Many people love to “feed the crave” so to speak! North America has officially fallen in love with the “SMOOTHIE”.

It seems that on every 4 blocks or so there is another SMOOTHIE franchise offering these refreshingly fruity snacks.

There is the popular Booster Juice, Jugo Juice, Jamba Juice and many more…
In fact, even McDonalds and Tim Hortons are trying to capitalize on their version of frozen fruit drinks (not nearly as healthy or appetizing).

“Buyer Beware”!

While many smoothies may seem to be healthy options to fast food snacks, you have to remember how easy it is to drink calories. Also remember, sugar converts to fat and fruit is high in sugar.

Sure, an “Original” 24oz SMOOTHIE is full of fruit, yogurt and an added soy protein booster….but I also slurped this 315 calorie treat in 5 min. (Feeling good but also still hungry).

Unfortunately it would take some Internet and math skills to tell the exact amount of sugar per SMOOTHIE.

It seems that every franchise I go into never displays their sugar content (most good shops will only have natural occurring sugar – run away if it is added).

Please don’t take this as a knock to SMOOTHIE snack franchises. I love them!!! However, I am a Milton Personal Trainer and my job is to be active. This allows me to have a higher metabolic rate to help burn the extra calories.

If you are fairly sedentary and want to still include a daily SMOOTHIE into your food regimen – try a junior or snack size. In many cases it will almost be half the calories and sugar.

Remember too, a SMOOTHIE will always be healthier than a burger and fries.

Think I need another right now!

Remember that 1980′s Wendy’s commercial with that little old lady…

“Where’s the beef”?

Well, this is not an article about Wendy’s highly processed man made artificial food (if you can call it that?).

This is an article about REAL grass fed beef.

You see, your doctor tells you to stay away from red meat, “its high in cholesterol”.

(The same doctor could stand to lose about 40 lbs. I think that’s funny!!!)

What your doctor teels you is half-true.

He or she has the best of intentions.

The majority of our beef comes through cows.

Corn fed Cows —– booo! (or moooo?)

Why are they fed corn?

Because corn is cheap! It fattens them up quick for little money.

Dirt cheap and profitable. In fact, corn is one of the highest traded stocks on the market.

Just take a look at any of the products in your fridge or cupboard that are packaged.

I bet corn is listed in the ingredients in more than half of them.

So….

Corn is high in sugar,

Sugar turns to fat,

Fat is cholesterol,

Therefore beef gets a bad rap!

But…

There is another way.

Eat grass fed beef from places like Wholefoods, other organic stores and local farms.

Be careful though.

Grass fed beef can get expensive.

The way we justify it (besides the obvious benefits of protein, iron and other bonuses) is…

We figure it costs about $28 for a steak dinner at the Keg (with veggies and a potato mind you),

At wholefoods, for about $20 you can get about an extra 25% more in size than a Keg steak and it is “grass fed”.

This feeds myself, my wife and kids – without the excess fat and cholesterol.

I can’t wait until the NEW Wholefoods opens at Square One this summer.

If you want to get Nutrition Tips and Coaching from my lovely wife Michelle who is a Nutritionist, email her at eatright@trainersonsite.com

If you have a piece of chocolate once or twice a year, you can skip this topic. However, if you crave chocolate, and would do anything to obtain it, then read on……….

A craving for chocolate can sometimes be the body’s craving for magnesium, since chocolate contains large amounts of magnesium. This is true for women who crave it right before menstruating or those who have PMS. Magnesium helps mediate the symptoms of PMS as it is involved in the manufacture of progesterone. A lack of magnesium can lead to a insufficient progesterone levels, producing the PMS symptoms we are all too familiar with. (If not ask your husbands/partners he will refresh your memory LOL!!)

Our bodies are so great let us know what it needs. Chocolate is rich in magnesium. However, it is also high in caffeine like substance theobromine, that over stimulates the adrenals leading to adrenal fatigue. Much of the fine balancing of the sex hormones is the adrenals responsibility, the increase in adrenal fatigue leads to the increase in PMS. So, chocolate ends up increasing PMS even though it contains magnesium.

Next time you are craving chocolate, use it as a reminder to get your magnesium from some other source. The best form to buy is one that contains magnesium citrate, its readily available, easily absorbed, and effective. For severe cases of PMS, take it all month long. For mild cases, take it during ovulation, until the next cycle starts. That should reduce the cravings rapidly. Physical cravings for chocolate should decrease often within one or two weeks after supplementation has begun, and should disappear as long as the amount of magnesium intake is adequate.

For a supplement that can greatly help with those cravings, go to

http://www.truestarportal.com/public/store/list.aspx?folder=trainers

Go under Health, Promotion and Goal Support

Also, foods high in magnesium are:

Almond

Kelp

Cashews and other nuts

Sesame seeds (brown)

Whole wheat

Peas

Beans

Next time your craving chocolate, try one of the food options above or Truestar’s True Craving.