Sex and Nutrition

It's been so long! But here I is.

I recently caught a snippet of a rapper who will remain nameless and his wife, yes, his wife, some rappers actually do believe in marriage but I digress. They were doing one of those solacious, late night talk shows and the topic of oral sex came up. Well, this unknown rapper said and I quote, " I love performing oral on my wife, she tastes good, she tastes like mangos, fruity, it's true you are what you eat." Hhhmmmm, I liked said rapper before but that interview garnered a new found respect for him. Men don't often discuss why they like to perform fallacio much less how it tastes.  His statement is the definition of, you are what you eat, and often times what you eat secretes through your biggest organ your skin! Body odors though widely hormonal also has a lot to do with your diet. Hence the reason someone might smell garlicky, smell like pungent seasoning or just plain foul. 

There's no complicated remedy other than to eat healthy, drink plenty of water and sweat as much as possible. Eating healthy means eating a variety of whole foods, fresh fruits, vegetable, whole complex carbohydrates, limiting meat intake which takes far longer for your body to break down and process than most foods, limit pungent herbs and spices and I say this with bitten lips because I love to flavor my foods with garlic, cloves, cayenne and I am a curry freak! Drinking plenty of water will help balance out your intake of pungent herbs and spices by flushing and cleansing the body. Eat raw nuts and seeds for added protein and fiber. Try a new exotic fruit paying attention to the flavor and the smell and imagine that's how you want to taste. 

Good nutrition serves to promote good health but it's also important for our sexual health, sexual pleasure and flavor 🙊. 

Post Thanksgiving Cleanse!

Turkey day is officially over, by now you should have eaten at least 3 days of left overs, all of which included heavy starches, meats and hopefully vegetables.  If you are feeling sluggish as a result of eating too much and just want to cleanse and prep your digestive system and body for the coming Christmas holiday here are a few tips to get you started.

1.      After all the leftovers are gone, get into the habit of eating light again. Replace a meal with a healthy nutritious salad (recipe below), a delicious natural juice or smoothie that aids in digestion and cleanses all at the same time.

2.      Limit the amount of meat you eat daily. Dietary recommendations for meats or protein range between 5 - 6.5 oz. respectively for men and women.  Actual portion for meat is approximately 2-3oz.  Three ounce is equivalent to a pack of playing cards, a small thigh, drum or half of a bone in chicken breast.

3.      Eat added fish in place of meats; choose fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, Atlantic or Pacific mackerel, sardines and herring. These fish are loaded with omega 3 fatty acids and are naturally low in fat and cholesterol.

4.      Beans and peas base soups are an excellent way to get more protein and fiber! Fiber of course increases bowel motility when paired with accurate water intake. We need between 25 to 30 grams of fiber daily. One cup of cooked beans is equivalent to approximately 15g of fiber. Nuts and seeds, whole or in the form of butter or milk are also good non-meat protein choices.

5.      Juice or blend fresh vegetables, and fruits.  Add these spices; ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves for flavor and digestion (see juice recipe below).

 

Recipes

Raw Kale Salad

3 cups washed and chopped raw kale

1 cup shredded purple cabbage
¼ cup roasted or raw pumpkin seeds
¼ cup dried cranberries
Toss ingredients together, add a light, fat free dressing and serve.

 

 

Cleansing Smoothie

1 cup spinach

½ ripe bananas
½ cup almond milk

Blend all ingredients in blender pour and serve

Cleansing Juice

Juice ½ beet root, 3 carrots, and a small piece of ginger root and serve(can use a tsp. of ginger powder in place of fresh root).  If more juice is needed increase the amount of beets and carrot used.

 

Juice parsley, cucumbers, celery and and lime for another refreshing, cleansing drink!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Survival 101

 

1.    First and most important forget the diet!

 

2.    Take the guilt out of eating more than you normally would by:

a.   Preparing  foods in a healthy way

b.   Eating smaller portion of all foods selected

c.   Waiting at least an hour, to an hour and a half before having seconds

d.   Avoiding large amount of fluids before, with or after meals.

3.   Oven fry chicken is just as tasty as pan fried chicken.  Use a dry batter in place of a wet one when frying in the oven.

4.   Make steamed or roasted vegetables as sides. Avoid using bacon, smoked meats with your vegetables. (see below for great vegan collard greens recipe)

5.   Use natural ingredients; avoid using process foods as much as possible.

6.   If you feel sluggish after dinner due to over eating, go for a quick brisk walk or entertain

yourself, family and friends with a game of musical chairs, or a 15 minute dance off.  Dancing for 15- 30 minutes burns anywhere from 60 to 150 calories.

Recipe!

Vegan Collard Greens

 

2 large bunches collard greens

3 garlic cloves crush and chopped

1 small onion chopped

2 tbsp. Olive oil

¼ tsp. dried rosemary

Dash of salt for taste (optional)

Dash of black pepper

 

Wash and chop (or tear) collard greens.

In a tall stock pot heat olive oil, add chopped onions, garlic and dried rosemary, sauté for about 3 minutes then add collard greens.

Add one cup of water, cover stock pot and let simmer on medium heat for about 10 minutes.

Once collard greens are cooked add small amount of black pepper and salt, simmer for 5 more minutes then remove from heat.

 

*If you prefer your greens soggy cook longer (it is better to steam your vegetables than it is to cook them in water). For collard greens add just enough water to keep it from burning or sticking to bottom of pot.  If water dries out before greens are cooked add water as needed. Kale and turnip greens can be used in place of collards as well!!

Happy New Year

Whole Body Nutrition wants you to know that:

No man or woman is perfect

Change takes time

Setting small goals is a great route to achieving bigger goals

Eating should be enjoyable not burdensome

Weight loss happens differently depending on your age, gender and genes

Stress will not only cause you to gain weight it can lead to high blood pressure and make you physically ill! DON’T STRESS!!

Drinking 6-8 glasses of water daily will keep you hydrated, energized and beautiful

Some cooks are born others are made, be adventurous in the kitchen

This New Year is an opportunity to change unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle practices

You can create a WHOLE new you

You should begin now!

New You Recipes to start the year off right!

Morning Sunshine Smoothie

1 cup orange juice

1 banana

¼ cup frozen strawberries

1 teaspoon honey for taste (optional)

Include all ingredients in a blender can add ice for thickness. Blend and serve with mint garnish

Egg White and Potato Frittata

3-4 fresh egg whites, cage free or organic

2 small potatoes

1 cup fresh broccoli florets (head)

2 table spoon chopped onions

Red pepper flakes or black pepper 

A dash of salt or a salt alternative

1 tablespoon olive oil

Boil potatoes for about 10 minutes or less. Sauté onions, broccoli and potatoes in olive oil. Season with salt, black pepper or red pepper flakes.

Blend egg whites together in a separate bowl.

Add sautéed mix of potatoes, onions, and broccoli to a oven safe bowl. Pour egg whites over mixture, sprinkle with a dash of pepper and bake for at least 10 minutes.

Optional: shaved or shredded cheese can be added to frittata.

6 Foods for a Healthy Diet!

1. Oats

Cooked in low-fat milk or soy-milk, no sugar added. If you need sweetness try adding raisins, dried or fresh fruits. Bananas are great!

Oats contain fiber. Fiber keeps us regular and is also good for people with high cholesterol, and diabetes.

2. Fruits

3. Vegetables

An additional source of fiber, fresh, cooked or raw you cannot go wrong with fruits and vegetables. They are naturally low in calories, and loaded with vitamins and minerals. Half of all your meals should be vegetables and fruits should be eaten at least twice a day. Vitamins such as A, C, E, K as well as minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc are all found in a variety of fruits and vegetables.

The fundamental rule for fruits and vegetables are:

Choose them fresh or fresh frozen, canned are edible too but they often contain added salt and not as many nutrients as the fresh varieties.

 Eat an array of fruits and vegetables by choosing from all the different color groups; reds, whites, purple, blue, green, yellow and so on.

4. Eggs.
 Eggs get a bad rap because they are high in cholesterol and saturated fats, but they are also loaded with nutrients, like vitamin B 12, riboflavin (A B complex vitamin), minerals like selenium (an antioxidant that reduces the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease) phosphorus, zinc and iron.

b. Scrambled, boiled or prepared into a vegetable omelet, eggs is a great source of protein.

* If you are at risk for or have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease limit the amount of eggs eaten daily, use egg substitutes or fresh egg whites in place of whole eggs.

5. Fish
Whether it is salmon, sardines, fresh tuna, or snapper, fish is always a great choice. They are protein packed, low in unhealthy fats and high in fats that are good for you. Fish like mackerel, tuna, salmon, and sardines are a great source of Omega 3 fatty acid.

Omega 3 fatty acids are known to protect your heart from cardiovascular disease, lower blood pressure and aid in brain function.

Fish can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Lox with low fat cream cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes and whole grain bagels in the morning, seared tuna tacos with avocado, lettuce and tomato for lunch, baked snapper fillet with brown rice and green beans for dinner.

6. Low - Fat Milk
Milk really does a body good, except if you are lactose intolerant. For those who cannot tolerate milk nor have dairy products at all, finding a good source of Calcium and Vitamin D is important.

Some non-dairy sources for calcium are:

Fortified cereals
Fortified soy, almond or rice milk.
Canned salmon and sardines with bones
Green leafy vegetables such as collard greens will provide some calcium, not a significant amount
Navy, black turtle, white and cooked soy beans, tofu
Nuts and some seeds
Cabbage, broccoli, greens (turnip, kale, or collard), okra

Vitamin D can also be found in fortified non-milk beverages, cod liver oil tablets, salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna. Spending time in the sun also helps our body make Vitamin D. (Spending too much time in the sun without sun block can cause, skin damage, skin cancer, burns etc)

GROW SOMETHING!

Plant a garden this spring, it won't take much, just your will, dirt and some seeds.

Get back to nature, back to understanding how our foods grow, how the earth consistently provides for us. Plant a vegetable or herb garden this spring and remind yourself of nature's gift of freshness.

 Gardening is a great way to bond with nature, reduce stress, and eat fresh.  

Vegetables like eggplant, sweet peppers, snap beans, okra, carrots, summer squash and tomatoes are great starters.

 Season your meals with herbs from your garden.  Rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme, sage, garlic, and onions will make your salads pop and lessen the need for salted seasonings.

Beginners can Google gardening tool needs online or visit your local Home Depot or Lowes gardening center for instructions and advice.  For those existing in urban areas with restricted space consider renting a plot, or joining a garden association. You can also begin the process by using flowering pots.

Some helpful tips:

1. Select an area to plant your garden and begin prepping soil. Avoid using weed killers and pull weeds with hands

2. Use natural compost on your soil before planting; this will reduce the need for fertilizers later on

3. Don’t crowd your seeds, allow sufficient space between them, this will allow seeds to grow better

4. Water before you plant and know how much water your seeds will need once planted. This information along with other gardening explanations can be found online

 Planting and harvesting time can be determined by accessing your state's harvesting calendar online.

 

Quick, Easy and Healthy Breakfast.

Recommending how to eat healthy is one thing, being able to prepare healthier foods is another. Some of the barriers to healthy eating are food preparation. To overcome this I almost always recommend following healthy recipes that can be found on line or purchasing a cook book that offer step by step directions on preparation of healthy foods. Find new ways to prepare foods you are currently eating that will make them healthy or healthier. Easy ways to enhance any food is to add fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, replace salt and sugar with a healthier ingredient such as herbs, spices, honey or 100% maple or rice syrup.

Avoid deep frying, sauté, bake or grill your food. Plan, Plan, Plan and Prepare.

Here are a few quick healthy recipe ideas for breakfast

Egg Frittata

2 eggs (whole or whites) beaten

1/4 cup chopped broccoli

1/4 cup chopped mushrooms

1 teaspoon chopped onions

1 small plum tomato cut into 4 pieces

2 teaspoon olive oil

Pinch of salt and pepper for taste

Heat olive oil in frying pan. Add onions, broccoli, mushrooms and sauté on high for about 2 minutes then add tomatoes and beaten eggs and reduce heat cook until egg is no longer wet or runny. Frittata can be finished on stove-top or in oven at 350 degrees.

Frittata can be eaten as is or with whole grain toast, whole grain or blueberry waffles. You can add about an ounce of cheese to the recipe if you like. There are many variations to this recipe including adding potatoes or using spinach or asparagus instead.

Oats

1/2 cup regular oats

1 teaspoon raisin

1 teaspoon dried cranberries

2 teaspoon brown sugar or maple syrup (more might be needed if you like your oatmeal sweet) the recommendation is less sugar.

Cook oats in about a cup of water until done. 1/2 cup raw oats yields about 1 cup cooked (equivalent to 2 servings of starch based on the Food Guide Pyramid).  Sweeten with sugar or maple syrup. Serve with raisins and dried cranberries.

If you like your oatmeal creamy like I do use 2% milk or soy milk in place of water. For different flavor you can sprinkle cooked oats with brown sugar and cinnamon or add fresh blueberries or other sliced fruits on top.

Banana Pancakes

1 cup complete pancake mix

1 banana

Water for mix

This recipe is pretty easy mix pancake batter, add sliced or crush banana. Pancakes can be made on stove-top in a non-stick frying pan or on a pancake griddle. Non-stick spray such as Pam can be use in place of butter or oil.

Pancakes are great with fruits and you don't always have to put the fruits in the pancake. You can top plain pancakes with heated fruits soaked in maple syrup.

 Yogurt and Fruit Parfait

1 6-8oz plain or strawberry yogurt

1/4 cup granola

1/2 cup sliced strawberries (use 1/4 cup if they are frozen)

1/4 cup blueberries

In a cup or bowl add yogurt. Top with granola then fruits and enjoy

Breakfast does not have to be typical breakfast foods. Left over from previous night's dinner can be a great way to start your day. I have enjoyed spaghetti sprinkled with shredded cheddar cheese and heated in the morning. Left over soups are also great substitutes for the typical breakfast foods.

If you have left over chicken from the night before, sauté a few pieces of onions, tomatoes and some vegetables and wrap in a whole grain tortilla wrap for a quick, easy, and healthy breakfast.

Boiled eggs with wheat thins or wheat crackers, sliced cheddar cheese and a half of an apple is not only healthy its filling.

Sardines with sliced jalapenos are a favorite of mines. I often pair it with water crackers and sliced avocados for a protein filled breakfast in the morning.

Eating should be fun and not a chore. Step outside the box and begin experimenting with different foods, and different food combinations. You just might create your family's next favorite recipe.

The Whole Body Nutrition Concept.

The Whole Body Nutrition concept encourages a healthy body, mind and spirit. We encourage you to learn and experiment with different ways to eat and live a healthier life, no matter what dietary path you are following.

With that said these 5 criteria will get you on your way:

1. Live Foods

Choose foods that are real, natural, fresh, seasonal and unprocessed.

Eliminate refined starches such as white flour, sugar and artificial drinks.

Limit canned foods, boxed or frozen meals as often as possible

2. Plant Base

Plant base foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes (peas, beans) seeds and whole grains are essential for a healthy, low fat, and nutrient rich diet.

When choosing plants choose a variety of color, more color means a wider range of nutrients.

Support local farmers markets. Fruits and vegetables are often fresher and cheaper when purchased from local farmers market.

3. Low Fat

Get your fats from lean meats such as fish, chicken, turkey lean beef, nuts, and low fat dairy products.

Avoid margarine and foods made with hydrogenated oils (trans-fat)

Substitute a plant base protein such as seitan (high protein wheat gluten), Tofu, vegetable burgers beans or peas for a meat occasionally

Limit fried and process foods.

4. Nutrient Dense (Nutrition Rich)

Choose foods with high nutrient content. Nutrients are the vitamins and minerals that the foods we eat provide. They are important for growth and development in children and maintenance of our health as we get older. Nutrients such as calcium, iron, vitamin c, and vitamin d just to name a few are essential to our wellbeing.
Eat natural fresh foods they have fewer calories and are rich in nutrients.
Use food labels to guide you when trying to improve your nutrient intake.

5. Live Active

Having an active lifestyle will keep you in shape, prevent excessive weight gain and help you feel better overall.

Whether it’s exercising, or doing one of your favorites activities such as bowling, dancing, skating being active is not just good for your body it’s also great for your mind.

Eat Right! Right Now!

Finally, summer is here for those of us who do not reside in places where the sun is always shining. Hopefully by now we have all gotten our summer bodies in check. To be honest I tried but I am not completely there and if you are not close or completely there either don’t panic. Summer is a great time of year because it's hot, and when it's hot most of us eat less and we eat lighter. There is still time to improve on yourself and your quest to live a healthier life.

To cool down on those hot summer days try unsweetened ice tea. I recently started drinking unsweetened flavored ice tea and I'm finding that I don't miss the sugar. Try teas with natural fruit flavorings like pomegranate, peach, jasmine or passion fruits. Freshly made lemonade with a touch of mint is also a great thirst quencher with very little calories. Frozen fruit smoothies are a great cool me down, so are yogurts fresh chilled fruits and even ice cream. Eat ice cream and other naturally fatty and sweet foods in moderation. Do not eat them daily. Frozen fruit bars and ice pops made with 100% fruits juices are also delicious summer treats. Water, drink plenty of it. Water is one of the best ways to quench thirst and cool down in the heat.

For meals that are satisfying and don't require hours over a hot stove get creative. Try cold crisp salads with a protein source such as baked fish, chicken breast, and eggs cooked beans or cheese on top. Stir fry boneless chicken breast with vegetables. Put your grill to use. Grilling is a great way to reduce fat from meats; it is also an opportunity for you to increase your vegetable intake. Grilled vegetables are delicious and easy to prepare and they make a great side dish to any protein selection. Whole grain pasta salads are more than just a side dish, toss in cooked shrimps, crab meat or grilled chicken and you have a tasty meal that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.


If exercising outdoor becomes harder due to the heat then change your workout schedule. Choose to workout earlier in the morning when it is not as hot, or later in the evening when the sun goes down. This would also be a great time to join a gym, or invest in a workout video that can be done in the comfort of your home. Stay cool in the pool. Swimming or playing in the pool for 30 minutes or more will keep you cool and help you stay active in the heat.


The weather good or bad is no excuse to not stay motivated and dedicated to your quest for a healthier lifestyle. Lets begin to limit our excuses and stay focused on the task at hand, living our best lives possible.