The Story Behind Arsenic in Organic Brown Rice Products (Video)

Soooo...did you hear that some organic brown rice products contain arsenic? Yep, at least that's what a study says, and it's pretty frightening if you don't know all the details. Fortunately it seems we don't have much to worry about, and here's why:

Video Review: Healthy Snacks from Way Better - Sprouted Tortilla Chips

image from GoWayBetter.com

I'm always on the hunt for good snacks, so when I spotted Way Better Snack's attractive packaging at Rainbow Grocery I had to check it out. Upon closer inspection I discovered that they aren't your average tortilla chips - they are made with sprouted grains and seeds for extra nutrition. All ingredients are non-GMO and certified gluten-free, and most of them are organic. Sold. Check out this video for my thoughts:

Healthiest Chocolate Ever: Organic, Raw, Vegan, Sugar-Free, Soy-Free & Gluten-Free!

Yes, the title is true. I have discovered the healthiest and most eco-friendly chocolate ever!!! Oh, and it's DELICIOUS too. Really, the best way for you to understand how excited I am about finding this is to watch the following video, but there's a little text below it if you can't/don't want to. Bottom line - this is one of the most exciting vegan products I've found in a long time.

Vegan Success Story: January Cleanse Inspired Dietary Change

Here's an amazing email I received from an old family friend. I think I've known her as long as I've been vegan (going on 9 years), so witnessing her transformation is quite special. She and her daughter decided to try being vegan for the month of January, mainly to cleanse, but it resulted in a lot more:

What Food to Buy on A Healthy, Vegan Cleanse (Video)

Since I've been sharing my cleanse journey and inviting others to join me, I'm often ask what to buy at the grocery store. It depends on what type you're doing, but in my case it's the 21 Day Adventure Cleanse from Crazy Sexy Diet, which focuses on alkaline, whole, plant-based foods. During my last trip to Rainbow Grocery I documented each item I purchased and made this video and list to give you an idea of what to buy on your next trip to the store.

Healthy Snacks to Eat on a Cleanse (Video)

Looking for something yummy, satisfying and filling to have in between meals during your whole foods plant-based cleanse? Here are some things you can pick up at natural markets like Whole Foods, online (see links), or save a little money and make them yourself!

Healthy Vegan Food in Las Vegas: Interactive Map

image from Eating Vegan in Vegas

Las Vegas isn't usually the place to go when you're eating healthy. One would assume it's also not great for vegans either, but when you look closely and do your research both assumptions are quite false. You may have seen my reviews from my trips to Vegas in the past, but those were the old days - my diet has changed and the city is getting healthier and healthier, so I can't wait to go back and try it all out. 

This post was inspired by my boyfriend's trip to LV - he's headed there for a week and is doing the Crazy Sexy Diet cleanse with me. At first I was practically positive his clean diet wouldn't last, especially without me there to guide him, but after several hours of intensive internet scouting I found plenty of fantastic options so I figured I should share them with you too.

The following is a interactive map and list of restaurants that offer the healthiest food in Las Vegas - if you have a device like the iPhone click here to view the map on it. Each recommendation is vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, vegetable and grain based, and low in soy and oil whenever possible. Since the cleanse focuses on fresh foods and juices, I've listed those options as well. You should always confirm with the waiter/cashier to make sure the ingredients match your diet. If you're looking to do some vegan indulging (and who can blame you in the city of sin?!), check out my older posts, be sure to visit the Wynn hotels and Pure Vida, and visit the resources at the end of this list. 

Cleanse Update & Progress (Videos)

Just wanted to check in for those of you who don't follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, or YouTube (though I can't imagine you don't follow at least one of those!). My cleanse is off to a great start - on Day 3 and going strong/feeling wonderful! Plus, my boyfriend decided to do it with me, which has been really great (see Cleanse Day 2 video). I haven't had a lot of free time to write so I've been doing mainly video content - check out the following videos when you have a chance. If you're doing a cleanse as well and would like some support I encourage you to join the Google Group (which has 34 members) and stay tuned for live video hangouts on Google Plus and occasional UStream live Q&As. I love hearing from you so would love an update on your cleanse in this comment section or any of the above sites. 

Cleanse Q&A On UStream (Video)

Since I've been receiving so many questions about cleansing I decided to do a live Q&A session on UStream. It was a last minute decision but I still received 17 lives views, and since it went so well I'm going to do more and give you a heads up so you can tune in and interact with me next time. If you missed the live show, you can watch it here:

Video: Recipes for an Organic, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Sugar-Free Vegan Christmas

I'll be honest, even though Christmas is only 2 days away I have no idea what I'm going to do for it, let alone what I'll eat. I guess that's what happens when work prevents me from being with my family for the holidays... but shall I decide to cook on December 25th I've got plenty of delicious recipes to choose from that are free of animal products, gluten, sugar and soy - all thanks to an ebook.

Thanksgiving Ideas: Make This One (Eco) Friendly

Aside from getting a day off, the thing people most look forward to on Thanksgiving is eating. Even though most of the ingredients for the dishes are available year round, or at least for a few months in the season, there are specific foods we only eat on this late November day. Mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie...and turkey. Many call this holiday Turkey Day because it's all about eating the bird. In fact, over 300 million turkeys are killed for Thanksgiving each year, after living a miserable life with no room to move, standing around in their own excrement, and being pumped full of antibiotics - doesn't sound so festive.

How about we call it ThanksLIVING instead? Focus on making the world a happier, more loving place. A healthier, more eco-friendly alternative would be to leave out the meat and focus on all the delicious dishes made from vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts and seeds. Looking for ideas? Check out this video:

The Lowdown on Unrefined Sweeteners: Are They Healthier Or Just As Bad As Any Sugar?

I used to think agave nectar was the perfect sweetener because some raw foodists I trusted introduced me to it. Finally, it seemed like a great unrefined alternative to sugar and honey! But a year or so ago I did some research and discovered that it's not all it's cracked up to be - how disappointing! And over time, I learned that all unrefined sugars have some drawbacks - I outline the details in this article on Organic Authority.

Veganista on EcoStiletto: Amazing Grass

EcoStiletto, a website devoted to giving you the inside scoop on being glamorously green, played a big role in the rise of Eco-Vegan Gal. I attended several of their parties in L.A. when I first started this site and met so many fabulous people in the sustainability and health fields who I later became friends with and partnered up with. So I didn't hesitate when they asked me if I would pen their new Veganista section - how could I say no to sharing my thoughts on great things happening in the eco-vegan world?!

My first piece when up this week and is about Amazing Grass. If you've been watching my What A Vegan Eats series you've probably seen me drinking their GREENSuperFood quite a lot. Click here to hear what I have to say about them on EcoStiletto and enter to win a container for yourself!

EVG Community Q&A: Overweight On The Vegan Diet

image by puuikibeach

Question:

I've been overweight most of my life, became vegetarian and with a lot of work, lost over 70 pounds. Almost 4 years ago I became vegan and gained quite a bit of weight back. I've kicked up my workouts, I've tried green juicing, I've visited a nutritionist... nothing has worked. The nutritionist had me cut my workouts, try different sized meals, etc., but in the end, she suggested my body just really doesn't like me being vegan. I'm wondering if you have had any experience with this type of dilemma. Can a person's body really be programmed to not lose weight on a vegan diet? I've read so many success stories of "I became vegan and dropped weight instantly" and my story is the opposite. I'm struggling with what to do. I'd really appreciate any ideas/thoughts/suggestions you'd be willing to share.

Answer:

Video: Organic Delivery, Best Indian Food Ever, Funny YouTube Videos, Vegan Advice, VegFest and More!

The title kinda speaks for itself - aren't you curious where I had the best Indian food EVER?!

Video About Soy: Benefits of Removing It From Your Diet & What Healthy Foods To Eat Instead

I get a lot of questions about why I stopped eating soy and whether or not it's good for you, so here's a video that sums up my answers.

Is Beer Healthy?

I wasn't a big beer fan until a couple years ago. Don't know what happened, but suddenly I liked it. Especially Fat Tire by New Belgium (totally eco-vegan!). When I went gluten-free I got even more into beer, probably because of the novelty of finding the best GF options. That came to a halt when I started a cleanse back in April and I haven't felt the desire to drink much of it since. However, my boyfriend LOVES beer and drinks it like water, which got me curious about the health effects - what are the pros and cons of it? I explored the topic for my recent Organic Authority article called, "The Lowdown: Is Beer A Healthy Drink?"

Check out the piece then let me know what you think - do you like beer? Do your prefer wine? Or are you alcohol free?

How to Choose the Healthiest Food From A Vending Machine

I can't remember the last time I bought something out of a vending machine, so today when I saw one I decided to check out the options inside - grim as I imagined. However, several people I was in a meeting with went up and made purchases because they were hungry and wanted something instant. I remember what that felt like - examining the choices, weighing out the health effects versus what flavors I was craving, and ultimately deciding to splurge and get something sweet or salty. It's sad that these machines prey on our moment of weakness and offer up foods meant to manipulate our eyes and our tongues... Since that is the current reality, then here are some ways to make the healthiest decision, and the top choices from this particular vending machine. 

Video: MSG in Doritos, Cooking with a Vegan Zombie, How to Compost, Mind Upgrade and Free Organic Clothing!

You know what time it is: healthy and sustainable weekly roundup time! Learn what superfoods you should eat everyday, how to compost, what chips to ditch MSG-soaked Doritos for, how to make almond milk, where to get a mind upgrade, and enter to win $50 worth of organic clothing! Are You Ready For Dis?!

The Healthiest Salads at Chain Restaurants

Don't be fooled by the salad selection at restaurants, especially the chains - not all salads are created equally! You wouldn't believe the calorie count and unhealthy ingredients in many of them. Check out this list of the Top 5 Healthy Salads at Sit-Down Chain Restaurants in an article I wrote for Organic Authority. *I did mention some salads that are on the menu with animal products in them, but they can be vegan if requested.