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How to Pack for a Cruelty-Free Trip

April 17, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

When I decided to go spend several months in China, I knew that I needed to have a plan for packing. In Beijing, you can buy just about anything – anything except all natural, cruelty-free beauty products. With the research I did prior, I was aware that I wouldn’t be able to find most of the health & beauty brands that I normally use. There were certain things I wanted to stock up on in America and bring with me. I planned on being in China for several months, but even if you’re taking a short trip somewhere, consider bringing these items with you.

Boost Your Immunity

My worst nightmare was getting sick from the long, arduous journey to China. I didn’t know what to expect when I got there and I didn’t want to be in a foreign country feeling crappy and helpless. So I decided to do some research and figure out what to bring along to ensure my immune system was kicking butt.

First things first, I knew without a doubt that I needed to bring a bottle of high quality probiotics with me. I had already been taking a daily probiotic at home to improve my digestion and overall health. I learned that if you don’t have a healthy gut, you are leaving your entire body vulnerable to disease and sickness. So not only would the probiotics optimize my immune system, but they would also help my stomach adjust to the fact that the water and food in China are fairly low quality. I decided to go with Nutrition Now’s PB8 Vegetarian Formula. I liked the fact that it was vegan and free of gluten and soy. Plus, it contains a high amount of good bacteria – 14 Billion. And with 120 capsules, I could make one bottle last me for a while in China. I had a feeling it would be tough to find probiotics over there (and it was). I think this one bottle ended up lasting me 2 or 3 months.

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Compassion In Numbers

March 29, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

Today’s blog is all about numbers! Being a compassionate, caring individual that makes a difference in the world can be as easy as 1-2-3. In my opinion, it’s all about baby steps and focusing on what you can do today. Every little choice we make and every little action we take has a ripple effect. No matter how small of a good deed, it’s worth it and it impacts someone, we just don’t always witness that impact. Here are some simple suggestions to help you get started if you are overwhelmed or not sure where to begin.

ANIMALS

puppy love

Our furry friends need our help! Working with animals in various settings, especially homeless cats and dogs left to suffer their fates alone, I really realized how much of an impact I had on them just by spending ten minutes petting them or playing with them. It means the world to them. There are other ways to help out, too. Here are a few:

13 Ways To Help Animal Shelters

7 Ways You Can Help Wildlife

For kids:

5 Ways Kids Can Help Animals

10 Ways to Save Animals

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Hungry for Change

March 23, 2015 by Jillian 2 Comments

Today I finally watched the critically acclaimed 2012 documentary Hungry for Change, directed by James Colquhon and Laurentine Ten Bosch. I like this film because it gets down to the root causes of obesity, illness, bad health, and unhappiness and makes the connection between mind and body. It also talks about why diets don’t work, what is in the foods we are consuming, and gives a solution to this epidemic of unhealthiness.

I decided ahead of time to take notes while watching Hungry for Change because I knew it was going to be filled with great information. And boy was it! I highly recommend watching this documentary (which you can find on Netflix and the Hungry for Change official website), but in the mean time, here are the “cliff notes” with what I found in the film to be most significant.

OVERFED & UNDERNOURISHED

While hunter gatherer cultures consume more nutrients and less calories, Americans today are consuming more calories and less nutrients. We are fatter than ever but starving our bodies at the same time. Why is that? Because Americans are consuming processed foods instead of whole foods that come from nature. Let’s take a look at a few of the toxic ingredients that are causing widespread obesity and chronic illness, and some of my suggestions for healthy alternatives.

MSG – A food additive used in nearly every processed food and restaurant in America. The problem with MSG is that it’s an excitotoxin, meaning that it overexcites your cells to the point of damage or death, which can cause brain damage and learning disabilities. It also causes overeating and weight gain. Case in point: MSG is used on lab mice in medical studies to make them fat. Alternative: pink Himalayan salt
Aspartame – It’s an addictive substance most commonly found in diet soda. Aspartame causes neurological damage and weight gain, yet it’s marketed by diet soda companies as a “healthy” alternative to regular soda. Alternative: Stevia

Fat/Fat Free Foods – If you see “fat free” on a food label, that usually means loaded with sugar because they have to make up for the taste. And sugar is what really makes us fat. Low fat foods leave you hungry because your body needs good fats, NOT fats like soybean oil, corn oil, or canola oil. Partially hydrogenated oils are the worst kinds of fats and are used in many baked items and margarine spreads. Healthy fats are plant based. Alternative: avocados, chia seeds, flax oil, coconut oil
High Fructose Corn Syrup – Created by Japanese scientists in the 1970’s, it reduced production costs, but fructose (or “fruit sugar”) is highly addictive and changes brain chemistry. In the 1900’s, children consumed about 15 grams of fructose a day, which is less than 1 ounce. Presently, children consume about 70-80 grams of fructose a day and some children consume up to 120-150 grams a day, which is 10x the amount in 1900. Alternative: maple syrup, coconut palm sugar

Take away: Read the ingredients labels on foods! Be careful of ingredients that are plant derived but have been chemically altered, like high fructose corn syrup.

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Turmeric Milk

March 13, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

I’m crazy about this drink! If you want a delicious and healthy alternative to coffee, hot cocoa, or tea, then turmeric milk is your drink. It’s packed full of cancer fighting antioxidants but you don’t even notice because you’re too busy enjoying the creamy taste and the rich yellow color. Make this warm drink in the morning for a coffee substitute, as an afternoon pick-me-up, or in the evening when you’re winding down. I like to drink it mid-morning as a light snack or before bed with a piece of dark chocolate. You will fall in love with this easy to make drink.

Before we get started, I want to quickly go over the health benefits of Turmeric:

It fights inflammation, and since inflammation leads to diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and other chronic diseases, that’s pretty awesome.
It’s a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals (which also cause cancer).
It’s linked to improved brain function.
Can lower the risk of heart disease, prevent and treat Alzheimer’s, and alleviate arthritis.
Studies show that it may treat depression.
Turmeric benefits anti-aging.

These are just a few of the many benefits of using turmeric. If you don’t already have some lying around in your kitchen, go out and buy some and get busy using it!

I originally found the recipe for turmeric milk at Nutrition Stripped, which is a blog I highly recommend. It contains some great plant based recipes and resources for healthy living. I decided to make my own simplified version of this vegan drink. Here goes!

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Sweet Potato Pudding

January 25, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

Sweet potatoes are one of my new favorite foods here in Beijing (the other being pomelos). They are super cheap and readily available, plus sweet potatoes are easy to prepare and very filling. Not to mention the health benefits. I’ve always loved my mom’s sweet potato casserole at Thanksgiving, but I know the recipe included butter, sugar, and eggs – 3 ingredients that pretty much cancel out the good stuff in the sweet potato itself. Last year I attended an amazing vegan workshop held through PCRM (Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine) that focused on how anyone can help prevent and cure cancer through a vegan diet. I came home with some vegan recipes that were so delicious and simple to create, I was in a state of wild and utter happiness. One of those recipes was Sweet Potato Pudding. 5 ingredients, 5 minutes to make, and devoured in about 1 minute!

Before I wow you with this genius recipe, let’s take a quick look at the great health benefits of sweet potatoes:

They are a good source of vitamin C, which is necessary in warding off cold and flu viruses, instrumental in bone and tooth formation, digestion, and blood cell formation. It also accelerates wound healing and produces collagen, the substance that maintains skin’s youthful elasticity and helps us cope with stress. Vitamin C has been linked to fighting cancerous toxins as well.
They contain vitamin D, which is crucial to the immune system and linked to our energy levels and moods. Vitamin D is essential for building healthy bones, heart, nerves, skin, and teeth, as well as supporting the thyroid gland.
They contain iron, an essential mineral that is responsible for red and white blood cell production, resistance to stress, adequate energy levels, proper immune functioning, and other duties.
Sweet potatoes are a good source of magnesium and potassium. Magnesium plays an important role in healthy artery, blood, bone, heart, muscle, and nerve function. It’s also known as the relaxation and anti-stress mineral. Potassium is an electrolyte that regulates heartbeat and nerve signals, and protects and controls the kidneys.
Another perk is that the natural sugars in sweet potatoes are slowly released into the bloodstream, which creates a balanced and regular source of energy without the negative side effects associated with other types of sugar, such as weight gain and fatigue.
Finally, sweet potatoes are high in beta carotene and other carotenoids, as indicated by their beautiful orange color. Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants that fight cancer, strengthen our eyesight, and boost our immunity.

I’m impressed not only with the health benefits of sweet potatoes, but the flavor and versatility of them. Take your pick – grilled, baked, roasted, sauteed, pureed, steamed, in soups, stews, salads, or even sweet potato fries. It’s important to note something that I learned from the instructor at my PCRM vegan workshop; be careful not to cook sweet potatoes at ultra high temperatures because it diminishes the nutrients. (this is true of many other vegetables as well). My instructor suggested roasting sweet potatoes in the oven at about 200-250 degrees. It takes longer, but the nutrients remain intact and the natural sugars have more time to simmer and come out, making for an even sweeter sweet potato!

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