Blog Posts by Healthy B Daily

I eat well. I don't need no stinkin' supplements.

Used this excuse before? Sorry to burst your bubble, but not all "healthy" people eat a balanced diet. Yeah, you know who you are.

Special Needs

Numerous studies have shown that a plant-based diet can significantly reduce risk of chronic illnesses, like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. But before you get all self-congratulatory about your dietary discipline, you should know that vegans may be at risk for deficiency in a ton o' other stuff: calcium, vitamin B12, vitamin D, zinc, riboflavin and essential fatty acids.

popping pillsFood vs. Supplements

Many of the nutrients needed for a healthy vegan diet can be found in food sources. The one exception is vitamin B12, a critical component in red blood cell formation and DNA production. Symptoms of B12 deficiency include fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, numbness, heart palpitations, nausea, poor appetite, diarrhea and anemia. To avoid feeling like you've been run over by a Mack truck, it's

yogaIt seems like yoga is everywhere these days.

There's so much of it, in fact, that it can be downright intimidating. What studio should I pick? What style should I practice? And - more importantly - where do I get cute pants?

Before you give up on the idea of ever being able to stand on your head, here are the deets on some of the most commonly practiced styles of yoga - and which one might be right for you.

bikramBikram

A Bikram class is broken down into 26 asanas, or poses, done in a fixed sequence, repeated twice over the course of 90 minutes. Given that it's done in a room heated to 105°F with 40 percent humidity, you will sweat your butt off. No matter where you go, the elements of Bikram will be consistent.


Pros: If you have wrist problems, it's ideal, given that chatarungas and vinyasa are not part of the 26 asanas. With all that sweating, you're also releasing toxins and keeping your muscles warm.

Cons: The heated room creates fake body heat, thus giving the sensation of a tough

Do a cleanse this New Year and get back on track.
Tired of making resolutions that you just bail on a few weeks in? Us too.

So this year we sought advice from Meghan Telpner, nutritionista extraordinaire, owner of The Love in the Kitchen Academy, and all round kick-ass chick.

If there's one girl who knows how to set goals and stick to them, it's Meghan. Seriously. This is a woman who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease 5 years ago - a condition docs told her was incurable and could only be addressed with surgery and meds. Not one to play by the rules, she reclaimed her health with yoga, meditation, acupuncture, herbal remedies and healthy eating. Five years later, Meghan remains symptom free.

So who better to whip us into shape for 2012, right? And she's making it easier than ever to keep whole, natural, local and (most importantly) delicious vegan food on the menu with these items from her kitchen:

1. Irish Moss: This superfood gives a creamy texture to smoothies and puddings and is an excellent source of sulphur compounds,

Have we grown significantly in the last 250 years?

Did the holidays throw a monkey wrench into your dieting plans? Yeah. We've been there.

Food and the Blues

The holidays can be even more challenging for the one in 20 Americans that suffers from depression, a chronic illness that usually requires long-term treatment with medication and counseling. Researchers are always looking into the oh-so-many factors that may influence depression, such as biology, hormones, life events and childhood trauma. The scarcely-studied factor? Food.

Science and Stuff

A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry in 2009 showed that the future risk of depression was greater for participants that consumed a diet high in processed foods and lowest for those that consumed a whole-foods diet. Another recent study at the University of Melbourne suggested that eating a standard Western diet - one that is high in meat, dairy and preservatives - might increase the likelihood for depression by 50 percent. Step away from the cookie platter. Really.

feng shui
As it turns out, where you put your crap matters.

That messy pile of clothes, heaping stack of papers or the junk you shove under the bed could be messing up your flow.

We're talkin' feng shui, baby. As a practice that's nearly 4,000 years old, it's based on the idea that your home has different energy depending on what you put in it - and where. Besides contributing to the overall organization and style of your abode, feng shui is considered to have an influence on things like your cash flow, your health and your love life.

Feng Huh?

Don't believe that moving some crap around will send Mr. Right your way? The great misconception of feng shui is that it largely involves rearranging furniture. But this is actually just the tip of the iceberg. Deborah Kagan, Los Angeles feng shui expert, shares some of her tips for dressing your nest:

front door
Front Door

It's the gateway where you greet your life and where your life greets you. Always make sure all the knobs, locks and hardware work

It's peak travel season, and schlepping your stuff around on trains, planes and automobiles always tends to screw up your diet.

We've heard it time and again - "I was stuck in the airport and the only options were fried nachos and BBQ wings, and I gave in."

That's BS. Don't let this happen to you.

To stay plant-based while on the go, it takes a little thought and preparation, but not so much that you need to throw a hissy fit. Here are some common sticky situations and ways to cope.

Problem: You're in the airport and all you see are pizza and burger places.

Solution: Go to the newsstand/convenience store - there you'll find bottled water, dried fruit and a package of almonds. Almonds are always a winner and there are enough calories in one package to keep you going through your next stop. If there's no convenience store, try a bagel from the café, a package of granola or instant oatmeal from one of the fast food places.

Problem: You're going off the grid, where the main language

Yoga isn't always what it's cracked up to be. For those of us who don't have the poses down pat, stepping into a yoga class surrounded by mirrors and incredibly agile women is about as scary as Heidi Montag's new hourglass figure. Sure yoga may tone your arms and tighten your abs, but you can't help but look all Mortal Kombat during Warrior Pose, and the only Downward Dog you're good at requires a few glasses of red wine and a third date.
You just need some instruction. Unfortunately, in a class of a few dozen people, you're often reluctant to get it.
G2 Yoga feels your pain. And they're eager to dry your sweet tears.
The G2 Yoga Pose Fitness Program gives you the chance to relax and energize your mind and body with the help of just a mat - All of the physician-certified yoga poses and stretches are conveniently illustrated for you as pretty little pictures. Available in pink or green for women, the 100-percent recyclable mat features a reversible, bacteria-resistant, thick cushion

It's a quarter past starving, and you're sitting in the office with an apple in hand. Red, shiny, plump and calling your name. But under the surface, you have a piece of fruit that's been touched by more than 20 hands, and sprayed with dozens of pesticides, waxes and pollutants. Think a little water will wash it clean? Think again. Why would any farmer spray something that would wash away with rain? Bingo.

You Are What You Eat

Last year, more than 78,000,000 cases of foodborne illness and 5,000 related deaths were reported in the United States alone. Now consider this − 80-percent of foodborne illness is attributed to poor food handling practices. Yikes!

In a sample test by the Environmental Working Group, up to 53 pesticides were found on peaches. Environmental toxins have been linked to autism, cancer and Parkinson's disease, and children are most affected due to their lowered immunities. Recent consumer reports have even shown proof of fecal residue on bagged salad.