PURPLE is the new GREEN! Try These Purple Veggies and Fruits!

Purple produce takes a backseat when it comes to regular grocery shopping.  Those weird and colorful vegetables and fruit often cost a bit more and are stuck in the back of the grocery aisle where nobody can see them.  However, over the past few years, purple produce (vegetables, whole foods and fruits with a purple pigmentation) have gained a lot more recognition amongst chefs, scientists and grocery stores in addition to local grocers.  Back in 2009, an article in the Chicago Tribune called The Color Purple: Disease Fighter was published.  This article explained some of the many advantages and nutritional health benefits of eating purple produce.  The distinctive purple hue gives purple vegetables, purple whole foods and purple fruit that added nutritional power and have cast purple produce into the super food category.

Here’s a paragraph from The Color Purple: Disease Fighter

 
Purple is not simply a popular trend in fashion. This color of royalty, dubbed the “new black” by fashionistas, is also the new black in food. In produce aisles, at farmers markets and on restaurant menus, you can now find a growing array of heirloom and specialty vegetables with a distinctive purple hue — purple potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, beans, corn, asparagus, peppers, baby artichokes and cauliflower. Beyond the pleasing appearance on the plate, the purple color is a cue for nutritional power.

So why the sudden interest in purple vegetables and heirloom produce?  The answer is simple.  The dark pigmentation that is responsible for the purple tones in these types of produce are called anthocyanins.  So what are anthocyanins?  Anthocyanins are a type of phytonutrient that is gaining attention because recent studies have suggested that they help reduce the risk of many types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.  In some human studies, anthocyanins have helped fight these three diseases as well.  Some other evidence suggests that anthocyanins in purple produce will help protect our brains when we grow old.  Here are some fast facts about the health benefits of purple vegetables, fruits and whole foods in recent research studies:

A recent USDA study found that 2 servings of purple potatoes a day helped lower blood pressure as much as a serving of oatmeal.  Many of the people in this study by Joe Vinson at the University of Scranton were overweight or obese and many of them were taking medication for high blood pressure during this study.

An Ohio State University study found that dark berries helped fight cancer by reducing inflammation.  Not only that, but purple berries were found to suppress the growth of cancer cells and even trigger cancer cell death naturally.

Another Ohio State University research study found that the anthocyanins in purple corn were the most potent in inhibiting the growth of colon cancer cells when evaluated against many other fruits and vegetables.

Some UK scientists used purple snapdragon genes to increase the anthocyanins in regular tomatoes.  The result was a dark purple pigmentation in the tomatoes that also produced much higher levels of anthocyanins and even comparable to that of blueberries and blackberries.  Cancer susceptible mice who were fed these gmo purple tomatoes lived longer.

Ever since the cultivation and farming methods of today were implemented, purple produce remained relatively unknown.  Because of their naturally bitter taste, they were deemed undesirable when compared against other traditional sweeter produce.  Take for instance this quote from Jo Robinson, the author of Eating on the Wild Side: The Missing Link to Optimum Health:

Throughout the ages, our farming ancestors have chosen the least bitter plants to grow in their gardens. It is now known that many of the most beneficial phytonutrients have a bitter, sour or astringent taste. Second, early farmers favored plants that were relatively low in fiber and high in sugar, starch and oil. These energy-dense plants were pleasurable to eat and provided the calories needed to fuel a strenuous lifestyle. The more palatable our fruits and vegetables became, however, the less advantageous they were for our health.

And here are some of the most popular purple vegetables and produce available in stores today:

Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes

Sangria Artichokes

Fiesole Baby Artichokes

Fiore Viola Artichokes

Purple Cauliflower

Baby Purple Cauliflower

Purple Kohlrabi

Graffiti Eggplant

Radicchio

Kale Sprouts

Purple Asparagus

Red Onions

Purple Potatoes

Passion Fruit

Purple Wax Beans

Baby Purple Brussels Sprouts

Champagne Grapes

Concord Grapes

FLAX INFOGRAPHIC – Top Health Benefits of Flaxseed, Nutritional Details, Interesting Facts and Flax Seed Recipes!

 
The Just Add Good Stuff INFOGRAPHIC SERIES introduces our Flax Infographic. We LOVE Flaxseed! We hope you like it!

 

PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

Just Add Flax Seeds! Flax seeds are one of the most powerful plant foods in the world! Research has shown that a regular diet with flax seed can help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and even diabetes! Flax seeds also play an important role for the maintenance of cardiovascular health and normal development of the brain, eyes and nerves. Here is the Just Add Good Stuff Flax Infographic:

TOP 10 Health Benefits of Flax/Flaxseed as described in the Just Add Good Stuff Flax Seed Infographic:

1. flax is extremely high in soluble & insoluble fibers
2. maintains health of colon, digestive & gastrointestinal systems
3. flaxseed has protective effect against breast, prostate & colon cancer
4. rich in omega-3 fatty acids linked to good heart health
5. flax seeds improve blood sugar levels and prevents/treats diabetes
6. prevents inflammation caused by diseases & illnesses
7. flax reduces hot flashes in menopausal women
8. rich in anti-oxidants and detoxifies cells
9. flax seed is rich in essential oils that aid in healthy hair, eyes and skin
10. very rich in calcium and iron

Flax Nutrition Facts as described on our Flaxseed Infographic

• Serving Size = 1 cup
• Calories = 774
• Calories from Fat = 550 g
• Total Fat = 61.13 g
• Cholesterol = 0 mg
• Sodium = 44 mg
• Potassium = 1179 mg
• Total Carbohydrate = 41.88 g
• Dietary Fiber = 39.6 g
• Sugars = 2.25 g
• Protein = 26.52 g
• Vitamin A = 0% RDI
• Vitamin C = 2% RDI
• Calcium = 37% RDI
• Iron = 46% RDI

Healthy Flax Seed Recipes on our Flaxseed Infographic

1. Mixed Berry Flax Seed bread
2. Flax Seed and Water egg substitute
3. Almond Pulp Flaxseed crackers

* All of our recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan! Click here for more recipes!

Things You May Not Know About Flax as described on our Flax Infographic

• Comes WHOLE or GROUND (also called milled or flax meal)
• Flax Seed contains 75 to 800 times more lignans (cancer fighter) than other plant food in the world!
• Buy either BROWN or GOLDEN flax seed (equivalent nutrition)
• Always look for ORGANIC & LOCAL flax seeds
• Flax Seed can be used as a SUBSTITUTE for eggs and fat in baking!
• Keep GROUND seeds in freezer to prevent oxidation
• Precaution: shouldn’t be consumed while pregant or breast feeding
• Can be easily added into smoothies and juices
• Suggested amount is 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed a day

The Just Add Good Stuff Flax Seeds infographic (we also call it our flax infograph) talks about general facts and nutritional details. For more info about the health benefits and nutritional information, please contact us and we will find out more from licensed dieticians and medical science professionals. It is our goal to provide the best information possible and to help inspire you to become more healthy through diet, nutrition and fitness. The Flax Seeds infographic will be updated whenever necessary, as studies and clinical research provides us with more insight into the health benefits of Flax which would affect our Top 10 Flax health benefits. In addition, we constantly experiment with uses of flaxseed in various dishes, so our recipes will also reflect that. Lastly, if we find any more interesting facts and figures about flax in general, we will also update the ‘Did You Know?’ section of our Just Add Good Stuff Flax Infographic.

The information on this infographic is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended to nor should it be a substitute for advice, consultation or visits to your health care provider.
‘Nutrition Facts’ provided by FatSecret.com and verified by Just Add Good Stuff.

RECIPE > Easy Papaya Salad with Dressing!

Want to try a light and easy summery salad?  As mentioned in previous posts, papaya or pawpaw is one of our favorite superfoods and combining it with other healthy ingredients makes for a perfect salad.  Whether it’s a starter or a main course, this easy papaya salad with dressing will certainly tantalize your taste buds.  So let’s get right to it!
 

The Papaya Salad Recipe!

 
Please share with your friends and family!
 

Servings: 2 servings
Preparation Time: 10-15 minutes

The Papaya Salad Ingredients

½ – 1/3 papaya (try to find a non-GMO, fresh and organic papaya)

2-3 carrots (organic and peeled)

1 cucumber (organic, peeled and sliced)

1-2 Roma tomatoes (organic and sliced)

¼ cup roasted peanuts* (unsalted, organic and crushed)

¼ cup cilantro (fresh and organic)

* You can substitute the roasted peanuts with your favorite nuts
 

Preparing the Papaya Salad Step-by-Step

Step 1: Peel, de-seed and slice the papaya into long thin strips

Step 2: Peel and sliced the carrots into thin strips

Step 3: Peel and slice the cucumber into thin strips

Step 4: Slice the Roma tomatoes into thin strips or chunks (your preference)

Step 5: Roast (if not already roasted) and crush the peanuts (or equivalent nut)

Step 6: Combine all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix

The Papaya Salad Dressing Ingredients

½ lime (freshly squeezed juice from organic lime)

½ clove garlic (organic and fresh)

½ red chilli* (de-seeded organic hot chilli)

1 tsp cumin (ground and organic)

1 tsp agave syrup (or equivalent)

2-3 tbsp sesame oil (or fish sauce)

Preparing the Dressing Step-by-Step

Step 7: Squeeze half of a fresh organic lime

Step 8: Add garlic and de-seeded hot chilli into a mortar and pestle

Step 9: Mash until it forms a paste

Step 10: Add all ingredients into a medium bowl and whisk together until mixed

 
Add the dressing onto the fresh papaya salad and combine before serving.  Enjoy and share with your friends!
 
This dish was inspired by a GOOP recipe.

Top 4 Foods for a Gentle and Safe Detox Program!

 
Did you know that a typical human is exposed to more than 2,000,000 toxins every day? Yes, read that again … that’s over 2 million toxins per day. From air pollution to plastics and from body care products to even the foods we eat, toxins are everywhere. Of course, many of these toxins don’t affect our daily routines, but over the course of days, weeks and years, these toxins will play a significant role in your health and well-being.
 
In order to get rid of these toxins, we need to detoxify our bodies. To many people, detox or detoxification is a scary process as many detox programs have bad side effects. Luckily, there are great foods and super foods that help us gently detoxify our bodies in a more natural way. Below are 4 foods for a gentle and safe detox.
 

 

Gentle Detox Food #1 > Detox with Wheatgrass!

 
Long considered a superfood (also check out our Just Add Good Stuff Wheatgrass infographic for nutritional info), wheatgrass is one of the best and safest detox foods in the world. This versatile detoxifier can be found at most grocery stores –OR- preferably, you can easily grow it yourself. You can purchase a wheatgrass growing kit from Amazon or from a local health food store. Add it to your cold pressed juice for optimal detox effects.
 

 

Safe Detox Food #2 > Detox with Cilantro!

 
Not many people know this, but cilantro is a great herb that also serves as a gentle detox super food. You can find many types of cilantro at the local grocery store (or you can grow it yourself in a herb garden). The versatility is unmatched as you can use cilantro by cooking it, juicing it or just eating it raw. Cilantro detoxifies the body by taking out mercury and other heavy metals, which is amazing. As well, cilantro also has many other antifungal and antibacterial properties that will fight infection and reduce inflammation in combination with detoxifying your body very quickly.
 

 

Gentle Detox Food #3 > Detox with Pectin Rich Foods!

 
This natural detox agent is found in many fruits that we already eat. From bananas and grapes to citrus fruits and apples, pectin is a perfect detox agent that is both safe and very gentle on your digestive system and body. Pectin itself aids in the removal of toxins and heavy metals much like cilantro. It’s best to incorporate pectin into your cold pressed juice or smoothie by adding natural and organic fruits versus pectin products which may be laced with other ingredients such as MSG.
 

 

Safe Detox Food #4 > Detox with Greens!

 
From chlorella to spirulina and from alfalfa sprouts to parsley, these types of greens detoxify your body and remove chelating heavy metals. Much like everything we promote at Just Add Good Stuff, adding greens into your diet is essential for a healthy lifestyle.
 
These are some of the best and safest foods to detox your body. Remember though, the key is also to limit the number of toxins that we drink and eat. So by eating well, we will reduce the amount of toxins that we need to get rid of in the first place!

Inflammatory Foods That You Should Watch Out For!

 
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), INFLAMMATION is the clear culprit in many chronic diseases that kill millions of people every year.  Some of these chronic diseases caused by inflammation include both heart disease and cancer.
 
An estimated 17.3 million people died of cardiovascular related disease in 2008 alone, while cancer caused over 7.5 million deaths during the same period.  Not only that, but millions more are diagnosed with debilitating and terminal diseases caused by inflammation each and every year.  The numbers are also increasing when it comes to deaths and diagnosis of inflammatory diseases, which is very scary.  In addition, what many people don’t know is that inflammation at the cellular level is also implicated in such health issues as food allergies, asthma, weight gain and premature ageing.
 
For our readers who are interested in the medical definitions of inflammation (which has changed dramatically even in recent years), you can visit the British Journal of Sports Medicine for some analysis.
 
Recent studies and research have now proven that by living a healthier lifestyle through good nutrition and fitness, we can reduce our risk of inflammatory diseases quite dramatically.  This includes reducing our risk of heart disease, premature ageing and cancer in addition to reducing our allergic responses and even asthma itself.  By eating more foods with anti-inflammatory agents and properties, we can now directly link that to a reduction in our body’s inflammation.  On the other front, by limiting and restricting consumption of inflammatory causing foods, we can also reduce our risk of inflammatory diseases in the same way.
 
Want to learn more about inflammation?  Dr. Joel Kahn, a cardiologist explains here.

Here are the 9 inflammatory foods that you should watch out for:

Inflammatory Food #1 > Sugar causes severe inflammation

 
Found in most processed and packaged foods and drinks, sugar is everywhere.  Not only does refined sugar increase your risk of weight gain/obesity but it also increases your chances of developing type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.  Always check labels when purchasing processed or packaged foods as most soft drinks, fruit juices, baking aisle products and candy contain huge amounts of refined sugars.  They are often labeled under different names (not ‘sugar’) that include sucrose, sorghum syrup, maltose, golden syrup, fructose, dextrose and corn syrup.  Instead of consuming packaged products containing dangerous sugar that causes body inflammation, try eating healthy foods with natural sugar (but not too much).  These include various types of berries, fruits, dates and figs.  When cooking, try substituting inflammation causing sugar with molasses, stevia, agave syrup or honey.

Inflammatory Foods #2 > Dairy Products

 
More than half of the world’s population cannot digest milk.  Although we grew up believing that milk and other dairy products are extremely healthy, they actually cause inflammation throughout the body.  Dairy produces an inflammatory response to those who are intolerant as well as those that are tolerant to dairy (which many people don’t know) and this includes digestion problems, stomach discomfort, cramps, constipation, diarrhoea, hives, acne, asthma and skin rashes.  Dairy products that cause body inflammation are found in milk, cheese, yoghurt (obviously), but also in many cereals, cream sauces, cakes, crackers and even cookies, so watch out and always read the labels!

Inflammatory Food #3 > Red Meat and Other Processed Meats

 
A problem for those who are omnivores, red meat and other processed forms of meat cause inflammation.  From steak to lamb and from pork to other red meats, these inflammatory foods contain a molecule called Neu5Gc that stimulates an unwanted immune response after meat consumption.  This molecule triggers a chronic inflammatory response that has been directly linked to both heart disease and cancer.  In addition, both the American Institute for Cancer Research as well as The World Cancer Research Fund warn that any processed meats that have been chemically preserved, salted, cured or smoked can increase your risk of inflammation that causes colon, rectal, lung and oesophageal cancers.  Try limiting your red meat consumption and take out processed meats from your diet completely!

Inflammatory Food #4 > Alcohol

 
Unfortunately for some people, drinking alcohol regularly will increase the inflammation in your body.  This inflammatory response is usually seen in the oesophagus, liver and larynx … which may lead to cancer and tumour growth.  Try reducing your alcohol consumption, and in addition, try drinking green tea and other anti-inflammatory drinks to reduce inflammation.

Inflammatory Food #5 > Trans Fat

 
Not only does trans fat increase your unhealthy bad cholesterol, but it also promotes inflammation and insulin resistance.  The result?  An increase in heart disease and metabolic syndrome risk right away.  Because foods prepared with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils contain high levels of trans fat, stay away from them!  These inflammatory foods include such things as commercially baked foods, fast food in general, deep fried foods, vegetable oil, vegetable shortening and margarine.  Always read labels!

Inflammatory Food #6 > Vegetable Oils

 
There’s lots of misinformation when it comes to vegetable oils. On one hand, many people believe it is the healthiest form of oil while other say they are cancer causing.  We tend to believe the latter.  The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in our diet can affect the level of inflammation in our body.  If we consume a lot of veggie oils like sunflower, cottonseed, grapeseed or safflower, we will have too much omega-6 fatty acids compared with omega-3 fatty acids.  The result is an increase in inflammation within our bodies.  They are also commonly used in restaurants as well as home cooking.  Replace omega-6 rich oils with types that have a better balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids such as extra virgin olive oil or macadamia nut oil.

Inflammatory Foods #7 > Refined Grains

 
Just liked refined sugars mentioned above, refined grains also promote the onset of cancer, diabetes and coronary disease caused by inflammation.  Remember that refined grains (versus natural grains) have been completely stripped of many good nutrients such as Vitamins and fiber, so you’re only consuming calories.  Refined grains include white flour, white rice, noodles, white bread, pastas, biscuits and cereals.  Try to reduce these or not even touch them.

Inflammatory Foods #8 > Artificial Food Additives

 
Inflammatory response is elevated when we consume foods with artificial additives or artificial coloring.  From MSG (seasoning) to aspartame (sweeteners), artificial food additives are most prevalent in pre-packaged and processed foods.  Try to cut down on these and prepare nutritious and fresh foods yourself.

Inflammatory Foods #9 > Feed Lot Farm Animals

 
Just like in vegetable oils, feedlot animals also have a pro-inflammatory high omega-6 to low omega-3 fatty acid ratio.  This is because many animals from feedlots are fed a typical grain, soybean and corn diet that causes inflammation.  Try replacing feedlot animals (if you eat meat) with free range options that contain higher levels of healthier omega-3 fatty acids.

As you can see from this list, eating a balanced, nutritious, plant based whole foods diet will help reduce your risk of inflammation.  This will in turn reduce your risk of many diseases including cancer and heart disease.

MANGO INFOGRAPHIC – Top Health Benefits of Mangoes, Nutritional Data, Interesting Facts and Mango Recipes!

 
The Just Add Good Stuff INFOGRAPHIC SERIES introduces our Mango Infographic. We LOVE manoges! We hope you like it!

 

PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

Just Add Mango! The mango is often referred to as ‘the king of the fruits’ because it is one of the most popular, nutritionally rich fruits with a unique and amazing flavor, fragrance, taste and health promoting qualities. Mangoes are very high in dietary fibers, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. Here is the Just Add Good Stuff Mango Infographic:

TOP 10 Health Benefits of Mangoes as described in the Just Add Good Stuff Mango Infographic:

1. mangoes are rich in pre-biotic dietary fiber which aids our digestion
2. very high in poly-phenolic flavonoid antioxidants
3. mango is high in potassium for heart health & lowers blood pressure
4. rich in copper for production of enzymes & red blood cells
5. mango protects against colon, breast, leukemia & prostate cancers
6. clears clogged pores and eliminates pimples
7. very rich in vitamin A which promotes good eyesight
8. mango alkalizes the entire body helping to maintain pH balance
9. good source of vitamin E which improves sex drive
10. mangoes are great remedy for sun stroke and heat stroke

Mango Nutrition Facts as described on our Mangoes Infographic

• Serving Size = 1 cup of sliced mango
• Calories = 107
• Calories from Fat = 4 g
• Total Fat = 0.45 g
• Cholesterol = 0 mg
• Sodium = 3 mg
• Potassium = 257 mg
• Total Carbohydrate = 28.05 g
• Dietary Fiber = 3 g
• Sugars = 24.42 g
• Protein = 0.84 g
• Vitamin A = 25% RDI
• Vitamin C = 76% RDI
• Calcium = 2% RDI
• Iron = 1% RDI

Healthy Mango Recipes on our Mango Infographic

1. Mango Cinnamon smoothie
2. Mango Coconut dessert balls
3. Mango Monster salsa

* All of our recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan! Click here for more recipes!

Things You May Not Know About Mangoes as described on our Mango Infographic

• Mangoes are native to South Asia & can fruit even after 300 years
• Mango leaves help normalize insulin levels in the blood, aiding in DIABETES prevention & treatment.
• Ripe, ORGANIC and fresh mangoes are the most NUTRITIOUS.
• Look for UNSULFURED ORGANIC dried mango.
• The peel is rich in phytonutrients, carotenoids and polyphenols
• Keep them at room temp in paper covers to ripen
• Unripe, raw, green mango are used in of pickles, jam & chutney
• National fruit of India, Pakistan and the Philippines
• Recent research has shown that mangoes are important in the fight against many types of cancers

The Just Add Good Stuff Mango infographic (we also call it our dark chocolate infograph) talks about general facts and nutritional details. For more info about the health benefits and nutritional information, please contact us and we will find out more from licensed dieticians and medical science professionals. It is our goal to provide the best information possible and to help inspire you to become more healthy through diet, nutrition and fitness. The Mango infographic will be updated whenever necessary, as studies and clinical research provides us with more insight into the health benefits of Mango which would affect our Top 10 Mango health benefits. In addition, we constantly experiment with uses of mangoes in various dishes, so our recipes will also reflect that. Lastly, if we find any more interesting facts and figures about Mango in general, we will also update the ‘Did You Know?’ section of our Just Add Good Stuff Mango Infographic.

The information on this infographic is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended to nor should it be a substitute for advice, consultation or visits to your health care provider.
‘Nutrition Facts’ provided by FatSecret.com and verified by Just Add Good Stuff.

Think Plain Water is Just Too Boring?

Is drinking plain water just bland and boring? Since we all require lots of water every day, why not naturally enhance water so that it becomes fun, flavorful and more exciting?

Here are 7 ways to easily make drinking water more exciting right away:

#1 = Add cucumber slices

#2 = Add citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and limes

#3 = Add berries such as raspberries, goji berries, blueberries and strawberries

#4 = Add mint and lots of it

#5 = Add ice and/or carbonation

#6 = Make your own water based soup (both hot and cold)

#7 = Drink more tea

SOAK + SPROUT – The Most Nutritious Foods in the World! DIY Sprout Process

Great infographic about how to grow your own nutritious sprouts! SOAK + SPROUT Infographic shows you how long to soak and how long it takes to sprout various things.
 

Seeds, nuts, grains and beans are covered in chemicals called enzyme inhibitors which prevent premature germination and store nutrients for plant growth. When humans consume these chemicals, they reduce the absorption of important minerals and proteins causing nutrient deficiencies and other health issues. Soaking and sprouting bypasses this issue as it activates the seed and neutralises the inhibitors.
 

For more about the high nutritional content of sprouts, please read our previous blog post here.

SOAK + SPROUT INFOGRAPHIC > DIY SPROUTS

I’M VEGAN… AND I’M GLUTEN-FREE!

 
It’s unbelievable how quickly time flies by. It’s now been close to 7 months since I went vegan and 4 months since I’ve gone gluten-free. I must admit that I am and feel healthier than ever and I’m so grateful for the incredible support from strangers, friends and family. It’s an experience that has changed my physical and mental health, diet, fitness and general well-being. Plus, it’s been a lot of FUN! This blog post is just an update on where I am in my quest for optimal health and well-being, some of the health benefits I’ve encountered, interesting things I’ve learned in the past six months and your most favourite Just Add Good Stuff Series posts. My May update on going vegan is located here.

My Vegan & Gluten-Free Experience > Revisiting the 10 Original Personal Benefits

 
In May, I updated my followers on 10 unexpected personal benefits since going vegan and I’m really happy to report that all of those things are getting even better.

1. I continue to sleep a lot better… sometimes up to 6-8 hours a night (compared with 1-2 hours before this year)
2. I’ve had only 1 migraine all year (and that was due to drinking too much the night before!)
3. Allergies to pollen, temperature and altitude change have gradually decreased.
4. My body weight has remained constant. The myths about the lack of plant based protein sources and complete amino acids in whole foods is really, just a myth.
5. My body fat content continues to drop. Still healthy though but seem more ripped.
6. I still haven’t had to take a nap in the afternoon. I don’t get the extreme tiredness at all nor the sugar spikes and troughs through the day.
7. My teeth are still white.
8. My digestion is consistent and healthy.
9. I’m more patient and a lot less anxious and it seems to be getting even better
10. My skin is still clear of acne and my hair is growing back. How’s that for a health benefit!

5 More Unexpected Health Benefits

 
In addition to the previous 10 unexpected personal benefits, I’ve also noticed a few more health benefits of note. They include:

1. I’m more focussed. I’ve always been efficient and focused when it comes to work and decision making, but since I’ve gone vegan, I find that I am less easily distracted and can focus for longer periods of time. Because of that, I’m more efficient and can get more work done within a shorter time frame.
2. I’m more positive and grateful for my health. Going both gluten-free and vegan has given me a more positive outlook on my health and well-being. By knowing that I’m doing everything possible to reduce my risk of disease and inflammation, I’m also focussing on being more positive throughout all facets of my life. This is a great mental health benefit.
3. My skin is smoother and healthier looking. I used to get really dry skin but since I’ve gone gluten free and vegan, it has a more natural hue and is more ‘radiant’. This is probably because I have a good balance of essential oils, minerals and vitamins in my diet that keeps my skin healthy and hydrated. Plus, I don’t even use any skin moisturizer.
4. My instances of bloating and cramps has diminished significantly. After decades of abusing my body through bad diet, I believe my body needed time to readjust and rid itself of all the toxins and build-up of bad cholesterol, fat and undigested or semi-digested food. After 5 months of veganism, I hardly get any bloating or stomach cramps. I believe my body has fully adjusted to this new whole foods plant based diet.
5. I feel as though I can conquer any challenge and face any adversity in my life now. The mental focus, discipline, constant action and commitment to health, diet and fitness has taught me a lot about what I am capable of doing and being. This has been one of the most important life lessons that I will never forget from my vegan experience.

My Vegan Experience > 5 Interesting Things I’ve Encountered and Learned Since Going Vegan

1. More people are asking me how long I’m staying vegan and gluten-free for. I don’t know if they are assuming that this is just a diet or fad… or something temporary. I just laugh because going vegan and gluten-free has been about a lifestyle change for me. It’s learning about nutrition and fitness and making sure that I do everything possible to live a healthy and prosperous life. The things I’ve learned will stay with me for life… so I often respond by saying: “This was a one year experiment, but the results and interest in veganism will stick with me for my entire life.” I should honestly respond by asking them: “So how long do you think you will continue killing yourself through an unhealthy diet. How long will you continue to eat processed or packaged foods? How long will you continue to eat fast food even when you know it’s unhealthy for you.” But I’m really not that mean…

 

2. My favourite SUPER FOODS now include the previous 10 as well as chaga, pomegranate, asparagus, turmeric, cumin, cilantro and parsley.

 

3. About 5 months into my vegan experience, I started ‘slowing down’. I became more lethargic and ‘slow’ in physical activities and focus. My dietician told me that I was probably deficient in Vitamin B-12 which is usually only found in meats and dairy products. So, I self diagnosed myself as being Vitamin B-12 deficient and started taking a Vitamin B supplement every morning. The difference was night and day. I will be publishing an article about Vitamin B-12 deficiencies and some common myth and misunderstandings about this very soon.

 

4. Just like my self-diagnosed deficiency in Vitamin B-12, I was probably also deficient in Vitamin D. Again, a vegan and gluten free diet doesn’t really bode well for adding these two essential vitamins into my body. Therefore, the most natural form of Vitamin D is through sunlight. I get out more often just to get 5-10 minutes of direct sunlight every day. It’s awesome.

 

5. My vegan and gluten-free diet actually does NOT cost any more than my previous unhealthy diet. I eat less but eat more nutritional food. So yes, by volume, I’m consuming more expensive foods, but I’m also eating and drinking a lot less. There are very few ‘empty calories’ in my diet now.

Great Response to our Just Add Good Stuff Series

When I first started Just Add Good Stuff, I wanted to present information in various ways that would touch people differently. From visual images to summarized nutritional info and from catchy/edgy quotes to helpful statistics, here are the highly successful Just Add Good Stuff Series that I’m so proud of:

• INFOGRAPHIC Series
• RECIPE Series
• QUOTE Series
• NOBODY ELSE CARES Series
• TIPS FOR A HEALTHY LIFE Series
• JUICE BOOST Series

The Excuses Pile On…

 
In the past 7 months, I’ve heard hundreds of excuses from strangers, friends and family as to why they’ve never tried eating healthier or going vegan or adopting a fitness/training program. Some of these excuses include:

I don’t have time / I’m too busy
I don’t believe in veganism / Veganism is stupid
There’s no difference between conventional and organic foods… it’s just marketing
I’ve survived this long, so why change
Other people who eat meat survive until they are 100, so why can’t I
Eating healthy means I don’t need to exercise
I have a family so it’s not possible
I’ve got a full time job so it’s not possible
Eating just greens and whole foods is unhealthy

 
For me, making an excuse is just an easy way out. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to change or I’m too lazy, but making excuses for myself is no longer something I do.

In every decision I make, I take a different perspective and ask myself:

“How do it do this?”
“How do I make this change?”
“How do I make time”

 
You should also try it sometime.
 
 

A Valuable Lesson …

 
One of the most important life lessons in this entire vegan/gluten-free experience has nothing to do with eating well, exercising or learning about nutrition. On the contrary, the most valuable life lessons are how this vegan/gluten-free experience has taught me about:

Discipline
Taking Action
Self-Awareness
Dealing with Change
Commitment

 
Mastering all 5 of these skills will help in EVERY FACET of my life … not just health and fitness. People who make excuses and oppose change will likely never learn how to master these 5 skills. Going vegan will teach you and push you to the limit when it comes to these life lessons. Try it and see how well you do…

Safe Food Coloring Alternatives to Artificial Food Coloring

 
Artificial food coloring is in everything. From baked goods to packaged products, artificial food coloring has made its way into everything in our food supply chain. What’s scary is that artificial food coloring causes serious health problems in adults and children. The regulations around artificial food color labeling on foods is also very weak, which makes it difficult for any of us to decipher what is natural/safe and what’s unnatural/detrimental to our health.
 
Artificial food coloring (or artificial food dyes) is prevalent in many things that we eat and drink. The synthetic or unnatural ingredients used in food coloring is often unsafe for both children and adults. These artificial food dyes have been linked directly to multiple forms of cancer in adults in addition to behavioural problems and hyperactivity disorder in children.
 

 
In addition, the typical consumer, like you and I, are not properly educated on the health risks associated with artificial food coloring. In most cases, the names of the artificial dyes are meaningless (like yellow 5 which is derived for the tar of coal and blue 2). In other cases, packaged and processed foods just list colors without telling the consumer whether they are artificial or natural (in most cases, they are artificial). Blue 1 and 2 dyes are linked to cancer in many new studies and Red 3 dye causes thyroid tumors in rats. As well, it’s been proven that Green 3 dye causes bladder cancer and Yellow 6 dye causes kidney and adrenal gland tumors. All of these artificial food dyes are typical in both children and adult processed/packaged foods.
 

Artificial food coloring is found in so many things including:

Concentrated fruit juice
Condiments/sauces
Candy
Cheese
Fast food
Baked goods like bread, muffins, cookies
Gelatin esserts
Soft drinks
Low nutrient foods

How to make Natural Food Coloring Safe for Ourselves

 
We’ve got great news! If you are looking to ‘color’ your food, there are many natural alternatives to artificial dyes and artificial food coloring. All of these natural food colors come from plant based fruits and vegetables, so they are completely healthy, nutritious and organic (if possible). The natural food colors are safe for both children and adults, and likely, will not alter the taste of your food or dish (unless you want it to). The safe and natural food colors can be mixed to create new colors and in most cases, should not cause any allergies. These food coloring alternatives can be easily prepared at home too!
 

Here are some of the natural food colors from organic vegetables and fruits that you can experiment with:

Natural YELLOW Food Coloring > turmeric powder, yellow carrots, lemon zest, saffron flowers, bee pollen

Natural ORANGE Food Coloring > orange carrots, orange zest, carrot juice, pumpkin, papaya, cumin powder

Natural RED Food Coloring > red beets, chilli powder, strawberries and pomegranate

Natural PINK Food Coloring > beetroot, pomegranate powder and raspberries

Natural PURPLE Food Coloring > red grapes, organic red wine, red cabbage, purple carrots, purple potatoes, acai berry powder

Natural GREEN Food Coloring > spinach juice, wheatgrass, kale, swiss chard leaves, lime zest

Natural BLUE Food Coloring > blueberries and blackberries

 
* Images from Food Matters. Thank you!