If we rewind life to a few months ago to a time when the weather started warming up and we were day-dreaming of being on the beach, the mindset was most likely, “I’m going to get fit for summer. I’m going to show off my fit body as I strut down to the water.” Fast-forward to present day and what’s happening? The heat has arrived and so have invitations to barbecues, happy hour get togethers, potlucks, and other gatherings that are not conducive to achieving those summer health goals, which now seem like distant memories.

How do you improve your health if you are falling of the health wagon or have not yet embarked on your health journey? First off, don’t make excuses and don’t dwell in unhealthy habits because change is necessary to achieve a healthier body. If you were going strong on a healthier path but temptations have lured you away from your progress, stop it right now. You don’t need to undo all your hard work. The reality is that transitioning into a healthier lifestyle and adopting healthy habits doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. You can treat yourself and continue to look and feel good as the summer progresses.

Grill All The Vegetables:

Barbecue season isn’t solely reserved for burgers, hot dogs, and ribs. You can still fire up the grill, throw some marinated vegetables over the flame, and then indulge in some low-calorie, tasty vegetable goodness. A grill basket may be the perfect summer gift to inspire you to grill more vegetables! Alternatively, you can make balsamic marinated mixed veggie skewers, or you can grill a portobello top to make a mushroom burger. Whatever you do, don’t forget the seasonings!

Get Your Butt Outside:

We know the heat can be oppressive during summer in certain parts of the country, but there are plenty of pleasant sunny days to take advantage of. You don’t have to push your body to the brink of exhaustion, but you can ride a bike, take a hike, kayak in a lake or ocean, bounce on a trampoline, or swim in a refreshing body of water. Nature has a positive influence on mental health, helping to lower stress levels in the body. Soak up some quality vitamin D and get moving outside!

Host A Clean Dinner Party:

It’s a good feeling to stand out from the rest. Shed a little healthy light on your friends by hosting a clean dinner party with nutritious recipes. Not only will you dish out masterful creations, but you may also open a doorway that shows your friends that healthy recipes are not short on flavor. Collect some vegetarian or vegan recipes and get to cooking.

Always Bring A Healthy Dish:

When you attend the inevitable barbecue or party this summer, bring a healthy dish for two reasons: 1) to ensure that you will have something healthy to eat; and 2) to bring health into your friends’ lives. Try your hardest to not make unhealthy dishes like mac n’ cheese, apple pie, or sloppy Joe’s. Or, you can make those dishes, but find the healthier renditions! Shake up what people know about healthy food and surprise them with unique flavors and creations.

Exercise In The Morning:

Finding the time to squeeze a workout into your day can prove difficult, especially if you have children. On the other hand, laziness can set in from the heat of summer and working out after a long day at work may not sound appetizing. That’s why we recommend scheduling a morning workout. It is much cooler in the mornings, and exercising in the morning is a great way to rev up your metabolism and boost endorphin production. Working out in the morning may be entering a body of cold water: it’s hard to get in, but it feels refreshing once you’re in and you can’t get enough!

Infuse That Sparkling Water:

Flavored sparkling waters have become increasingly popular, due to the fact that people don’t want to consume artificial sweeteners, dyes, or high fructose corn syrup. Most of these flavored waters contain “natural flavors.” How natural are these flavors? The answer: not very. You shouldn’t knock back sparkling waters left and right because drinking them in excess is almost as bad as drinking soda all the time. Instead, purchase plain sparkling water and add fresh grapefruit, cucumber, lemon, lime, rosemary, mint, strawberries, or berries to it.

Try your best to stick employ these tips throughout the summer if your goal is become a healthier person. In addition to these tips, keep a positive outlook and find your balance in this new, healthy world. There will undoubtedly be some slip-ups, but don’t give up when this happens. Get back on the horse and reset your compass. Celebrate your victories and take your health one day at a time.

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Juneteenth is one of the oldest celebrations commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19^th, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to deliver the news that slaves were now free, despite the fact that President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation became official two and a half years prior on January 1^st, 1863. The delivery of the new Executive Order was slow to reach Texas, due to the minimal amount of Union troops to enforce the new law.

There are several theories that attempt to explain the two and a half year delay of the important news. The first theory is attributed to the death of a messenger, who was sent to deliver the news of freedom, on his way to Texas. Another was that the news was delivered, but enslavers withheld this information from the slaves to maintain labor forces on plantations. A similar explanation states that federal troops waited for slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before heading to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation.

In The Early Years Of Juneteenth:

African American communities held celebrations, but there was resistance toward these events by barring them from using public property for festivities. As a result, many festivities ended up taking place in rural areas near creeks or rivers. Activities included horseback riding, dancing, fishing, and the inevitable act of barbecuing. The annual Juneteenth celebrations began to flourish as the years passed, but declined during the Great Depression. It was only during the Civil Rights movement of the 50s and 60s that Juneteenth celebrations regained popularity.

Juneteenth celebrations encourage the continuous self-development of African Americans and respect for all cultures. At current Juneteenth events, it is common to see red velvet cake, red soda, red punch, barbecue, and lots of other red foods. The red theme may be attributed to the remembrance of slavery, but the act of eating these red foods may date back to the enslaved Yoruba and Kongo that were brought to Texas in the 19^th century from present day Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and the Democratic National Republic of Congo. Some culinary historians have connected the red colored foods to the Asante and Yoruba’s ceremonial occasions, in which they offered the blood of animals to the gods and ancestors. The color red also symbolizes strength, life, death, and spirituality.

Historians have had an easier time concluding why people consume red drinks on Juneteenth. West African traditional plants, the kola nut and hibiscus flower, were commonly brewed into teas or mixed into the water. The kola nut was commonly used to purify water, turning it slightly red in the process. It was also used as a natural energy drink because of the kola nut’s natural energizing properties. When hibiscus flowers are steeped the water turns reddish purple, and this tea, known as bissap, was commonly served to guests. To help you celebrate Juneteenth, here are some of our favorite red recipes.

Healthy Red Soda:

Don’t bother with the artificial flavors, colors, and added sweeteners. Use this combination of fruits, herbs, and sparkling water for red soda.

Click here to make the recipe.

Sneak In The Veggies With This Incredible Pasta Sauce:

This homemade vegan tomato sauce is perfect for meal prep or making a lot of pasta for a get together. You can’t even taste the veggies!

Click here to make the recipe.

Red Cabbage Salad:

This red cabbage salad is tasty, refreshing, easy-to-make, and the acidity from the lemon juice helps to tenderize the crunchy cabbage.

Click here to make the recipe.

3-Ingredient Raw Strawberry Ice Cream:

Raw desserts are not difficult to make. Simple ingredients can turn into a scrumptious dessert like this refreshing strawberry ice cream.

Click here to make the recipe.

Sources:

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-is-juneteenth/

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2017/06/18/juneteenth-foods-to-eat-to-celebrate-the-historic-day

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-juneteenth

https://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm

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Returning to Pasadena, California on Saturday, June 22, 2019, Eat Drink Vegan will feature highly curated restaurants, vendors, over 250 vegan beverages, a plant-based marketplace, a CBD village, and so much more. From its small origin in 2009, Eat Drink Vegan has evolved from a couple hundred people eating at food trucks in the parking lot of The Roxy Theatre, to a large-scale one-day festival that is attended by over thousands of people from all over the country.

Started by Nic Adler, vegan and owner of The Roxy Theatre, Eat Drink Vegan is a day of celebration to enjoy all things cruelty-free and plant-based. Eat Drink Vegan has come to be known as “Vegan Coachella” because devoted vegans across the country flock to Los Angeles to attend the event.

What To Expect This Year:

As enthusiasts for all things vegan, Dherbs is excited about some incredible additions to this year’s Eat Drink Vegan festival. The culinary stage features demonstrations (and samples!!!) from some of the top chefs in Southern California’s ever-expanding food scene. There will also be some culinary pop-ups with some creative vegan YouTubers, including The Raw Boy, The Sexy Vegan, Vegan Yack Attack, and more! Finally, there will be a 5k run around the Rose Bowl followed by a cool down yoga session, both of which occur prior to the event start time.

The festival is open to all ages and children 12 and under are able to get in free. General Admission tickets are $55 and each ticket comes with unlimited samples of tea, kombucha, juice, wine, and craft sodas. We will definitely be tasting and indulging in some of the delectable vegan creations from the culinary stage and the curated restaurants and vendors. Be sure to tune in to our Instagram (@dherbs) and Facebook (@dherbsfamily) for live updates during the Eat Drink Vegan festival. Disclaimer: you may see videos of people devouring vegan deliciousness, cooking seductive dishes, and people discussing how veganism can improve your health.

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We understand your urge to go out and buy a box of power bars to fuel you during your cleanse. More often than not, these bars contain too much sugar, whey protein, dairy, and artificial flavors. When you find a recipe that is as easy to make as this one, though, the desire to buy a box of unhealthy bars goes away.

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Summer is beach season, but how many of you are ready to strut your stuff on the strand? A high percentage of people want to lose weight for summer, but the barbecues, picnics, and excess drinking can prevent that from happening. Additionally, people get frustrated when their exercise efforts are not yielding the results they desired. This is because exercise is only 20% of weight loss. To successfully lose weight, one must rethink what they know about food and adopt new eating habits. During his recent appearance on Dish Nation, Dherbs CEO A.D. Dolphin informed people on how to do that.

You cannot out exercise a poor diet; it just doesn’t work like that. As A.D. explained, the toxins that are in common foods that most Americans eat make it difficult to lose weight. This is why A.D. always suggests that people use the 20-day Full Body Cleanse if they really want to see change. The cleansing experience is different from what most people are accustomed to, but the way the cleanse makes the body feel and look in such a short amount of time inspires people to continue on that healthier path long after the cleanse is over.

There’s no need to just take it from A.D. because he came on Dish Nation with Nicole Holten, a woman who he recently helped achieve her weight loss goals using the Full Body Cleanse. As a former fitness model, Nicole became frustrated when she couldn’t shed the weight she gained during her two pregnancies. She tried diet after diet and every workout regimen on the market, but she never saw the scale move more than a couple pounds. Then she completed the Full Body Cleanse. She experienced incredible weight loss and immediately took part in another cleanse right after, losing about 50 pounds over the course of two cleanses. Since completing the cleanse a few months ago, Nicole has maintained her weight loss and lives a completely different lifestyle. Dherbs truly changed her life for the better, and it can do the same for you. Watch the clip below to see how the Full Body Cleanse can help you achieve your slim summer body.

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Supplements have become commonplace in modern day society. From vitamins and minerals to herbal and DIY supplements, a lot of concern is placed on the composition of the capsules themselves. The health and quality of capsules are of equal importance to the ingredients within. Capsules dissolve quickly, they are tasteless, and people have an easier time swallowing them, when compared to other pills or tablets. Capsules offer their advantages, but one must understand the difference between vegetarian and gelatin capsules.

Gelatin Capsules:

Gelatin and vegetarian-based capsules look the same, but the notable difference is what each capsule is made of. Gelatin comes from bovine (cattle) or pigs, and the process involves boiling down certain parts of the animal until it is a gel-like consistency. This gel cools and expands when mixed with cold water. The resulting product is an odorless, tasteless gel capsule that most companies use to encapsulate their herbs, powders, and other supplements.

Vegetarian Capsules:

For people who have a sensitivity or difficulty digesting gelatin, vegetarian capsules are the perfect option. They are also the optimal choice for those with dietary, religious, or cultural restrictions, and they are better suited for herbs, powders, supplements, and vitamins. Vegetarian capsules are made from forming vegetable cellulose, the most common of which is Hydroxpropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). The source of HPMC will depend on what the company uses when committing to vegetarian capsules.

What Dherbs Capsules Are Made Of:

The reason Dherbs uses vegetarian capsules is because they contain no animal byproducts, and there are no known potential risks of taking them in a long-term scenario. Dherbs’ capsules are 100% natural and non-toxic and can be stored for up to three years in a cool, dry place without the risk of bacterial growth, when compared to traditional tablets. The capsules themselves are manufactured from the following materials:

• Hydroxpropyl methyl cellulose
• Purified water
• Carrageenan
• Potassium chloride

Dherbs Capsule Allergen And Gluten Statement:

For the empty hard shell vegetarian capsules that Dherbs uses, there are no raw materials, including additives, that are used during the production process. No raw materials that are listed as allergens in EU Directive 2000/13/EC or its amendments that have their origin in cereals, crustaceans, peanuts, gluten, eggs, fish, soybeans, milk, nuts, celery, sesame seeds, mollusks, wheat, mustard, corn and/or lupin are in the capsules. The capsules are also free of sulfur dioxide or sulfites at concentrations of more than 100 ppm. The vegetable capsules that Dherbs uses are free of the specified known allergy stimulating substances.

Dherbs Non-GMO Declaration:

Dherbs’ vegetable capsules are guaranteed not to contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms) as defined by the EU “Organic” Regulation 2093/91 and UKROFS, the Soil Association Standards for Organic Food and Farming (new Section 2.4) prohibit the use of genetically modified organisms* (GMOs) and products derived from them in organic production systems and organic products. These capsules are not derived from or produced using GMOs or their derivatives, and the capsules never come in contact with any genetically modified substances.

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Annually observed on June 17^th, National Eat Your Vegetables Day is a day to remind everyone about the importance of a healthy diet. Vegetables of all shapes, sizes, and colors (not the frozen ones!) contain phytochemicals, dietary minerals, carbohydrates, vitamins, and antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-carcinogenic properties. Fresh vegetables also contain fiber, which is integral for a healthy gastrointestinal tract.

Eat Your Vegetables Day is not just about eating the familiar vegetables like carrots, celery, lettuce, or onions; rather, it is about encouraging people to expand their vegetable horizons. Get yourself a diverse assortment of vegetables and then figure out what you can make with them. It can be fun to just pick out a couple new vegetables in the grocery store and find out that you end up liking them. Try getting things like bok choy, watercress, eggplant, purple kale, or summer squash varieties.

It’s important to spread awareness about Eat Your Vegetables Day because of the role vegetables have played throughout the course of human history. Vegetables are arguably the reason that people started to settle, as opposed to their previous nomadic existences. If they planted crops, they had to stick around and establish civilizations to harvest what they grew.

Vegetables were staple foods in our diet long before science proved what people already knew. Vegetables helped with growth, digestion, and longevity. Many tests have confirmed that vegetables provide nutrients that are impossible to get from animal sources, especially animal sources that contain hormones, antibiotics, and saturated fats. The nutrients in vegetables help to improve bone health, decrease the risk of heart disease, and work to offset diabetes.

Make sure that you are eating at least a half-cup of each vegetable you consume when you eat salads, stir-fries, or vegetable medleys. Don’t layer them with cheese or sauté them in a cream sauce. A little olive oil, sea salt, and pepper is all you need. Let us know what vegetables you eat today and which ones are your favorites.

Sources:

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-eat-your-vegetables-day-june-17/

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/eat-your-vegetables-day/

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Fruit salad doesn’t have to be a sad bowl of mushy bananas, day old kiwi cubes, forgotten cantaloupe, and browning grapes. You know that fruit salad. You’ve seen it at airports, barbecues, and potlucks. Put the unappetizing notion of fruit salad to bed by making this stone fruit salad. Using some of our favorite summer fruits, this fruit salad is filled with vibrant colors, tart & sweet flavors, and lots of fiber and antioxidants.

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Some people see jicama in the store and only perceive it as a globe-shaped starchy vegetable that they don’t know what to do with. That is all about to change because it is going to become your go-to, cleanse-approved snack. Dust it with some chili powder and sea salt, and toss it in fresh lime juice and your views on jicama change. The great thing about jicama is that it can improve digestion, support heart health, and improve gut bacteria.

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With the beginning of summer nearly within arm’s reach, people are scrambling to find trendy diets that will help them drop weight for that summertime fine status. Strutting that sexier, lighter body on the beach, in the park, on a hike, or wherever you go to show a little skin is a way to boost self-confidence. What if you didn’t hit the gym every day to get fit for summer? How do you stay fit during the summer when parties, picnics, potlucks, BBQs, and laziness are set in motion?

First and foremost, you don’t have to exercise for six hours a day. We want you to enjoy summer, not hate it! To establish healthy habits and obtain a slimmer body, it is recommended to begin making small changes that help you become a healthier person. In addition to the tips detailed in this article, consider taking part in our Full Body Cleanse to help rid the body of toxins and waste, and help to shed unwanted pounds (between 10-30lbs in just 30 days). It may be scary to embark on a health mission during the summer, especially when you are tempted by so many unhealthy foods, but we believe in you! You have the power to get healthy!

A Healthy Breakfast:

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially when you make sure that it is filled with nutrients. While it’s easy and convenient to make cereal, frozen waffles, toaster pastries, or sugary oatmeal packets (by the way…that’s not oatmeal), it’s easy to set yourself up for success with various breakfast options. You can click here for some great overnight oat recipes, or here for tasty chia pudding recipes. Both of these options provide the body with energy and protein to fuel you until your next meal. And don’t forget that you can prepare smoothie bags ahead of time to easily blend smoothies for breakfast.

Eat Early:

We already established the importance of having a healthy breakfast, but we also encourage you to eat the majority of your calories before three o’clock in the afternoon. Eating most of your calories earlier in the day helps you extend your energy throughout the day, meaning you won’t need to continuously snack and eat all day. Because the days are a lot longer during summer, it can feel normal to eat dinner when the sun sets later in the day. Eating too close to bedtime can disrupt the natural digestive rhythm, though. Finally, the amount you eat at dinner should be far less than what you eat for breakfast and lunch. Lunch should actually be your largest meal of the day, even though the common thought is to have dinner be the largest meal.

Fruit Cubes:

No, we are not talking about eating pieces of fruit, although that is something healthy you can do. This is actually about making flavored ice cubes. Take raspberries and kiwi slices, for instance, place them in your ice tray, and fill it with filtered water. This can help you drink more water because it keeps your taste buds interested. You also reap the health benefits of whatever you put in the ice cubes. Don’t be afraid to get creative and add things like lemon slices, blueberries, mint, basil, watermelon, cucumbers, or strawberries.

Get Involved In Your Community:

Most communities host fitness classes, running groups, or basketball, softball, or soccer teams. If you don’t enjoy going to the gym, these options may be more enjoyable for you. In addition to exercising, you’ll also meet some new people, who may have similar health goals. Perhaps your relationship with them evolves to exploring the outdoors by going on bike rides, hikes, or even surfing, provided you live near the ocean. Disclaimer: we take full credit for these new and health-fueled relationships. You’re welcome.

Eat In Dim Lighting:

Studies have shown that eating in a dimly lit room can help you eat less. You can light some candles or use a dimmer, if you have that option. This doesn’t seem like it would work, but it does. Eating in dim lighting helps you control your portions, which is great for helping you lose weight. Additionally, try to eat without watching TV or looking at your phone because the extended screen time can cause you to keep snacking, even after the meal is over. Take the time to enjoy your meals and invest some energy into the people eating with you. Time spent away from screens isn’t such a bad thing.

We hope that you can use some of these tips in your daily life to help you stay in shape during summer. Comment below to let us know how these worked for you.

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