We don’t often think of looking towards our dinner plate to get things going in the bedroom, but the foods we eat can provide the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients we need to keep our libido revved (and conversely, having a lack in certain vitamins and minerals can bring our sex drive to an abrupt halt).

The best thing you can do to boost your sex drive is to eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight, but there are certain “super libido” foods that do an extra good job of getting your mojo going. Check out my TV appearance on the talk show “Better” to learn about 5 foods that will naturally help boost libido.

Andrea Moss on "Better"

Want to avoid getting knocked down by a nasty cold or flu this winter? Try my top 10 tips below to give your immune system the upper hand!

• Eat your veggies. Vegetables are packed with nutrients, which act as natural immune-builders. Dark leafy greens like spinach, arugula, kale, and collards are nature’s natural detoxers and help pull toxins out of our system, keeping us healthier.

• Garlic. Garlic is an extremely powerful antiviral/antibacterial agent. If you feel a cold coming on: chop up a clove and swallow it like little pills with some juice or water. You won’t get the garlic breath you would from chewing it, but you’ll get the antiviral benefits. It works!

• Increase Omega 3 intake. Omega 3′s give us glowing skin, shiny hair, strong nails, and a strong immune system. Eat chia seeds, ground flax seeds, walnuts, wild salmon, sardines, mackerel. You can also consider taking fish oil pills which I have found to be very effective for me and my clients (start with 3gr/day).

• Get your Probiotics. Probiotics are “good” bacteria that help with digestion and keeping our system running smoothly. Probiotics are found in supplements, such as probiotic capsules, and also in cultured, fermented foods like real pickles, yogurt, miso soup.

• Move. Get in some movement every day – even 10 minutes counts. Whether it’s walking or a trip to the gym or a yoga class, exercise keeps everything circulating properly and keeps you healthier in turn.

• Vitamin D. Many of us get vitamin D deficient this time of year, due to lack of sun exposure. Without enough vitamin D in our body, the immune system can suffer dramatically.Consider supplementing: 2000 IUs is a good place to start. Or give yourself a vacation to someplace warm and sunny!

• Detox your liver. A natural liver detoxer for overindulgence and excess alcohol is hot water with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, which helps boost our liver’s functioning and draws out unwanted toxins.

• Stay hydrated. Boosting water intake is a great way to keep everything humming along nicely in our body, including our immune system. Dry air and indoor heating can leave us dehydrated and more vulnerable to infection. Aim for a minimum of 8 big glasses a day of water. And when you’re looking for more of a “treat,” consider a glass of coconut water: it’s great for hangovers, hydration, and is super energy-boosting due to its high level of natural electrolytes. Look for 100% coconut water, no sugar added.

• Relax. Stress impacts our immunity. Do your best to prioritize sleep this time of year whenever possible. Set boundaries. Get in relaxing, meditative activities whenever and however you can.

• Don’t forget your zinc: Zinc is an important micromineral that we need to help keep our immunity strong and our bodies vibrant. If we don’t get enough zinc through our diet, we can end up deficient — leading us to feel sick and low-energy. If you have IBS, take birth control pills, have been on a course of antibiotics recently, or take antacids regularly, chances are your body is low in zinc. Reach for zinc-rich foods like pumpkin seeds, spinach, grass-fed beef or lamb, broccoli, collards, mustard greens, and shrimp to boost your intake. And consider supplementing with 40 mg of zinc per day to bring your levels up.

Start your new year feeling like YOU again.

Get rid of the bloat.

Shake off that brain fog.

Have more energy to do the things you love to do.

Join us for our famous 5, 10, and 15-day Reboot cleanses! Kicking off on January 2, 2012.

• Gain Energy
• Reduce Fluff Weight
• Get Back on Track with a Proven Method (Reboot named one of the top 3 cleanses in NYC!)

Never Rebooted with us before? Here’s what you can expect:

Our 5, 10, and 15-day Reboots are gentle, guided cleanses. It’s a chance for you to eat clean, whole, real foods. Unlike other “fad detoxes,” you’ll be EATING! No starvation cleanse here. Benefits of a Reboot include:

• Reducing inflammation in the body caused by hidden food allergies or sensitivities
• Taking a break from addictive and toxic foods that are difficult to digest
• Boosting your energy and taking your metabolism to the next level
• Shedding unwanted “fluff” weight

Your 5, 10, or 15-day Reboot (Starts January 2) includes:

• 5, 10, or 15 days of step-by-step instructions and online group support
• A detailed Reboot packet that includes menus, grocery lists, and delicious, simple recipes. The cleanses are both vegetarian and carnivore-friendly, and can be adapted to most any diet.
  
• Ongoing expert support, so you’re never alone through your Reboot experience

Comments from our Reboot participants:

“The reboot is a great way to restart your healthier eating patterns. It reminds me how well my body does with extra vegetables and less sugar and caffeine. I feel satisfied because there are three meals that involve real foods, not just juices. By the end of the reboot I’d lost 5 lbs.”

RATES AND DATES:

5-Day Reboot: January 2-6. Regular price $69, $59 if you sign up by December 21. Sign up here.

10-day Reboot: January 2 – 11. Regular price $99, $89 if you sign up by December 21. Sign up here.

15-day Reboot: January 2 – 16. Regular price: $129, $119 if you sign up by December 21. Sign up here.

Additional deals: If you’ve cleansed with us before, take off another $10. Are you a health practitioner? Take an additional $10 off.

Want more info? Listen to my class on what cleansing can do for you and your body.

Have any questions? Email me — I’d love to hear from you.

Think pumpkins are just things to carve and plop a candle into? Think again! The orange Halloween treat is actually a nutritionally-packed winter squash that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Pumpkin meat is packed with carotenoids—antioxidants that give them their orange hue and work to fight against free radicals in your body, helping to prevent wrinkles, heart disease, and cancer. Pumpkins also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which promote eye health. Last but not least, pumpkins are chock full of iron, potassium (electrolytes), zinc, and fiber.

This all adds up to an often underappreciated squash that’s antioxidant-rich, promotes a healthy intestinal track, and helps boost our energy levels.

Most days I find myself too impatient or short on time to carve up a whole pumpkin, so I reach for organic canned pumpkin. Unlike many canned vegetables, canned pumpkin still retains almost as much nutrients as the fresh flesh. I’ve found it adds great flavor to lots of things. You can add a couple of large dollops to yogurt or oatmeal, combining it well and topping with a touch of maple syrup, chopped pecans, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. You can also think about mixing some into pureed soups, or adding it to various batters (healthy muffins, cookies, or pumpkin breads).

Here’s a new recipe I’ve been working on this fall: Pumpkin Pie Smoothies! This smoothie tastes like pumpkin pie in a glass, but without unhealthy sugars or fillers. Additionally, it contains a big, filling protein boost from the canned pumpkin, hemp seeds, and almond butter. It’s sweet without being cloying, and the spices bring the delicious flavor of autumn to your morning.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Makes 2 smoothies

1 can organic pumpkin (you can consider freezing the canned pumpkin into ice cube trays)
1 cup water
3 ounces of coconut milk
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and/or cloves)
1 vanilla bean, scraped or 1 tsp of vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt
4 dates
1 banana (I like to use a frozen one)
1-2 tsp maple syrup (this is optional, if you want your smoothie a little sweeter)
6 tablespoons hemp seeds
2 tablespoons almond butter

Blend with ice. Enjoy!

This weekend I was reminded – yet again – of the amazing, healing potential that our food and diets hold. I attended a health conference hosted by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the nutrition school I attended, where I had the priviledge of hearing lectures by some of the top doctors and nutrition experts in the world: Dr Mark Hyman, Dr Joel Fuhrman, Dr David Katz, Deepak Chopra, Sally Fallon, and many more incredible guest speakers.

Each of the lectures shared a common bond: the potential that our food has in turning on and off our genes, preventing or igniting chronic disease and cancer, and the power it has to create vibrant health and boundless energy.

Here are some of my favorite statistics from the conference that I was really excited to share with you:

• Eating about 1 cup of mushrooms per day can reduce your risk of breast cancer by 64%!!

• 1 onion a day reduces the risks of the following cancers:

– 56% reduction in colon cancer

– 73% reduction in ovarian cancer

– 71% reduction in prostate cancer

– 50% reduction in stomach cancer

• Eating green veggies (kale, bok choy, broccoli, collard greens, etc) on a daily basis can cut your risk of cancer in half.

We all know that eating vegetables is good for us, but many of us still find it difficult to get in the recommended 5-10 servings per day.

It’s estimated that only 1.5% of the American population actually eats the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables. What’s more, the average American consumes 62% of their calories from processed foods!

Clearly, we have a major nutrient shortage going on in our diets. So it’s no wonder that by 2020, it’s estimated half of our population will be suffering from a chronic disease.

But there is good news in all of those scary numbers. Ultimately, we are in control, and we have a choice: as Dr David Katz said this weekend, “The fork is the master of your destiny.”

Choose to eat more vegetables and fruits whenever and however you can. Reach for more, whole, real, “honest” foods and reduce processed, packaged foods. Make your grocery store your pharmacy. To quote Dr Mark Hyman, “What’s at the tip of your fork is more powerful than what’s at the bottom of your pill bottle.”

Then listen to my recording on the benefits of Rebooting your body this fall with a healthy, simple, 5-day detox!

Want more info? Check out my Reboot post.

Ready to sign up?! You can do so here: REGISTER HERE

Looking for a way to get back on track and start the fall season in a fresh, healthy way?

Join us for our famous 5-day Reboot! September 12 – 16

• Gain Energy
• Reduce Fluff Weight
• Get Back on Track with a Proven Method (Reboot named one of the top 3 cleanses in NYC!)

RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE

Never Rebooted with us before? Here’s what you can expect:

Our 5-day Reboot is a a gentle, guided 5-day cleanse. It’s a chance for you to eat clean, whole, real foods. Unlike other “fad detoxes,” you’ll be EATING! No starvation cleanse here. Benefits of a Reboot include:

• Reducing inflammation in the body caused by hidden food allergies or sensitivities
• Taking a break from addictive and toxic foods that are difficult to digest
• Boosting your energy and taking your metabolism to the next level
• Shedding unwanted “fluff” weight

Your 5-day Reboot (September 12 – 16) includes:

• 5 days of step-by-step instructions and online group support

• A detailed Reboot packet that includes menus, grocery lists, and delicious, simple recipes
• Ongoing expert support, so you’re never alone through your Reboot experience

PLUS NEW BONUSES:

• “Food That Boost Your Mood” and “How to Ditch the Diet Mentality” teleclasses ($50 value)

• Healthy Desserts recipe booklet with new recipes (healthy muffins! delicious banana bread! chocolate pudding!)

“The reboot is a great way to restart your healthier eating patterns. It reminds me how well my body does with extra vegetables and less sugar and caffeine. I feel satisfied because there are three meals that involve real foods, not just juices. By the end of the reboot I’d lost 5 lbs.” – Spring 2011 Reboot Participant

RATE: Regularly $79.

Your Price: $69 early bird special — if you book by Friday, September 2!

Former cleansers or former clients: $59 — if you book by  Friday, September 2!

RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE

Backyard BBQs. Picnics at the beach. Vacation indulgence. Ice cream pit stops. Garden parties with cocktails and cakes. Back porch-sits with beer, wine, and chips.

Sound familiar?

Summer is a delightfully delicious time of year (my favorite!), and it’s also when, surprisingly, many of us can pack on the pounds. We usually associate cold weather with heavier, richer foods (and unwanted weight gain), but it can be easy to overlook the hidden ways that summer’s endless bounty can sneak up on our waistline.

By the time we’ve reached August, many of us have lost that “get ready for swimsuit season!” enthusiasm and resolve that we may have had back in the spring.

So what to do?

There are plenty of ways of enjoying summer’s feast without feeling like you have to hide under an oversized sundress.

1) Hug Your Local Farmer.

Or at least buy fruits and vegetables from him. This time of year, local produce is bursting out of bins at farmers markets. Take advantage of juicy, delectable peaches, nectarines, melons, berries, and plums that will give candy a run for its money any day (while filling your body with slimming nutrition). Don’t neglect the incredible veggie selection, either.

2) Sip Seltzer.

Sangria, wine, beer, cocktails. I love them all. And summertime gives me plenty of opportunities to indulge in tasty libations. But alcohol can pack in empty calories, leaving us bloated and dehyrated. I reach for simple club soda with fresh-squeezed lime when I want something “spritzy” and interesting, but know that I don’t really need alcohol to go with my meal or garden-sit. It’s cold, satisfying, and light and can do the trick when I just want to sip something. (Also delicious with a splash of fresh fruit juice!)

3) Pick Protein.

Lack of protein can lead to sugar cravings, decreased energy, and crankiness. Be sure to get a little bit of protein at every meal to keep blood sugar levels stable and hunger pangs at bay (protein keeps us fuller longer). Good sources of protein include a handful (12-15) of raw nuts, organic eggs, beans (don’t forget hummus!), tofu, tempeh, organic chicken, wild fish, and natural nut butters.

4) Run, walk, or just plain move.

Summer vacations and social events can lead to exercise ending up on the backburner. We all know that the more sedentary we are, the more likely we are to hold onto fat — not to mention feeling more lethargic. Prioritize movement. Schedule in exercise classes, runs, walks, or whatever gets you moving. Put it on your calendar the same way you would that important meeting or dentist appointment. Then do it!

I am completely honored to be featured as the recommended nutrition expert on Paper & String! Paper & String is a totally awesome, new site that connects New York City residents to recommended independent shops and services in their specific part of town. As Paper & String says, they “will keep you up to the minute about what’s really good in your hood.” Rock on!

Check out the article here.