As a Chef, cooking healthy food and being healthy is a top priority for me. In general, I always strive to cook healthy yet satisfying food for my clients, unless they have requested otherwise or are hosting an event. In keeping up with being healthy, both mentally and physically, kayaking is a sport that I have found to be able to do so. Kayaking and gliding along the water helps me keep a clear mindset. I’ve also outfitted my kayaks to be able to fish off of them. With a clear healthy mind, I can be more effective and creative as a Chef. As a Personal Chef it’s important to my clients that I am always on top of my game. They have specific diet and culinary needs that I need to focus on, along with health focused menu planning.

Many people don’t know but being stressed makes it harder for us to lose weight and probably not for the reasons you think. 
 
One is temporary stress which can cause elevated cortisolwhich makes us crave sugary higher calorie foods. A way to counter this is to have regular meals morning, midday, and evening. It wont totally suppress the urge for sugary high calorie foods, but it will help curb them greatly and reduce the severity. Note that cortisol is naturally occurring and a good thing however you don’t want elevated levels and at the same time you don’t want decreased cortisol levels which make it harder to burn fat. It’s a balance
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​Everyone knows how important is is to work out, gain muscle mass and improve performance, but if you’re not eating the right nutrition you can definitely hinder you performance.
 
So which foods should you include in your pre-workout and why?  According to Dr. Axe, keep reading.

According to Dr. Axe, yes it is!  So let’s take a look at why. What are the 7 benefits of eating Feta cheese?
 
It protects against cancer…It’s a rich source of Calcium and combined with vitamin D this helps protect the body against various types of cancer.  The protein 
alpha-lactalbumin can be found in Feta and when it binds to calcium and zinc ions, it has been suggested to have antibacterial and antitumor properties.
 
Supports bone health…We all know that calcium supports your bones but milk can hurt your bones.  Instead, find other high-calcium foods, like feta.
 
Boosts your immune system…Histidine, is another protein found in feta cheese.  When Histidine is combined with vitamin B6 (also in feta) it becomes a molecular process to become histamine.  That compound is part of the inflammatory process.  A small degree of inflammation is what allows your immune system to fight disease.
 

Fats get a bad rap in society, almost to the extent of them being feared like they are the plague! News alert: Healthy fats are crucial to a well balanced diet and overall cell and body function.  To not bore you with the science of what fats are, I will provide a small snippet into the benefits of fats and which foods to incorporate into your diet.
         
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​My favorite spot to work up a sweat is SoCal Bootcamp in Monarch Beach and San Clemente. I have been working out there for the past 3 years and I still love every class I take! They provide a “positive energy zone” where they focus on steady cardio and strength training in an indoor boot camp format. It is impossible to get bored because the workouts feature many different types of equipment including TRX straps, bikes, Bosu balls, kettle bells and battle ropes just to name a few. On top of that there are different exercises each day so every workout if unique.
            A second favorite is Shredz Gym in Ladera Ranch. Newly opened just a few months ago, this gym has state of the art equipment that I haven’t seen in other gyms. You can sign up to workout solo or take a group HIIT Class with one of their experienced trainers.   
            Also high on my list is Grit Cycle with locations in Costa mesa, Monarch Beach and Anaheim. Their spin classes combine great music and cool lighting effects with heart pumping dance moves all done on the bikes! I love to hit one of their classes on a Monday morning to get the endorphins flowing and set the mood for my week ahead. 

​Continuing installment of chef Meggan's Keto journey .......

When trying to lose weight everyone says dumping the alcohol as a must, but let’s face it, life is stressful sometimes and we all need some “me time” every now and then.  Obviously downing glass after glass after glass of wine or having a whole six pack by yourself isn’t the best when trying to lose weight, but we can all splurge in moderation.      So what can you have while on Keto?

As a chef at Whole Health Every day and someone who tried to promote healthy habits, I try and keep up to date with the latest research on diet and nutrition. One of my favorite and most trusted resources for the most current health news is Foundmyfitness.com, the website founded by research biologist and health advocate Dr. Rhonda Patrick. The website aggregates articles on a wide variety of subjects related to health and fitness, and includes links to the original scientific study. One of the most interesting articles I have read on the website recently is titled “High Intensive Intermittent Exercise reduces markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.” If you are eager to learn what the latest research in health and nutrition has learned go ahead and take a look at FoundmyFitness.com or download the app on your mobile device. ​

I've recently come across two people in my life who have been diagnosed with hemochromatosis. What is it you ask? Where your body produces way more iron than it should.
 I particularly found this interesting because it feels like most of the time we aren't getting enough iron. Always trying to take supplements, cutting out red meats but not eating enough items like: dark, leafy greens, beans, sardines or other iron rich foods. Always read labels. See what's going into body your before it wreaks havoc on you. 
Hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder, so please stay on top of your family's health as well as your own. 
If you have a family member that has been diagnosed and you start to feel joint pain, abdominal pain, fatigue and weakness on a regular basis, have your blood tested to see how to improve your way of living for the better.  read more