Tag Archive for: healthy living

For those of you who are not familiar with LivOn Labs, you’re in for such a treat. LivOn Labs is changing the game in the Vitamin world and we have been fans for a long time (all the Goldfaden MD team members use these!). We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Kaili Carpenter, Executive Director, to learn more about her and her daily rituals. 

Kaili Carpenter, the Executive Director of LivOn Labs, was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. After finishing her undergrad at UGA, she worked in events management at two firms then established her own events business with a focus on continuing education in the medical field.

Kaili always helped with the family business, LivOn Labs, which was founded by her Uncle Les and Aunt Cindy Nachman in Las Vegas. She worked the LivOn booth at trade shows across the country for a few years explaining the science of LivOn products to attendees while continuously sampling product with the uninitiated.

An interest in exercise, health and wellness has been something Kaili has embraced since middle school. From horse back riding to competitive high school cheerleading, Kaili then evolved her interests into yoga, dance and Pilates. Currently Kaili keeps a regimen of exercise along with keeping her food intake healthy. She also has a specific interest in skin care, and skin health after years ago learning the key attributes of LivOn Vitamin C, B and Glutathione (I.e. some of our favorite Vitamins from their collection). 

What does good food mean to you?

Good food is whatever makes you feel good. For me, that’s feeding my body what it needs to run efficiently. You can’t put diesel fuel in an engine that requires gasoline and expect that engine to function. I feel my best when I’m eating real, whole foods: veggies, proteins, healthy fats, and lots of water.  

That being said, there is a place for a yellow cupcake with white buttercream icing on my “feel good food” scale. It’s many of my favorite childhood memories on a plate. It doesn’t fall in with veggies, proteins, or healthy fats, but when I occasionally indulge, I get that sugar-spike, giddy, nostalgic rush (almost always followed by a sugar crash — didn’t say I’d feel “good” for long). No guilt, though. That cupcake is a craving no avocado is going to sate. 

How do you start your mornings? 

First thing: I make my bed. It’s a quick, silent task that gets my brain and body slowly acclimated to the day. I am an ardent bed maker. Even in hotels. 

What’s your go-to am beverage? 

I have an AM beverage line up: Lots of water with a little bit of lemon, a shot of grapefruit juice with my Lypo-Spheric®supplements (VitaminC, Glutathione, and Acetyl L-Carnitine) then, a Fab Four Smoothie with Moon Juice Adaptogenic Protein. I met with holistic nutritionist, Kelly LeVeque (creator of the Fab 4 smoothies) at a goop function, and her smoothie approach reinvigorated my mornings. Also, you can’t beat Moon Juice protein powder.

What are your must use daily beauty products? 

I swear by the Goldfaden eyecream, De Mamiel’s Exhale Daily Hydrating Nectar, Dr. Nigma’s Crème No. 1 and Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Hyaluronic Serum and lip balm. Between the dry air and intense sun in Vegas, these products have made a world of difference. There’s a theme here: Moisture.

How do you de-stress?

I take a cardio dance class three days a week. The instructor/studio owner is a professional choreographer and former Broadway performer. She’s always coming up with new dances to current songs. I have to leave any stress thoughts at the door of the studio; I need to be completely present if I’m going to get through her choreography!

Favorite mood-boosting meal? 

Avocado with a runny egg, hot sauce, and a side of sliced cucumber. 

What’s a dinner recipe you currently have on repeat? 

It’s summer, and it’s crazy hot here in Vegas. My recipes this time of year involve minimal heat in the kitchen. Lately, I’m making a quinoa /salad bowl combo. I make a large batch of quinoa to keep in the fridge to use throughout the week, chop up various veggies that look good at the moment, then combine. You can also add in some chicken, tuna, an egg, or whatever you have on hand. It’s the perfect no-cook dinner.  I found the recipe in Gwyneth Paltrow’s The Clean Platecookbook and was like, “Why didn’t I think of this meal earlier?”  Her miso ginger dressing is super simple and really makes the dish feel special. 

What is your daily mantra?

Pay attention to intention.

We are so honored to be featuring an intimate interview that we had with Hannah Habes, from Matchaful  –  a female founded, matcha purveyor that offers organic, sustainably sourced, premium grade product.  We are the only retail brand to offer single-estate matcha, which marks a huge step forward in the matcha supply chain – assuring consumers of the authenticity and provenance of their matcha, from farm to whisk. They have café in lower SoHo, NYC, complete with a ceremonial matcha bar and a plant-based seasonal food and beverage menu (a must goto spot in NYC!).

Hannah Habes founded Matchaful in 2015, in Brooklyn, NY, to bring high-quality, sustainably & transparently sourced matcha to more people.

Through their 1% FTP membership, they support organizations that help to strengthen sustainable food systems through sustainable agriculture, education and tackling food waste (just one part of why we love this company so much!).  

THEIR FARM:

Matchaful works directly with organic, sustainable, family farms in Japan – sourced from 7th and 4th generation farms in Uji and Shizouka, Japan.

Their farmer in Shizouka is using organic food waste as fertilizer and growing the matcha trees under solar panels, as a means to provide alternative energy to the local community.

Matcha is one of the most powerful ingredients offering a variety of health benefits including;

  • Is packed with antioxidants including the powerful EGCg.
  • Boosts metabolism and burns calories.
  • Detoxifies effectively and naturally.
  • Calms the mind and relaxes the body.

What does good food mean to you?

Good food means it’s nourishing and delicious. It’s food that should make you feel great and give you more energy, not weigh you down. Before I started Matchaful, I was eating a ton of processed food that left me feeling really sluggish and always wanting more. To me, it’s important to eat meals that have fiber, protein and greens that leave me feeling satisfied. I also try to eat fresh organic foods with simple ingredients so that I’m feeding my body the best I can, and avoiding unnecessary “fillers” or “stabilizers.”

How do you start your mornings?

With either oatmeal or a smoothie. I mix in plant based protein powder no matter what. Because I’m breastfeeding, I make sure to eat a hearty breakfast and protein-rich meals. I supplement with probiotics and prenatal vitamins.

What’s your go-to am beverage?

That’s easy — a matcha or matcha latte. Normally I’ll mix in a few adaptogens to help elevate my mood and a tsp of maple syrup. Right now, I’m loving moringa as it helps to boost milk production.

What are your must use daily beauty products?

I definitely like to mix it up but I’m a big oil based skincare fan. I’m loving Goldfaden’s Fleuressence oil. I use it first thing in the morning to help give my skin a nice natural glow.

How do you de-stress?

Right now, small moments of self care help me to decompress. Being a mom and working full-time doesn’t afford me a lot of free time, but taking a long shower or evening bath help me destress after a long day. Going to the gym or doing a 20-min floor workout also help me to boost my mood and alleviate stress in the morning.

Favorite mood-boosting meal?

At our cafe, we offer a black rice onigiri with avocado and cashew cream cheese. This meal gives me the perfect pick-up while not overfilling me. It’s an amazing energy booster in the middle of my day.

What’s a dinner recipe you currently have on repeat?

Black bean spaghetti pasta with garlic, lemon, and topped with sauteed kale and parsley.  

What is your daily mantra?

I try to live by the Japanese proverb, “ichi-go ichi-e.” It translates to “savor each moment, for it only lasts once.”

Beauty starts from within – we all know that a healthy inside leads to a radiant outside and we share in that same DNA positioning as one of our favorite vitamin company, HUM Nutrition. Backed by science and substantiated clinical results, we had the opportunity to sit down with Alex Caspero | HUM RD Nutritionist, to learn more about the pulse behind the brand and what we can learn about how to incorporate wellness into our lives.

A little bit about Alexandra Caspero MA, RD, CLT, RYT: She is the owner of Delish Knowledge and author of Fresh Italian Cooking for the New Generation. Her award-winning blog, Delish Knowledge, focuses on making whole-food, vegetarian eating deliciously simple. Alex is the co-founder of Plant-Based Juniors, an evidence-based platform that helps parents navigate the world of plant-based prenatal and pediatric nutrition. Additionally, she is the co-author of Joyful Eating, Nourished Life, which helps others discover a happier, healthier relationship with food and their body. 

 

HUM has made such a splash within the beauty and wellness industry. Can you tell us how it all started?

It all starts with our passionate co-founders, Walter and Chris. Walter used to struggle with acne and once he started working with a nutritionist, they got to the root of the problem and he cleared his skin! This inspired him to develop a line of vitamins with the best nutrients to deliver on specific goals: gorgeous skin, lustrous hair, and overall better health.

What’s your best-selling product and it is the same as your favorite product within the line? 

We have a few best-selling products and one of my favorites is a new product that launched this year, Skin Heroes. Unlike most probiotics on the market, Skin Heroes contains both prebiotics and skin-specific probiotic strains that help decrease breakouts, create an even texture and tone, and hydrate the skin. In an in-house study, 88% reported a decrease in breakouts and 81% reported an improvement in digestion. 

What can we expect from using HUM products? Is there an overall goal in mind when creating the products? 

Everything HUM creates is designed with the customers needs in mind. Most of the supplements are geared toward beauty concerns, whether that’s stronger, healthier hair, firmer skin, reduced wrinkles or glowing skin. As beauty starts from within, nutrition is often the first line of defense in common beauty concerns. Other products are designed for overall wellness: multivitamins, detox herbs, adaptogens and products that support digestion. 

What does your typical wellness and beauty routine look like?

I’m a beauty minimalist; I wear make-up only when I have a TV interview or want to dress up for date-night. Therefore, I need my bare skin to look it’s absolute best. I rely on Red Carpet, a GLA supplement from HUM that’s helps with overall skin tone and reduces any redness. I’m also predominantly plant-based and strive to eat a diverse plant-based diet. That means that I aim to keep a diet of mostly fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans/lentils, nuts, seeds and healthy plant-based fats. I occasionally enjoy an ice cream cone and potato chips, but aim to eat this way most of the time. This diet pattern is not only amazing for gut health, but it also keeps my skin looking radiant. In addition to being a dietitian, I’m also a yoga teacher and find that meditation is my saving grace; it keeps me focused on what’s important and able to cut through a lot of the noise that can be very distracting. 

How do you Detox (tips/rituals)? 

I aim to drink plenty of water throughout the day and typically do a face mask 2-3 times a week. As I mentioned above, I also focus on diversity of plants in my diet which provides plenty of fiber. Eating enough probiotic-rich fiber helps keep my digestion system moving and rid of toxins naturally. If there’s one piece of advice I could give when it comes to nutrition is that most of us are not eating enough fiber. The average American only eats 14g of fiber, which is less than half of the recommended amount. Consider that 70-80% of your immune system lives in your gut, and fiber is needed for a healthy gut! 

What advice can you offer people trying to transition into a more healthy and clean lifestyle? Are there any tips that you can offer on specific foods to avoid or must-have products to incorporate into our diet/regimen? 

As a dietitian, I prefer to meet people where they are at. For the vast majority of my clients, they aren’t eating enough plant foods so typically, I start there. That usually feels like an easier ask of people and they get to decide how that looks like with their taste and food preferences. That may mean swapping in more whole grains instead of refined ones, cutting back on animal-based foods or a fruit and vegetable intake challenge. Consider that only 1 in 10 Americans eat enough of the recommended produce amounts, this is usually an easy place to begin. 

Feeling healthy also goes beyond just diet. Focusing on water intake, sleep, stress and relationships are all part of individual wellness.