One of the top questions I get asked is, “What is more important - diet or exercise?”  So I thought I’d address the topic of food vs. exercise today.

Honestly, food is everything.  Eating a really clean diet made up of whole foods, where you incorporate a wide variety of vegetables and fruits every day, combined with some clean organic protein, whole grains and healthy fats is ABSOLUTELY KEY.  Our bodies need the vitamins and minerals that we get from these foods.  And to be healthy, we need to stop ingesting all of these fake, processed products and chemicals that our bodies don't recognize, and end up rejecting (think allergies and headaches) or storing as fat.

Clean eating can change your life, and help you to avoid serious health conditions down the road (ranging from high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, heart failure to cancer).  It’s also the best way to heal yourself from these conditions.

But that said, our bodies need to move!  

While I've never been much of a morning person, I've come to realize that my morning routine is key for setting the tone of my day.  My Monday morning can even impact my whole week.  When I start off right, I get energized and feel motivated to continue my day, and week, in a healthy way.  So I wanted to share with you a morning routine that I practice regularly to keep me on track and feeling amazing.

Many friends and clients have asked me about coffee.  They often start with: "I NEED my coffee...do I have to cut it out to be healthy??"  And I like to say no, but I believe it's important for my clients to be informed.  It really depends on each person's relationship with coffee.  If you can't live without coffee in the morning, drink 1-2 cups each morning, and then need it after each meal, it's a sign that you might be addicted.  That in itself should be a red flag.

That said, most of us (especially those of us that love our coffee) have heard the health benefits of coffee and swear by its unique ability to get us up in the morning.  So what's the whole story?  Why can it be bad?  Why do many strict diets / detoxes prohibit coffee?

Apple cider vinegar is one of those old-school kitchen ingredients that has so many wonderful uses and beneficial properties that many of us nowadays have no idea about.  So I'm here to help spread that wisdom, sharing a few tips that will hopefully send you straight to the supermarket to get yourself a bottle!

Every night this year, I've been taking a few minutes to jot down what I'm thankful for, and I've realized that YOGA has come up a lot.  Every day that I practice yoga, I feel the need to express my gratitude for my newfound practice.  I know my yogi-followers will concur, but I also wanted to share this with all of you who haven't yet introduced yoga into your lives, as I urge you to give it a shot.

Water with lemon is one thing that EVERYONE should be drinking.  It's so good for you in so many ways!  I like it warm, first thing in the morning, but even if you have it cold as a lemonade with a bit of stevia and ginger, or have it as a tea with herbs and some raw honey, you'll still get the amazing benefits.