Lifting Heavier Weights....

Can also help you lose the “belly fat”.  While it is true that you can't spot reduce—your body is born with pre-conceived places it wants to store fat—a University of Alabama study found that the women who lifted weights lost more intra-abdominal fat (deep belly fat) than those who just did cardio. This not only helps you lose your belly pooch and look better in a bikini, but it also lessens your risk of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and some cancers.

Metabolism...

Need another reason to love your body? It burns calories all by itself - as long as you don't get in the way. See, every cell in your body plays a role in energy metabolism - the process of turning the food you eat into energy that keeps your heart beating, lungs pumping, and muscles moving. The faster your metabolism, the more calories you burn. And just like there are ways to speed it up - by working out, for instance - certain habits can hit the brakes on your natural calorie-churning engine.  

My two favorite are - dehydration and skimping on sleep!

All of your body's cellular processes, including metabolism, depend on water. If you're dehydrated, you could burn up to 2 percent fewer calories!

A 2012 study found that people who sleep less move less the next day, which means they burn fewer calories. But it gets worse: Sleep deprivation actually reduces the amount of energy your body uses at rest! 

Feed Your Brain for Optimum Performance...

As we age, it is vital to take care of the most important organ we have – our brain. Our brain is able to not only store significant memories, but also help us enjoy our lives to the fullest by being actively engaged in it.

When it comes to your nutrition, you should be thinking about the best foods to feed your brain with. The brain needs a variety of nutritional needs in order to function at an optimum level. So, where can you find them? Turns out in many common foods. Here are a few you can stock your fridge with to get some more brain power:

1. Asparagus – This super food is loaded with folate Folate and folic acid are forms of a water-soluble B vitamin. Folate occurs naturally in food like asparagus. Why does your brain need it? It can boost your mood and keep mental illness such as depression at bay.
2. Avocados- We have all heard that avocados have healthy fats that can be good for your overall health, but turns out avocados can also boost vitamn E in your body which helps with keeping diseases such as Alzheimer's away. One study found people who got their vitamin E from foods, not supplements, lowered their risk of the disease by 67 percent.
3. Berries – Blueberries and raspberries have been touted for being rich in memory improving antioxidants, but they are also full of phytochemicals that can help ward off environmental chemicals we are confronted with on a daily basis.
4. Dark chocolate – Did you know just a few ounces of chocolate can help fine-tune concentration, thanks to improved blood flow to the brain? That is a good reason to keep it in your diet.
5. Fatty fish – Fatty fish such as salmon can boost your brain power with DHA-containing fatty acids, This can help your brain in the mood area and in concentration areas.

Chlorophyll...

This almost sounds like a miracle cure for all!! 

Need to atone for everything? Welcome to the antidote to your dietary sins.  If you drink coffee, chloryphyll helps to negate its acidity. If you drink alcohol, it helps metabolize alcohol faster. If you eat non-organic produce or fish high in mercury, it helps remove these toxins. If you don't do any of these things (Good for you! We'll have another cup of coffee, please!), it simply enhances your own vitality. Chlorophyll is the green pigment in all green plants, but can be bought in a concentrated liquid form made from nettles or mulberry leaves. 

I am going to give these a try this weekend!  Make chlorophyll water by mixing three tablespoons of chlorophyll to 32 ounces of filtered water. Flavor the drink by adding cucumber and fresh mint. Alternatively, make a green tea smoothie with almond milk, matcha green tea, avocado, chlorophyll, vanilla, and cardamom. 

Until Monday - Keep thinking veggies and protein!  

Herbs...

What a GREAT IDEA!  I am going to try and remember to do this at the end of the summer when it’s time to pull up my balcony herb garden! As soon as fresh herbs start to wilt, chop them up and put them in ice cube trays with extra-virgin olive oil. Once frozen, pop out the cubes and store in resealable plastic bags. You can use them to add flavor to just about everything. In addition to the typical ways you cook with oil, heat a few cubes to drizzle on top of air-popped popcorn or throw them in bowl of soup and use them for salad dressings!