He and She Eat Clean: December 2011

Jim and I are delighted to have another couple to share the journey and message of the Clean Eating lifestyle with us and with you! Scott and Whitney Carlson will start blogging in January (Although you may get a surprise post from one of them in late December!) Here is a little background:

He and She are husband and wife of 4 years. He started eating clean and working out 2.5 years ago when he realized that truly fit lifestyle requires a strict combination of both clean eating and focused exercising. She did not jump on board until 2 years after He started and since then there has been no looking back for either one!

His name is Scott. He is 28. He grew up in a small suburb of Atlanta (which has now grown!) and has since moved to another small town in Georgia. He is the Director of Finance for the American Junior Golf Association. He grew up eating the exact opposite foods one would consider to be healthy – ONLY red meat, very little veggies, junk food snacks, and overly processed foods. Food was based on convenience rather than nutritional value and he didn’t know the nutritional difference between fried chicken versus grilled chicken until about two years ago. He may travel one or two weeks out of the year, so clean eating is not much of a challenge in the confines of an office. His hobbies are sports, backpacking, weight lifting (at least 4 days per week), mountain biking, and investing. He restricts His diet to mostly organic, clean, whole foods and enjoys learning as much as he can about the clean eating lifestyle. He hopes he can inspire others to learn about clean eating and the perils of processed and genetically-modified foods by sharing his experiences and advice.

Her name is Whitney. She is 26. She is the cousin of Jim (the “other” He). She grew up on a family farm in the same small town as Him and currently resides along side Him. She spent her childhood helping on the farm and learned the value of hard work early. She grew up eating whatever was fixed for her. There are pictures of Whitney walking around drinking Coke out of a baby bottle! (Thanks Mom!) She graduated from NGCSU with a degree in Finance. She is currently an estimator for an insurance company which means she spends the entire day in a car! This also means all of her meals are eaten cold! She dreams of becoming a nutritionist and personal trainer or maybe even a life coach! She loves all things related to finance, politics, clean eating, and working out! From the hobbies just listed, you can tell that she did not have many real hobbies before starting to work out which is one of the main reasons why she started (so she could have something to call a “hobby”). That “hobby” has now become an obsession along with clean eating. She truly wants everyone she knows and loves to eat clean so they can live long, healthy lives!

We are so excited to have Scott and Whitney on board and cannot wait to share our experiences, recipes and tips with you in the coming year. 2012 will be amazing!

Have a Merry Christmas!
Tiffany

Do you know what a chia seed is? If you have heard it before, you are probably familiar with Joseph Enterprises' Chia Pet.. Ch..Ch..Cha..Chia! Did you know you can eat chia seeds and they are fabulous for your health?

What are chia seeds?
Chia is actually a flowering plant, grown commercially, which is in the mint family. (Imagine that!) It is native to Mexico and Guatamala.

What are the health benefits to consuming chia seeds? Chia seeds are wonderful for you! See below...

Great source of Omega-3. Infact, chia seeds are the richest plant source of Omega-3, which protects against inflammation and heart disease. Studies have found that chia seeds contain more Omega-3 than similar servings of salmon!
Assist in controlling blood sugar. Important for diabetics and dieters, blood sugar regulation can be tricky. Since chia seeds slow the conversion of carbs into simple sugars, they help to regulate blood sugar levels in the body.
Help promote weight loss. Chia seeds help promote weight loss by blocking the body's absorption of some (not all - we wish!) of the calories ingested when you eat.
Keep you feeling fuller, longer. What weight loss pill or new diet craze hasn't cited feeling fuller longer as a benefit? Why spend extra money on pills that you have no idea what the content of them are when you can eat something natural and scientifically tested? Chia seeds absorb approximately 8-10x their weight in water, turning to a gelatinous texture. This takes your body a little longer to digest and keeps your metabolism in that fat burning zone.
Helps stave off dehydration. As mentioned earlier, chia seeds can absorb 8-10x their weight in water. When the gelatinous gel is consumed, the body breaks down the chia seed gel and uses the water in the gel for important body functions.
Increases Energy Levels. As a good source of plant protein, with just at 4g per one ounce serving, chia seeds help maintain proper metabolism levels through the breakdown of protein, leaving you less tired.
High in Antioxidants. Looking for the next beauty remedy to keep your skin looking flawless. Keep eating your blueberries, but add in those chia seeds! Chia seeds are so high in antioxidants that no chemicals or preservatives are needed to maintain their freshness for 2 years at room temperature! Hello younger looking skin and a more youthful you! Talk about a power food!
Lowers Blood Pressure. With the high fiber content (11g of it's 12g of carbs in just a one ounce serving) in chia seeds, adding a daily serving of chia seeds can help to reduce blood pressure.
Helps Prevent Digestion Diseases such as Diverticulitis. Again, the fiber content in 1g of chia seeds is a huge benefit. As you digest the chia seeds, their movement and absorption throughout your body helps to keep your colon hydrated, thus helping to prevent certain digestion diseases.

How can I eat chia seeds?
It doesn't matter how you prepare the chia seeds, you will reap their benefits. Chia seeds can be eaten raw and in their natural form, gelled with water or juice (just be careful of the sugar content), added to baked goods including breads, muffins, cereals, added to puddings, shakes, protein powders, or just sprinkled on your favorite salad or meal. They are relatively tasteless, although they may have a faint nutty taste.

What is a suggested serving?
1 to 1.5 oz daily

What is the nutritional content of 1.5g of Chia Seeds?

205.5 calories, 108 calories from fat

13.5g fat, 1.5g saturated fat

0g cholesterol

7.5mg sodium

18g carbohydrates, 16.5g fiber, 0 sugars

6g protein

Vitamin A - 0%, Vitamin C - 0%, Calcium - 27% (Wow!), Iron - 0%

Where can I buy Chia Seeds?
You can buy chia seeds at most health food retailers. Additionally, if you plan to have them on a daily basis, you can take advantage of Amazon's auto-ship feature on chia seeds. Below are a few varieties and price points to choose from (click the picture for the link to them).