Summer Slimdown: 6 Healthy Poolside Foods to Eat & Help you Maintain a Balanced Diet

Carat & Roses May 12, 2014

With only 6 weeks to go until it's officially summer, we're sharing 6 foods to eat that you can blend into to your summer routine or poolside menu that will help you stay fit without trying! Try organic options free of pesticides, artificial preservatives, colors and additives. We believe in maintaining a healthy balanced diet along with a fitness routine with balanced workouts to maintain a fit eco-chic lifestyle perfect while you're on-the-go!

1. Blueberries

Blueberries are the perfect way to blast belly fat, even when frozen they maintain their nutrients and specifically the peel of this super berry! The outer layer skin of blueberries contains an extract that has been found to reduce weight gain even with a higher fat diet and can inhibit fat gain while it helps metabolize and balance insulin levels. It has the highest antioxidant level of all commonly eaten fruits and is a great snack or topped on granola, yogurt or in smoothies.

2. Ginger

Ginger improves your digestion and reduces inflammation and has great metabolism boosting properties. It is great in teas (hot or iced), enjoy sliced it into stir-fry with veggies or sauces or blend into smoothies for a great summer slimdown that will keep you healthy and fit well into fall.

3. Cinnamon

Cinnamon helps to regulate sugar and boost metabolism and is the perfect way to enjoy beverages without the sugar. It has a great taste and is delicious in tea, smoothies, sauces and desserts. Taking cinnamon can help improve digestion and sleep quality, helps to prevent an increased storage of fat that enables you to lose weight and can help process carbohydrates more efficiently while trimming belly fat.

4. Grapefruit

Grapefruit can help curb your appetite, while stimulating and detoxifying the liver to activate fat burning enzymes, that break down fatty acids in the body. It can help regulate insulin levels and is the perfect post workout snack. This cancer-fighting fruit is packed with over 200 mg of vitamin C along with other vitamins such as A, B complex (for hair skin & nails), E & K. It will help curb your sweet tooth and assist with digestion.

*Always consult a physician before making diet changes because grapefruit can affect some medications.

5. Honey

Honey is the perfect way to replace refined sugars in your diet. Try it as a simple detox drink with lemon or cinnamon or ginger. Use only high quality raw or organic honey and avoid pasteurized versions. Honey is an immune boosting food that will help give you a glowing appearance and cut fat with natural properties that help trigger metabolic changes and helps stave off sugar cravings. Try this sweet addition in tea, smoothies, on sandwiches, marinades or salad dressings.

6. Pomegranates

Pomegranate seeds have immunity boosting properties with nearly 40 percent of your vitamin C for the day in just one of these fruit! They can lower high blood pressure and increase the speed at which heart blockages melt away. This antioxidant-rich fruit can help maintain sustained weight loss because they are high in fiber and are the perfect addition to salads, sauces (think cranberry-pomegranate) and as a juice!

Love Your Body: Eat Clean With 6 Inspired Ways to Cleanse Pre & Post Workout

Carat & Roses January 26, 2014

Love your body with fitness plans and workouts from Tone it Up and get inspired with these 6 clean eating tips that will have help you stay healthy and fit just in time for Valentine's Day and the perfect prep for the summer months to come! Use organic fruits, veggies and eat clean with fresh pressed organic juices and whole foods.

1. Infused Waters

Take these fruit infused waters with you on the go perfect for quenching your thirst with antioxidant rich fruits full of vitamins and immune boosting nutrients. Store them over night using any fruits including lemon and cucumber perfect for detoxing and improving digestion perfect for cleansing. Use coconut water which will help keep you hydrated and restoring electrolytes.

2. Smoothies

From green smoothies to coconut water and oatmeal, they are the perfect way to keep your metabolism going throughout the day. Use fresh organic fruits and honey along with organic Greek or regular yogurt from Liberté or Olympic Dairy. Boost your smoothie with vanilla or chocolate organic protein from Perfect Fit as part of your post workout routine.

3. Pressed Juices

Take on the juice cleanse with fresh organic and all natural pressed juices with detox plans, daily nutrition and healthy immune boosting benefits. These pressed juices are the perfect way to help you detox and promote a sustainable healthy balanced diet, easy to maintain with clean eating and whole foods.

4. Granola

Start your day off right with nutrient packed Love Crunch granola from Nature's Path. Add your own, fresh fruits including coconut and top with organic honey, perfect for kick starting your metabolism. Add in organic dark chocolate like ones from Green & Black's, Vosges Haut-Chocolate or Hagensborg Chocolates which are full of antioxidants and can help to lower blood pressure and control blood sugar.

5. Snacks

From frozen yogurt bites to nuts, dark chocolate to fruits and veggies, eat clean with healthy organic snacks that help you fight hunger and cleanse from artificial flavors and colors in candies, candy bars and chips. The perfect day to night time snack, take them with you from the office, the gym to the movies, they're a great way to indulge without the refined sugars or food coloring.

6. Salads

Try fresh healthy salads full of fat-blasting, hormone balancing nutrients perfect for helping you tone, shape and cleanse. Use chunky organic fruits and veggies full of vitamins and free of chemical pesticides that slow your metabolism and digestion. For fruit salads add a dash of cinnamon or coconut, great for clearer skin and improving digestion. Take these on the go and perfect for sharing at a party.