Holli Thompson

Quinoa, (pronounced Keen -Wa) is one of my favorite grains and is actually a seed. It’s high in protein, making it a wonderful balanced protein for vegans, and it’s also easy to digest. Did I mention it’s gluten free? Unlike some heavier grains, quinoa leaves me feeling light and energized.  It’s also high in fiber and loaded with magnesium, a mineral that relaxes our systems. Check out this superfood that’s high in vitamins, minerals and fiber.  Here’s an easy recipe to try today. Ingredients 1 cup quinoa, cooked and cooled 1/2 teaspoon salt, (preferably Celtic sea salt) 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup lemon juice 3 fresh tomatoes, diced 1 cucumber, diced 2-3 spring green onions 1 cup fresh parsley Preparation Stir all ingredients together.  Best when allowed to sit for 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

How do you keep your skin clear and gorgeous?  Is there a way to prevent early wrinkles and crinkles?  What about oily breakouts, or dry skin as you age? Here are 5 proven nutrients for gorgeous skin and some easy foods to incorporate into your diet.  Adding in some of these foods along with proper hydration, lots of water, and movement is sure to give you the glow you crave, no matter what your age. 1-Vitamin E : guards against UV radiation damage Found in: avocado, almonds, olives, olive oil, broccoli 2-Vitamin A: repairs skin tissue Found in: carrots, sweet potatos, papaya, mango, spinach 3-Vitamin C: this antioxidant protects against free radicals and help build collagen Found in: citris fruits, pineapple, kiwi, green leafy vegetables 4-Zinc: promotes skin renewal and maintains collagen. Found in: pumpkin seeds  5-Omega 3 Fatty Acids: fortifies cell membranes Found in: salmon, flax seeds, walnuts, fish oil

What’s going on? Oprah joined the Vegan bandwagon and encouraged her team to go vegan for one week and 378 Harpo employees signed up.  Armed with free goodie bags from Kashi Cereal and Whole Foods, staffers made the commitment to change their diet for a week, at least. The Oprah Show on Tuesday, Feb 1 featured “Veganist” Kathy Freston, a friend of Oprah’s and author of a new book by that name. Kathy is not a nutrition professional, but is a best selling author and advocate for a vegan lifestyle.  Video clips showed Kathy meeting with the men and women of Harpo, encouraging junk-food junkies to persevere, taking one staffer grocery shopping and then showing up in her kitchen to help cook dinner. Freston claims that the vegan lifestyle encourages weight loss, stabilizes blood sugar, lowers your cholesterol and your blood pressure.  As a Health Coach I would add this is possible if done correctly; while limiting processed foods and sugars, and increasing whole foods like grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits.  (Freston and I differ when it comes to her love of processed soy) Michael Pollen, the famous omnivore from the “Omnivores Dilemma” and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential…

If I told you I had a Miracle method to lose weight fast, and that the side effect would be gorgeous skin and increased energy, would you be interested? I’m guessing you would be. Here it is. Water. That’s right. Water is the ultimate key to weight loss success. Here’s how it works. Most people are dehydrated and don’t realize it. Dehydration leads to low energy, and low energy often leads to overeating. The dehydrated person reaches for sugary or processed carbohydrate snacks to give them energy while taking in more calories than necessary and getting only a temporary energy lift. In reality what they needed was 8-16 ounces of water. Drinking pure clean water is essential for our entire body; our cells, our skin, our digestion, our waste removal, our energy and our metabolism. Hydrating prior to eating food is a wonderful way to get a true read of how hungry you really are, (do this in the hour prior to eating) and to avoid overeating. Drinking water throughout the day keeps your energy up and also your spirits. It plumps your skin, restores color to your complexion, and assists in digesting your morning meal. But wait, it’s SO boring! Most…

“New Year, New You” The Nutritional Style Way to Ring in the New Year! I shared this cleanse on CBS Channel 9 last week, and wanted to share it with you as well.  This is a great way to GENTLY ease into the New Year. Here’s the link to the T. V. segment “Add in the Good, Take Out the Bad” Add in: 1) Water, in many different ways. Water helps to hydrate your body, plump your skin, and curb your appetite.  2) Superfood Juices and Smoothies boost your antioxidants, helping to balance your cravings, moods and hormones 3) Whole Foods i.e. whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and organic meats and eggs aid in the digestion process by eliminating unnecessary additives, chemicals and sugars Take Out or Minimize: 1) Alcohol-taking a break from wine and alcohol reduces daily calories for quick weight loss and helps to gets rid of the “puffy” look from too much alcohol. 2) Dairy, Gluten and Sugar- these common inflammatory foods can show on your skin as redness, puffiness and breakouts, and can slow your digestion and elimination leading to weight gain. 3) Processed Foods- reducing anything with more than one ingredient improves your digestion and helps your body to…