Melissa Paris Fitness

"If you master only one herb in your life, master cayenne pepper. It is the most powerful than any other" - Dr. Schulze
Add some spice to your life and add some cayenne pepper on to your next meal! Cayenne pepper is a member of the Capsicum family of vegetables, also known as chili peppers Read more...

There are so many reasons to drink tea, I can't even think of anything bad to say about it. You may drink tea because you like the aroma of it, the many different flavors, the way it relaxes your body on a hot or cold day, or because of its endless health benefits! I've written numerous articles about superfoods, vitamins and supplements, and now it's time to show you what this "superdrink" is all about. From protecting against heart disease, promoting weight loss, boosting the immune system (plus anti-cancer effects), this little humble cup of tea can do wonders for your health. You have your oolong, green, black and white teas. All teas come from a plant called Camellia sinensi, what makes each tea different is the way it is processed. (Be aware that herbal teas are not made out of the Camellia plant but a combination of different plants, roots, herbs and spices)

Green tea is the most popular type of tea, mainly because it's considered the main beverage choice in Asia, along with oolong tea. Oolong tea has a flavorful fragrance and sweet aroma. It is most recognized as the type of tea served in typical Chinese restaurants. Black tea is another popular type of tea that more caffeinated and flavorful than its counterparts, and is usually found in iced teas.

So instead of going over the most popular types of tea, I'm going to tell you about the teas that taste just as good, but are in need of recognition! Pukka's three fennel tea is my favorite kind of fennel tea. I also recommend Yogi Organic Tea, they have so many flavors to choose from and they have tags with motivational quotes! I love the Detox flavor one, check out their website HERE to take a look at all of their tasty flavors.

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It's finally the season! Pumpkin latte, pumpkin beer, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin pie, pumpkin ravioli... just about EVERYTHING gets pumpkinized. The possibilities are endless, and truly mouthwatering. What exactly is a pumpkin? A fruit or a vegetable? The answer is... a fruit! A fruit is defined as a plant with seeds and since the pumpkin carries about a cup of seeds, it is certainly considered a fruit. Pumpkins are considered to be part of the gourd family, which includes watermelon, muskmelon and squash.

Not only does it taste great, it's also great for you! You may not consider pumpkin as the go-to healthy food, but it's still a low calorie (a cooked cup is 49 calories), nutritious fruit that can be eaten throughout the year, not just during Fall! The bright orange skin of the pumpkin should be a dead giveaway that it's packed with beta-carotene, an important antioxidant that is converted into Vitamin A. Current research indicates that a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer, offers protect against heart disease and has powerful anti-aging properties. It's high in fiber, meaning that it curves your diet and reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes by lowering blood cholesterol and sugar levels.

The seeds are even better! Pumpkin seeds are filled with minerals including phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, iron and copper. They are also loaded with protein and are rich with vitamin K and vitamin E. You can roast, bake, toast or even eat them raw. No matter how you eat pumpkin seeds, they are all healthy and delicious ways to snack. So when you make pumpkin flavored foods, don't toss those pumpkin seeds away! Enjoy the pumpkin season and find interesting ways to use pumpkin. Read more...

We all know about quinoa, right? It tastes and feels like a grain, and looks like a grain.. but is actually a seed! It originated in Peru and is a complete protein, it's gluten-free, and absolutely delicious. As a matter of fact, I am eating quinoa we speak. I like to buy Trader Joe's Organic Tri-Color Quinoa that's a blend of red, black and golden quinoa. I normally cook it plain as a side with veggies and grilled chicken, or toss it in my salads for that extra texture and nutty flavor. Just make sure you throughly rinse and soak the quinoa seeds before cooking it since it's naturally coated with saponin. Washing the saponin off strips the bitter taste and also reduces the risk of developing any sensitivities or allergens to quinoa so remember to rinse it! There are three varieties of quinoa; red white or black. These three types are very similar in nutritional content, but there are a few small differences to note. Read more...

Chia and flax seeds both nutrient dense superfoods, both of which are small mildly flavored seeds that could be easily tossed in a variety of meals and snacks. They contain a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids and fiber, so why have one when you can have both? Here are a few examples where you can incorporate both seeds into your meal. My go-to meal is the overnight oats, it takes minutes to prepare overnight and minutes to cook in the morning! It's such a great start for those early mornings, I need the most energy I can get! Toss a few fruits and nuts and you're good to go. Enjoy! Read more...

Introducing the new super food hero, chia seeds! I wrote about kale and its amazing benefits, last post was about flax seed, and now chia seeds have started to gain popularity on the supermarket shelves. But chia seeds have been around for a long time. These seeds played an important role for the Aztecs, Incas and Mayans.. warriors often carried chia seeds with them and consume as little as a spoonful a day. It was known as "running food" and was known as a mega energy food!! Skim around supermarket aisles and look out for chia, chia seeds, ground chia seeds, chia bars, chia drinks, what's the big deal?? These little seeds, which comes in either white or a dark brown or black color has a huge nutritional profile. It contains calcium, manganese, and phosphorous and contains a ton of healthy Omega-3 fats. Read more...

FLAXSEEDS. It may be small, but it gives you BIG benefits. It's called a wonder food because of it's amazing nutritional and health benefits. Not only is it a good source of "good fats" antioxidants, and fiber, modern research suggests that flaxseed can help lower the risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease! It's low in carbs, so it's ideal for people who are trying to cut out their intake of starches and carbs.
But which kind of flaxseed should you pick up from the supermarket? Whole, grounded or the oil from the flaxseeds? Each form has different uses. While whole flaxseeds are good for topping foods and for baking, ground flaxseeds are good for mixing in foods like oatmeal and smoothies. Flaxseed oil is great for salad dressings and can be drizzled on roasted vegetables. Whole flaxseeds contain the most protein, calcium, and fiber, while ground flaxseeds are lowest in calories. Flaxseed oil is great if you're looking for the Omega-3's. If you're debating between the whole or the ground, go for the ground because it's easier for your body to digest and your body would absorb most of the nutrients. Whole flaxseed is beneficial because it has a longer shelf life, so you could get whole flaxseed and grind it up with a coffee grinder to get grounded flax. Read more...

So many of you have read my previous blog post about natural green cleaning supplies and asked for my personal choice of cleaning products. You asked for it, and you got it! I use two main brands to clean my home, both of which are toxic-free and environmentally-safe household products. Read more...

It’s certainly no surprise that the common household products we use to clean our homes with contain toxic and harmful ingredients. What you may not know is exactly HOW harmful they are to our health. Did you know that manufacturers are not obliged by U.S. law to list all the ingredients in consumer products or to test their products for safety? It’s up to you to be able to come home to a not only clean but toxic free environment!!
Unfortunately, it isn’t that easy figuring out which products contain hazardous ingredients.. even though cleaners are the only household products regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission under the Federal Substances Labeling Act, their sellers aren’t required to reveal the products’ ingredients. There are so many hidden and dangerous chemicals that we don't know about! Fortunately, as of 2012, SC Johnson agreed to disclose preservatives and a master list of all fragrance chemicals. So if you are a fan of their cleaning products, you can check out their website and see what each product is composed of.
Here's the dirty truth about cleaning products that you won't find on their label...
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Omega-3 and Omega-6 are both types of essential fatty acids that our bodies can’t produce on their own, meaning we need to obtain them either through diet or supplements. You can get your Omega-3 from the fat of cold water fish like tuna, cod liver, herring, mackerel, salmon and sardines. Omega-6s come from sunflower seeds, seed oils, corn, sesame seeds, nuts, meat and dairy products. I personally like to take Omega-3 fish oil supplements because our ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 averages from 20:1 to 50:1!! Both are good for you, but both have different roles in the body and I can’t stress enough about the importance of getting a BALANCED intake of both. How do you get Omega-3 into your diet?
The Omega-3s have anti-inflammatory benefits and help prevent heart disease, while Omega-6s lower blood cholesterol and support the skin. If you consume more Omega-6s, an unbalanced diet may result in a wide range of health conditions including cardiovascular, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases. It also doesn’t help when we stuff our faces with junk food, and by junk food I mean food processing and increased consumption of both saturated and trans fats… Don’t be too discouraged though! If you make small efforts and changes to your diet, it’s very easy to get a proper balance of Omegas. It’s mainly about reducing your consumption of junk food and getting proper amounts of certain foods.
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