FOOD ART LIFE

April 2, 2013

Undiet your way to health with Meghan Telpner's great nutrition/lifestyle resource!

Holistic Nutritionista Meghan Telpner, an alumni of my alma mater, The Institute of Holistic Nutrition, has released her first book and I have to say it is a humdinger of a great read, full of pretty photos and priceless information.

Meghan wound up with "incurable" Crohn's Disease after experiencing a fast-paced, stressful lifestyle as an Ad Executive. Meghan refused to accept her fate though and proceeded to heal herself even though the medical establishment said it was not possible. This beautiful, colorful book is full of no nonsense advice and information. It is a great resource for anyone interested in living a more healthy and vibrant life.

I am thrilled to have such a great resource that is also so fun and accessible! Get your copy here!

January 13, 2013

worldBELIEVE: Holy Grail Products for Shiny Hair

Food Art Life approved hair products!

I have been searching for a great green, eco-friendly shampoo with no parabens, no phthalates, no sulfates, no color and no toxic fragrance for a long time. I have tried many products that were disappointing. I was not happy with how my hair looked and the products left an unpleasant residue on my scalp.

Thanks to Borden Communications I believe have finally found a really great line of hair products that meet all of the above criteria: WorldPRODUCTS

The set of products I tried included hair/face/body cleanser (great for bathing baby and cleaning makeup brushes too), hair & skin moisturizer (which can be a leave-in type hair conditioner, shaving cream or makeup remover), deep conditioner (named worldREPAIR), a vial of essential oil (I chose #2, calming blend) and a tiny pot of multi-purpose "cell-regenerative" organic salve. These salon quality products are completely free of any scent, so perfect for anyone with environmental sensitivities. There is also the option of adding your choice of super high quality essential oils, which can help fight disease, reduce stress and improve mind and body health. The packaging is even recyclable, which is great for our earth. Their slogan is, "Love the Planet. Love yourself."

These toiletries would be fabulous for travel since they are multi-purpose, serving to cleanse and condition both skin and hair. I am in love with their deep conditioner, which in combination with the shampoo left my hair silky, shiny and with no icky product buildup remaining on my scalp (a common occurrence with some "green" shampoos).

The tiny pot of salve (containing argan oil) is great for healing the skin, including conditions like burns, cuts, eczema, diaper rash, chapped hands, etc. It is also great as a balm for chapped lips and has a really delicious natural scent with a secret blend of essential oils.

December 7, 2012

Holiday Apple Cake from Ricki Heller's Upcoming Cookbook

Delicious Apple Filling in a Gluten-free Bundt Cake!

December 2, 2012

Iyashi Bedrock Spa - Hot New Weight Loss, Stress Relief & Detox


Women's Lounge Area at Iyashi Bedrock Spa with entrance to black silica rockbeds through door on the right

On a crisp November evening, with an occasional snowflake landing on my nose, Iyashi Bedrock Spa felt like an oasis of warmth and comfort. This serene second floor space welcomes chilly, stressed out people and and releases them at the end of the evening in a haze of blissed out calm.

Iyashi Bedrock Spa is the first Japanese Ganbanyoku Spa in North America. This new spa welcomes celebrities and stressed out urbanites alike to lie down on imported black silica rockbeds (that emit far infrared heat) and sweat out calories, toxins and tension.

The benefits of Ganbanyoku include pain relief, a better mood (less anxiety, depression, anger), enhanced immunity for less sickness, detoxification plus weight loss due to calories burned and increased metabolism.

I spoke to a couple of fellow participants and one woman mentioned that her chronic neck and shoulder pain had disappeared (just from lying on the hot stones) after a number of sessions!

There are two rooms for rock bathing, one large space for up to 17 people and a smaller, private room with only 4 spaces. Registered Massage Therapy is also available before or after your rock bathing experience. For a unique party idea, private events can be arranged (whether a bridal shower or a corporate shindig) including sushi!

For those people who would like to enhance the therapeutic effect of the rock treatment, the spa offers hot Yin Yoga classes for further muscle relaxation. Yin Yoga participants (who provide their own clothes for the class) are provided with a locker containing a pair of disposable thongs, a towel and a paper water cup. Green tea is available to sip on as well. Clients who choose to simply lie prone for the rock bathing are given a comfortable cotton wrap top and long shorts to wear if they like. There are showers available, but the spa recommends not bathing for at least two hours to enhance the benefits of the experience.

Iyashi Bedrock Spa is located at 2662 Yonge Street in uptown Toronto, just across from Sporting Life. The hours are 10-9 daily, except Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, when the spa opens at 9:30 a.m.

We are in for a long, cold winter this year, so make sure to warm up and experience all the benefits at Iyashi Bedrock Spa!

Click here for more photos of the spa.

November 20, 2012

Solar Raw Kale Chips - The Best You Can Buy!


Really Delicious Kale Chips!

These are my favorite packaged kale chips. When I don't have time to make my own, these are the kale chips I search for at the store. I loved them so much I wrote to the company, Ecoideas, to express my admiration and they sent me these - Hemp Cream & Chives (my favorite) and Better than Cheddar to try.

Kale chips are such a great, alkaline snack, full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. This brand is Canadian and organic!

I noticed that they have since changed the packaging, so click on the link above to see what the new bag looks like!