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My Latest Skin Savers for Acne

The acne struggle… if you know it, I feel you!! Personally, I have had an ongoing battle with acne since around 17 years old. Back then, the breakouts were minor and really not a big deal (I was dramatic. What I wouldn’t do to get that baby face back!). Fast forward to adulthood- you have been told your whole life up to that point your skin will get better once you are done with puberty… BIGGEST LIE EVER. My skin only kept getting worse after I turned 20. There have been times where my skin calmed down, and there have been times where my face has become a red, inflamed mess! Six years later, we are still sloshing through the trenches figuring out how to treat it from the inside and from the outside.

After all that I know about nutrition and wellness, I would be very reluctant to go on any oral medication/antobiotic, and therefore my MO has been to treat it naturally with clean skincare, no harsh chemicals, and with intentional supplementation. Hormonal/PCOS-driven acne (which is what I deal with) is one tough cookie. Every time your skin settles down, that monthly hormone cycle causes breakouts right around PMS week. WHYYYY?!

Those who have dealt with acne understand how annoying it is to have others think you don’t know how to “take care” of yourself. Of course I wash my face, yes I eat vegetables, and NO, I didn’t ask for unsolicited advice about what crazy thing has worked for your face. I’ve tried it all, thank you very much. Have you had that experienced before?? Let me know in the comments! Solicited advice is amazing, unsolicited comes off as condescending, ya know? Just a PSA.

I could write a million posts about the tips and tricks I have learned along the way, but today I wanted to share some current standouts that have helped regulate my skin, keep it calm, and fade the scars from the cystic pimples and unfortunate skin-picking episodes. What’s worked for me may not work for you, and that’s ok! But maybe just one thing will stick and make an improvement for you. And that is why I’m sharing- by no means do I have perfect skin, but I’m in a better place with my skin than I have been in a while. The following are some standouts that I believe have helped me calm my face the heck down.

Pimple Patches

These are great for two reasons: One, they help “suck out” and shrink a blemish, and two, they help me keep my hands off my face. I’ve caused way more problems by picking my skin, and it’s a habit I am trying to shake. If I have a painful pimple or a whitehead, I pop one of these on, sleep with it on, and take it off in the morning. MAGIC- that zit doesn’t stand a chance! Some require a few days of “stickering”, but it works way better than a lot of pimple spot treatments and helps to prevent a scar by keeping the skin hydrated.

They are clear little stickers, and I have been known to wear them out during a last-minute poké run for dinner. They are super popular in Asia, and people wear them around normally, and no one bats an eyelash. Sigh, I wish they were a bit more normal here in the US cuz I would rock them all day haha.

My tip for maximizing their powers- pop one on a pimple you picked because it will pull out any extra pus (gross and satisfying at the same time), or take a sterile needle or lancet and poke a little hole in your pimple, then pop the sticker on. Having an opening in the pimple makes the stickers work more effectively in my opinion.

A few brands I like can be found here, here, and here.

Exfoliate and Moisturize

Everyone can benefit from exfoliation. Especially if you are acne-prone, getting the dead skin off a couple times a week prevents clogged pores, blackheads, whiteheads, and all those tiny under-the-skin bumps that you can really only see up close or at certain angles. Lately I’ve been using the Pixi Peel and Polish. It only takes 2 minutes, so it’s great if you are short on time. It contains lactic acid and fruit acids to help brighten the skin, which is a bonus for speeding up the healing of any post-acne hyperpigmentation. What I love is that it’s not an extreme peel. Your skin isn’t red and inflamed after you wash it off. Your skin looks glowy and calm, and I actually have less redness after I use it than before. Quick, effective, affordable-yes,yes,yes! This was a gift from my momma, and I’m so glad to have received it!

Ok now for the HOLY GRAIL cream: Berlin Skin Sandalwood Cream. I have my friend Brit to thank for recommending this one. I have always been super hesitant to moisturize, as most of us acne-sufferers are. Somewhere along the way, we had it engraved in our mind that moisturizers, creams, and oils would make us oilier and break out more, but the opposite is true. Now, I am a moisturizing fiend! I can’t go without it, morning or night. It is a bit more expensive, but a little goes a long way! This hydrates perfectly without feeling heavy and it brings down any inflammation. My skin is instantly soothed after smoothing it on, and I’m a girl who is prone to redness, so that says something. It contains hyaluronic acid, sandalwood, turmeric, lavender, thyme, and sage. Berlin Skin is one of my favorite clean beauty lines and this cream is, well, the creme de la creme! The fact that it hydrates, calms redness, and heals acne? I couldn’t ask for more!

Beauty Tea

All those skincare products are great, but good skin starts on the inside. There are so many dietary factors that dictate skin health, but I’m putting a spotlight on this tea from Republic of Tea. I add it to my spearmint tea (another acne-busting tea) to make a dynamic duo. It contains the up-and-coming trendy blue butterfly pea flower, which is high in antioxidants like anthocyanins which help support collagen production. Hibiscus hydrates, while rosehips contain vitamin C, (also VIP for collagen production and wound healing, ahem, picked pimples). Lastly, schizandra berry makes an appearance, which is pretty revolutionary in the tea world. I haven’t seen many brands adding that to their proprietary blend. Schizandra has been an adaptogen shown to improve skin health and clarity for centuries. Talk about a beautifying cocktail, right? It also tastes delicious. By itself, it’s a deep blue/purple color, but if you add a squeeze of lemon, it turns pink! That’s all thanks to that blue butterfly pea flower, which I predict will become very popular in the wellness circuit. Sip some for good health, and good skin!

Have you tried any of these products before? I would love to know if you have any products that have changed the game for you, whether internal or external skin helpers. Let me know! Share, share!

Have a great weekend!

XO, Alexandra

Safe Sunscreens for Face, Body, and the Environment

Summer is right around the corner, so I feel that this topic is very appropriate: SUNSCREEN. And not just any sunscreen from CVS will do. Just like with food, it is so critical to check the ingredients, because not all sunscreens are created equal. Sun protection is key every single day to protect your skin and prevent signs of aging- (dermatologists/ estheticians will 100% agree that daily SPF application is the number one way to prevent aging.) Number one!!! So why aren’t more of us using it?

In the past, sunscreens have been thick and make you look chalky, feel sticky, and if you’re like me… cause serious breakouts all over. BUT sunscreen tech has come a long way, and I have personally found some gems that make it easy for me to keep a sunscreen routine on the daily.

I’m not a skincare expert by trade or education, but I sometimes feel like I would be an esthetician if I weren’t a dietitian because I cannot learn enough about skincare. I listen to podcasts about it, I follow instagram accounts of some amazing dermatologists and estheticians. I always want to learn the latest and greatest about skin. I’ve learned along the way from the fabulous experts out there, and now I’m sharing from personal experience which products work for me, keep my toxic load lower, and help preserve our environment. So throw on your sunhat and grab a lounge chair while we dive into sunscreen (figuratively and literally).

A quick note about sun exposure- Sun provides us with the gift of producing vitamin D when it hits our skin. Vitamin D is important for many reasons, from bone health to hormone production, and unfortunately, most of us don’t get enough. Depending on the season and location you live in, sun exposure can’t produce enough vitamin D on the skin all the time. Check this map to scope out your area and how much sun time you need to get sufficient vitamin D. For SoCal, we can get enough vitamin D from 20-60 minutes WITHOUT sunscreen (the time length depends on skin color- lighter skin needs less time). This window should be the only time you got without SPF. Get your half hour or so, then slather one the sunscreen.

Drunk Elephant SPF 30- Goes on sheer and doesn’t clog my pores. It also has ingredients like algae extract and sunflower sprout extract to protect against oxidation from environmental damage.

OK, so now that we know the sun can be a good thing to provide us with vitamin D (when we are not wearing SPF), let’s talk the importance of using a physical sunscreen rather than a chemical sunscreen when we are protecting ourselves from the rays.

There are two types of sunscreen- physical, which contains zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient, and chemical sunscreen, which uses a slew of actives like oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. I’m not here to judge you on your sunscreen choices, but I do want to take the time to educate and inform in case this is news to you!

Why physical sunscreen? It’s better for you, and better for the environment. Physical sunscreens work by sitting on top of your skin reflecting the sun’s rays like a shield. The molecules of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are too big to be absorbed by the skin, so there is no risk of harmful side effects! They are just natural minerals that sit there and do their job. SO ideal.

My daily ride or die- Suntegrity Impeccable Skin!!! I’ve gotten my mom and sister on this, too! It’s got vitamin C and E- great for antioxidant protection, brightening, and anti-aging. Not only does this one block the sun’s rays, but it also blocks blue light from phone/computer screens, which is being found to be as aging as the sun!

Chemical sunscreen, on the other hand, works by absorbing the sun’s rays and then turning them into heat. Essentially this heats up your skin on a micro-level (which can be very inflammatory, especially for those with rosacea, melasma, or who are prone to redness.)

Lab studies show certain chemical blockers could be endocrine disruptors. One full body application of a chemical sunscreen has enough estrogen-mimicking properties to be equivalent to a dose of hormone replacement therapy required for a menopausal woman!! Chemical sunscreen can also be a contributor of breakouts for those who are acne-prone. And if you’re someone who struggles with brown spots, definitely avoid them because the heating of the skin will only make matter worse. Thank you, next!

The last reason I do not support chemical sunscreen is the environmental impact. Chemical blockers oxybenzone and octinoxate (among a few others) bleach, damage, and KILL coral reefs. So much sunscreen ends up in our oceans adding stress to the ecosystem. Coral gets damaged at the DNA level so they cannot reproduce and die starving for nutrients because they become incased in their own skeleton. This is so devastating, as so much aquatic life depends on the thriving ecosystem coral provides. In fact, in an effort to protect the reefs and all of the life they support, places like Hawaii, Key West, and parts of Mexico have all banned the selling and use of chemical sunscreens. Unless you have a medical condition that requires chemical over physical sunscreen use, AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!

Pacifica Mineral Bronzing Sunscreen adds a perfect beachy bronze tint while you spray. Who doesn’t love a little extra summer glow?!

I hope this post educates you and gives you hope that there is something you can do (a very easy switch, IMO) to care for your skin while protecting the environment. We can all make a change that adds up to make a big difference. I would love to know if there are any physical sunscreens you have tried and loved- please share!

Have a great weekend!!

XO, Alexandra

3 Supplements for STRESS

I just recently gave a talk on heart health nutrition for a Women’s Heart group, which is a national group of women who have experienced a heart event ( aka heart attack, but some women feel more empowered if they don’t actually refer to it as a heart attack). 

We touched on a lot of information from the Mediterranean diet to supplements and everything in between. One area I really thought was important is the concept of the dreaded S Word- STRESS. How do we combat it with what we consume? Why is stress potentially so detrimental to our health? Stress leads to increases in cortisol, which leads to inflammation, which is the root of all disease- including heart events.

To break it down, inflammation causes oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which circulates through our bloodstream causing micro-damage to the epithelial cells that line our blood vessels. This damage causes more inflammation and results in congregation of foam cells which build up the plaque in arteries. Get enough of that plaque and you’re a walking risk of a heart event. (If you’ve made it this far, the tough, scienc-y part is over.)

So by combatting stress, we can reduce our inflammation and preserve our health and stave off chronic disease! I want to share some awesome supplements straight from my Women’s Heart talk to include in your daily routine if you are someone who undergoes stress. Anyone??  🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

These supps can make a big difference for women and men alike. They are all natural, rooted in research, and for most people, have little to no side effects. There may be some drug-nutrient interactions, so check with your doctor before starting a new supplement. A simple google search of “drug nutrient interaction (drug name) (supplement name)” can also provide the safety information you need if you want to double check something you are already taking.

Ashwagandha

Fun to say unless you are Kourtney Kardashian on Ellen promoting her new collab with Vital Proteins- “its got ashuhhh something”. Know your stuff- ashwaganda is a root that we consider to be an adaptogen. This means when consumed, it has the ability in the body to help moderate stress and *adapt* to our stressors. Much needed in today’s world. This funky root helps to balance cortisol, supports a positive mood, aids in sleep, and helps to combat stress. It can be found in capsule and powder form. I like adding a bit of the powder to a smoothie or latte. It has a pretty distinct flavor, so it helps to mask it within a recipe or with a tea, a splash of almond milk, and some manuka honey. KUDOS if you can drink it straight up. Either way, ashwagandha will calm down your stress and anxiety and help you adapt to it.

Reishi

A mushroom with superpowers if there was such a thing. Not a psychedelic shroom, nor the kind you cook with and use as a pizza topping. This type of mushroom is a woody shroom that is harvested and made into a powder- it goes through two extractions (one through alcohol and one through hot water) to isolate the beneficial components. Then you can take that powder and put it into capsules, or mix it into beverages and other recipes. Reishi is a mushroom that is known for its de-stressing and sleep-supporting properties. It won’t make you drowsy, as it’s not a sedative, but when consumed on a daily basis, it can support sleep cycles. Reishi also helps you chilllll out after a long day. Sip a reishi tea latte a couple hours before bed to wind down. Ahhhhh…..

Magnesium

Magnesium is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies we see in the United States for a few reasons. 1: Most of the foods it can be found in are fresh fruit and veggies, nuts, seeds, whole grains- which tend to be lacking in the Standard American Diet. 2: Magnesium is depleted from things like consuming caffeine, smoking, and alcohol- which there is no shortage of in the US. 3: Mag is depleted when we are stressed-which we probably all face at least once every single day. In conclusion – WE ALL NEED MAGNESIUM.

Magnesium has a calming effect on the body, helps to relax muscles, and prepares the body for sleep. Some call it “nature’s xanax”, so we know it has some serious de-stressing power lol. Take this one an hour before bed to really help soothe and lull you into dreamland.

It would be ideal to make sure you are getting enough magnesium from your diet, but this is not always realistic, given food quality, stress factors, and other lifestyle factors. So, this is a time where it is appropriate to supplement. A few tips when selecting a magnesium supp- if you choose to go the oral route, look for magnesium citrate or magnesium glycinate. These two forms are best absorbed and used by the body. Another option is a physical magnesium, which you can spray/apply to the skin for maximum absorption without any gastric issues. (Sometimes oral mag helps produce a smooooth morning bowel movement, and hey, that vibe isn’t for everyone.) So whether you prefer oral or physical magnesium, you can reap the relaxation benefits.

To wrap all the de-stressing supps up, I encourage you to try one, or all of them out and see how they can assist in combatting your everyday stressors and promote restful sleep. Kicking stress as much as we can is one of the best ways we can preserve our health in the long run. I’m off to go take my magnesium and sip on some reishi tea!

XO, Alexandra

Wellness Morning Routine

Do you have a morning routine? I’m not talking brushing your teeth and combing your hair. (Although I do hope you do those things). I’m talking wellness morning routine. How do you start your day off strong and centered? Everyone’s answer will be different. Maybe you have never thought about developing a wellness routine before- that’s totally ok! But I’m here to tell you it makes a world of difference to the tone of your day if you do have one.

I’m not saying my routine is the ideal that everyone should follow, BUT if you are looking for some inspo for your personal routine and are curious to see how someone else does it, look no further. I personally loooove watching/listening/reading about other people’s morning wellness routines. It’s fun to get inspired with the intention of having the best wellness routine for YOU.

So take whatcha want, and leave whatcha don’t. I hope you enjoy this peek into my current morning wellness routine. It wakes me up, it makes me feel good, and it sets the tone of the day positively and with a focus on taking good care of myself. Enjoy!

Diffuser, Baby!!

If you don’t have a diffuser in your life, you need one!! Nothing is more relaxing than dropping in some essential oils and having it perfume the air while you start your day. Let me tell you, if you want at-home spa vibes, the diffuser makes it happen. I love eucalyptus and lemongrass for energizing and lavender and rose at the end of the day to unwind. Do get your essential oils from a quality, reputable brand. You are breathing this in, so be wary of a very cheap oil on Amazon from a company you haven’t heard of. Find out the company’s practices that go into sourcing and producing the product.

Gratitude Journal/Devotion

What makes people happier? Gratitude. Research has shown time and time again that one of the most authentic and lasting ways to increase your happiness factor is to practice gratitude. This might mean something different to everyone. For me, it means writing down a few things each day that I am grateful for. Stick with it, and you’ll notice yourself seeing the good and positive things that come across your path each day!

There is also value in spiritual wellness- those who live the longest have one! Do you, and find one that lights your heart up. Mine involves prayer and a biblical devotion that I do with my sister and mom via text each day. We all read the same devotional then share our thoughts together and pray!

Incense all Day

Maybe I’m obsessed with all of the good smelling things, but I believe a good scent can frame your mood for the better. Aromatherapy has the power to boost mood, relax us, help us focus, or energize us. A certain scent can even conjure up a vivid memory! So I burn incense to get a relaxed state of focused-calm. Something about the swirling smoke is soothing while also putting me into a creative mindset. Do you know what I mean?

There are plenty of incense options out there if the traditional patchouli/sandalwood vibe isn’t your thing. There are two I bounce between- the first are the ones pictured- Cherry Blossom from Tokyo Incense Oedo-Koh.

Everything from the packaging to the fragrance is luxurious and very authentic old-world Japanese. The other scent I love to burn, especially when it’s a sunny day and I’m feeling tropical is Hawaiian High incense. Vacation mode activated!!

By this point my home smells divine, and I’m ready to make my favorite beverage!

The Morning Elixir

In addition to chugging down a huge glass of water right when I wake up, I also make this hot latte every morning. If I don’t, my whole day is off! (Not to mention it gives me a little caffeine boost, which always helps get the day going). Every ingredient in my latte is intentional for a specific benefit. Let’s break it down, shall we?

Matcha

If you have bounced around my blog or instagram , you will know that I am a matcha-obsessed human. It’s very trendy now, but I’ve been on the matcha train for over a decade. Matcha is essentially green tea leaves that are ground into a powder. You mix this powder with water, and bam!- instant tea! It’s significantly higher in antioxidants than regular tea because you are consuming the whole leaf, instead of steeping the leaf into the tea then removing it.

Matcha has so many benefits in addition to its antioxidant levels (which bring good skin, slowing of aging, and disease prevention.) I love it for the light kick of caffeine, but here’s the catch- no jitters or crash like you get with coffee because of L-theanine, an amino acid that produces an alert sense of calm/focus. This is what the monks of Japan drink in order to meditate for hours (there lies the proof of matcha’s calm-alertness properties). Not that I’m a monk, but we could all use that kind of focus in our daily life, right?

Collagen and Shrooms

Next, we add our scoop of collagen creamer to hot water to make this bevvie extra creamy and smooth. I’ve tried a lot of collagen products, but I really like Vital Proteins collagen creamer simply because of the vanilla flavor and creamy texture. It really elevates and tea/ elixir you are making to something more luxurious. Collagen is great for supporting healthy joints/hair/skin/nails/gut lining. This is a supplement that you need to be consistent with. Our bodies are constantly regenerating, so think of collagen no different than exercise- if you don’t incorporate it into your routine, the results won’t stick around for long. Collagen doesn’t stay forever in our bodies (hello, aging skin), so even on a consumption level, if you want to reap the benefits, stick with collagen on a consistent, long-term basis.

As far as the shrooms, we are talking medicinal mushrooms, not psychedelic, nor the kind you get on pizza. I could do a whole series of posts on mushrooms, but to sum it up, these mushrooms are adaptogens (when we consume them, they help us adapt to the stresses and environmental factors of life). The blend I like is from Four Sigmatic. They are who I would consider to be an industry leader in the world of superfood mushrooms.

Their products are high quality and inventive for modern-day needs. The blend I mix into my latte has 10 mushrooms in it with benefits like combating stress, increasing brain-power, and boosting energy. I highly recommend checking out Four Sigmatic’s website for their in-depth “Mushroom Academy”, which is a great beginner’s education guide to all things mushroom!

Spearmint Tea

Spearmint tea is a ride-or-die. I must drink this every day for it’s hormonal acne benefits. There is a slew of research supporting that the consumption of spearmint tea suppresses androgen production, aka one of the root causes of acne. I just drop this bag into my matcha/collagen/mushroom elixir and let it steep for 10 minutes. Again, this one requires consistency and patience to see the benefit, but if you are someone who suffers from acne (even hormonal/adult acne🙋🏻‍♀️), add spearmint tea to your toolkit. It seems to be sold out more and more frequently at the health food stores, so I think people are catching on to the secret of spearmint!

lol, this plate my mom got me

I hope you enjoyed taking a little glimpse into my morning wellness routine! I would love to know if you do anything to start your day off right! Let’s get inspired by each other!

XO, Alexandra

Nobu + Hara Hachi Bu

This isn’t the first time I have gushed over my love of sushi on the blog. Some throwback posts here and here if you’re feeling nostalgic. Sushi has been my favorite food for as long as I can remember. In recent years it has been all about the sashimi. (I will have rice every now and then, but it’s easy to request rice-free rolls if you’re looking to keep your carbs in check and keep your sushi order on the lighter side). I loooove me some salmon sashimi or a poke bowl, salad-style: packed with greens, ginger, seaweed salad, avocado, and any other veggies I’m feeling. I could live off that stuff.

napkin_nobu

Now if there were ever a boujee place to hit up for some sushi, it would be Nobu. I dined at the one in Newport Beach with my mama for our favorite pastime- Ladies Lunch hehe. Highly recommend for the scenery- it’s right on the harbor, and you get to watch the yachts pull in and out #goals. It’s nestled in THE cutest  boutique shopping mall called Lido Marina Village. So get your sushi fix, then get your shop on. (My insider tip is to go to Jenni Kayne, Clare V, Jolie, then grab a pick-me-up at Honor Coffee Roasters.)

The Nobu restaurants around the world boast a long list of awards to the highest degree- there are even a few Michelin Stars in the mix (San Diego’s Nobu has one!!) Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa was born and raised in Japan, gathering his experience and artful training in Tokyo, Peru, and Argentina. The around-the-world flair is evident in the flavor and style of the menu. Nobu showcases the best of traditional sushi with a nod to the inventive fusion side of culinary artistry.

It really doesn’t get any better, in my opinion. Let’s get to the food, shall we?

shishito

My fave veggie as of late has been shishito peppers. I like to think of them as the Russian Roulette pepper. Overall, they tend to be pretty mild, but every now and then you get a HOT one that just hits ya with the spice. They are so easy to make at home- quickly blistered with a drizzle of avocado oil and a sprinkle of salt- but ordering them Nobu-Style as an app will get you the peppers served grilled with a sweet miso glaze. Heaven.

tomato_avo

Chilled Lobster with Avocado

Now as much as I love a descriptive photo stream of sushi, I did want to discuss a very relevant topic that I conveniently have been studying in school quite a bit as of late: The centuries-old Japanese concept of Hara Hachi Bu. (Not gonna say I’m an expert, BUT I have read books, articles, and given presentations on the matter, sooo… 😉 )

salmon

Salmon wrapped around Nashi Pear

My discovery of the concept of Hara Hachi Bu started with researching the Blue Zones- areas of the world that have an unusually high number of centenarians (people who live to 100+ years!!) Let’s take a little trip to Okinawa, Japan. Think of Okinawa as the Hawaii of Japan; it’s lush, green, and tropical. Okinawa happens to be the place in the world that has THE highest percentage of centenarians (5 per 10,000 people.)

uni

Fresh Uni with Quail Egg- a personal fave delicacy not to be missed. 

Researchers have dedicated their careers to tapping into the so-called fountain of youth, trying to figure out what makes these people live so long. Is it something they eat, something in their environment, their outlook on life, exercise, genetics, or something else? Turns out, ultimately, it’s a combination of all of these things. The Okinawan centenarians wake up with a purpose (their ikigai), they have a close social group (their moai), they get outside and garden, and among other things, they have a richly plant-based and vegetable-heavy diet. Purple sweet potatoes, bitter melon, and small amounts of fish mark some of the staples of the diet.

truffle_artichoke

Tuna Tosazu with Crispy Red Onion, Truffle Oil, and Artichoke
So where does this “hara hachi bu” thing come into play?? Every time they eat! It roughly translates to “eat until you are eight tenths full”. So essentially, eat to 80% fullness. The Okinawans take this practice very seriously, and literally say it OUT LOUD before they eat. It’s genius because it’s a reminder to pause, be conscious of your food (not just mindlessly shoveling), and pay attention to your hunger cues. It takes about 20 minutes for our bodies to send all the signals to let us know we are full, so by following the 80% rule, you can be sure you will never overeat or feel overstuffed. Just perfectly satisfied, listening to your body- Mindful Eating at its core.

abalone

Live Abalone

So let’s take a note from the 100+ club of Okinawa and be more mindful of how much we eat (major challenge with the holidays coming up, but totally worth tapping into). Try it for yourself- I’ve been hara hachi bu-ing a lot lately, and I have to say, it’s brought a lot more attention to my eating in the best way, since I can be an “overstuffer” at times haha. Have you heard of hara hachi bu before? I would love to know what you think if you give it a try!

Have a great week!

XO,

Alexandra

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