Cauliflower Pizza!

Nutritionist Jennifer Stack's cheesy cauliflower dish is reminiscent of pizza without the extra carbs or calories.

1 1/2 tbsp olive oil

1 head cauliflower, outer green leaves and excess stalk removed, but core left intact

1/2 tsp oregano

Pinch of black pepper

1/2 cup part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese

4 tbsp tomato sauce
1 tbsp minced fresh basil

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly coat a baking sheet with some of the olive oil.

With the whole head of cauliflower sitting upright on its stem, vertically slice off the left and right sides leaving just over 2 inches in the center section. Vertically slice this center section into two 1-inch-thick slabs.

Brush the flat surfaces of the two slabs with olive oil and season with oregano and pepper. Be careful not to break off any of the florets from the attached core of the cauliflower. Place on sheet tray and roast until bottom is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Gently turn the cauliflower slabs with a spatula and top with half the cheese. Return to the oven until the cheese melts.

Spoon the tomato sauce over the cauliflower and top with the remaining cheese. Return it to the oven until the cheese has melted. Cut cauliflower slabs in half to form wedges and top with fresh basil.

How to Become a Successful Vegetarian!!

Going vegetarian can boost your health in many ways, including lowering your blood pressure and cutting your cancer risk. But if you do it the wrong way, you might find that it's simply a recipe for weight gain. Make sure you follow these going vegetarian dos and don'ts to get all the benefits without the extra pounds.

Don't…
Give in to carb cravingsCutting animal proteins out of your diet can leave you feeling hungry and unsatisfied. Many vegetarians wrongly turn to carbs like bread, rice and pasta to fill up. Inundating your body with carbs will send your blood sugar shooting up and down, zapping your energy, and increase your cortisol levels, which can add to belly fat.

Reach for frozen meals
Packaged, pre-prepared vegetarian or vegan meals often look like a quick and healthy meal option when you look at the cover packaging, but if you take a look at the nutritional information you might be less pleased. These meals are often full of calories, fat, sugar, salt, artificial flavors and preservatives. One popular frozen vegetarian pad Thai, for example, has more calories than a fast food bacon double cheeseburger, and more sodium than four and a half small orders of fast food French fries. Vegan baked goods and ice creams often contain more calories (and just as much sugar) as their non-vegan counterparts.

Overdo the cheeseCheese can be a great source of protein for people who don't eat animal proteins, but if you eat too much or pick the wrong ones, you'll gain weight fast. Some cheddar cheese, for example, has four times the calories and nine times the fat of skinless chicken breast, when you compare the two ounce for ounce. In addition, cheese is often high in salt, which can make you hold onto excess water and gain water weight.

Do…
Eat more plant-based proteinTo cut down on cravings and keep your body strong, up your intake of plant-based proteins. Get at least 46 grams of protein a day to keep your energy high, your immune system healthy and your stomach satisfied. Incorporate more of these great sources of protein into your diet: lentils, legumes, quinoa, Greek yogurt, hemp seeds and almonds.  

Pick the right prepackaged foods, and freshen them upDon't let pre-packaged foods sneak extra calories into your diet. Be careful to eat no more than three packaged meals a week. If they contain any kind of grain, make sure it's a whole grain to keep your insulin and blood sugar from spiking. Finally, incorporate a cup of fresh vegetables into any pre-packaged meal.

Eat better cheeses If you're a cheese lover, but don't want to overdo it, opt for healthier cheeses like goat cheese, feta and gruyere. Grating cheese on top of your meals instead of chowing down on whole chunks is also an easy way to limit how much you eat.

Pop Pilates, Total Body Standing Workout!

 Cassey Ho, Creator of Pop Pilates, recently shared with Dr. Oz, her simple four-step workout that will get your body spring and summer ready!

The Best Non-Dairy Alternatives!!

Store shelves these days are overflowing with non-dairy milk options, including soy milk, almond milk and rice milk. These milks can help you load up on protein and skip the digestive issues that sometimes come along with cow's milk. But with so many choices, how can you know which ones to pick to get the biggest health benefit? Use these non-dairy milk guidelines the next time you're at the store to make the healthiest, tastiest choices for you and your family.

Soy MilkSoy milk has the highest amount of protein of any non-dairy milk. To get the best-quality protein, be sure to pick organic soy milk. Add it to your morning coffee to get a protein boost and kick-start your metabolism. Since soy milk can have a slightly bitter taste, adding it to a drink like tea or coffee can help blend the flavor.

Almond MilkOut of the non-dairy milks, almond milk is lowest in calories. Although it doesn't contain nearly as much protein, it is rich in vitamins and minerals like magnesium, calcium and vitamin E. In fact, one cup of unsweetened almond milk contains only 30 calories, but 50% of your daily vitamin E requirement. Almond milk has a slightly sweet, nutty flavor and goes well with cereals. To maximize the health benefits, you should opt for unsweetened almond milk. And if you go for a flavored almond milk, make sure it has less than 10 grams of sugar per serving.

Rice MilkRice milk tends to be a good choice for people prone to allergies, as it has the lowest allergy risk of the non-dairy milks. Rice milk is also naturally sweet and doesn't usually have added sugars or a bitter taste. Since it doesn't have an overly creamy texture, it's particularly good to use as the base of a smoothie. When you're buying rice milk, check the label to make sure that it doesn't contain added thickeners like xanthan gum, which can cause digestive issues.

These non-dairy milks are all filling, healthy options to add to any meal or snack. But if cow's milk doesn't give you problems and you like it, go ahead and stick with it. Make sure you pick milk that is "fortified" or "enriched" with important vitamins and minerals, and choose organic 2% milk to get the most filling effect without the risk of potentially dangerous hormones. 

The Health Benefits of Ginger!!

We put on the top of our sushi, splash it in our cocktails and add it our baked goods – all for a spicy kick of flavor. But did you know that ginger appeases a lot more than just your taste buds? It also offers many health and beauty benefits. “The root tackles a diverse array of ailments both efficiently and, most important, naturally,” says David Gilmour, founder of Wakaya Perfection – the wellness company responsible for bringing the world’s most powerful form of ginger to the market. Here are four of our favorites.

It eases queasiness.
From motion sickness to morning sickness to just plain old flu sickness, ginger has been long used to settle upset stomachs. (That’s why mom always gave you ginger ale.) In fact, back in the day, fishermen would chew on raw ginger root to alleviate nausea from seasickness.

It keeps things moving.
Ginger is an antispasmodic, meaning it helps reduce cramping—even the ones associated with being (ahem!) gassy. Its warming properties also increase blood flow within your gastrointestinal system to help stimulate digestion. Bonus: While doing this, ginger can also enhance your metabolism!

It’s oh-so soothing.
Ginger is known to increase circulation, which is why it’s been used in eastern massage practices for centuries. Its essential oil has also been shown to help reduce anxiety and fatigue by lessening the body’s negative reactions to stress.

It’s a natural pain reliever.
Got an ache? Ginger can help. Its anti-inflammatory properties help make sore muscles, creaky joints and even arthritis feel better, naturally. “I am an avid golfer, so whenever I have a shoulder ache after a great game, I soak a washcloth in a bowl of warm water with 1 teaspoon of Wakaya Perfection Organic Ginger,” says Gilmour. “I leave the washcloth on my shoulder for 10 minutes, and it eliminates my pain.” An ancient Ayurvedic remedy calls for something similar: applying crushed ginger on the forehead to soothe a headache.

Oat Straw, the Newest Energy Booster!!

Stop reaching for the caffeine and sugary snacks. You can skip the crashing and burning that these pick-me-ups cause and instead find lasting energy that'll keep you going throughout the day with just a little oat straw.Oat straw comes from green oats, also known as Avena sativa. It has been used to support brain health since the Middle Ages, and its proponents say it can reduce the risk of heart disease, increase energy, reduce anxiety and improve physical and possibly even sexual performance.

How does it work?While its exact mechanism of action isn't known, oat straw is believed to have several functions. Studies suggest oat straw increases brainwaves called alpha-2 waves, which are more prominent during wakefulness. It may also increase nitric oxide and suppress inflammatory cytokines in artery walls, which can increase blood flow to the brain and help you feel more alert. In fact, one study showed that volunteers who consumed oat straw performed significantly better on cognitive tests.

What else can it do?Legend has it that the phrase "sow your wild oats" actually refers to oat straw! A couple of studies have shown that oat straw may also increase libido and enhance sexual experience – at least for men and possibly also for women.

Where can I get oat straw?You can buy oat straw in multiple forms, including in a hay-like form, as a powder, an extract or as a supplement. It usually costs $5 to $15. Look for it at your local health foods store or online.

How should I eat it?Oat straw is simple and easy to incorporate into your diet. You can sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons of powdered oat straw on oatmeal, or make your own energy drink by combining two teaspoons of powdered oat straw, water, lemon and ginger. The simplest way to take it is as a supplement – try 1,500 mg per day.