Did you know that by current estimates, 70% of health is determined by lifestyle as opposed to genes? Dan Buettner is tracking down the fountain of longevity by studying people who live in what he calls, “blue zones”. They are hot spots in the world where people tend to live abnormally long lives.

So far Mr. Buettner has found 4 blue zones: Sardinia, Okinawa, Loma Linda (California) and Costa Rica. Watch this 3 minute video to see what lifestyle elements he’s discovered in his search for a longer life recipe:

This post was inspired by reader, Emmanuel Lopez, who suggested that healthy bread spreads might be a good way to complete The Perfect Way to Start Your Morning. Breakfast jump starts your metabolism and has been tooted the most important meal of the day, as discussed on Eat a Big Breakfast & Lose Weight.

So if you’re tired of smoothies but want something as simple and (almost) as nutritious, here are a few healthy spreads to try on plain, healthy bread or toast:

1. Pure maple butter. This spread is thick, sweet and full of maply-goodness. Plus, you get all the health benefits of maple syrup: a good source of manganese and zinc, an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune booster – not to mention it’s heart and prostate healthy!
2. Almond nut butter. I love President’s Choice Just Almonds – they have crunchy and smooth at a very reasonable price (compared to other nut butters on the market). It’s a good source of Vitamin E and protein. For a complete meal idea, slice some bananas on top!
3. Other nut butters. Besides typical peanut butter, there’s nut butters made from hazelnuts, cashews, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Try all of them! Canada’s Nuts to You Nut Butter Inc. even brings nuts together in nut-imony (ha ha) : almond & cashew, almond & hazelnut, macadamia & cashew, peanut & hazelnut. As in the above tip, add some suitable fresh fruit or organic jams to round out the meal. Read the rest of this entry

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It’s hard enough to get kids to eat healthy but it’s nearly impossible these days. Our society promotes convenience and hectic lifestyles, with fast-food restaurants on every street corner and snack foods marketed specifically to kids. We’ve reached record highs for illnesses linked to lack of nutrition among children – from depression to diabetes, from limited attention span to cholesterol imbalance.

Enter: The Sears’ Family. In their book, “The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood: Ten Ways to Get Your Family on the Right Nutritional Track,” they promise to help you shape your child’s tastes and metabolism for optimal health!

In a “wise but accessible tone,” the Sears’ family:

• identifies foods and eating habits that can counter or prevent many common illnesses
• reveals how you can shape young tastes to crave healthy foods in the right proportions
• provides the tools, the tips and the knowledge you need in virtually every nutritional circumstance – from dealing with a picky eater to curbing an adolescent’s junk-food cravings
• draws on the latest research in biochemistry and nutrition science as it outlines steps you can take to guard your child against Nutritional Deficit Disorder

That’s not all you’ll find in this book! They devote an entire chapter to healthy recipes and another to food shopping, which will teach you supermarket savvy and how to read nutritional labels. They cover some common nutrition questions, discuss obesity in their chapter, `how to raise a lean family’ and provide 11 ways to feed growing brains.

Why listen to the Sears’ Family?

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Does it trouble you to see your little one suffer through a cold? Too young for cough and cold medication, they have no other choice than to live through even the of worst cold symptoms. All we want to do is give them relief.

Well, you’re reading the right post then! Sinupret for Kids is a safe, natural remedy that supports healthy sinus, respiratory and immune function.

And we’re giving away free sample packs here on Live Lighter! The first 15 readers to leave a comment and send this post to a friend will receive:

• A copy of Dr. Bob Sears bestselling book The Healthiest Kids in the Neighborhood
• A sample of Sinupret
• Yellow children’s binoculars
• Sinupret for Kids Activity Book
• Sinupret for Kids Stickers
• Mini Plush Bear

The mini plush bear is sooo adorable. Any kid – including the kid in me – would love to snuggle with this tiny, soft handful of bear!

About Sinupret for Kids

Recommended by pediatricians like Dr. Bob Sears (click here to read his tips for keeping your kids naturally healthy in the winter season), Sinupret for Kids has a proprietary blend of five-herbal blend combination of European Elder, Sorrel, Cowslip, European Vervain and Gentian.

It’s one of the world’s leading herbal remedies for upper respiratory health in children age 2 and up. Sinupret has been Germany’s #1 most widely recommended and scientifically tested nasal and sinus support formula for children and adults for more than 30 years.

The American Botanical Council published a monograph (a technical paper focusing on one subject) in February of this year (click here to read the news release). The monograph concluded that,  “Sinupret has a relatively significant level of safety and efficacy data compared to many other natural products intended for use in maintaining the health of sinuses and the upper respiratory tract”.

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Ease yourself out of dreamland and into the real world with this beautiful morning mantra by Grail Springs. It’s 6 minutes of pure bliss, moving your body slowly and purposefully to relaxing music:

For new Live Lighter subscribers, I had the pleasure of visiting this health spa and wellness retreat back in the fall. It’s a majestic place hidden in Northern Ontario and if you’re curious, here is my review, part 1 and part 2.

Do you want a place where you can share articles, studies, blogs, musings, videos… anything relating to the world of natural health? Besides, Live Lighter, of course… Well then, do I have the natural health news and community for you!

It’s www.healthiertalk.com and they have scads of reputable contributors in the natural health industry such as Dr. Joseph Mercola, Dr. Jonathan Wright, Dr. Hyla Cass and Dr. Al Sears.

And just yesterday, Live Lighter had the immense pleasure of being featured along side these top industry professionals on Healthier Talk with the article, Detox Drinks That Work!

Here’s a little more on Healthier Talk: Read the rest of this entry

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Although the avocado may turn a few people off this smoothie recipe, it’s that exact ingredient that gives it a texture of luxurious velvet caressing the tongue. Sometimes called, the alligator pear, it’s also high in healthy fats which have been shown to help lower levels of unhealthy fats in the body.  And it’s only 567 calories!

For anyone coming off certain fasts today, this is a heavenly treat that combines 2 subtle and delicious tastes:

Pear-ly Heavenly Avocado Smoothie

Serves: 1 (20 oz glass)

Ingredients

1 pear, fresh, seeded & chopped
1/2 avocado, fresh
1/2 cup yogurt, plain
1 cup rice milk, vanilla
1 scoop protein powder
3 ice cubes

Directions

Blend until smooth. Enjoy.

Nutrition information

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Looking over the menu, you catch the description of the chicken linguine. You start salivating. Your eyes slide to the price…$14… not bad for a reputable Italian restaurant. Then you notice another piece of info, and your mouth dries up like a 5,000 year old mummy. It’s 1,300 calories!

Metro reported yesterday that the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) suggested one way to fight childhood obesity was to pass legislation requiring restaurant chains and school cafeterias to post calorie counts on menus. Dalton McGuinty, by the way, responded today that childhood obesity is a federal issue, dismissing it from his jurisdiction.

Overeating is a health issue with western society in general, not just a federal problem or one that concerns only  children and teens. Portion sizes in most restaurants are at least twice as big as they need be to create more value for the price. While you have the choice to doggie-bag it, most people opt for fresh… plus they don’t want to waste money or food, either!

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No, this isn’t a post about how recent studies claim coffee helps cure sickness in youth. Although, that would be cool. This post is about how 602 people in Toronto raised over $1,500 for the SickKids Foundation, an event organized by Daily Challenge and the Pay It Backward event team.

Oh, we also broke a world record and had a lot of fun doing it!

The corner of Queen and John streets, downtown Toronto, transformed into a hubbub of goodwill this past Saturday, April 4th. At 1 pm, Do Gooder #1 started the event off by buying a warm drink and/or snack for the next person in line. For the next 5 hours, 100% of every purchase was donated generously by Second Cup!

It was my honour and pleasure to have helped SickKids and make history! This Pay It Backward Day video by Suresh and Nina of www.spotlighttoronto.com does the day great justice:

Read the Metro story here!

A protein smoothie is one of my favourite ways to finish off an intense workout (besides a shower, of course). The protein and nutrients help rebuild the muscles just ripped with high quality calories. And this recipe, with it’s silky, smooth texture and strawberry, mango taste bonanza, is definitely one that I had to share with you!

You’ll notice listed in the ingredient a different protein powder made here in Toronto from Heartland Gold. It’s hypo-allergenic (gluten, soy & lactose-free), organic, sprouted, non-GMO brown rice protein powder. It’s unflavoured to allow the fruit the spotlight in the smoothie but it lends an interesting earthy taste. It’s also budget-friendly at $20.99 for 400g. I recommend trying it if you can get it in your neighbourhood healthfood store.

Try this recipe with your favourite protein powder:

Mango My Strawberry Smoothie

Makes 1 serving, about 20 oz.

Ingredients

1 cup strawberries (frozen)
0.5 cup mango, fresh, sliced
0.5 cup yogurt, plain
2 tbsp flax seed, ground
1 cup Rice Dream rice milk, vanilla
1 scoop Heartland Gold brown rice protein powder

Directions

1. Blend until smooth.
2. Enjoy!

Nutritional Information

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