Fall flavors are upon us!

Fall flavors are finally here, the pumpkin spice latte's, pumpkins, Halloween treats and the holiday season vibe is starting to settle in...In some place in the world leaves will be changing soon and the weather is already starting to get chilly. It's that time of the year to get cozy, grab a blanket or sweatshirt and cuddle up on the couch to relax and drink your Starbucks Chocolate Chai Tea Latte. Here are some things I want to indulge in this fall, what are you looking forward too?

P.S. This isn't too HEALTH related...I'm just excited for the arrival of all this seasonal fun :)

(CC): Holly Leighanne.

1. Cookies galore! The holiday season is always filled with cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate chip, oatmeal and even pumpkin spice! Can you believe it? But if you wanna keep the bulge down and still indulge, look for some heathy recipes using coconut flour! Baking with this instead of regular flour, can be more satisfying. Cookies with coconut flour are usually are a bit thicker, and you may don't need that extra bite...Although, sometimes there is a tinge of coconut flavor, but it's not over powering, especially if you have some pumpkin spice going on. 
2. Pumpkin Spice Latte's and Hot Chocolate: Don't we all love the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte? Or the PSL? It seems as if it's the long awaited flavor of the year. Then when fall is over, we get ready to say goodbye, until next time to our PSL. But hey, that doesn't mean you have to wait a year to have it, make one at home! But for now, just have fun with the atmosphere and dive in to your next PSL. Whole Foods also has one that's available with Almond Milk, it makes it a creamier and dreamy...Satisfy that craving!



(CC): YVRBCbro

3. Pumpkin Scone & Pumpkin Pie treats: So far all of my happiness from fall has come from something pumpkin flavored...is that weird? It's just nice to escape from the crazy energy at the malls and on the roads. People are starting to buy Christmas gifts! And, shop for Thanksgiving. But, I love to take a few minutes out of my day to enjoy a nice warm scone, my favorite, the Pumpkin Scone from Starbucks. Ask them to heat it up, it makes it much more exciting to eat.
4. Having fun: I must say, there is nothing better than getting to spend quality time with those you love most. Family and friends, your pets. Cherish this time you have and be thankful for everything you are blessed with. These Pumpkin Spice Cookies, Latte's and hot chocolates, would not be the same with out the family feel of the holidays. Despite how crazy it might be, take a moment to thank you family and friends. 

Quick Fact!

Eating fruits fresh, means eating them RIGHT after you pick them.

Even though buying and eating fruits in the store is super great for you, keep in mind that some of the health benefits have "gone" away because the fruits have a ways to travel (depending on where you are) before they are placed in the bin at your local grocers. Which means, the fruits have been sitting in a hot truck traveling across the country for a few days, or on a boat.

If you can, buy locally, and that way you know how far your fruits have travelled. Better yet, if you can, grow your own!

Have fun eating those fruits!

Sugar's goin' around

(cc) Samantha
License:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

So, one of the things I commonly talk about, is sugar. Why? Well, consuming sugar can be dangerous for your health.

Yes there is natural sugar in fruits, so we do get sugar. But, what about all the foods that have sugar added to it, that don't really need it? Why do we do that to ourselves?

Sure eating sugar is fun, and tasty, but it's not good for you. Do you ever realize, when you eat something full of sugar and wheat, you could just keep on eating?

I was just reading, on Dr. Mercola's website, that in 2009, the average American consumes around 180lbs of sugar a year...Can you believe that? Even infant formula has sugar now...Right. A little bit crazy. When you eat too much sugar, your pancreas overproduces insulin. By cutting out sugars, you can normalize your insulin production, and give your body a break.

What do we eat then, if sugar is taking over all of our foods? Think about it, what makes you feel good? Eat a salad, with some veggies. Steam your dark greens, like your spinach, broccoli, kale. Those are best steamed. Go light on the fruits, eat them at night.

With meat, go with grass-fed, grass-finished beef, salmon, not farm-raised salmon, but Alaskan sock-eye salmon is good. Chicken as a last resort, make sure it's free-range. Eggs are great too, don't go for Omega-3 infused eggs, just normal free-range, or pasture raised.

It's hard to get off sugar at first, it's an addiction. The first few days are the toughest, but once you get past those days, you're on the homestretch to low consumption of sugar diet.

Alternatives and supplements, not the key to health

I'm sure many people in the world rely on supplements, some sort of alternative way to get daily nutrients.

I've heard on many podcasts, read online, that really, the best way to stay healthy is to maintain a clean diet and exercise.

By clean diet, I don't mean hopping on the Weight Watchers train, but just a style of eating, the way you eat.

UndergroundHealth.com makes an interesting, but true point. Just because you're taking a supplement for, let's say, fish oil, that it's good for you. The quality of the supplement is most important. Just like it's crucial to know what goes in to your food.

Because it says it's a vitamin, don't assume it's healthy, do your own research. Know where you're getting your vitamins or supplements. Look at the company's values, mission statement, even ask a naturopath. Find someone who can help you determine what your body needs. It's not the same for everyone.