ScorpyStell's blog

One of my all time favourite ways to start the day is with a refreshing fruit and vegetable smoothie. Not only do smoothies give you a burst of energy first thing in the morning, they’re also an excellent way of fueling your body with good nutrients. Depending on what goes in, it can provide you with a daily dose of fiber, anti oxidents, vitamins, calcium, protein, and healthy fats. By blending everything together, it makes it so that nutrients are more easily digested and absorbed into the body – another big plus.

In this article, I will be giving you one of my favourite smoothie recipes as well as 3 ingredients you don’t want to miss out on.

First up, here’s a 100% raw & lactose free smoothie that is packed full of raw, organic, fruits and superfoods! (pictured above) Combining the rich, energy boosting antioxidents of goji berries, natural sweetness of pears, and anti-aging digestive enzymes of papayas, protein/essential fatty acids from hemp seeds, and energy/immune system boosting qualities of coconut oil, this shake is an excellent start to the day and also great as a post workout treat.

Ingredients – makes 1-2 servings:
1 small/medium sized papaya (peeled)
2 tsp goji berries
1 large Asian pear (with skin)
6oz almond milk
1 tsp shelled hemp seeds
2 tsp organic virgin coconut oil
crushed ice (optional)

Directions:
1. Cut the papaya and pear into chunks.
2. Soak the goji berries in hot water for a minute.
3. Add all ingredients into the blender. If you like your smoothies cold, add some crushed ice or freeze/refrigerate your fruits ahead of time
4. Enjoy!

Here are 3 highly beneficial ingredients that I think everyone should add to their smoothies.

Virgin Coconut Oil
This is one of my favourite additions to any smoothie. Coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils you can consume. Once mistakenly thought to be bad because of its saturated fat content, coconut oil is now known to contain a unique form of saturated fat that has been shown to help strengthen immune system function, improve digestion, prevent heart disease, and even lower cholesterol levels. It is saturated in healthy fats that actually promote weight loss and help speed up the body’s metabolism. Research shows that some saturated fat is necessary for human health and that the medium chain fatty acids help to increase metabolism and are more easily digested than fats found in other oils. These fatty acids do not circulate in the bloodstream like other fats, so are processed directly in the liver and immediately converted into energy, just like carbohydrates (not stored as body fat). When you buy coconut oil, make sure the oil, which comes in a solid state is white and comes in a glass jar. When melted, it is clear. Recommended brand: Virgin Coconut Oil by Bali Sun

Organic Shelled Hemp Seeds

Shelled hemp seeds are extremely healthy and have a concentrated source of easily digested protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and enzymes. They will give your smoothie a nice texture and nutty taste. Shelled hemp seeds have been cultivated for thousands of years and hold many benefits. Shelled hemp seeds are high in fiber and protein, and contain amino and fatty (Omega 3 & 6) acids your body needs. They contain Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), a unique and highly beneficial Omega-6 that’s known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties and aids in hormone synthesis and balance, premenstrual health, blood pressure maintenance, weight loss, healthy joint function, strong hair follicles, bright skin and strong nails, and provides continuous energy throughout the day. They can be purchased online or in any health food store. It is best to buy the certified organic ones, as they are grown without any chemical pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. Recommended brand: Certified Organic Hempseeds by Nutiva

Goji Berries

Goji berries are known as the fruit of longevity and well-being. This superfood has a 1900 year history of use in traditional Chinese medicine, and has been prized for its anti-aging properties and immune system boosting capabilities. They are among the highest known source of antioxidents and amino acids, carotenoids, iron, and vitamin C. Goji berries will assist with weight loss, normalize your blood pressure and blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, and promote happiness due to their superior adaptogenic properties. Regular consumption of goji berries will boost the immune system and increases the longevity of a person. Goji berries contain 15 times more iron than spinach and 500 times more vitamin C per ounce than oranges. They can be eaten raw or cooked and are a tasty addition to smoothies, tea, soup and hot cereals.

For more tips, keep reading my blog and watch for my smoothie e-book, which will be coming out this summer.

100% raw & lactose free Papaya, Goji Berry, Pear, & Organic Almond Milk. Combining the rich, energy boosting antioxidents of goji berries, natural sweetness of pears, and anti-aging digestive enzymes of papayas, this shake is an excellent start to the day!

Technology may have changed the way we live, but our bodies can still go back in time. The truth is, it’s not just about nutrition and exercise it’s about understanding your biological power and how to use it. When you get the inside right, the outside will naturally fall into place because our bodies are programmed to thrive.

This was the theme of Back To Basics: Reclaim Your Health – a fitness and nutrition workshop organized by my friend Joyti Bharaj, featuring international strength coach Jason Dolby and world-acclaimed nutritionist Ori Hofmekler, in support of the British Columbia Childrens Hospital Foundation. I was lucky to be able fit in a short 3-day trip to Vancouver with my Mom last weekend to take part in this 6 hour workshop.

The event took place at The Westin Bayshore, the official International Olympic Committee Hotel for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The workshop began with Sarah Jamieson taking the everyone through a few yoga moves followed by Jason Dolby covering 5 different Indian club and kettlebell exercises that one can do get in shape and improve fitness levels.

Indian clubs were once used by the Indian and Persian warriors thousands of years ago to develop co-ordination, endurance, strength, and fluidity. The main benefit of training with them being to improve joint mobility for the shoulders and to prevent injury. I used them during my clavicle rehab and personally found them to be very effective. They work a full range of motion and help strengthen the connective tissues in your shoulder girdle.

After club swinging came the strength and conditioning portion of the workshop – kettlebells! Most of the 50 people who took part in the event were new to kettlebells, so I had been asked to be one of the assistants to help show participants the proper form and technique for handling kettlebells. Like any form of training, it is essential to learn the proper technique in order to prevent undue injury. The 5 basic moves covered were swings, cleans, push presses, windmills, and squats. Everyone had a blast and was very receptive to this form of training. I’m really glad I got to be a part of it.

Next up, we had an entertaining and informative lecture from Ori Hofmekler, who is best known for his book – The Warrior Diet. If you are following any of the popular diets out there, you’re bound to learn something different here. I know I did. Ori’s work emphasizes that our health is rooted in human evolution and the biological principal of survival. In the lecture, he talked about the Survival Code, which states that we must work with the body’s survival mechanisms in order to reduce body fat and stay healthy. Humans are designed to thrive when challenged by stress. One of the most interesting points brought up was the idea of underating during the day and having your biggest meal (overeating) at night, which goes against what a lot of us have been told. As the argument goes, our earliest ancestors stayed active during the day hunting/gathering and nights were spent cooking a big meal and relaxing with the family. Based on this feeding cycle, Ori says that humans are programmed to be nocturnal eaters. A few more important points to know when following the Warrior Diet are:

1. We thrive on eating whole foods (low GI) and digest better when not under stress.

2. Meal timing is essential – start the day with raw, fresh, low calorie foods then eat more dense foods (cooked, heavy, higher calorie) as the day goes on, making dinner your biggest meal.

3. Always include positive nutrition triggers – proper food combinations

4. Daytime is for action, Night is for relaxation.

5. Exercise intensely in short intervals.

All the information presented here was very interesting and goes against what we conventionally think is the ideal timing and serving size of meals. I learned a lot and may possibly experiment and try incorporating some of the Warrior Diet principles to my own to see how effective it is.

Whoever said that snacking at the office can’t be healthy? Whether you’re on the run, putting in overtime, or cramming for a tight deadline with a client breathing down your back, eating healthy and getting your 5 meals a day can sometimes be a challenge. You need snacks to fill in the gaps & keep your energy levels up. The key is to prepare them ahead of time so that when you do get the urge, you’ll have less tendency to reach for something junky.

Here’s one of my recent favourites. Grapes and berries with a serving of no fat cottage cheese. It offers a good balance of carbs and protein to help fill the hunger gap. You got the sweetness of the grapes, the tartness and antioxidents of the berries, and lean protein from the cottage cheese, which will help keep you full longer. I usually like to prepare 3-4 servings the night before and keep them in the fridge at work. It’ll save you time and give you a stash of food to fall back on for the next day or 2. Your abs will thank you too