Sunday, August 5, 2012

Healthy Deals

Some people worry that being healthy costs more money, but the truth is, you can save money because 1) you're not eating out as much and 2) you can find deals at your local stores with smart grocery shopping.

If you're in Los Angeles, you might know of the 99cents store. They get overstock items from Costco (so I've heard from one of their corporate staff) and other places. And I've been shopping there for 5 years, so I can testify that the quality is good, if not excellent! Sometimes they have big bags or tubs of organic greens for salads, and this week I found organic blackberries which definitely cost more than a dollar elsewhere! This photo shows the healthy deals I found at the 99cents this week.

If you take a look at the Environmental Working Group's list of the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15, you can decide what is safe to buy conventional. For example, squash and romaine lettuce and broccoli are not on the Dirty Dozen list, so it's ok to buy the 99cents store version of these. They are very fresh, and you can see I couldn't hold back from eating 1 of the 2 heads of "artisan romaine" lettuce.

Other goodies: Nopaltillas are organic corn tortillas made green with nopales for higher fiber and nutrition. We should stay away from eating conventional corn tortillas anyways, and here you have a nutrient dense version that's actually good for you!

If you move and exercise, your muscles produce lactic acid and the magnesium from Epsom salts help your body recover quickly. I regularly buy Epsom salts there instead of at a pharmacy because you get 2lbs for a dollar, whereas CVS charges over $3 for a 4lb bag. So I save at least $1 for every lb of Epsom salts. Recommended bath treatment for relaxing body and tight muscles: 15 min soak in bath tub with at least 2 full cups of Epsom salts. Add essential oils, other bath salts, or baking soda if you like. PS if you don't have the option or don't like baths, you can also get your magnesium with this terrific calcium supplement.

Also, if you ever did a vitamin analysis of your food log, you'll realize you don't eat enough potassium, which also helps in muscle recovery or resolving muscle cramps. Coconut water is something I recommend for everyone, and occassionally you'll see pure coconut water at the dollar store, but this week, I found a mango fruit blend. Juices are high glycemic, but ok to have with a protein and fiber rich meal. Every athlete needs this superior fat-free sports drink of coconut water made by Mother Nature.