Summertime on the Slopes

  Big Bear Lake is a popular Southern California winter destination for playing in the snow. I didn't realize how many people go in the summertime to splash around on the lake and hike in the forest. We rode up the chair lift to the mountain top, found a ton of trails, and hiked for hours in the woods at 8,600 feet elevation! The air was super fresh, the pines smelled delicious, and the views were spectacular. Hiking in nature is the perfect way to recharge and to detox from urban life. It helps me relax and reconnect with what is really important to me….my health and happiness! I noticed a ton of people brought their mountain bicycles to ride along the many trails, and down the mountainside on the ski runs. That looked super fun, and I will be bringing my mountain bike next visit. Have you visited a winter ski resort in the summertime? I actually preferred it better in summer, since I am completely over snow now. Having grown up in freezing Buffalo, NY, if I never see snow again, I don't think I would miss it.          

By |August 7th, 2014|Beauty, Fitness, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, Super Foods, Superfood|Comments Off on Summertime on the Slopes

Eat Your Sunblock

I do love the sun! Just 20 mins a day is enough to give us our recommended daily levels for Vitamin D. But, when I'm in the sun, I do make sure to cover up my face with a huge hat and sun glasses (to avoid those dark spots us Asians get…they are our 'wrinkles')….vanity! LOL. Beware of chemicals in most sunblock lotions. Instead, we can EAT our sunblock. Here are some raw, vegan, gluten-free super foods that are high in antioxidants to help destroy free radical damage from the sun:  Spinach, kale, broccoli, carrots (lutein) - Dr Salvador Gonsalez of Harvard University says “our data is the first of its kind to suggest that lutein may have the potential to act as a preventative agent against UVB-induced skin cancer. In addition, these data suggest that lutein protects the skin against damage caused by exposure to UVB light, further validating our position that lutein is a critical component to overall skin health.” A study in the International Journal of Cancer found that a serving a day of leafy greens reduces the recurrence of skin cancer tumors in patients by more than 50%! Green tea, black tea, cacao (polyphenols) Brazil nuts (selenium) Tomatoes (lycopene) Chia, flax, walnuts, algaes like chlorella and spiraling (omega 3s) So eat up, and get outside! Summers here, and there are many fun trails to hike…like this one in Joshua Tree National Park…my favorite place on Earth!  

By |May 29th, 2014|Beauty, Fitness, Gluten Free, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, Super Foods, Superfood, Travel, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Eat Your Sunblock

Urban Hiking at Magic Hour

  Today is what I call "Fitness Friday" because it's when I like to post an activity we can all enjoy over the weekend that will help us keep active and get outside. Something as simple as an urban hike, aka walk (LOL), is a fun way to discover a new neighborhood with friends and/or your canine companion. As you may know, Kanga and I love to urban hike. We found an industrial area in West LA at the end of the afternoon that was bathed in golden sunlight. The lighting was magical. I guess that's why it's called 'Magic Hour' or 'Golden Hour', which is the one hour before the sun sets. (We took this photo without a filter!) I guess you can say our Happy Hour is Magic Hour! What will you do to get outside this weekend?  

By |August 30th, 2013|Fitness, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE|Comments Off on Urban Hiking at Magic Hour