Here's the bad news: There are literally thousands of toxic chemicals used to manufacture your standard cleaning and personal care products.

And the scary part is, these harmful ingredients are not regulated by our government—there is no safety testing required and many of them DO NOT have to be labeled.

Formaldehyde, lead, nitrosamines, propylene glycol, parabens, phenylenediamines,
and sodium lauryl sulfate—these are just a few of the funky ingredients lurking in your household products.

Your skin, your respiratory airways and your mucous membranes (i.e. mouth and nose) come into contact with these hidden ingredients every day, and they are wreaking havoc on your detoxification system.

Here's the good news: There are some healthy alternatives out there!

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing a woman who has developed her own naturally safe household products.

Karen Girardo, the owner of Just Naturals, in Bedford, NH took some time out of her busy day to answer some important questions about the household products you use every day and their impact on your health.

Here's some of the things you'll discover in this candid interview...

• The top 3 toxic products you use in your home.
• Where to start when switching to natural products.
• How standard household products affect your body's ability to eliminate toxins.
• Some of the common autoimmune diseases that result from chemical exposure and toxic overload.
• Why a product's ingredients may look "safe" and harmless, but in reality be a toxic chemical cocktail.
• The dangers associated with anti-bacterial soaps, and a healthier, more natural…

Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean sacrificing taste and depriving yourself of the enjoyment of food.

Here’s a list of some of your typical “junk” foods followed by seven nutritious and delicious healthy alternatives.

Instead of eating this…..            Eat This…. 

Potato or Corn Chips ------------------------>Kale Chips

Boxed Crackers -------------------------------> Raw Flax Crackers

Cookies or Brownies ------------------------->Raw Coco-Roons

Ice Cream ----------------------------------------> Yogurt with Fruit

Margarine -----------------------------------------> Butter

Canola Oil ----------------------------------------> Coconut Oil

Table Salt ----------------------------------------> Celtic Sea Salt 

Here’s why…

Kale Chips over Potato or Corn Chips

Most commercial chips contain hydrogenated oils, salt, sugar, and other unhealthy additives.  You have to be cautious even with so-called “healthy” corn chips, and all corn products for that matter, because according to The Institute for Responsible Technology, 61% of corn in the US is genetically modified.  Another concern with corn is that it has a high susceptibility to mold contamination.

A healthier way to get your salty, crunchy, chip fix is to buy kale chips or make them yourself.  Here’s a really easy and simple recipe:

Here's what you need

1 bunch kale

1 tbsp olive oil

Garlic sea salt to taste

Here's what you do:


1. Wash and dry kale thoroughly (I wash it and let it…

If making healthy changes in your life seems too overwhelming and you have no idea where to begin, I have a really simple method to help you get started on the right track, right now.

This method is simple:  Below I’ve outlined the 13 principles that are essential to live by in order to achieve good health.  What you’re going to do is give a week’s full attention to each principle successively, and by the end of week 13 you will revisit the first principle and repeat the process again.  Your goal is to apply the 13 principles four times through out the course of a year.

Why repeat the process over and over again?  Because being healthy is about living a healthy lifestyle, and a healthy lifestyle means developing healthy habits.  To truly develop healthy habits you need to train yourself to make it part of your daily routine.

With this method, by the end of a year you will have begun to master the essential principles of good health, and you will be looking and feeling better than ever!

Without further ado, I give you 13 secrets to boost your health, happiness and longevity

1. Hydration 

Aim to drink about 50% of your body weight in ounces of water each day.  Start your day with two 10-ounce glasses of water to boost your digestion and energy.

2. The 90/10 Rule

Aim to eat 90% of your meals with “clean” foods.  With this expectation, you don't ever feel like you’re on a diet—you’re just eating healthy! And when I say “clean foods” I mean whole, organic foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, eggs and meats.

3. Balanced Meals for Your Metabolic Type

Are you a Protein…

This week I’m travelling out of state to visit family, and because I’m going to be on an airplane and in and out of airports for several hours I’m bringing my own reinforcements.

I’ve learned from previous experience NOT to rely on airport food when hunger pangs strike for a few reasons:

1. It’s expensive.
2. There may not be enough time between layovers to get food.
3. It’s all CRAP! 

When I go on vacation (or really anytime for that matter,) I want to feel good, and there’s nothing worse than starting out with heartburn, gas, and bloating.

With a little bit of planning all of this can be avoided.

Here’s what I included in my “ultimate organic snack pack:”

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are perfect for travelling because they don’t need to be refrigerated and they’re filling.  I chose to include soaked and slow-dried pumpkin seeds and almonds that have been slightly sea-salted.  I don’t recommend buying your typical store-bought “salted” and “roasted” nuts and seeds as the salt used is typically white table salt, and roasting nuts and seeds damages the healthy fats.

Raw Flax Crackers

These goodies are a healthy alternate to chips, crackers and pretzels.  They’re made with only raw, organic seeds and spices.  I like the brand “Go Raw.”  They have a wide variety of different flavors.  I chose to include the “Sunflower Flax Snax” in my snack pack.

Coco-Roons

When the sweet cravings kick in, instead of buying ice-cream or cookies, these are a healthy treat to satiate your sweet tooth. Coco-Roons are raw cookies make with…

Growing up my favorite food was the BLT sandwich (with lots of mayo on toasted white bread, of course!)

But since I started eating clean a few years ago, I’ve pretty much cut bread and mayonnaise from my diet. 

To get my “BLT fix” in a healthy meal I simply combine all the ingredients in a salad and add a few of my favorite toppings to give it some extra flavor.

Below is my simple, healthy and tasty BLT salad recipe.  You’ll see it’s really quick to make so it’s the perfect on-the-go lunch or dinner.

Share this recipe with your friends and family by clicking the “like” button.

And if you’re looking for some more healthy meal ideas, I urge you to check out our DIY Healthy Solutions on the Go Program which is available online for you to access at your convenience.

To enjoying healthy BLT’s,

Melissa Koerner

CPT, CMTA, HLC

FriendYourBody.com

PS - Be sure to contact me for a complimentary consultation so we can discuss your health and fitness goals, and your plan for success, or set up a complimentary employees wellness seminar for your company!  Email me at Melissa@FriendYourBody.com today.

PPS - If you haven't already, download your FREE Get Fit Starter Pack at FriendYourBody.com.

PPPS - Are you frustrated with weight loss and diet programs full of false hope?…

Cast aside the harmful cooking devices and throw out the unhealthy ingredients making you sick.  It’s time to give your kitchen a makeover!

Eating whole, organic foods like fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts ands seeds is not your only concern about when it comes to eating healthy.

You also need to think about the ingredients and cooking devices you use to prepare your food.

You may not realize it, but there are many hidden hazards hiding in your kitchen that are making you sick.

Here are 10 simple tips to help your create a safer kitchen and avoid these cooking devils.

Tip #1: Replace non-stick or aluminum cookware with stainless steel, cast-iron and glass cookware.

Most non-stick cookware is lined with Teflon, which leaches into the foods you’re cooking (doesn't that sound tasty!)  Acidic or salty foods cooked in aluminum causes the aluminum to be dissolved into the food.  Both Teflon and aluminum are toxic substances that should not be consumed.  Stainless steel, cast-iron and glass are much safer alternatives.

Tip #2: Replace plastic storage containers with glass, stainless steel or ceramic containers.

Many plastic containers contain harmful chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA), which is an estrogen-mimicking chemical and potent carcinogen that can leach into your food, especially when the plastic is heated—even from the sun.  With glass, stainless steel and ceramic containers you don't need to worry about chemicals leaching into your food.

Tip #3: Replace plastic cutting boards for wooden boards.

Plastic cutting boards are more likely to harbor pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria. …

After childbirth, it is very common for women to develop the dreaded “baby belly.”

There are a number of reasons why this happens (I explain these reasons in my post “How to Flatten Your Abs After Pregnancy.”)  

The good news is you can bring your body back to pre-baby shape with simple, healthy lifestyle changes.

But let me be clear, building and maintaining flat abs after pregnancy is not simply about doing crunches---you cannot “spot reduce” by doing abdominal exercises.  That is, you cannot reduce fat in your midsection by working the muscles in that targeted region. 

In addition to eating clean, balanced meals in proportion for your Metabolic Type, and drinking adequate amounts of water, it is very important that you perform corrective core exercises to activate your deep stabilizing core muscles.  These muscles not only help you build stability for your spine and your entire body, but they also help you create your own built-in girdle (yes, these muscles help you achieve a flat tummy from the inside.)

I always recommend testing your core strength to create a starting point with your abdominal training, and once you’ve determined your baseline, you can then create an effective abdominal training plan for yourself.  To learn how to test your core and get started with some base core conditioning exercises check out my post “How to Flatten Your Abs After Pregnancy.”

Once you’ve assessed your core and performed the base core conditioning exercises for 4-6 weeks, you can then move on to more advanced core training.

Below are three simple exercises that you can do to build your core from the inside out creating a strong foundation for all movement and flattening your abs.…

We all have points during our life when we feel stuck or are unsure of what’s next.  So, today I’d like to share a new perspective with you.   It’s all about finding a way to focus on building new good things for yourself.  The more you can do this, the less room there will be for the nagging problems to rent space in your head and life.

I’m sure you’ve heard about the Law of Attraction—that whatever we focus our attention on (whether we’re conscious of it or not), we’re going to attract into our lives.

So if you think happy thoughts, you’ll enjoy happy experiences.

But have you ever heard of the Law of Action?

Paul Boynton, the author of Begin with Yes, says that what we DO affects how we think and the kinds of experiences that we have.  He says, “when we take small, manageable steps, we feel more positive and our lives flow more smoothly.”  

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Paul to discuss the Begin with Yes principles and the secret of taking positive actions to create positive thoughts, and ultimately a more fulfilling life.

Here’s some of the things Paul reveals in this candid conversation…

• How to create a more fun perspective on your life by simply “shifting your reality”
• What to do about “energy robbers” or “emotional vampires” who are sucking you of your vitality
• Taking small steps to achieve BIG dreams
• The BIGGEST thing holding you back from achieving your goals
• One single word that can help you open new doors for yourself, get unstuck, make the impossible possible, and create a whole new path to a better…

What did you have for breakfast this morning?  Did you grab a piece of toast, pour a bowl of cereal or have some frozen waffles?

A more important question would be how did you feel after eating your breakfast?

Yes, these “foods” are quick and easy, but they are not healthy for you and they do not keep you feeling full for very long.

Here’s a simple and easy breakfast that is not only healthy for you but it will keep you feeling full for three to four hours!  It has the perfect mix of proteins, fats and carbs to boost your energy and satisfy your hunger.

Give this awesome recipe a try and let me know what you think by leaving me a comment.

Share this recipe with your friends and family by clicking the “like” button.

And if you’re looking for some more healthy breakfast ideas, I urge you to check out our DIY Healthy Solutions on the Go Program which is available online for you to access at your convenience.

To eating a healthy and filling breakfast,

Melissa Koerner

CPT, CMTA, HLC

FriendYourBody.com

PS - Be sure to contact me for a complimentary consultation so we can discuss your health and fitness goals, and your plan for success, or set up a complimentary employees wellness seminar for your company!  Email me at Melissa@FriendYourBody.com today.

PPS - If you haven't already, download your FREE Get Fit Starter Pack at …

Most people think they’re eating healthy and supporting a good cause when they buy foods made by brands like Cascadian Farm, Dagoba, Kashi, Larabar, Muir Glen, and Naked Juice.

But did you know that the parent companies of these “organic” and “natural” labels are actually are using their financial power to fight the current GMO labeling campaigns?

In case you haven’t heard about this, there is a movement pushing the government to require food companies to label foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs.)   

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is one of a few organizations working hard to educate people about the politics of GMOs and the difference you can make with your buying power.    

The OCA is calling on all consumers to boycott the 10 organic and natural “traitor brands” because of their financial contributions to help kill Proposition 37 (the California Right to Know GMO labeling initiative).

Here’s a list of the 10 major food conglomerates and what each company contributed, according to the OCA:

• PepsiCo (Donated $2.5M): Naked Juice, Tostito's Organic, Tropicana Organic

• Kraft (Donated $2M): Boca Burgers and Back to Nature

• Safeway (Donated $2M):"O" Organics

• Coca-Cola (Donated $1.7M): Honest Tea, Odwalla

• General Mills (Donated $1.2M): Muir Glen, Cascadian Farm, Larabar

• Con-Agra (Donated $1.2M): Orville Redenbacher's Organic, Hunt's Organic, Lightlife, Alexia

• Kellogg's (Donated $791k): Kashi, Bear Naked, Morningstar Farms, Gardenburger 

• Smuckers (Donated $555k): R.W. Knudsen, Santa Cruz Organic

• Unilever (Donated $467k): Ben &…