With the warm weather, sunshine, and new season of life comes nature’s sweetest harvest of fruits! There are a plethora of fruits reaching their prime, ripe perfection this time of year, and they reap amazing benefits to our skin and body! What a treat! Whether you are sipping on fruit-infused sangria by the pool, enjoying a fresh fruit smoothie, or simply snacking straight out of the package, you are giving your body a burst of vitamins and antioxidants that result in a healthy gut and radiant skin. We’ve listed just a small handful of our faves this season:
1. Cherries – No, not those bright red cherries you get on the top of an ice cream sundae. We’re talking fresh, dark, pitted Bing cherries. Not only are they a perfect combination of sweet and tart deliciousness, they are chock-full of vitamins and minerals to heal and protect our bodies! It has been shown that the powerful antioxidants in these perfectly poppable treats have the ability to relieve pain and inflammation caused by arthritis, and even ward off some chronic diseases and illnesses! Cherry-o!
2. Melons – The all-stars of the summer time. Is there anything better than snacking on watermelon or honeydew balls at a picnic or backyard BBQ? These
light and juicy snacks contain a high percentage
of water, helping you cut down on the cals,
while getting essential vitamins for healthy
skin and organ function. Cantaloupe and honeydew
are also high in potassium to boost heart health.
So snack away!
3. Apricots – Dried or fresh, apricots are an easy and tasty on-the-go snack offering an array of nutritional needs for our skin and bodies. We love that these juicy gems pack a punch of vitamin A – an essential in the health of our skin and preventing free-radical damage. What a tasty way to keep wrinkles away! They’re also a great source of fiber which promotes digestive functionality. Tip: dried apricots are a great way to add flavor and sweetness to trail mix!
4. Strawberries – Everybody’s fave! Munching
on strawberries is great year-round, but prime
strawberry time is in the summer! It’s easy enough to
include strawberries in your diet because of their sweet,
juicy flavor, but it’s even easier when you know the
endless health benefits they can offer. These bright red
berries can boost immunity, maintain heart health
for longevity, and they even possess
cancer-fighting qualities! We’ll have another please!
5. Tomatoes – curve ball! Yes, tomatoes really do classify as a fruit, and though they are not as sweet as the others, there are plenty of delicious ways to incorporate tomatoes into your summer diet. Garden-fresh tomatoes are rich in essential nutrients and they are thriving this time of year! Slice them up with some mozzarella, balsamic vinegar, and basil for a fresh and summery Caprese salad! Consuming tomatoes regularly will give you a significant boost of muli-vitamins, antioxidants, and can reduce your risk of various cancers!
We hear all the time that fruits are high in antioxidants, but who knew they could offer so many other incredible benefits like warding-off disease or preventing free-radical damage! We can reap these benefits just by incorporating fruit into our summer drinks and snacks! Now that’s something we can get behind!
BONUS! We came up with a power-packed smoothie to add a refreshing extra boost of nutrients all blended together in a delicious symphony of flavors! The epitome of delicious and nutritious!
Banana Berry Oat Smoothie:
1 Peeled Banana
1/3 C. Fresh or Frozen Blueberries
1/2 C. Almond Milk
1 tbs. Chia Seeds
1 tbs. Flax Seeds
*Optional 1 C. Spinach or Kale
Blend together in the blender and enjoy the extra boost of vitamins and flavor!
Ahhhh Spring! We love your blooms, smells, and warmth. We also love your bounty from our favorite organic farms! Spring and summer bring about some of our favorite fruits and veggies and we can't wait to share with you one of our favorite salads that not only tastes great, but puts your body into spring cleaning-detox mode. April through May brings about some delicious finds in your produce department, here are some of our favorites:
Mangos: These tropical gems are packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Alkalizing goodness. These make for a great addition to any spring salad or snack!
Brussels Sprouts: These fiber packed goodies are also high in Folic Acid and Vitamin C. They are from the cruciferous family, making them a smart choice for potassium, protein and iron and of course, our favorite DIM.
Mushrooms: These fungi are actually good year-round! Mushrooms pack so many wonderful health benefits that we throw them into any and every meal. These calcium packed veggies help lower cholesterol, increase iron levels, and help with nutrient absorption. They also house 5% of your daily intake of Vitamin D, 6% of your protein, and 4% of your dietary fiber. Nom, nom.
Spring Peas: These bright and refreshing veggies are high in Vitamin K, A, and C and provide you with a strong serving of Folic Acid and Zinc. Spring peas make for a great snack or salad topper.
Asparagus: Is there anything better than fresh, green asparagus? They are finally in season and we love detoxing with these stems of goodness. High in Vitamin B-6, these spears make for a great natural detox remedy. Not only do you absorb all the great nutrition from asparagus, but they are also a natural diuretic, which in turn flushes excess salt and fluid from the body. Asparagus has also been linked to heightening your mood. If you are feeling blue, munch on some blanched spears and get all the mood boosting benefits of Folic Acid and Vitamin B12!
Now that we know which veggies are in season and ready to rock, let's get to making our favorite detox salad!
Spring Detox Salad:
Serves 1
1 cup Spinach
1 cup of shredded Brussels
1/2 cup Diced Mango
6-8 spears blanched asparagus (then cut into thirds)
1/4 cup Spring Peas cut into thirds
1/3 cup diced Mushrooms
1 tablespoon Sunflower Seeds
1/2 tablespoon Chia Seeds
Top your salad with this Basil Vinaigrette (trust us, you'll want to drink this baby straight)!
Enjoy!
You may have noticed, we LOVE Fall! This season is just so darn inviting, soothing, and rejuvenating it's almost too much to bare... but we obviously make it work!
Top 10 Fall Activities Bucket List:
1. Crunching Leaves beneath your feet. Why? It’s just the most rewarding sound that transports you back to your childhood. Fall is the perfect time to allow yourself to be young at heart.
2. Color Hike. Being that we are located close to some of Colorado’s finest mountains, woods and peaks you have ample opportunity to go see the seasonal changing of the leaves. Observe the colors, let them warm you and revive you.
3. Hot Chocolate Experiment: There is nothing better than a fancy cup o’ chocolate on a crisp fall night. We LOVE creating new recipes. We are currently loving, dark chocolate cocoa with ginger, cinnamon, and a splash of pear simple syrup.
4. Apple Picking. Apples are so hot right now. Get out to an orchard and pick away. Apples can be made into just about anything, so go for a whole basket!
5. Corn Maze. We love a good mind game that also makes you move. Corn mazes are up and running, make it a competition (friendly) with your family and friends!
6. PUMPKIN PATCH!!! If you can’t tell by the all-caps, going to a pumpkin patch may be our favorite thing!
7. Rake leaves. Make pile of leaves. Get a running start and jump into pile.
8. People forget that pine cone season falls within the Autumn equinox. Go collect pine cones and display them in your home with some gorgeous fall leaves.
9. Find the perfect Pinot. Red wine and fall go together like chocolate and peanut butter, spend a week trying to find your favorite pallet. Stock up so you have your favorite sips available for the season.
10. Breathe. Fall air is so crisp, calming and inviting. Step outside for your morning yoga routine and breathe it all in.
That’s it! Our favorite fall activities we hope you cross off your list!
There aren't too many bad things to say about summer... except that extreme heat can make you balloon up around your ankles, tummy, knees, and hands. Many of us take a beat from our Camel friends and retain water under extreme heat conditions. We've got some great tips on how to beat the bloat and still enjoy the heat!
* Hydrate first thing in the morning! Drink a room temperature glass of water with 1/2 - 1 full lemon squeezed in. The lemon will help alkalize the body and start it off right.
*Take five pumps of Digestive Health Harmonized Water. This water balances the frequencies that cause bloating, thus aiding in taking it down.
*Squeeze in a quick work out. Yoga poses like Child's Pose can help wake up the body and balance it's organs and is great for pushing air, toxins, and gunk out of your intestines.
*Stay hydrated ALL day!
*Once you get home and start to decompress from your day, if you're hanging out on your couch, elevate your legs at a 90 degree angle from your torso. This will kick up your circulation. Move your ankles and toes around while you are elevated.
*Take a cool shower. Cool your body down before you go to bed. Summer heat can stick with you long after you are out of it. Cool showers will calm you nerves and tell your organs that you are ready for sleep.
*Take five pumps of Digestive Health and Relax Harmonized Water.
*If bloating still continues, try sipping on a lightly steeped cup of Dandelion Root Tea. This root helps tremendously with water retention, just don't go over board as it can cause dehydration you if you overuse it!
There you have it! Quick tips to beat summer bloating! Get out there and enjoy the summer with out the puffy ankles!
Shop here.
Follow Me @Instagram
1. Cherries – No, not those bright red cherries you get on the top of an ice cream sundae. We’re talking fresh, dark, pitted Bing cherries. Not only are they a perfect combination of sweet and tart deliciousness, they are chock-full of vitamins and minerals to heal and protect our bodies! It has been shown that the powerful antioxidants in these perfectly poppable treats have the ability to relieve pain and inflammation caused by arthritis, and even ward off some chronic diseases and illnesses! Cherry-o!
2. Melons – The all-stars of the summer time. Is there anything better than snacking on watermelon or honeydew balls at a picnic or backyard BBQ? These
5. Tomatoes – curve ball! Yes, tomatoes really do classify as a fruit, and though they are not as sweet as the others, there are plenty of delicious ways to incorporate tomatoes into your summer diet. Garden-fresh tomatoes are rich in essential nutrients and they are thriving this time of year! Slice them up with some mozzarella, balsamic vinegar, and basil for a fresh and summery Caprese salad! Consuming tomatoes regularly will give you a significant boost of muli-vitamins, antioxidants, and can reduce your risk of various cancers!
