Food hotspot in Ottawa: Jugo Juice!

This company founded by a francophone couple is worth checking out, if you can afford the price!

Go to their website for more!

INGREDIENT OF THE MONTH: Goji Berry, also known as the Wolfberry

Sounds like something out of Pokemon, doesn’t it? This controversial berry has been a cherished fruit in Chinese and Tibetan medicines for centuries. The little berry is an excellent source of Vitamin C and dietary fibre. Can also (allegedly) help prevent breast cancer.

“Hailed as the newest superfood, goji, a Himalayan berry, has inspired a surge of interest for its use in treating diabetes, hypertension, malaria, fever, cancer and other ailments. Gram for gram, goji berries pack more vitamin C than some oranges and more beta-carotene than carrots. Unfortunately, though, there isn't enough evidence yet to confirm the health claims, since we only have testimonials and animal studies to go by. And goji berries and goji juice are costly.

Dietary uses: Goji berries are similar in taste to raisins but more tart. They can be eaten raw or cooked and are a tasty addition to tea, soup and hot cereal.” – Canadianliving.com

Products:

·      Natierra’s Raw, Organic Goji Berries (sometimes found at Winners),

·      Also used in wines and teas

Please note:

Safety issues

Two published case reports described elderly women who experienced increased bleeding, expressed as an elevated INR, after drinking quantities of wolfberry tea.

Further in vitro testing revealed that the tea inhibited warfarin metabolism, providing evidence for possible interaction between warfarin and undefined wolfberry phytochemicals.

Atropine, a toxic alkaloid found in other members of the Solanaceae family, occurs naturally in wolfberry fruit. The atropine concentrations of berries from China and Thailand are variable, with a maximum content of 19 ppb, below the likely toxic amount.

Find out more about the Goji berry and its controversies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfberry.

SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIES: MATCHA MONSOON

Pure matcha green tea powder, vanilla soymilk and vanilla frozen yogurt.

Source: Booster Juice.

Choices in ingredients:

-       You can find the matcha at specialized tea stores (you can also get Booster Juice's premium blend),

-       Vanilla frozen yogurt: get something organic (preferably),

-       Also, consider adding Goji berries and/or whey protein powder to really get you energized."

Teen moms, get ready to go back to school with these fantastic Old Navy sales!

Source: tosh.0 blog

This teenage mother trend is clearly important enough to cause a new fashion line. What is happening to sexual health education in the U.S.?

Tell us what you think!

SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIES: POMEGRANATE PASSION

Pomegranate, strawberries, raspberries and vanilla frozen yogurt.

Source: Booster Juice.

Choices in ingredients:

•         Consider getting the fruits frozen (e.g.: Europe’s best),
•         Vanilla frozen yogurt: get something organic (preferably),
•         Also, consider adding Goji berries and/or whey protein powder to really get you energized.

4 dance-inspired workout moves from Tré Armstrong

1. Hip Swings with the Beat

Works: Arm, abs, calves, thighs

Start at standing with arms by sides. Step feet apart and bend knees slightly. Swing hips and arms to left shifting weigh onto left leg (A). Hold one second.  Then swing hips and arms to right with the rhythm of your workout music (B). Hold one second. Swing hips between the two sides for three minutes—or the length of your favourite tune.

2. Dynamic Shoulder Rolls

Works: Works front and back of shoulders, abs

Start at standing with arms by sides. Step right leg forward, bending left knee. Roll shoulders forward and up (A). Hold for three seconds. Bonus: Tighten abs for an added “crunch.” Roll shoulders back and down (B). Hold for three seconds. Repeat for thee minutes, or one workout tune.

3. Firm Your Booty Leg Lifts

Works: Glutes, abs, shoulders

Get on the floor on elbows and knees (A). (Though Tré has her head up so we can catch her amazing smile, it’s best to keep your neck straight and facing toward the floor—but do keep the smile!) Lift left leg up, keeping your foot flexed and squeezing your glutes, hold for two seconds (B). Return to starting position. Do 15 to 20 reps. Switch legs.

4. Stretch and Reach for the Sky

Works: Calves, thighs

Start at standing with arms by sides. Step right leg back, while bending left knee and swinging right arm up and left arm back (A). You should feel a stretch in your right calf. Hold two seconds. Bring right leg forward, bend knee and stand on left toes (B). Hold for two seconds. You should feel a stretch in your left thigh and calf. Bonus: Helps improve balance. Do 8 to 10 reps. Switch sides.

Source: Best Health

Is Vegan the superior dietary lifestyle?

"Former President Bill Clinton dropped another bombshell confession last week on CNN with the admission that he is... and I hope you are sitting down for this... a vegan. 

He has tried tofu, tempeh and seitan, and he has inhaled. And the results have been spectacular:

Clinton, who had quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 to pay for the sins of his infamous meat-heavy and fat-heavy diet, has lost 24 pounds and has lowered his cholesterol levels dramatically since switching to veganism, or at least near veganism, in 2010.

This begs the question: Is veganism a superior dietary lifestyle?  The answer, to paraphrase Bill, is that it depends on what your definition of veganism is.

Veganism 101

There's no universal definition of veganism, but for the most part this is a doctrine stating that humans should live without killing or exploiting animals. At a dietary level, this means no meat, eggs, milk and, for many vegans, even honey — because the bees are working for "the man."

There are ethical vegans, as well, who extend this principle to avoid all animal products, such as leather, beeswax candles, bone china porcelain and numerous other non-food items.

Bill Clinton appears to be a dietary vegan, concerned more about his own health than the health of any animal.

The great meat-vegan tradeoff

Veganism is one of the healthiest dietary lifestyles... if done properly.  It is also one of the unhealthiest diets in town if not done properly, which is often the case.

The reason for the latter scenario is twofold. Animal products are loaded with nutrients that are hard to obtain in adequate amounts through a plant-based diet. Also, the American culture in particular is so meat-focused that vegans in North America can have trouble preparing food that is satiating enough to keep one on such a diet.

In short, animal products provide high-quality protein, healthy omega-3 fatty acids (in fish, anyway), calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin B12.  As a vegan, as opposed to vegetarian, you cannot rely on milk, cheese and eggs to get some of these nutrients.  B12 is a particularly sticky issue for vegans, because it is only present in animal products, such as eggs. 

This means that, as a vegan, you need to become skilled in preparing iron-rich and calcium-rich foods such as dark, leafy green vegetables; zinc-containing foods such as nuts and beans; foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, for which there are few other than flaxseed; and a variety of protein-containing foods every day such as rice, beans and lentils, to be sure you are getting a complete protein.

Or you take a bunch of vitamin pills, as some vegans have to do.

Vegan junk food

Vegans from non-western cultures, or at least knowledgeable of such cultures, often have a more satisfying diet. Most Asians, for example, know how to prepare beans, lentils and other vegetables in such a way that the concept of "meat substitute" doesn't exist. Similarly in Japan and China, soymilk is soymilk with its own rich flavor and purpose; soymilk isn't a milk substitute to be processed in such a way to mimic the texture and nutritional profile of cow's milk.

Many Western vegan diets, on the other hand, attempt to imitate meat with soy burgers and strange vegetarian sausages, bacon and the like.  These foods tend to be heavy in salt and oil to compensate for their inherent bland taste.

Then there's the "I can't believe it isn't healthy" substitution phenomenon: vegans (and vegetarians) relying on almond "milk" without enough calcium to ward off osteoporosis; vegan cheese with only a tenth of the protein found in real cheese; and protein-bar meals devoid of complex carbohydrates, leading to roller-coaster blood sugar rides.

Also, unskilled vegans, for lack of food options, often fall back on the same unhealthy foods as meat eaters: crackers, potato chips, sugary breakfast cereals, and Taco Bell burritos (hold the cheese).

All natural?

To argue that veganism is natural for humans is somewhat of a stretch, because of the vitamin B12 issue; our ancestors didn't have access to vitamin pills. And to argue veganism is morally superior is somewhat of an insult to ancient cultures such as the Inuit and numerous hunter-gatherer tribes who have an inherent respect for the land and water that supports them.

None of this should dissuade you from becoming a vegan. Yes, in some ways, eating meat is easier. And it can be healthier if you can't do the vegan thing properly. Of course, meat comes with its own baggage in the form of artery-clogging fats and cancer-causing byproducts.

Thus, we could all benefit considerably — in terms of helping personal health and the environment — by being a lot more vegan with an emphasis on self-preparation of whole foods.

Christopher Wanjek is the author of the books "Bad Medicine" and "Food At Work." " - Live Science