Sugar Rush: what sugar really does to your body

Okay I won't sugar coat this for you:

Sugar isn't a toxin in the sense you should never eat it, we're just consuming too much.

It slows you down. Mentally and physically. Diets high in sugar basically put your brain in a food coma: cells are stripped of the energy they need to communicate efficiently, making it harder for you to learn and remember information.

It dampens your mood. You've heard of probiotics -healthy bacteria in the gut. Well, refined sugars breed the opposite. And these unhealthy bacteria cause the release of inflammatory hormones, which can put your body in a state of stress that, over time, may increase your risk of depression.

It wrinkles your skin. When too much sugar circulates in your blood, it starts attaching itself to to collagen and elastin- two substances that usually keep the skin looking young. The result: Your skin becomes stiffer and more prone to wrinkles.

It weakens eyesight. Proteins in your retinas keep vision sharp. But when the body breaks down simple sugars, by-products latch onto these proteins, accelerating aging -and words may begin looking blurry or distorted, especially in low light.

But fear not! You don't have to swear off sweets altogether. To slash your sugar intake relatively painlessly:
Bake at home. Packaged foods generally have more sugar than anything you'd cook.

Eat Slowly. Really. The more sugar that hits the liver all at once, the worse the damage.

Fit in fiber-rich foods. They slow digestion and help level blood sugar.

Check labels on low-fat items. Food manufacturers often add copious amounts of sugar to make up for lost flavor.

Incorporate more Omega-3s. These fatty acids found in oily fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts can offset sugar's harmful effects on the brain. 

You can read more about the effects of excessive sugar in this article from The Huffington Post: 10 Things you Don't Know About Sugar
Tell me what your favorite sweet treat is in the comments below! I know you all have a guilty pleasure! Mine is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.


There's a reason Sour Patch Kids don't have thigh gaps,

Cait

P.S. 
I have a huge thigh gap in between my teeth.

 
 

#NoFilter: the correlation between acne and poor nutrition

Mirror: "You look good today."

Camera: "LOL no."

Instagram filters: "I got you."


It's no longer just teenagers suffering from acne. More and more adults are unhappy with their skin. This is because hormones aren't the only factor in whether or not you get pimples. Many scientists have traced this rise to the changes in the dietary habits of North Americans. Studies continue to prove their hypothesis correct. 
I started suffering from severe acne as a freshman in college. It was painful physically and emotionally. After much research and self-discipline, my skin cleared up. To make it easy for you here are some do's and don'ts for skincare:

Do:

• switch to "whole wheat" if you're eating white bread, or "multigrain"
• get enough Omega-3 and Vitamin B
• cleanse your face twice a day (especially before going to sleep)
• drink a lot of water all the time
• get plenty of sleep
• moisturize 

Don't:

• drink too much coffee (or other heavily caffeinated drinks)
• fill up on sugar
• consume greasy or processed foods
• touch your face (or pick at your blemishes) 

Let me know in the comments below if you've tried any of these tips and how they worked for you. Also, feel free to share any other skin care advice. There's plenty to share; I could write forever on this subject. SKIN FOR THE WIN!


One day we won't need Photoshop,

Cait 

P.S.
Who can tell me what "PS" stands for? And don't tell me
Playstation.

The Real Hunger Games: why dieting doesn't work

Don't diet! Change your diet.
The definition of the word diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism; and dietary habits are the habitual decisions an individual or culture makes when choosing what foods to eat.This generation of people are being brain washed into believing a diet is a temporary plan to help you lose weight. But the weight-loss is really what becomes temporary. Once you tell yourself you're on a diet, you start thinking short term. Most people gain more weight after "dieting" because, they are so happy to be eating again that they gorge themselves on more and more of the same unhealthy foods they were eating in the first place. We as a society are willing to try every weight-loss program on the market, but we are so stubborn to change what kind of food we put in our bodies. If we can stop feeding ourselves processed foods, and toxic chemicals our bodies will thank us. If you are good to your body, your body will be good to you. It's that simple.
I recently watched a great documentary called, Hungry For Change. You can watch the first 20 minutes of the film online, or the whole film on Netflix.

Watch the Movie Trailer here: http://www.hungryforchange.tv/

Don't make every personal pizza a personal problem. Kick all your bad habits. Everything! (Including the everything bagels).

Tell me what you think of the documentary in the comments below. Also, please share any other films you liked!



All this writing made me hungry,

Cait

 P.S.
It's not considered brunch if you're alone, at 2pm, in your bed, eating Dorritos.

Training Your Tastebuds: teaching yourself to like healthy food

       Which one would you rather: pizza or salad? What about chips or carrot sticks? Most people don't choose the healthier of the two, because they tell themselves "junk food tastes better." Yet, we always forget how bloated or sick we feel after indulging on sweet or greasy treats. If we have the unfortunate ability to trick ourselves into forgetting these important factors, why can't we convince ourselves to like healthy foods? 
       Knowing the benefits of a nutritious diet helps motivate better consumption. For example: Did you know eating celery is almost the same as chewing water? Your body hardly notices a cup of celery's 16 calories; but it does focus on consuming a third of your daily Vitamin K recommendation. If you are in the dark about the plentiful perks Vitamin K can provide for you, read this article from BetterBones.com:
The Many Benefits of Vitamin K. 
My point is, when you know all the amazing advantages available, you are more likely to make the conscience decision to treat your body with care and feed it the proper fuel. Remember when your parents would tell you the fish on your dinner plate was chicken so you would eat it? It's the same concept. You can even start small. Maybe you start eating celery, but you cover it in peanut butter or ranch dressing. Whatever it takes to get those veggies in your diet more regularly. Then slowly, you get use to the taste and ween off the dips. Make goals for yourself, and don't be afraid to take baby steps.
      Look, I'll be the first one to admit if I was a Care Bear, the symbol on my tummy would be a piece of pizza. But, then I learned the consequences of eating poorly are not worth a short-term sugar rush. Being healthy isn't as easy as following a few vegan instagram accounts. You have to want it! And why wouldn't you? Tell yourself YOU CAN DO IT! The body awareness blog, JessHerself on wordpress.com has a great article with more tips on Training Yourself To Like Healthy Food.

What bad habit of yours was the hardest to kick? Mine was Mountain Dew! I could make a giant pyramid with the amount of cans I drank through...in just a day!


My bed is covered in orange peels and so am I. So. Am. I.

Cait



P.S.  I'm pro double dipping.

7 Veggie Sins: 7 Tips To Include Veggies In Your Diet

       
"I'm going to have a nice healthy dinner!"*

*Eats block of cheese while waiting for vegetables to cook.


Don't let that be you!

Try to think of ways to slip vegetables into each meal you have during the day.
Women's Health Magazine shared a great article with some helpful suggestions:

7 Ways To Eat More Veggies

We snack all day long without even realizing it. If we keep only healthy options in our kitchen, there won't be any temptation to devour the junk. Start small if you need to, but make it a consistent habit you continue to practice. Eating vegetables makes you look better and feel better!

What's your favorite veggie? Or veggie dip? Let me know in the comments below!

Carrot juice saved me from having to wear eyeglasses,
Cait

P.S.
No, you can't justify popcorn as a vegetable serving.

Just Did It

Having trouble staying motivated? Not enough Instagram photos of female's killer bods can get you out of bed? We're all too tired, too busy, too sore, too poor, too something right? But you have the same 24 hours Beyoncé does (or whomever your inspiration may be). Beyoncé does have perfect legs though. AMARITE?! Always keep in mind why you created your personal goals in the first place. Write it down. Repeat it to yourself. Your over priced Nike t-shirt doesn't say, "Just Blew it" or "Just Screw it" it says, "Just Do It" so why aren't you?

Here's an article from FoodandNutrition.org  that gives some helpful tips on staying motivated:
Training Tips To Keep You Motivated

What inspires you and why? Do your research. Knowledge is power. Find out why you admire your role models. Anything can inspire. Don't be afraid to let others help you. And don't be afraid to help yourself. Because you didn't put on your gym clothes just to get lazy and Google exotic grilled cheeses.

What did you do today to work on your personal goals? Share with me in the comments below!

I have nothing against Nike,
Cait

P.S. I happen to know a vast amount on exotic grilled cheeses if anyone is interested.

Smooth(ie) Move

The best part of waking up is fruit and veggies in your cup. Sorry Foldgers. Also, does America really run on Dunkin or is it more like slowly dragging their feet? More people are becoming aware to the fact that drinking smoothies or juices for breakfast can help boost your metabolism and energy. Who has time to cook themselves breakfast these days anyway? That’s why Drive Thru’s are so popular! Smoothies can be even simpler (and healthier than anything you’re going to order at a fast food joint). Throw your favorite fruits and/or veggies in a blender and in seconds you have yourself a delicious breakfast. Easy to digest, but keeps you full until lunchtime. 

I make my smoothies with a variety of frozen fruits from Organic Farms, about a cup of almond milk, a scoop of vegan protein powder, and a few vitamin supplements. My favorite juice includes: spinach, kale, kiwi, and apple.

This article from Bliss.com sums everything up perfectly for beginners.

Why You Should Start Drinking Your Breakfast

So remember, the only thing separating Don’t and Donut is U! Start your day off right with a smooth move.

Let me know what your favorite smoothie/juice is in the comments below! I love trying new combinations!

Writing this while I drink my Breakfast,

Cait

P.S. I also make a mean bowl of cereal if anyone wants some tips. It's all about that perfect milk-to-cereal ration if you know what I'm saying.