Mega Green Kale Chips

We can't get enough of our greens! One of the most alkalizing foods on the planet, they nourish our body and detox our organs. They also make a zesty snack. Here is one of our new favorite kale chips from Lydia's Organics. Not that we are advocating skipping meals, but if you're in a rare pinch....this is a great lunch in a bag. On our LLM Reintegration program? Integrate these after nuts and nightshades have been cleared.

Food as an Alternative to Botox

Stay tuned for LoveLife GLOW, a new community that offers tips and suggestions for how to age naturally, reflecting how good we feel internally and externally. 

Ok women, I confess. A combination of a healthy dose of vanity paired with curiosity has inspired me to study the effects of food on my skin. And I’m inspired by what I’ve discovered is possible over the years.

I had a memorable moment 15 years ago, one romantic afternoon sitting on the deck with a boyfriend at Au Berg Du Soleil in Napa. He asked a question that scratched the record, inquisitively inquiring with concern for my well-being, how I acquired the scars between my eyebrows.  His question took a moment to sink in, as my brow undoubtedly further furrowed, creating deeper “scars.”

My health was a mess! I had a double whammy: A life-time of chronic inflammation and health challenges paired with a decade long tanning obsession from 15-25, that was catching up. Despite eating what I thought was a healthy vegetarian diet since age 12, I was unwittingly eating foods that were making me sick and aging me prematurely. At 25 I had laugh lines and wrinkle creases in my furrow of a 45 – 50 year old. Ahemmmm, an unaltered one.

As my journey unfolded and I changed my diet, eliminating sources of inflammation, my health issues disappeared and I was amazed by how fantastic I could feel. An added bonus, I slowly began experiencing a receding of these wrinkles and an improvement in a lifetime of poor skin quality, that was directly correlated to foods. Now, ladies I want to be careful to say that I’m not a wrinkle hater and I understand their inevitability and I choose to embrace rather than erase them. But if there are self-care options that allow us to naturally feel better AND look better…..who amongst us can say no to that proposition?

How is it even possible for food to impact our skin?

Inflammation. It is at the root of everything, including aging. Food is one of the most profound sources of inflammation. Whether eating processed foods, sugar or our intolerant foods, these are one of the quickest youth zappers. They zap our energy, vitality and our youth.

When I drink wine, a former passion in my 20s that included a 140-bottle collection personally hand-picked from the wine countries, I look ten years older the next day. On special occasions, I choose it anyway, but the difference is I know why I don’t feel my best; I know why I’m not reflecting my best and most importantly I know how to get back on track.

Other foods that furrow my brow? Dairy is one of the biggest ones. In Chinese medicine they say dairy is one of the most aging foods. Whether due to dairy for the sake of dairy or dairy’s inflammatory effects in my body, it is not my friend.

What foods are wreaking havoc on your skin, aging you prematurely? While there are some common ones, we also each have our own specific triggers. How can you use food to not only feel your best, but also offer a long term built in natural botox alternative?

All LoveLife Method programs will now include tracking skin health, specifically youthfulness with foods. Some of the effects are immediate while others provide a boost for years to come.

Stay tuned for LoveLife GLOW, a new community that offers tips and suggestions for how to age naturally, reflecting how good we feel internally and externally.
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Recipe Swap: Dorothy's White Bean Cassoulet

WHITE BEAN CASSOULET
Modified from The Enlightened Cook, Everyday Vegetarian.
Use GF bread and you’ll have a GF dish too or skip altogether - it's delicious without!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups (2”) asparagus…about one pound
• 2 tablespoons EVOO, divided
• 3 cups sliced chanterelle or oyster mushrooms (about 10 oz)… I added in a whole variety of mushrooms to make it flavorful and interesting.
• 1/3 cup finely chopped shallots
• 6 garlic cloves
• ¼ cup dry white wine
• 1 ½ cups organic vegetable broth
• ½ teaspoon dried marjoram or dried oregano
• 2 (15 oz) cans no salt added cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Topping: Stop here if you need to be dairy/GF free or make sure to use GF bread.

• 2 oz French bread (or you could use a GF bread) cut into small pieces
• ½ cup (2 oz) grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cook asparagus, rinse with cold water; drain well….set aside
2. Using a large stainless-steel skillet heat pan to med high. Add 1 tablesoon oil, swirling to coat. Add mushrooms, shallots, and garlic; sauté 8 minutes or until mushrooms are tender. Add wine; cook 3 minutes or until liquid evaporates. Stir in broth, marjoram, and beans; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 12 min or until thick and beans are very tender. Stir in black pepper
3. Preheat broiler.
4. Place French GF bread and butter in a food processor, and pulse until course cumbs form. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and cheese to course breadcrumbs; pulse until combined. Stir asparagus into bean mixture; sprinkle course breadcrumb mixture evenly over bean mixture. Broil 3 minutes or until crumbs are golden brown. Serves 4.

Thanks Dorothy!

Billy & Lucy Reagan

CLIENTS: Lucy & Billy Reagan
LUCY’S FOOD BLOOM:

• CHICKEN: Causes Stomachaches and Bloating
• NUTS: Cause Headaches
• DAIRY: Causes Weight Holding
• 11 Pounds lost!

FAVORITE NEW FOODS:

Quinoa and avocado for breakfast. "And I never new how much I liked cheese and steak till I gave it up!" 

FROM LUCY:
“I joined LoveLife Method a little hesitantly at first. I had a six Diet-Coke-a-day habit and felt I was at a good weight..not great but having birthed two kids I thought these last five pounds weren't going anywhere since I ate pretty healthy and worked out 6 days a week.

After my husband had been bugging me to do this cleanse with him for over a year, I finally thought I was mentally ready to give up my beloved diet coke's and give it a try. We talked to Kim and I went cold turkey on the Diet Cokes for a month and really had no problem giving them up...though my husband may tell a different story about my mood those first few days!

Then we started the cleanse and I became a believer! I drank the kool-aid or in the cleanses case the dreaded Green Juice...and I liked it! The first day went smoothly, the second day was not good, but the third day the clouds parted and I saw the light. I felt better, I slept better, my skin was glowing and I was dropping weight, fast. I still had my high energy levels from day one and was able to keep up my crazy workout regime..I had become someone who like to do two a day workouts. But I quickly realized I could drop a workout, to one a day, and still get great results while on this cleanse. 

I dropped those last five pounds in about four days, and then I got greedy...how much more could I lose? I got eleven pounds down very quickly and found my happy weight. We started integrating all the foods and the weight maintained...hmmm you mean my husband had been right about this cleanse? We continued on for a few weeks and I made a few shocking discoveries. Who knew but plain old grilled chicken, what I had always eaten when I was trying slim down, actually made me bloat and gain a pound or so over night?

Nuts gave me horrible headaches, perhaps why I always got a headache when we traveled, maybe it wasn't my toddlers but the nuts on the plane! I found that my good friend, Wine, gave me insomnia and weight gain....well then I quickly got reacquainted with vodka! I am through the cleanse now and still am maintaining my weight loss, my glowing skin, my wonderful sleep and am feeling like a new person! I still follow most of the nutrition guidelines I learned from this cleanse, with an occasional cheat here and there. But if I get off track I know how to get right back on thanks to Kim! I am even now a regular at the Whole Foods juice bar ordering my Green Juice a few times a week...something my pre-Diet Coke self would never have envisioned. It's truly been a wonderful experience and I would encourage everyone to do it!"

BILLY’S FOOD BLOOM:

• GLUTEN: Increases Cravings and impacts Energy
• FISH: Increases Irritability and causes Low Energy
• SOY: Increases Cravings
• 23 Pounds lost!

Tahini Kale Chips

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Whole Head of Kale, Mustard Greens or a bag of mixed Braising Green
• Olive Oil
• Himalayan Salt
• Smoked Paprika*
• Tahini

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to bake 375 degrees. Chop off stems of greens you are using. If using whole head of kale, quarter it.

Rinse well in salad spinner, make sure they are completely dry or chips will be soggy.

In large bowl toss with olive oil, salt and paprika*.

Lay out flat greens on a cookie sheet - not too many on top of each other or they will not crisp up. Add a small dollop of Tahini to each chip.

Bake until crispy. 

*** Omit paprika if you are sensitive to nightshades or haven't yet tested.