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 may become more toxic. A ...

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cubed firm tofu
• 1 cup cubed eggplant
• 1 cup cremini mushrooms
• 1 cup baby tomato
• ½ cup onion slices
• 2 tbsp avocado or olive oil
• Seasoning of choice

Directions:

1) Soak skewers to prepare for loading.

2) Place vegetables onto the skewers rotating in the following order: mushroom, onion, eggplant, tomato.

3) Coat with oil and seasoning.

4) Bake or grill at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

This recipe is by Chef Jenny Ross and part of the meal plan this month in our RISE Coaching program.

Ingredients:

Risotto:
• 4 cups steamed Arborio rice
• 1 tsp. sea salt

Puree:
• 2 1⁄2 cups diced butternut squash
• 1⁄4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp. raw honey (optional)
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 tbsp. stemmed fresh rosemary
• 1 Roma tomato
• 1 tbsp. dried basil
• 1⁄2 cup water

Directions

1. In a medium-size bowl, combine rice and sea salt and toss well.
2. Let sit until the rest of the recipe is prepared.
3. In a high-powered blender, combine all puree ingredients and puree to a smooth
consistency. Butternut squash is very dense, so it’s important to really work with this
mixture until it’s rich and creamy.
4. Pour over the rice and toss well.
5. Transfer to a deep baking dish and bake at 250 for 20 minutes.
6. Enjoy garnished with fresh tomato or avocado.

It’s Thanksgiving week which means the holidays have started! It also means there will be tons of opportunities to partake in feasts and celebrations. Unfortunately because it’s the holidays, people tend to forget all their good eating habits because celebration also means food. But worry not because Dr. Will Cole has some tips for you to stay healthy during the holidays. Here’s the first part of this series!

Spoil your appetite
If you’re going to a holiday party where you don’t exactly know what the hosts will be serving, or you know it won’t be on your list of good food choices, have a healthy snack before you go. Taking the edge off hunger will help you to make more rational, healthier choices at the holiday party. Then, if you decide to eat that cookie, you’ll choose to do so rationally instead of compulsively, and move on without polishing off the rest of the plate.

Keep your hands out of the snack bowl
Bowls of pretzels, peanuts, and other grab-a-handful (or a spoonful) snack foo...

Many of our chronic conditions such as atherosclerosis or arthritis are caused by inflammation. Fortunately, there are ways to help prevent our bodies from going into inflamed overdrive. It starts with food. What we eat either tells our body to step on the gas and create more toxins that cause inflammation OR it puts the brakes on the inflammatory process and rejuvenates our immune system. The right food is the armor we need to fight the process and take back our health. Get started with these tips from Experience Life and begin to see your body heal!

1. Get Friendly With Fish
Fish overflows with two key omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA and DHA for short). Both are potent anti-inflammatories. Studies show that people who eat fish regularly are less likely to die from a heart attack or stroke, or develop Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, studies have shown that eating omega-3-rich fish just once a week may lower a person’s risk of developing Alzhei...

At RISE we focus on keeping wellness simple, and when it comes to food we know it’s essential to have a few strategies that work for your tastebuds and your budget.

So imagine this scenario: you open a fully stocked fridge brimming with delicious and fresh, high-quality foods that are chocked-full of the nutrients you need. And the best part is that it was super affordable and you have cash to spare.

While organic superfoods may cost more than your weekly food budget allows, you can still load up on the good stuff at an affordable price having a few tips in mind. Eating healthy doesn’t necessarily require expensive ingredients and your recipes don’t need to be overly complex. 

If you’re ready to add high-quality ingredients to your diet without breaking the bank, follow these four easy tips... 

#1 Keep Your Kitchen Stocked
It makes cooking so much easier if you stock up on canned and dry goods, like tomato puree, tuna, chickpeas, kidney beans, rice, lentils, sweet potatoes and fro...

Sticky Cauliflower Rice

• 5 cups cauliflower rice (use ready-made or see step 1)
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ⅓ teaspoon Himalayan salt
• 2 tablespoons coconut vinegar
• ½ cup coconut milk

Tahini Miso Sauce

• ⅓ cup tahini
• 1 large garlic clove, peeled and finely grated
• 1 teaspoon wasabi paste (optional)
• 1 teaspoon fermented miso paste
• 1 tablespoon coconut vinegar
• 1 tablespoon coconut aminos
• ¼ cup cold filtered water

Add-ins

• 6 organic raw nori seaweed sheets
• 1 large cucumber, julienned
• 8 ounces wild-caught pre-cooked salmon, skinless and broken into pieces (option to use smoked or canned salmon instead)
• 1 cup purple cabbage, thinly sliced
• ⅓ cup scallions, white and green part, thinly sliced

Directions:

1. If you’re making cauliflower rice at home: Chop the cauliflower into one-inch chunks, including the core. Transfer a third at a time to a food processor and pulse until the cauliflower has a rice texture.

2. Heat the coconut oil in a large sauté pan over high heat....

INGREDIENTS

• 1 bunch of kale, stems removed, leaves cut into smaller pieces (about 2 handfuls)
• 1 cup flat leaf parsley leaves (about ½ a bunch)
• ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
• ½ cup chopped cucumbers
• 8 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• ¼ cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
• ¼ cup sauerkraut (Recommended brands: Rejuvenate Foods or Eden Foods)
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 2-3 edible flowers (Look for calendula, violets or nasturtium in the herb section at your local natural food store)

Preparation

1. Add kale and parsley to a large mixing bowl. Add the salt and olive oil. Using your hands, mix the greens with the salt and oil, and then massage to soften up the greens. This takes about 2 minutes; you want the greens to appear wilted. Set the greens aside while you prep the remaining ingredients.
2. Place the pumpkin seeds in a dry sauté pan over medium heat. As the pan heats up, saute the seeds until they start to brown and begin to pop. Stir often to prevent burning
...

We thought it would be fun to dive into 3 of the best ways to bake from our friends at BrainMD! Enjoy these simple tips as you make your favorite summertime treats.

Baking can be a great way to provide delicious foods for your friends and family.

It also can be an altruistic expression. Whether making cookies for a bake sale or taking some baked goods over to a new neighbor, baking can be a great way to show others how much you care.

Whatever the reason or occasion, many people derive satisfaction from baking, especially when it’s for the ones they love. It’s common to experience positive feelings when baking. In the end, many people bake simply because they enjoy it.

Indeed, there’s a whole host of benefits to consider since baking can…

• help relieve stress
• have a positive effect on mental health
• encourage creativity by adjusting recipes/experimenting with ingredients
• help improve concentration
• be a sensory experience
• provide a sense of accomplishment
• be an act of kindne...