We know that eating healthy has many benefits. We know that it lowers the risk of chronic diseases, reduces inflammation in the body, improves bone and muscle health, boosts the immune system and may also lead to weight loss. But did you know that eating healthy can also make you feel better and happier? Dr. Will Cole, a functional medicine expert, shares with us why a happy gut creates a happy outlook. 

The Link Between Food and Mood

If you ever noticed that you feel a little “blah” after eating junk food or a highly processed meal, you’ve already experienced the food-mood connection in real time. I say it all the time, but every piece of food you eat sends a message to your body that either promotes overall health and wellness, or creates imbalances and disease.

This isn’t “woo-woo” thinking, either. The research on this connection is well established. Studies have linked mood disorders to a higher intake of certain foods, including: ...

Ingredients:

•  1 pound bison (such as New York strip steak), cut across the grain in -inch thick slices (grass-fed or pasture-raised if possible)
• ¼ cup tamari, divided
• ¼ cup avocado oil, divided
• ½ large yellow onion, diced in 1-inch cubes
• 1 large bok choy, cut into 1-inch pieces, green and white parts separated
• 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 2 cups snow peas, ends removed
• 2 cups cauliflower rice
• 3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• cup roasted cashews, roughly chopped
• Scallions for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.

2. Combine the sliced bison and tamari in a mixing bowl and allow it to marinate while preparing the ingredients.

3. Once the pan is hot, add half of the oil, the onions, and the white parts of the bok choy. Sauté for 2 minutes.

4. Once the onions begin to brown, add the bell peppers and continue to sauté for another minute.

5. Add the snow peas and...

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces kelp noodles
• 1 tablespoon dry wakame seaweed
• 1 tablespoon avocado mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce, unsweetened
• ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, divided
• 4 ounces sushi-grade salmon, skinless
• 2 Persian cucumbers, sliced into thin rounds
• ¼ large avocado, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon low-sodium tamari
• Pickled ginger, unsweetened (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, add the kelp noodles along with enough room temperature filtered water to cover the noodles. Repeat in a separate bowl with the seaweed and allow each to soak for at least 10 minutes while preparing the remaining components.

2. Mix the avocado mayonnaise, hot sauce, sesame oil, and half of the sesame seeds into a large bowl. If you’d prefer to avoid totally raw salmon, sear each side for a couple minutes over medium-high heat before continuing to the next step

3. Cut the salmon into bite-sized pieces and stir together with the spicy mayonnaise....

Ingredients:

• 1 package Miyokos cultured vegan butter
• 6 figs sliced
• 1 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1 cup basil
• 4 cloves garlic

Directions:

1. Soften butter by leaving to sit out for 1 hour before use.
2. Press out butter over wooden cutting board or plate evenly.
3. In the Personal Blender, pulse the basil and the garlic. Add this mix throughout the board. 
4. Layer on pomegranate seeds and figs. 
5. Enjoy with a fresh gluten-free bread like Carbonaut, grain-free crackers, or your favorite dippable square.

This recipe is by Chef Jenny Ross. Check out her blog here.

Salads can be fun and easy to make! They can also be full of flavor that you might just find yourself craving for them. Don’t think of it as “diet” food. Instead see them as exciting and interesting meals that can pack flavor and texture. If your salad looks the same and boring on your plate, well then you need to try these strategies by health expert JJ Virgin.

Strategy 1: Add Some Crunch or Chew
For fun salad recipes, the crunchy stuff is often the best part. It adds texture and makes the dish more interesting and enjoyable. Most of the time this is achieved with croutons, but you don’t need any high food intolerance (Hi-Fi) foods to get the crunch you’re looking for.

Instead, try:
• Chopped fresh veggies like onions, cucumbers, carrots, etc.
• Slivered almonds
• Raw walnuts
• Beans and legumes (roasted or air-fried until crisp)
• Gluten-free black bean chip

Strategy 2: Include Low-Sugar Impact Fruit
Don’t forget, you can...

Ingredients:

•   cup raw walnuts
• 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
• 1 spicy red chili, thinly sliced (we used a thai chili)
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 3 citrus of choice, we used a mix and match of Cara Cara orange, Navel orange, and grapefruit
• 2 medium fennel bulbs, thinly sliced, reserve fronds as garnish
• cup fresh mint leaves
• 5 cups baby arugula
• ¼ cup olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast for 3 minutes, remove from the oven. Set aside to cool.

2. Add the shallots and chili to a bowl together with the fish sauce and red wine vinegar to pickle while preparing the rest.

3. Section the citrus by slicing off the ends, removing the peel, then using a sharp knife to cut clean sections out between the membranes.

4. Transfer all the citrus segments into the bowl with the shallots and chili. Squeeze the citrus mixture, using your hands, to release some of the juices.

5. Toss the...

Healthy eating starts in the kitchen so learning food prepping skills can go a long way in building up a healthy lifestyle. Here are some brilliant ideas from our very own nutritionist Chef Jenny Ross. 

Batch Prep
Preparing in advance means you’ll be making larger batches of healthy proteins, grains, vegetables and salads than you may have done in the past. You’ll need a great storage option for larger batches of things like quinoa, rice and veggie mix ups. Nutritionist and chef Jenny Ross recommends storing your batches in glass containers with locking lids as a clean option that is easily reusable. Finding stacking containers that can nest for easy storage when not in use will save you space in the kitchen as well.

Veggie Noodles make a great simple base for lunch entrees on the run. Create fresh noodles from carrots, zucchini, cucumber or yellow squash. Top that base with a great plant based protein like avocado, mushrooms or tofu and then add your favorite...

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3 Cloves Garlic minced
• 1 Head Cauliflower cut into small florets
• 2.5 Pounds Asparagus trimmed
• 1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1 Pinch Sea Salt
• 1 Pinch Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 6 Cups Low-Sodium Vegetable or Chicken Broth or Water

Preparation

1. Heat the oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. After a minute, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
2. Put the cauliflower and asparagus in the pot, add the cayenne pepper, and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Pour in the broth and bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the cauliflower is fully cooked, 5–8 minutes.
4. Carefully transfer the soup to a blender and blend on high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. (Or use a handheld immersion blender to purée the soup directly in the pot.) Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and black pepper if needed. The soup should be thick but...

At RISE, we recommend doing a detox at least twice a year. It helps reset the body and releases toxins that cause inflammation. Health expert JJ Virgin wrote that many people start a weight loss plan without addressing their body's toxic burden. But here's the thing: Toxins are stored in fat. When you lose weight, you release those toxins, which can lead to toxic overload. She also said it’s important to minimize that toxic burden so you can lose weight successfully. Here she shares 5 things that you need to detox correctly. 

1. Clean, Lean Protein

Your liver converts toxins into water-soluble substances, which your body can then excrete. Here's the take-home: Without amino acids like glycine, taurine, and glutamine, your liver cannot do this. As a result, your body may actually become more toxic. 

Many detox plans, which are little more than sugar water with a few added nutrients, miss this critical point. When you don’t get sufficient protein, your body...