By Jamie G Dougherty

With Spring about to spring (or sprung), images of lemon water and cayenne pepper whirl around our brains making us feel simultaneously guilty for our indulgences and absolutely compelled to detox. You know you’ve been over doing it with the wine, sugar and caffeine and yet don’t know how to stop without taking drastic measures!

Now hold your horses, my extreme little lady. If you go about cleaning your system the way you down mini Reese’s pieces and wine, you will be back at the emotional eating trough before you know it. The only way to clean your body in a way that will actually last is to do so DELICIOUSLY!

With deliciousness you create a way of eating you want to continue, unlike other soul-sucking cleanses that have you running back to sugar’s comforting embrace within 14 days. To start on your delicious detox, work these 3 foods into your daily diet. They are delicious (of course), easy to prepare and do a lot of the work for you.  Promise!

Arugula -  A gorgeous green that pack a seriously tasty and detoxing punch. I love to mix it with red cabbage and avocado for a sweet, rich and crunchy combo. This recipe will get you started!

Asparagus - Yes it makes your tinkle smell funny but it also reduces swelling, water retention and is packed full of B vitamins to boost energy. This dish will rock your detoxing world.

Daikon Radish - You’ve seen this white radish shredded, lying docilely next to your sashimi.  It works wonders to break up fat and clear mucous and old residue from the body. Simply peel and eat it raw, in a salad or in your favorite stew.  This dish will have you saying, “All praise delicious detoxing!”

Feel cleaner already, don’t you? This year rather than punishing your body for past transgressions, give yourself the gift of a delicious detox. Your brain, body and tastebuds will thank you for the entire year to come.

In the comments below, tell me what detoxes you’ve tried in the past and what your favorite detoxing food is. I can’t wait to hear!

Jamie G. Dougherty, founder of JamieLiving.com, empowers busy women to create bodies that are as rockin’ as their careers!  She is also the creator of the Delicious Detox Program: 10 Days to a more Divine and Delicious YOU! If you feel hungry, stuck and unsatisfied with your food and your body be sure to visit Jamie’s website to get her FREE 5-Step Guide to Fabulous. Seriously ladies, get ready for Jamie to rock your world!

So you’ve been dared to rid your kitchen of your microwave. Now what? We’re here to help you through this difficult transition from appliance-dependent to good old-fashioned cooking. It might take more than 60 seconds, but we promise these substitutes for your favorite microwave treats are so easy and so much better for you; you’ll forget all about old hums-a-lot. Trust us, you won’t miss the sound or the rubbery texture, and you definitely won’t miss the dreaded splatter situation. Start thinking of what you’ll do with all that extra counter space!

Popcorn

One of our favorite couch snacks, microwave popcorn, contains chemicals that are probably scarier than that horror movie you’re watching. With only a large pot with a lid, oil (grapeseed oil works great) and popcorn kernels – you’ll be popping in no time.  Try seasoning with salt and pepper, chopped fresh herbs, grated Parmesan, and smoked Spanish paprika instead of butter for healthy snack with all the pop! Bon Appetit has a complete tutorial.

Heating up leftovers

Many of us do cook. We cook so much we even have leftovers. Or we bring home leftovers after dining out. Either way, food from every night of the week can start to pile up, but there’s no need to waste. You can quickly heat up food by using the steam from a saucepan with a lid and a little water.  Someone’s late to dinner?  Put a saucepan lid over the food and place the plate on a simmering saucepan of water. It will stay warm without drying up, although the tardy diner may get a cold shoulder.

Melted Cheese

Everything‘s better with cheddar! But what if you could make your cheese taste even better? Nachos, quesadillas, and other melted, savory delights may be something you rely on the microwave for. If you slow down a second and cook these creamy snacks on the stove, we guarantee you will never nuke your cheese again. Pair piping hot, never rubbery cheese paired with crisp tortillas or chips make the perfect vehicle for all that oozing goodness. Try these healthy nacho and quesadilla recipes!

Frozen Veggies

Frozen veggies are a convenient way to avoid prep work and still get the same nutrients, that is, until you zap ‘em. So while it’s OK to skip the fresh veggies, to get all the vitamins and minerals, don’t skimp on the cooking. Here are over 1280 frozen veggie recipes that can all be prepared on your stove top.

Mac and Cheese

Instant mac and cheese is a comfort food at our finger tips. But there are tons of ways to whip up your own batch without much work, or a microwave. Try Rachael Ray’s healthy recipe for mac and cheese. It’s YUM-O, takes under 15 and its better for you than the microwave version, so it won’t leave with you the mac and cheese blues.

Hot Pockets

A guilty pleasure in a flaky, crusty sleeve. When microwaved, these little treats turn into fire pockets and often destroy your mouth (and aren’t any nicer on your waistline). Why not make yourself something more satisfying and less processed? To fulfill your hot pocket craving, make own homemade calzone. Use refrigerated crescent-shaped dinner rolls and roll out the dough into rectangle. Cut into squares, fill with the pickings of your liking,  lightly moisten the edges with water, fold dough over, seal and press with a fork. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until golden. Serve hot (not hot pocket hot) and enjoy.

Hot Chocolate

On a cold day or a chocolate-craving day, you may go to your microwave to make a little cup of love. You can still use an instant hot chocolate mix, but try warming milk in a double-boiler instead. To really tickle your taste buds, you can get an inexpensive frother and froth the milk. Now that’s a real cup of love. Plus, frothing is fun!

MAYONNAISE. You either love it or you hate it. Or, you’re like me and think it’s yucky in theory, but when it’s disguised in a sushi roll or in salad dressing, you can’t get enough.

Well, no matter if it’s disguised or not, the truth is mayo has a bad rap. A really bad rap. I’d like to dispel a common myth and tell you this: Mayo is NOT that bad for you. Sure, it’s high in fat, but let’s take a look at the ingredients: Whole eggs, soybean oil, vinegar, lemon, and some salt, sugar and other flavorings — an emulsion of mostly good fats and natural ingredients. The only time you get into high fructose corn syrup and other questionable additives is when it’s the “reduced fat” kind, which is almost always the worse-for-you kind, of any food. The problem with mayo lies in the fact that a lot people glob on 4 or 5 spoonfuls of it, and the fat (10 grams per 1 TBSP serving) adds up quickly. Also, the eggs used are most definitely not free-range. But, if you’re not concerned with the farming and you use the condiment modestly, don’t stop now.

Whether you’re a mayo lover and are looking for something with NO preservatives or additives whatsoever, you’re a mayo hater and really would like to find an alternative that you enjoy, or you live a vegan lifestyle, today’s Spa Foodie recipe is for you. Try this healthy recipe for Vegan Mayo, provided by Maggie Talisman of Dishes .

EASY VEGAN MAYO RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 cup – soymilk
2 ½ cups – canola oil
1 tablespoon – tomato paste
1 ½ tablespoon - cider vinegar
½ teaspoon – dry mustard (or ½ tablespoon prepared mustard)
1 tablespoom – agave nectar
½ tablespoon – hot sauce (optional)
¼ teaspoon - chopped garlic
1 tablespoon - salt
1 teaspoon - pepper

Instructions:

1. Place the soy milk in a blender, and with the blender still running, slowly drizzle in the oil.
2. Continue adding the oil until it is all absorbed.
3. Transfer to a large bowl, and whisk in the vinegar, mustard, tomato paste, agave nectar, hot sauce, salt and pepper.
4. The mayo will keep in the refrigerator, covered, for up to a week.

Voilà!

Not only is this a healthy alternative to Hellmann’s, this recipe can also be used as a natural substitute to chemically-saturated conditioner for soft, silky hair!

See one of our past Spa Foodie features, another recipe for a mayo hair treatment.

(Photo exaggerated - unfortunately we cannot guarantee any mayonnaise will do this to your hair)

The New York Times has started a war. The most peaceful, zen-like war to ever transpire, but still.

As an avid yet fairly casual yogi, I was caught way off guard after reading their recent viral “sensation” entitled: “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body.” Every Monday I do my down dogging at Yoga To The People on St Marks in NYC, and last night I checked out “Hippie Yoga” at Crunch Gym, focusing on stretching and strengthening the hips, which I’ll be doing a blog post on soon. Now, this Times story reveals that some over-yogi’d instructor degenerated her hips so much that she had to have a hip replacement. Seriously?

Yogis new and guru’d across the Internet have soared to the defense of their beloved practice. Why not publish “How Running Can Wreck Your Knees?” or “How Moving A Refrigerator Can Crush Your Toes, Break Your Back, and Rip Your Rotator Cuff?” (Thanks Paul Raeburn.) This seems to be a pattern in our society – anything that sounds good has to be bad. Antibacterial gel can make you immune to antibiotics, tuna is healthy but too much will poison you with mercury, and sunscreen is bad for you! The truth is, there’s no fail-safe sport, activity or product on the planet. However, in this 5 page article, William J. Broad decided to collect every example of negative yoga experiences (fishing back to random incidents from nearly half a century) and jolt the 20 million Americans who have turned to yoga for fitness, mind/body renewal, and inner peace.

The ridiculous mocking photo with flannel and clown flowers is only half excusable because it’s the cast of Godspell. If those were just any old models, forget it! Many people in the yoga community look to the spirituality of yoga in an almost religious sense. If there are health risks associated with it, let’s keep that separate from the aptitude of the people who practice it.

The Times article certainly makes a lot of sense and is rooted in medical truths. Standing on your head for long periods of time for many years, what did you think was going to happen? The article should be taken seriously and remind you to take caution should you notice any strenuous moves, in yoga or any sport or workout you pursue. But do not let it discourage you from enjoying your yoga practice and reaping the many benefits of it. I, for one, look forward to continuing my Monday routine without hesitation.

Here are some general guidelines to follow to keep your yoga practice safe:

• A good yoga instructor will not “push” you like a personal trainer does. He or she will make it very clear throughout your practice that you should be doing what feels good for you at that moment. If you find yourself in a class with a pushy instructor, leave.
• If you have a particular joint problem or have had an injury, check with a physical therapist before practicing yoga regularly. Some look at yoga as therapy to heal injuries, but should always be at a doctor’s advisement.
• If you are new to yoga, invest in a few very intimate classes or one-on-one instruction to make sure you get off to a good start doing the positions correctly. If you do start with a larger class, sit up front and be sure to tell the instructor that you are new and are looking for any and all guidance they can provide.
• Be mindful of any pain or discomfort you may feel. Yoga is about balance and strength of mind as well as body, and that includes acknowledging what your body can handle. If something feels funny or awkward, take yourself a Child’s Pose.

Namaste!

We all want to do our little part to help the planet. Bring our own bags to the grocery store, buy organic products, recycle. But for those of us who want to go beyond those small acts – we would buy a hybrid car. Well, new information reveals that you may be doing more harm than good. Many of the hybrid cars on the market, Prius, Honda Insight and Ford Focus, all use a “rare earth” mineral known as Neodymium (or Nd). The Prius is the largest user of rare earth minerals of any object in the world.

Mineral doesn’t sound so bad, right? Well, minerals are found in the ground, and how do we get things out of the ground? Mining. Remember off shore drilling? These mining practices are causing major environmental damage and leaking radioactive waste. China, the largest producer, is limiting how much it supplies because it is concerned about the damage it is causing, unlike the rest of the world.

Rare earth minerals are used in batteries of hybrid cars,  magnets in wind turbines and even in your smart phones and iPads. This mineral is in high demand which will cause producers to go dangerous lengths to find it. Japan claims that they found a rich source off the Hawaii coast.

Why should you be concerned? The radioactive leaking has reportedly increased cancer cases in the surrounding areas and exposure to Neodymium dust cannot only cause skin irritation but repeated exposure can cause respiratory problems including asthma and lung inflammation.

Yes, it’s another tricky environmental catch 22 – will we ever be able to get it right? We need to find a more environmentally friendly way to create these products, especially when they claim to help our planet. But the question remains: how?

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