end up depriving themselves so much that they fall completely off the wagon after the reboot is over. Small changes over time tend to have the best success. Such as adding green juice to your daily routine or making it a point to eat veggies twice a day. Simply cutting out alcohol can have a huge beneficial impact in the long term.

Tell me about your passion for juicing:

I am passionate about juicing because making your own fresh juice at home is the best way to get tons of nutrition in your body. Nowadays, in a competitive juice market, many juice companies are treating their juices with HPP (pasteurization) and they are not fresh. Juice should always be made fresh from organic fruits and veggies. Making yours at home can add huge benefits to your health such as clear glowing skin, better digestion, increased energy, and weight loss or gain depending on what your body needs to be in balance. The benefits of juicing are endless. Incorporating more greens than fruit helps keep your blood sugar in better balance.

THE EXPERT: ADAM ROSANTE; @adamrosante; thecreatorcall.com

Adam is one of the fittest guys I know—I’m convinced he does ab crunches in his sleep. As one of the most in-demand celebrity trainers in New York City, Adam is anything but militant about nutrition and exercise. On the contrary, he’s very sensible and fun and has some great advice that I know will work for you. —Danny

How do you start your day?

I think of three things I’m grateful for.

What’s your go-to breakfast meal?

A smoothie. Gather: Kale, avocado, peanut butter, Pure Protein Vanilla Whey Powder, water, ice. Blend.

And this is super healthy because…

The healthy fat in the avocado is amazing for skin radiance, mental clarity and, believe it or not, fat burn. The whey protein keeps me feeling fuller, longer and helps build lean muscle. And the kale is full of essential vitamins and micronutrients. It’s a super-hero smoothie.

3 things you should always toss into your bag:

Water. Journal and Pen (that counts as one!). Snack. And your super-snack is…Kale salad with extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, pink Himalayan sea salt, and pumpkin seeds. First off, it’s more delicious, filling, and nutritious than any packaged, vending machine snack you’ll ever find. You’ve got great fiber in the kale to really satiate your hunger, the olive oil for a dose of healthy fat, lemon juice for its cleansing properties, Himalayan sea salt
for its essential minerals, and pumpkin seeds to give you not only a great dose of magnesium and zinc for immune support, but to add a really satisfying crunch to your snack as well.

If I’ve only got an hour at the gym, what should I be doing?

Strength training.

If you could only do one thing to be healthy, what is it?

Daily meditation. Your mind is the direct gateway to health and happiness. Meditation is the key to getting there.

What might you have for lunch today?

Before I leave the house, I throw oil-packed tuna into a Tupperware container with capers, lemon juice, and red chili pepper flakes, mix it all up, and I’m good to go. It takes less than five minutes, is super cheap, incredibly delicious, and easy to take on the go. I may even toss a pack of Wasa crackers in my backpack with it, but most times, just the tuna salad is perfect.

THE EXPERT: ASHLEY KOFF, @AshleyKoffApproved

Whenever I need an expert to get to the bottom of some crazy healthy trend or tell me the straight dope on the latest superfood, it’s Ashley. I remember one talk she was giving at the Natural Products Expo and the takeaway I got was— if you’re only going to eat one thing everyday, make it broccoli. So whenever I feel like I need to do something good for me, I eat a big plate of steamed broccoli and I think… this is Ashley Koff Approved! —Danny

What’s Ashley eating for breakfast today?

I’m drinking water and a probiotic as I prepare a “Better Get Up and Go Bowl!”

Sounds delicious. Tell me why this is Ashley Koff Approved!?

It’s the combo first, the nutrient balance that gives my body better energy—and the fact that I am not having a stimulant (coffee) without nutrients to provide that lasting energy. Hemp seeds are like the wild salmon of the plant kingdom, they give me complete plant protein and essential fats as well as fiber, iron, and magnesium. I like to have my coffee this way because I find it delicious. And by starting with water and a probiotic, I am prepping my digestion for a better day.

Biggest mistake people make trying to reboot their lives:

Guessing what their body needs to run better. Stop guessing, start assessing!
I use AKA: Assess, Keep what’s better, Act better, not perfect, more often. This refers to, first, assessing your current nutrition/health to identify and keep what’s already better. Then, identify what needs attention and use what we already do better (how do we make time, and prioritize to do things, etc.) to help us act better, not perfect, to address what needs attention.

What one thing should I do right now?

Optimize your digestive system—you are not what you eat, you are what you digest and absorb. You can’t be healthy if your digestion isn’t working better.

I love cinnamon! It’s undeniably one of the tastiest spices around. It’s also great for lowering blood sugar levels and can even decrease the likelihood of developing heart diseases.

There’s another berry good reason I love this breakfast! Not only are berries absolutely delicious, they’re also low in sugar and loaded with polyphenols and antioxidants for optimal function!

What about a snack?

Most definitely my home-made, insta-famous turmeric fudge. All you need
is 1⁄2 cup tahini, 1⁄4 cup honey or rice malt syrup, 1⁄4 cup melted coconut oil, 2 tsp turmeric and 1 tsp ginger. Stir and leave it in the fridge to set. How easy is that?

Coconut oil is a healthy saturated fat that can promote heart health and improve blood cholesterol. It also helps activate the turmeric. The fudge is rich in anti-inflammatory ingredients and minerals, it can help with anti-bloating and helps create an alkaline environment in the body.

Tahini is the beautiful seed butter that contains more protein than milk and most nuts! It’s a rich source of B vitamins that provide energy and can even improve brain function.

BETTER GET UP AND GO BOWL

GATHER:

  • □  1 packet organic oats (I use Nature’s Path)
  • □  2 tbsp hemp hearts (I like Manitoba Harvest)
  • □  1 tbsp nut butter (organic cashew or almond)
  • □  sprinkle of cinnamon
  • □  1-2 shots of espresso

► Place all ingredients in a bowl, add espresso, stir, let sit and eat.

► Can also be overnight oats if you add 4 oz of unsweetened nut milk and add all ingredients in a mason jar. If doing this, add room temp espresso or cold brew coffee.

THE EXPERT: DR. TIERAONA LOW DOG, drlowdog.com

I take one multivitamin every morning—and it’s MegaFood for Men formulated by Dr. Low Dog. I like it because it gives me a ton of B vitamins for energy along with everything else I need, all made from real food pressed into real tablets. And because it’s made from real ingredients like rice, carrots, broccoli, and oranges, I can take two tablets on an empty stomach and not feel nauseous. —Danny

What’s the good Doctor having for breakfast today?

I am addicted to avocado egg toast. Smash 1⁄2 avocado in a small bowl, add a squeeze of lemon juice, and a little salt. Smear it all on one slice of toasted whole-grain bread and cover it with hard-boiled egg slices. Top with a few chia seeds. Yum.

Every ingredient is a hero ingredient. Avocados are loaded with nutrients (e.g., potassium, vitamins B6, C, E, K, folate, lutein, zeaxanthin), monoun- saturated fats (great for the heart and lower inflammation). They’re also high in fiber and antioxidants—and taste fabulous. Free-range organic eggs are an excellent source of protein, packed full of nutrients and one of our best sources of choline, a vitamin (related to the B vitamins) that is crucial for liver and brain health. Whole-grain toast (real whole grain, not just brown looking bread) is a great source of bran fiber, as well as B vitamins, magnesium, iron, and zinc. And chia seeds give a great little crunch along with protein, omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, and a whole host of nutrients. In total, this breakfast will keep your mind sharp and appetite satiated while providing an ample amount of fat and protein and a relatively low amount of carbs.

What’s in your travel bag?

I never leave home without a reusable water bottle with filter, a bag of trail mix, and MegaFood’s Multi for Women.

Snack?

Something with protein and fat for energy. I like Justin’s almond butter single-serving packs. Perfect by itself or put on a sliced apple. Trader Joe’s Omega Trek Mix with cranberries is what I take with me on the road.

What do you do at the gym?

I don’t go to the gym. I go the mountains for a 2-hour hike twice weekly no matter the season. There is nothing like roaming the mountainside, clambering over rocks, surrounded by trees, and breathing the fresh air to get your heart rate up, work the major muscle groups, and totally lift your mood. Burning 600-700 calories before breakfast on a Sunday is an awesome feeling.

If you could do just one thing, what would it be?

Cultivate compassion. Because it is what allows us to let go of anger, resentment, jealousy, and hatred of others and ourselves. It allows us to live happiness and kindness, plus to wish and extend the same to all living creatures. From this place, we choose foods that will nourish us and our planet, and we move our bodies in ways that honor it is a temple. We sleep better because our minds are at ease, and we love more deeply and fully.

THE EXPERT: GABRIELLE REECE, @GabbyReece

Does Gabby Reece even need an introduction? She and her husband Laird Hamilton are probably the two fittest people I know. I was lucky to spend the day with them in Kauai when we shot them for the magazine and I can attest: She knows what’s doing when it comes to being your absolute best version of yourself. If Gabby says do this…do it! —Danny

How do ya start your day?

I started doing a 10 minute meditation to start my day off on the right foot or positive frame of mind.

What’s your breakfast routine?

I like real food as much as possible. Avocado and two eggs is a good start for me: a little protein, a healthy fat, a little energy but not too heavy. If I don’t want to eat food before training I will have espresso with two scoops of Laird Superfood Creamer. Fat and caffeine are for energy.

Why does everyone recommend avocado?

Avocado is one of the kings. It’s a filling and healthy fat. The other thing I love about avocados is that no matter what diet people follow it is NEVER on the bad list. And I would not do it with my breakfast but I try and fit turmeric in my meals or drinks whenever I can. It’s good for the gut and inflammation.

Tell me what’s in your bag:

1. Vitamins: I try to eat real food as much as possible, but I like aminos before bed and pump the vitamin C if I feel a cold coming. 2: A water bottle. And 3: MobilityWod therapy ball for planes and sitting at desks

Do you snack?

I think people should only eat when they are hungry and not snack too often. The process of digesting food is taxing on the body so it’s better to eat or not eat. Also a lot of times when we want to snack we are either bored or thirsty. Try drinking some water.

Tell me about your workouts;

I like high-intensity workouts. Do not sit and bang away on the cardio machines reading a newspaper. Having said that, if you are under a lot of stress and heading to the gym it may be in your best interest to breathe and stretch. Also, it’s imperative to change it up and add all elements of movement (breathing, resistance, increased heart rate, balance, and stretching). Do not do the same things over and over.

What’s for lunch today?

My go-to lunch would be in-season veggies with a small piece of high quality animal protein with enough healthy fat. If you don’t consume enough fat at your meals you won’t feel satisfied and it can lead you to overeat.