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Marissa Nieves, Lifestyle Coach and Sports Model provides clear avenues to success in health and fitness ! Follow us on Blogger to kick start or maintain your best life !!


Thanks for joining us on the road to wellness !

Marissa

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Why Eat Organic ?

There are a number of questions surrounding this subject and most people have at least some type of relationship with the term "organic".

Really though, what is all the hype about?
Is it really better to eat organic?
What is so wrong with the food in our supermarkets?


Organic food or as I like to refer to it, NATURAL food (that is, food that is allowed to grow and reach full maturity in its natural state without the aid of accelerators, chemicals or heavy processing) is highly nutritious and really tastes wonderful !!

The problem with alot of our produce today is that many fruits, vegetables, grains and other products (including fruit juices and alcohol!) have been grown in a bucket full of pesticides and herbicides in an effort to increase the yield of the crop. Additives, preservatives, colour enhancers, thickeners and an endless list of man made ingredients are added to produce in processing to increase shelf life and enhance taste. This helps to keep the price of the product down, though could be impacting on our health in an extremely negative way. 

The chemicals used in the growing and production process are absorbed easily into our bloodstream and are well known causes of a number of symptoms and long term defects to cells in the body.

Ever noticed how the produce in large supermarkets tends to be remarkably larger in size than those we grow in our own backyards? Nitrogen fertilizers cause produce to absorb more water, increasing size and diluting nutrients.

Hormones are added to feed or injected into livestock to increase their rate of growth, and are present in much of the inorganic meat that we consume. Antibiotics are fed to cattle, pigs and poultry, according to the large array of concerned scientists throughout Australia and the US. The meat industry sustains a growing demand for meat through these techniques, though our health system is now becoming congested with an overwhelming number of people suffering from unsuspecting ill health and disease.

Despite the growing inorganic food industry causing alarm, one of the best reasons to eat organic food is because it tastes better!!

TIPS TO LIVING NATURALLY:
  • Try growing your own vegetables, fruits and herbs in your own backyard
  • Make your own organic compost
  • Choose to shop locally at farmers markets
  • Purchase online through a number of distributors
  • Visit your local health food store
  • Encourage friends and family to create community awareness
  • Get involved in home cooking and/or juicing for vitality and good health 
  • If nothing else, wash your inorganic produce carefully and thoroughly before use.
Enjoy living your best life,

Committed to your success !

Marissa

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Juicing Our Way To Health and Vitality !

How do we gain more energy, feel revitalised, bounce out of bed each morning and display a genuine smile about life !?

Well scientists believe that along with good relationships and internal contentment, nutrition plays a large part in the way we feel. Ever heard of the saying 'you are what you eat'? There is some truth in it ! 

If we consume large quantities of animal products, refined sugars and processed foods we may feel tired, lethargic, down and negative. On the contrary, if we fill our bodies with all the vitamins and minerals it requires we will reap the benefits in the happiness department as well as give our bodies a kick it may have needed for years ! Added bonus !? :)


So we have looked at pre and post workout juicing and have talked about our juice cleansing programs coming soon, though how about just juicing for vitality !?? 

Can we simply add a daily juice into our intake to increase our nutrient consumption and help us to feel and look wonderful ?


OF COURSE WE CAN ! 

Here's a simple green smoothie you can try at any time of the day:




1 avocado (can be blended in after juicing greens)

1 cup asparagus

1 handful of spinach

3 carrots

1 stick of celery

Small bunch of parsley

Handful of berries to taste

And a hot tip for winter - Warm your juice slightly on a low heat before drinking. Yum !

Enjoy living your best life !

Marissa

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Pre and Post Workout Juicing for Optimum Results


Here is Part II of your Workout Juicing !

Once you've built up a sweat, there is nothing quite as refreshing as a nice clean juice to zip down the hatch and provide you with energy for your next 'to do' !

I know you all have busy lives and sometimes don't wish to spend more time in the kitchen. Juicing is hassle free, nutrient efficient and super easy !! So now there is no reason why you can't be full of life and looking great every day of life.

Here are some of my favorite Post Workout Juices:

Body Cleanser: Beetroot + 1/2 Watermelon (Lime can be added to taste)

Tasty Lemonade Detox: 2 Fresh Apples + 1/2 Lemon

Fresh and Clean: 1 Whole Cucumber + 2/3 Celery Sticks

Kick Winter Cold & Flu: - 1 Handful of Cranberries + 2 Apples

Digestive Tract Repair: 1/2 Papaya + Handful of Strawberries

There are a number of different combinations you can try simply from the above. Try out your tastebuds on a few of these and quickly reap the benefits of post workout juicing !!

Be sure to look out for my next Blog on: 

"Juicing Our Way To Health and Vitality !"

We will we look at GREEN juicing and how simple it is to create yummo healthy juices for optimum nutrition.

Always committed to your success !

Marissa :)

Pure Life Fitness Revolution

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Pre and Post Workout Juicing for Optimum Results

Due to interest from a number of clients, I have decided to begin posting some information regarding juicing. Many people are now choosing to juice to aid nutrient consumption and provide quick and easy tasty snacks !

There are benefits to juicing at any time of the day, in particular we will consider pre and post workout.

Some trainers suggest that we train on an empty stomach and the reason for this is generally because it is believed we tap into our fat stores. The quickest way to the best body however, is to make sure our workout is doing its job perfectly and for an efficient training session.. we need energy !


When we sleep and when we exercise our body loses many nutrients, vitamins and minerals on a daily basis, so there's no better way to replenish them and/or to get a quick boost than by a juicing session !

I have given you a few quick examples of pre-workout juices to try this week:

Pick me up
 
1 cup Carrot Juice
4 Asparagus
1 clove Garlic, juiced

Cardio Energy

2 handfuls of spinach
1 Tbsp Chlorophil
1 banana 
1/2 cup water 

Strength and Endurance 
 
1/2 Cup Pear Juice
1 Banana
2 Tbsp Rolled Oats
8 Blueberries
5 Almonds (soak overnight for best results)
Add water as required

Juicing Tips


* Wash your produce well, especially if your fruits and veges are not organic products
* Remove large seeds from fruits. Small seeds such as those found in grapes and watermelon can be juiced
* Cut off the hard ends from fruits and vegetables eg. carrots and cucumbers 
* Juice tastes best and is far more nutritious when consumed fresh, right after juicing. If you need to store juice do not keep for longer than 2 days
* Always a variety of greens to your juicer to keep your intake of chlorophil high. If you're not a big fan on the taste, add your favourite fruit or vege to conquer the flavour.

 Look out for the next blog on Post Workout nutrition ! :)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

How do YOU spell CHOICE !?

Where were you at 12:01am on January 1st and what were you thinking ? 

As 2011 came in, I was standing in an eco lounge bar in Perth with a few of my best friends, a handful of jokes and a big smile. In between sets of dancing to a live band, I took a moment to reflect on the past year, the decisions I had made, my experiences and what I had accomplished.

As always, I was grateful for all past opportunities and was thinking about what I wished to achieve in the future. As I turned around, I overheard someone say “All we have in life is choice” and I thought ‘they are absolutely right!!’ We may not be able to control everything in life, in fact we simply shouldn’t try. However what we can control are our CHOICES !

If we choose to wake happy each day, roll out of bed with an early morning grin, dance as we’re getting dressed, treat others well, treat ourselves well, strive for continuous improvement, enjoy the little moments and take time to relax ... I bet there will always be hot water in the shower, we’ll run early to work, people will be nice, success will come easily, we’ll get the green lights and it will stop raining just for the 5 minutes we are walking down the path !

 My New Years gift to you this year is a CHALLENGE to choose and acquire those things that make you truly happy !! Try this:

CCreate a collage or list to look at every day of at least 3 things you desire
HHelp yourself by allowing change into your life
OOpen your mind to new possibilities
IInherit only the best qualities for yourself
C Clear your mind of all negativity
EExperience new and wonderful things in 2011 !

**This year give yourself the freedom to choose the things you want and the determination to acquire them**  

So... How do YOU spell CHOICE !?  J  

Committed to your success !

Marissa