Special Edition: Couple Work-Out

During your lonely times together when baby sleeps and you do not know what to do (**cough, cough!..) OR.... in case you want to take advantage of this time being free to have some fun and sweaty time with your partner! (Yay! That's the spirit!)

We actually had a great time doing this video :)

Slow down, take the time to eat...

Anyone who has ever visited France or worked there would definitely agree with that: French love their food and they take the time to enjoy it!
When we eat in France it is not out of pure necessity: it is a real pleasure! Each of the 3 meals is important.

1. People take lunch breaks at work of at least 30 min, usually about 45 min, and they very rarely eat at their desk (that is NOT normal). 
2. They also take the time to have a full meal (it is rare for them to grab a sandwich or quick salad), I mean at least a 2 course meal: a hot plate, or a real full size salad filled with protein and veggies, and a "dessert" (yogurt, fruit, both,..). Almost all big corporations have a very nice cafeteria where you have the choice between plenty of appetizers (most of these being raw veggies), healthy hot meals (a selection of fish and meat, and sides), cheese/yogurts, desserts (fruits, or sometime cakes ;)
3. They love company when they eat: it is really a time to share stories and connect with your closed ones/colleagues or even a time to make new acquaintances. Similar like when you go to bars in the US, just way healthier ;) One interesting note: they like to talk about food when they eat, which is actually a healthy habit as it helps stimulate the brain captors and send the signal to the body in order to engage the full metabolism.

So yes, whether at home, at work, or outside, french people do take the time to eat their meal.

So what are the benefits of eating slow(er)? Because time is precious and it is not like if we are swimming in abundance here... Actually the return on investment for your mental and physical health is undoubtedly worth it.

1. Eat Slow to Eat Less - It is usually the first reason invoked. If you eat too fast you do not leave time to the brain to send the signal of satiety. Our brain first needs time to receive the signals from the stomach to inform it that we are eating, and then it is said that it needs about 20 minutes to make us feel that we have eaten enough. This is also interesting as some people expedite their meal when on a diet because they feel guilty eating, while this is actually what makes one gain fat/weight.
2. Eat slow to improve digestion - The digestion process starts in the mouth, with the action of the saliva (1). Taking the time to masticate prevents stomach irritation and helps transit, as otherwise you will ask for the stomach to do most of the work. A good mastication also prevents bloating as it minimises the quantity of air ingested with our food. Good mastication + calm, 2 factors to improve digestion.
3. Eat slow to "meditate" and reduce stress - Focus on the present time, the different tastes, textures, smells, the various sensations. In meditation we call this full awareness. Since we have to eat, why not use those 30 minutes to make them a oasis of serenitude during our busy days? Turn off your TV, put away your phone or computer and turn your attention on your plate. You will find yourself a lot less stressed that way.
4. Eat slow to connect with your closed ones - Meditation is OK when you eat alone, but if at home or at a restaurant/cafeteria this is not the best time. However it is a GREAT time to setup good and healthy family practices (and teach this to your kids who will later reproduce them) by spending time together. Whether you are with your loved ones, friends, family, colleagues, it is the occasion to ask about how they are doing between mouthfuls. Laughs, complicity and trust are easily developed this way.

Points 1. and 2. are actually proven to be linked with obesity. So next time you eat with somebody who just seems to be taking his/her sweet little (TOO MUCH!) time, take a deep breath, relax, realize that he or she has it right and take him/her as an example :) I am telling you will find it a lot more enjoyable, and will put a lot more attention this way on what you put on your plate --> a great way to eat healthy.


(1) Amidon based food (e.g. bread, pasta,...) for instance, are half digested with the action of the saliva if you take the proper time. 

Wheatgrass: The Liquid Sunshine

You may have heard of this plant as it is gaining more and more notoriety as researches show more and more its healthy benefits.
Wheatgrass (herbe de ble) is the young grass from the wheat plant and is harvested very young when its nutrients and vitamins are at its apogee (1).

Nutritional benefits:

This Superfood is called "Liquid Sunshine" due to its high amount of chlorophyll (about 70%), which makes it a high alkaline food. Alkalines food are found to help balance the PH (acidity) in the body (blood, urine) and can therefore be used to prevent or even treat diseases. Researches have found chlorophyll to be of exceptional virtue to the body (cells and blood).
Wheatgrass is a complete food and an excellent source of vitamins A, B-complex, C, E and K. It also contains plenty of minerals and is extremely rich in Iron, Zinc, Copper, and Manganese.
This miracle grass also holds a long list of amino-acids and enzymes the body needs.

Where to find it and How to use it

So what do you do with this grass, you'll ask me, cook it? Well it would be a shame to cook it as you would lose a lot of those benefits, so it needs to be taken RAW. The best and easier way is to juice it. You can get it fresh of course, but nowadays you can easily find it in powder in major health stores. Check that it is raw and organic (not "natural" please, check for real organic certification label), preferably air-dried (frozen or heated will diminish its properties). It does not taste super good, so myself I usually mix it into my morning smoothie (see 'In The Kitchen' page for this recipe). Or just mix it with water and a bit of lemon.

Wheatgrass is thus a good superfood and an effective mean to clean, regenerate and energize the body. (2)
--> Try it for a month, every day, and you will see for yourself :)


(1) For this reason it is naturally Gluten Free (harvest before the gluten forms).
(2) Some (unproven?) well-known facts associated with wheat grass include: leaver purification, blood pressure decrease, elimination of medical drugs residues in the body as well as toxins, helps fight high-glucose in the blood, helps with constipation, acts like a disinfectant for the body, helps in slowing down the aging process.