Ani Phyo's Blog, page 3

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 will basically guarantee onset of chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s. So it’s more important now than ever to exercise, meditate, lower stress, eat clean, spend time with friends and family, and to laugh lots! Please take care of your health so we can all live a long healthy life, together. xoxoxo

 

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….

 

 

 

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!

Surf and Sun in Thailand

Another amazing beach day in Thailand on the Andaman Sea where the sand is soft and the water is body temperature. Soaking up the sun and loading up on my vitamin D!

Thailand’s Herb Gardens

Loving the herb garden here at the Ritz Carlton’s Reserve at Phulay Bay in beautiful Thailand at Krabi. They grow their own herbs, in addition to super spicy red Thai chilies. We’ve been using these super fresh herbs in my Raw Food Lifestyle Classes this week.

It’s paradise here with tons of tropical fresh fruits like tamarind, papaya, jackfruit, and longan. And delicious Thai baby coconuts and cashews too. I think this must be Heaven!

 

Ritz-Carlton’s Reserve at Krabi, Thailand

I’m made it safely to Krabi, Thailand where I’m relaxing at the villa now that prep for our 5-day Raw Food Lifestyle Retreat is finished for today. Super excited to be teaching Raw Food Lifestyle classes Wednesday thru Sunday here at the Ritz-Carlton’s Phulay Bay resort.

I’ve crafted exclusive Thai-inspired Raw Food, vegan, superfood, gluten-free recipes using local Thai ingredients. Plus, we’ll be talking about treading lightly on the Planet, natural beauty, fitness, healthy detox, nutrition, and ways to lower stress while increasing vitality and longevity.

If you’re in Krabi, please join me here Wednesday thru Sunday!  We’re going have tons of FUN!!!!

 

May 2015: Raw Food Courses in LA

 

I’m excited to announce my upcoming Raw Food courses in May 2015  in West Los Angeles, California:

May 9-10, Level 1
May 15-17, Level 2
May 17-19, Level 3

I will also be teaching an exclusive Level 1 over 5-days at the Ritz-Carlton’s new Reserve Resort in Thailand at Phulay Bay:

March 18-22, Level 1

All classes are taught by me, and are hands-on.

So, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to learn how to make the tastiest, healthiest, raw, vegan food ever. All recipes are gluten-free and packed full of superfoods!

Spaces will fill up quickly! Please book your spot today:

http://www.aniphyo.com/certification/

I’m looking forward to seeing you in March in Thailand, or in May in Los Angeles!

xoxo

 

March 2015 at the Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The beautiful Ritz-Carlton Reserve at Phulay Bay has invited me to develop an exclusive 5-day wellness program for their Thailand resort to launch in March 2015.

This exclusive retreat will include vegan raw food cooking classes and recipes featuring local ingredients and flavors with a focus on the Home Chef, along with my eco-green living, healthy lifestyle, fitness, natural beauty, and detox philosophy.

I will personally be at Phulay Bay teaching classes from March 18th to 22nd, 2015. These classes are complimentary to resort guests. And, guests completing all 5-days will receive a Certificate of Completion equivalent to my Level 1 Home Chef Raw Food Certification Course.

So, please book your stay now at the Ritz-Carlton Reserve website, and join me at Phulay Bay! I look forward to seeing you in paradise.

 

Giving Thanks Day

I wanted to share 3 of my favorite raw vegan superfood pie recipes for Thanksgiving. All 3 recipes are from Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen: All American Apple Pie, Autumn Pumpkin Pie, and Pecan Chai Pie. I hope you will enjoy them!

Wishing you a very happy holiday celebrating gratitude while counting our blessings. Let’s all remember to tell our loved ones and those in our community how much they are appreciated.

It’s a wonderful time of the year to help those around us, and to give back. Helping others puts my own life into perspective for me. It reminds me to give thanks for the many blessings in my  life. I’m grateful to have my health, my friends and family, clean running hot water, organic produce, a safe comfortable home, and all 10 fingers and toes.

On this day of giving thanks, what are you grateful for?

Makeup vs. Natural?

Makeup can do wonders for a girl’s self esteem…but, at what cost to our health? Makeup is often full of toxic colors and chemical preservatives. We Raw Fooders believe skin cancer is caused when toxins we place on our skin (like sunscreen, makeup, moisturizers, etc) react with the sun. Now that’s a food for thought!

But, wearing makeup can be fun. We just need to make sure to choose natural mineral colors while avoiding common poisons like BHA, BHT, dibutyl phthalate, diazolidinyl urea, and parabens.

I have to wear makeup for photo shoots, like this one for a local magazine here in LA. And, I always bring jojoba oil and use it to cleanse my face immediately afterwards. Coconut oil works great as a makeup remover and skin/hair moisturizer too.

I try to avoid putting things on my skin that I won’t eat. It absorbs through just the same!

 

The post Makeup vs. Natural? appeared first on Ani Phyo: Health, Wellness, Raw Food & Detox Expert.