I’m a Wellness Lover

celebrating wellness in the sun I’ve been feeling a shift happening over the past few years.... in my mind, body, and spirit. The way I feel in my body has changed, and so have my priorities. The way I dress, apply my makeup, exercise, and even the way I eat have been evolving. I’m less willing now than ever to compromise the things that help to keep me happy like sleep, sun, healthy food, and time with loved ones. Some may define this as a midlife crisis…but not me. As I embark upon the second half of my life, I’m embracing this opportunity to recalibrate myself to be the best I can be. I'm deep diving into wellness, and I’m super excited for what’s the come. My cookbooks have always been about wellness and our eco-lifestyle. They have included themes on beauty, fitness, hormones, detox, eco-fashion, longevity, community, and even money. I’m setting up now to bring you even more tips and ideas around overall wellness and living a healthy lifestyle. I’m looking forward to sharing my wellness journey with you. Thank you for sticking with me! xo

By |December 1st, 2015|Beauty, Fitness, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, Travel|8 Comments

Ani’s Top 5 Holiday Survival Tips

We are 7 days from Thanksgiving and people have been asking me for strategies to make it through the holidays. So, below are my top 5 holiday tips for a simple, guilt-free, and happy holiday. Ani’s 5 Thanksgiving Survival Tips Eat breakfast and don’t skip meals on Thanksgiving because chances are you’ll be super famished and overeat at dinner. Drink lots of water throughout the day. Try starting everyday with a liter of filtered water, adding lemon if you’d like. Start burning excess calories today! Add on an extra 20 minutes of walking daily. Over the next seven days, that will create a deficit of about 500 calories for me at 132lbs. Get outside and do something active before dinner to rev up your metabolism and get your blood pumping. Go on a walk or hike, hit the gym, or do some yoga. At dinner, follow the 80/20 rule. Enjoy all the dishes you’d like, but bulk up on the healthier options like vegetables and salad. Fill 80% of your plate with the healthier stuff, and 20% with the heavier treats you look forward to all year.

By |November 19th, 2015|Beauty, Fitness, Health, LIFESTYLE|Comments Off on Ani’s Top 5 Holiday Survival Tips

Watch the Video of Ani on The Dr. Oz Show

Ani Phyo - Juices to Benefit the Body The Dr Oz Show Syndicated National 11-10-15 2-3 PM 04_28 from Dr. Oz Show on Vimeo.   This segment aired on Tuesday November 10, 2015 on The Dr Oz Show where I was invited to talk-up the benefits of tart cherries, along with all fresh fruits and vegetables. All produce, especially when raw and unheated, provides us with powerful antioxidants to help slow the oxidation, rusting, and aging of our cells....keeping us feeling and looking younger, longer! In addition, antioxidants combat inflammation and pain, and help to combat illnesses like cancer and even Alzheimer's disease. It's easy to power up your defenses by enjoying more fruits and vegetables like cherries. They are delicious. My appearance inspired me to create my e-b00k Ani's Tart Cherry Recipes. You can also sign up for my newsletter to receive a free copy of my Ani's Tart Cherry Elixirs e-book too. Find out more about the beautiful necklace, earrings, and bracelet I'm wearing designed by Los Angeles' own Lisa Kim, metalmythologist. Visit her at her website: LisaKimFineJewelry.

By |November 10th, 2015|Beauty, Featured, Fitness, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, NEWS & EVENTS, NEWS & EVENTS PAGE, PRESS, TV|Comments Off on Watch the Video of Ani on The Dr. Oz Show

Ani’s Raw Food Certification Level 1

My students made me this beautiful stack with marinated mushrooms and onion, sliced tomato, oregano and rosemary marinara, cashew cheeze, and fresh Italian herbs today at my Ani's Raw Food Certification Level 1. I love showing everyone that elegant food need not use many ingredients nor be complicated to make. Each recipe uses a couple ingredients, seriously! And, is really quick to create. The sophistication comes in the plating, presentation, and use of easy to make sauces. One of our students this weekend is a Le Cordon Bleu trained professional chef who's mind was blown by Raw Food's functionality, and fresh flavors! She said "I've been making my food way too complicated!". We all laughed. Get in my belly!!! Yumminess! Our final Level 1 for 2015 is September 19+20th. I'd love to spend the weekend eating the most delicious, nutritious, and inspiring food with you. xoxo https://www.aniphyo.com/certification/

By |August 15th, 2015|Ani's Raw Food Essentials, Beauty, Dressings & Salads, Farmers' Market, Fitness, Gluten Free, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, Main Dishes, RECIPES, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Ani’s Raw Food Certification Level 1

Avocado Smoothies

My travel to Bali inspired me to use avocados in my desserts. In SE Asia, avocados are used to make creamy avocado smoothies. There they make smoothies by blending milk, sugar, and avocado. Here I make a raw vegan almond nut mylk to use as the base, then add in avocados for the flavor. It's sweetened with dates, a whole food, containing fiber, minerals and vitamins. The ingredients I use are listed below. Adjust quantities to you liking. I also have variations of these recipes in Ani's Raw Food Detox. I'll be teaching this recipe in class this weekend too. Join me at an upcoming Ani's Raw Food Certification Course to learn recipes like this and many many more! Smoothie almonds dates avocado water Chocolate Sauce cacao powder agave syrup, maple syrup, date syrup, or coconut nectar Toppings chocolate sauce goji cacao hemp Guilt-free, and absolutely delicious, good-for-you food! Enjoy. Will keep for at least a day in your fridge.

By |August 14th, 2015|Beauty, Desserts, Drinks, Gluten Free, Health, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Soups, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Avocado Smoothies

Get Outside!

One of my favorite ways to spend a beautiful day is sitting outside on top of a rock in the sun! Bouldering and climbing is my obsession these days. So are breathing in fresh air, being connected to nature, and taking a moment to just be. It helps to center me, and helps me put my life into perspective after a busy week. What are you doing to get outside this weekend?

By |August 7th, 2015|Beauty, Fitness, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, Travel|Comments Off on Get Outside!

Mushroom “Bul Go Gi” Recipe

    Please join me for lunch today! This Korean inspired recipe is from Ani's Raw Food Asia. It's my vegan, gluten-free, and raw version of Korean BBQ, made with marinated shiitake, crimini, and wood mushrooms. I call it Mushroom "Bul Go Gi" (page 186). Use your favorite green leaf, like romaine or red leaf lettuce as the wrap. Then, top with cucumber, carrot, thinly sliced garlic, and my delicious Gochujang Sauce (page 225) made with unpasteurized miso (for living enzymes), sesame oil, and chili powder, to taste. Add a sweetener syrup like agave or coconut nectar too to balance out the spice, salt, savory, and sweet. Super yummy on a rainy day here in LA (thank goodness, we need the rain!). Mushoom "Bul Go Gi" Lettuce Wraps BulGoGi 4 cups sliced mushrooms 2 T tamari 1 T toasted sesame oil 1/2 T minced garlic 1/2 cup Asian pear, microplanes or pureed in food processor Fillings 1 clove thinly sliced mushroom 1 Korean or jalaeno pepper, sliced 1 cup julienned cucumber 1 cup julienned carrot Wrappers 8 red lettuce leaves, or more Toss together all BulGoGi ingredients in one bowl. Set aside to marinate for 15 minutes, until softened. Prepare fillings, and set aside. Squeeze excess marinade from mushrooms, and place into each lettuce leaf. Top with fillings. Drizzle with Gochujang Sauce, below. Serve and enjoy! Gochujang Sauce 2 1/2 T unpasturied miso, any color 2 T toasted sesame oil 1/4 cup agave syrup or coconut nectar 1/2 teas chile powder, or cayenne, to taste Whisk to mix well. One last tip: I just moved my car out of my garage and onto the street so it will be 'washed' clean by the rain! Conserving water during our [...]

By |May 14th, 2015|Beauty, Farmers' Market, Gluten Free, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, Main Dishes, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Mushroom “Bul Go Gi” Recipe

It’s National Women’s Health Week!

It's National Women's Health Week! I'm the proud representative for women in their 40's, and am working with the Office of Women's Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington D.C. to help encourage women to make our health a priority! Over the past several years, my focus on wellness has been comprehensive across fitness, sleep, stress, and nutrition. I'm realizing how much the hormonal changes that begin in our early 40's affect our physical and mental health moving forward. So, now is the time to really grab hold of our wellness. A great way to start is by making yourself a priority by scheduling appointments and physicals. I'm booking my doctor's appointment this week to have my physical exam and my blood tested for everything (including my liver and kidney function, cholesterol, and hormonal levels). I'm also going to ask for a baseline EKG of my heart. And, since I live in Southern California where the sun is really strong, I'm going to see the dermatologist to check my moles and skin. I'm not concerned about any health issues, but want to baseline where I am today. Other appointments to consider include: Dental exam and cleaning Comprehensive eye exam Blood pressure screening Diabetes screening Baseline skin exam to determine skin cancer risk Breast and pelvic exams, pap test, and bone density test (I choose breast ultrasounds, rather than mammograms, to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure) As our hormones change in our 40's, it's even more important to get adequate sleep and rest, and to decrease our overall stress. I've shifted my lifestyle to do less, and rest more. To spend less, consume less, and have more free time to play, laugh, and love. High levels of stress [...]

By |May 11th, 2015|Beauty, Fitness, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, NEWS & EVENTS PAGE|Comments Off on It’s National Women’s Health Week!

Give Me Sugar-Free Juice!

My favorite KOA organic juices are now available at Gelson's Markets in SoCal and LA! Yay!! KOA is cold-pressed and made from 12 fresh fruits and vegetables like pomegranate, red sea lettuce, guava, holy basil, heirloom carrots and lemon...and more. It has good-for-you vitamins (9) and minerals (74) like some other cold-pressed juices, but KOA Olakino is sugar-free with zero calories. And, they taste absolutely delicious! Other cold-pressed juices that include fruits of any sort (including apples, pineapple, pear, etc) can contain anywhere from 45g to 65g of sugar per bottle! Whoa!! That's more sugar than 3 donuts. Scary. And, our bodies have the same insulin response, whether the sugar is from juiced fruits or a candy bar. (To learn more about the effects of sugar on our health, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc...watch the documentary "Fed Up"). Incase you're wondering why KOA calls their "juice" Olakino, it's because the FDA's definition of "juice" is a beverage that contains fructose (sugar). Since KOA Olakino contains no sugar and no calories, KOA is charting new territory into a new category all their own called "Olakino", which means "healthy" in Hawaii. Pick up a bottle and tell me which flavor your prefer: Original (mint) or Raspberry. So hard to choose....      

By |May 5th, 2015|Beauty, Farmers' Market, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE|Comments Off on Give Me Sugar-Free Juice!

Thai Green Mango Salad

The freshest tropical salad recipe at Phulay Bay in Krabi, Thailand made with romaine lettuce, shredded green mango, toasted coconut, roasted cashews, and sliced red onion. I left out the pomelo, but that would be yummy to include too. Superfood, vegan, gluten free, and organic salad made with all local and seasonal ingredients that are great for detox and boosting overall wellness. Enjoy with a Thai baby coconut....Delicious!

By |April 2nd, 2015|Beauty, Dressings & Salads, Green Living, Health, RECIPES, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Thai Green Mango Salad