brewing up brain-happy coffee and tea

I jumped onto the Bulletproof coffee train in late 2014, and have gotten much more consistent in my consumption this year - I have Bulletproof coffee or tea 5 or more times each week. You can find plenty of pro- and anti-Bulletproof articles online, but here is the basic recipe, along with some notes and observations from me below:

five simple ways to make a difference (in your life, and in others')

Tis the season for giving and for looking to how we can better ourselves in the coming year.  Here are 5 simple things you can do throughout the year to have a positive impact on your life and on others'.

apple cider vinegar in a nighttime tea - worth it

I can easily admit, I'm pretty quick to try a new health fad, and only slightly less quick to say how much I like it.  But then, I'll always admit a month later if I realize it's actually not producing the expected or desired results (which is 95% of the time); I guess I'm impressionable but ultimately honest.  That said, I try to wait to post on here about results until I've gotten past my initial optimistic excitement - I've reached that point with this latest trend of drinking an apple cider vinegar tea before bed, and can report that it falls into that rare 5%!

green smoothie recipe - autumn bitters

My primary grocery store doesn't carry cranberries year-round, so when they start showing up, I know that Fall is finally here! Cranberries are one of my favorite smoothie ingredients - they're jam-packed with antioxidants, micro-nutrients, and they add great color and bitterness with only 4 grams of sugar in a full cup of them! Beets are another Fall favorite that I hold off on until the colder months. Rotating fruits and vegetables throughout the year allows me to focus on more locally-sourced foods, keeps variety in my smoothies, and adds excitement to the changing of the seasons!

understanding omega-3s, omega-6s, and grass-fed goodness

One of the easiest changes you can make to your diet as a way of improving your health is to focus on consuming grass-fed / free-range dairy and meat products. These items tend to be nearly twice as expensive, but if we're talking about an extra $20-$50 per month per person, it's a small price to pay for better health, happier animals, and a more sustainable system.

green smoothie recipe - basil berry blast!

With spices growing on the back porch, and fresh local berries at the supermarket, it's a great time of year for green smoothies! I've been making the following smoothie (without the optional ingredients) almost every day - it's so refreshing, with just enough zing from the fresh basil and lime.  Enjoy!

learn to do a chin-up in a couple minutes a day!

I love chin-ups and pull-ups! They engage so many different muscles, and there are a hundred variations to keep things exciting. Think you're a pull-up pro and can't get much better? Check out the bar scene on Venice Beach for a humbling bit of perspective: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6nVX9txw6E

That stuff's incredible, but let's get back to a basic chin-up, which the majority of people can't do. Most of us spend our days behind a computer, at a desk, and barely mobile; we don't use our shoulders for anything anymore, and our arms are lucky if they get a five-minute workout doing dishes or cleaning up the house. But, I'm here to claim that most of you can learn to do a chin-up in a month!  Guys, girls, in-shape, out-of-shape, give it a try! I'm convinced almost anyone can do it with a simple month of effort. And why do it? It'll start to tone you up, increase your mobility on everyday tasks, and give you a sense of accomplish which can translate to other goals (here's a task I wanted to complete, that I didn't think I could complete, and I did it!). Let's get to it!