Simply Amazing Coconut Oil

coconut_oilPopulations that eat a lot of coconut are in excellent health. Western nations pale in health compared to populations that eat a large percentage of calories from coconuts. Coconut oil is used extensively in tropical countries like the Philippines and India.

Coconut oil is different from other cooking oils because it contains a unique composition of fatty acids that are 90% saturated making coconut oil highly resistant to oxidation at high heats. Because of this, it is the perfect oil for high-heat cooking methods like frying.

Although saturated fats were demonized unfairly a few decades ago by science gone wrong, new studies show no association between saturated fat and heart disease.

Coconut oil consists almost entirely of Medium Chain Triglycerides, fatty acids that travel from the digestive tract to the liver as ketone bodies; they provide a quick source of energy. [Read more…]

Refuel Your Body With Energizing Foods not Dead Calories

lemon barsLooking to lose weight? Tired of the traditional approach of concentrating on eliminating foods from your diet? How about switching it up and rather than focus on what you should not be eating you turn the focus on foods you should be eating more of?

Foods that not only taste great but are energizing to your body need to be on top of your list.

I am talking about the kinds of foods that kick-in your energy levels…give you that energy boost you need when your fuel tank runs low. Your body is not unlike the car you are driving…it requires quality fuel to run efficiently without breaking down. If you do not provide this energy in the foods you eat, your body then turns to the muscle tissue you presently have to generate the energy needed. [Read more…]

Recipes Packed With Smart Nutrition

chfitness1How many people do you know that start up a diet program hoping to lose weight temporarily?

How many people want to get down to their ideal weight only to have it come piling back on shortly after they come off their diet protocol?

Pretty easy answer huh? NONE.

Who the heck wants to go through all that work only to have what you’ve done reappear?

People want a diet that is going to help them lose weight and keep it off for good, they want to make sure that they sustain that new lower weight for all of time to come.

They want a permanent weight loss solution and I am sure if you are reading this that’s exactly what you are looking for too. [Read more…]

Green Smoothies are Not Always Green

Intense food cravings that are very hard to ignore are a problem for many people. Modern day diets now include many processed and prepackaged food-like substances that supply little to zero nutrition our bodies cry out for.

Our bodies require a certain amount of nutrients to thrive. Drinking or eating something that is packed with an abundance of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, phytochemicals and chlorophyll helps to fill this need and satisfy our cravings as we go throughout our day.

When you get some healthy greens into your system you will notice cravings for junk type foods lessen and cravings for more healthy nutrient dense foods like vegetables increasing.

Looking and feeling our

best really is as simple as eating better…not about eating less.

We need to reduce or eliminate altogether the known culprits in our foods that have been linked to skyrocketing levels of degenerative disease and weight gain.

We are beginning to have a better understanding of how adding something as simple as a few more raw uncooked foods while eating less processed ‘empty’ foods is a great way to take better care of our healthy.

Raw Foods and Green Smoothies

But getting raw foods into our diets can sometimes be a bit tricky…at least until “green smoothies” became so popular.

Making and serving delicious green smoothies is an easy way to get these raw foods into our bodies and those of our family. When we fill up on nutrient rich smoothies, it leaves less room for processed refined “non-nutrient” foods, sweets and other over-indulgences.

Eating clean and eliminating the junk from your diet helps you to feel lighter and more energized. It helps re-build healthy digestion energy production, metabolism and weight management.

By eating raw foods, we inject health-promoting vitamins, enzymes, fiber, healthy ‘carbs’ and fats, anti-oxidants and Phytonutrients which are compounds and chemicals that help plants defend against environmental challenges such as damage from pests, or ultraviolet light and appear to provide humans with the same type of protection as well.

Studies show that you can reduce your cancer risk by as much as 40 percent by eating more raw vegetables, fruits, and other plant based foods like coconut, nuts and seeds. Cooking is not our friend…it dramatically reduces food’s phytochemical content and reduces or destroys the ability of antioxidants in food to do their job correctly.

This is where green smoothies shine. What better way to get these health promoting goodies into our bodies than to throw then into a blender and puree up a super delicious power drink?

They not only help prevent disease and weight gain, but provide super nutrition and increase our vitality and energy…the very things we need to live life the fullest.

Green smoothies are a combination of tender green leaves blended with fruit and water. Any greens and any fruit can be blended to your taste. Greens are extremely nutritious but are also hard to fit into most daily meals and diets.

Although you can use whatever you want be aware that cabbage or broccoli are too starchy and do not mix well with fruit. It’s best to look for any type of green leafy vegetable that is soft enough to wrap around your finger. Spinach for example is a great one to start with as it has a relatively mild flavor and blends easily with other ingredients.

Keep in mind as that not all green smoothies turn out green. What you include in the way of ingredients will determine the color and it may not always be the most pleasing color to your eyes but the hidden nutrients are there.strawberry green smoothie

Here’s a getting started recipe. Use whatever veggies and fruit is in season in your areas for maximum freshness and change it around depending on what is available.

Start simple by adding just a few greens to your traditional fruit smoothies until you get used to the idea.

  • 2 handfuls of spinach
  • Few sprigs of parsley
  • 1 banana
  • ½ cup blueberries
  • 1 cup water

Place all ingredients into a high speed blender with water and blend to desired consistency and smoothness. (Can be kept 2-3 days in fridge but best consumed fresh).

Your body is an amazing machine; if you give it the right fuel it knows how to heal itself. Many people have cured themselves of all sorts of health problems by incorporating green smoothies into their diets.

“If you’re overweight or obese, you’ve probably heard that the path to better health starts with losing weight. What you may not have heard though, is that if you want to lose weight and keep it off, you’ve got to start by being healthier.”

Let me help shorten the learning curve and provide you with the tools you need in my…
“Rebound Free Weight Loss” program. There’s no time like now to empower yourself. You can do this…you just need the right help.

For more tools and resources from Carolyn Hansen to assist you in attaining your health and fitness goals and achieving the success you desire in life, please visit:

Carolyn Hansen Fitness

The Wonders of Veggie Juicing

veggie juiceAnyone who has been diagnosed with a serious disease has been advised to start a juicing program.

Juicing can be done successfully with fruits and vegetables but there is something that vegetables can offer more of than fruits…chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll is something most people associate as the “green substance” in plants. It’s true, it is the “green substance” but so much more. [Read more…]

Don’t Fall into the Trap of Dieting with “Diet Foods”

diet cycleAre you in a continual battle with your weight? If so, you need a firm and proper game plan. You must be prepared to battle beliefs and habits that formed a long time ago and continue to lead you down “repeat road”. You must be prepared for battle if you want to win the war.

Unfortunately once fat has gained its position on our bodies it’s not likely to let go easily…fat loss is not something that happens just “by chance” and if you are out to win the battle against this villain the better prepared you are the better your results will be. [Read more…]

Treat Yourself to Raw Desserts and Treats and Eliminate the Guilt Forever!

apple pieEating fresh is finally becoming a mainstream diet. More and more people are waking to the fact that their bodies, minds and habits are all part of the same scene that is out-picturing in their lives and that in order to display perfect health and vitality each area needs to be balanced and healthy.

Eating raw is the answer. The more of your diet that begins and ends using raw ingredients the more nutrition you are squeezing into each bite you take.

Switching to eating fresh/raw during our regular meals such as breakfast, lunch or dinner is hard enough and a challenge on its own, but is there a way to eat fresh when we’re in the mood for a sweet snack or when enjoying dessert? [Read more…]