Alina Z
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HOW TO MAKE CLEANSING EAZY

2/25/2021

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Q: I have seen your amazing results from your juice and water fast and want to know more about it. How can I do a cleanse without feeling tired and or being low on energy as I have to work every day? Where do I begin and what do I do?
 
A: Yes, I just did the cleanse and feeling all the benefits of it. But mine wasn't easy... However, yours doesn't have to be hard and here are my top Z-tips!

​The best way to look at eating and cleansing is as you look at shopping and cleaning out and organizing your closet. If you shop too much and you don’t have time to either organize the clothes or clean out and donate things you no longer wear.

 
Same with cleanses – if you eat excess food that your body didn’t have a chance to process and stuffed the extra food energy as fat cells, then a cleanse will give it an opportunity to clean house.
 
During a cleanse your body will get time to get rid of stored toxins and possibly

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How to help heal your eyesight

2/15/2021

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Q: How did you heal your eyes ? And which exercises did you do?
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A: In 2002 I was diagnosed with astigmatism and had to wear glasses because I couldn't see details that were far from me. In 2003 I had to go back to the optometrist and get a stronger pair of glasses because my eyes got worse.

Then I read a Russian book called "About Eyesight" and did all the exercises in it. In about a week my eyesight got significantly better and I stopped wearing glasses. I haven't worn them since. So, here is what I did and I hope these exercises help you as well.

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How to lower blood pressure with food in general & chocolate mousse in particular

2/2/2021

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Q: ​My blood pressure has been up and my doctor wants to put me on medicine. I heard that you can lower blood pressure with food, but I don’t want any drastic changes. What do you suggest?
 
A: Absolutely yes you can lower your blood pressure with food and it can be done in 2 ways –by adding more foods into your life that are rich in blood-pressure-reducing potassium and by reducing foods high in artery-clogging ingredients. You can do one or the other, but I suggest both for better results. Disclaimer: Please consult with your doctor before starting a new eating plan or altering, discontinuing or reducing your medication. Suggestions below are food-based and are not treatments without personal consultation with a doctor.

Here are my top tips for how to adjust your eating lifestyle:

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How to reduce your carbs without actually cutting them

1/28/2021

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Q: I absolutely love carbs and don't want to stop eating them, but I hear it is better for my health to go low-carb. I know you have great substitutes for carbs, but sometimes I just want the real thing, you know? What do you suggest? And no, I don't want to cut the portions either,  ha! I know I am being difficult, but I figured if anyone can help me here, it's you. 

A: Wow, what a great and honest question! And you know what? I do have some good news and tips to share with you!

POTATO TIPS:
Z-TIP 1: 
Did you know that the some of the same carbs can have different carb load depending on how you cook them? For example, if you cook a potato and eat it right away while it is still hot, it will be loaded with carbs. However, if you take that potato

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What are good meatless protein optionsĀ  that can be made into a dinner meal?

1/21/2021

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When it comes to meat substitutes there are two main categories: processed and unprocessed. In this blog I will address benefits and downsides of both and give you some quick and eAZy recipe ideas.

Processed Meat Substitutes: Generally they are exactly what they sound like - plant-based options made with other ingredients to look and taste like meat. While some can be GMO and mostly junk, there are some that I personally recommend and enjoy a few times a week. 

Here is how I look at it - if you are going to eat conventionally raised meat that has ​

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How to workout while in bed scrolling on social media or doing a crossword puzzle

1/14/2021

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Q: Every night I promise myself that I'm going to exercise in the morning - but when I wake up all I want to do is drink a cup of coffee and do a crossword puzzle. By the time the workday starts, I don't have anymore time for exercise. How can I break my bad habits?

A: I know how you feel - you want to get in those early morning pleasures in and working out is not often on that list for most people. My personal take on food and exercise is to combine practical things with pleasure and make what's practical more enjoyable. I find it's a more realistic approach than torturing yourself during already stressful times. Most people already find it hard to get out of bed, let alone exercise!

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8 eAZy ways to deal with morning (or daily) anxiety

1/9/2021

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 Q: I have been waking up with anxiety for the past few months. With everything that's going on in the world and my business being in trouble due to the lockdowns, I find it is hard to find the enthusiasm that used to carry me through out my day. What can I do to get the day started on the right foot and not end up exhausted in the evening?

A: I totally get it - and it is one of the reasons I haven't written in a year on this blog - I have been keeping myself afloat enough to take care of me, my family, friends and clients, but didn't have enough energy for anything else. 

So, first and foremost, I want to tell you that it's completely ok to feel the way you do. There is so much going on right now, that is absolutely normal to have anxiety about things. Usually when things feel dangerous, our natural reaction is to fight or flight. However it might be hard to do either one of those during a pandemic or current turmoil in our country and so we get anxiety because we can't fight or flight the things that are out of our control. 

Therefore, I find that the best solution for anxiety is its acknowledgement and then taking small actions that we can control. With that, here are eight things that helped me and I hope will help you. You still may not get all of your apples in a row, but since energy flows where your attention flows,  you should see improvements in your life. 
Try them out and let me know how you feel.

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What's the best way to grocery shop to save time & money?

1/5/2021

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Q: What foods can you buy at the normal grocery stores (stop & shop) and which ones should you travel for (Trader Joe’s / Whole Foods)? Keep in mind the organic section at Stop & Shop is limited. Please include meat STAY AWAY FROMS and LOOK FORS. My closest TJ’s is 45 min away and my WF has an hour line just to get in these days so a complete turnoff at this point yet the food at S&S doesn’t taste the same as in Europe and I’m having a hard time finding food if that makes sense.
 
A: The short eAZy answer:
Shop for fresh produce at your local stores (and farmers markets if you have time) then stock your pantry and freezer with items from Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, so you can stock up and do only 1-2 trips a month. If you have a big family, I do suggest buying a separate garage freezer (even if a previously owned one) to save yourself time in grocery store runs and to save money, since you can get more on-sale stuff.

The long, but still eAZY answer on what to buy:
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TRADER JOE'S
- Any and all organic frozen fruit, berries and veggies that you love. Don't buy any

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Why I haven't written in a long time

1/5/2021

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I know it has been a long time since I've written last. There has been so much going on in the second half of 2019 for me and then 2020 happened that I didn't feel inspired to write more than a social media post. My whole focus has been cooking for my clients and trying to keep sane during the crazy year we've had, so not much time was left for creativity here.

During such crazy times, I felt lost just thinking of how much everyone is struggling and how can I help? And it finally dawned on me this holiday season - all I have to do is ask and then answer questions that so many people have when it comes to health, wellness, lifestyle and finding joy amid chaos.

So, with that, I created a new way of writing this newsletter and my blog - by answering YOUR questions! I call this "Ask Alina!" Want to know how to make healthier desserts? Ask Alina! Need tips on grocery shopping so you are not spending too much time or money? Ask Alina! Need to find a way to exercise when you only have 5 minutes a day but no desire to move? Ask Alina! Anything that has to do with cooking, health, wellness, nutrition, lifestyle choices, positive outlook on life, etc... just ask.

In these newsletters I will be sharing questions people send me and my answers. I hope you find them useful and they will help you be healthier and happier!

Email me any time so I can support you.

With lots of love,
Alina
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What's an eAZy cleanse for $15 a day?

4/1/2019

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If you have been over-indulging during the winter months and are craving a detox or simply want to jump-start a life-long path to health, I want to recommend a little beginner cleanse. In the past I used to recommend juice and smoothie cleanses, but I know they can be expensive and challenging for those who are new to healthier eating and cleansing.   This is why I want to share a very eAZy cleanse that costs about $15 and is perfect for beginners.

First of all, why try a juice cleanse to begin with?
Even though we are watching what we eat and make the right food choices, toxins still lurk into our bodies. For example, if you go out to eat, then you have pesticides and toxins in your system from non-organic foods that are found in most restaurants. The unpleasant side effect of having them in our systems can be seen in 


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    ASK ALINA

    Why ask me?

    - After many challenges and different crazy life experiences I am living my dream life and since my friends say I am pretty wisdomous  and I think I am a little bit funny too, I want to share my life approach with you so you can live the life you love as well.

    Here is a little bit about me: 

    - I am a creator of #1 Best Diet as selected by Harpers Baazar Magazine

    - I started my career in the corporate world and didn't even know how to peel a shallot

    - I have been a chef for celebrities for over 10 years 

    - I have a realistic approach to food and life

    - I have a great relationship with food and can even let chocolate go bad because I simply forget I have it at home (something I wasn't able to do 10 years ago)

    - I eat carbs whenever I feel like it without any guilt

    - I used to hate to cook and now absolutely love  being a private chef and a food relationship coach

    - I wear whatever clothes I desire no matter what everyone is wearing or thinking

    - I am in good shape and my body’s biological age is 13 years younger than the one in my passport

    -  I have experience being super poor, super wealthy and in between

    - I’ve worked in corporate world and am now an entrepreneur

    - I was married and divorced

    - I used to cry going to work because I was so miserable with my boss

    -  I’ve had an emotional eating disorder

    - I moved from Russia to USA alone at the age of 15

    - I’ve lived in Russia, Europe and on both coasts of USA

    - I have been super skinny and overweight

    - I have been insecure and unhappy with reasons and secure and happy for no reason

    - I used to wear glasses and healed my eyes with the power of thought and exercises

    - I created "Couture Nutrition®" so you can have tailor-made solutions for your body and soul

    - My brain usually comes up with jokes to soften stressful situations

    - I think color coordination, sparkles and rainbows are underused
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  • Ask Alina
  • ABOUT
    • Bio
    • Events
    • Testimonials
    • Free Newsletter
    • Contact Chef Alina Z
  • SERVICES
    • Corporate Consulting
    • Private Chef Services
    • One-On-One Coaching
    • Group Classes
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  • As Seen In