The Big Turkey Day

Hi guys

I’ve been so busy this past week working and cooking. But it was quite stress-free really. I did a lot of cooking and running around trying to put together my Thanksgiving party.

I first had to come up with a menu that my family and friends would like. I had a French friend over as well as a friend from Singapore. There was also my mom to judge me, fresh from Argentina (she flew in that morning).

Thankfully, everything seemed perfect. For starters, I had a cheese platter and jumbo crab cocktail. And of course there was turkey. For dessert, we had cheese cake and apple tartine and my friend Huy contributed cakes he baked. They were awesome! What a talent ☺

Here’s me and my turkey.

And here are the cakes.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

God bless America and all of you.
Love, AlejandroQ.

Avocado

Hey guys, let’s get a little retro with color, specifically avocado green. Oh yeah…you see, my two friends gave me this wonderful gift, a Waring Pro Mixer in a retro green, reminiscent of avocados. Thanks, Monike and Dave!

Now let’s get back to the avocado.

Who needs an expensive trip to the spa? The secret to beautiful smooth skin and silky hair comes in a bumpy green package. Avocados have gained celebrity status as the sought-after beauty treatment and stress reducer in many of California's smartest spas. Now you can look younger and healthier by using Fresh California Avocados in your diet and in your home spa treatments.

Since they're grown under optimal conditions, California avocados have an especially rich oil content that helps these homemade formulas do their best to make skin and hair glow with natural beauty. Add them to your skin and hair care routine for an easy, inexpensive way to look and feel your best.

Avocados are rich in skin-soothing vitamin E, an essential fat-soluble vitamin that provides moisturizing properties for the skin from within and as a topical application. Vitamin E may also decreases some of the harmful effects of solar radiation, reduces UV-induced damage, protects against ozone damage and decreases skin redness after sun exposure. Avocado preparations do not clog the skin's pores.
Hey, wait a minute. I also wanted to talk a little about avocados in your diet.

Diet Nutrition
Avocados are also packed with nutrients. Rich in vitamin A, vitamin E and potassium, they are also useful sources of vitamin B6 and mono-unsaturated fat. Due to their high vitamin E content avocados have powerful antioxidant properties which help slow down ageing, protect against cancer, heart disease and many other problems.

However, avocados are relatively high in calories and should be eaten in moderation on any weight loss diet.

Calories in Avocados: 1 Avocado, flesh only = 340 calories

So, on your next trip to the supermarket, don’t forget to pick up a few fresh and green avocados.

God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Love you, AlejandroQ.

Celebrity P.R.

Everyone wants to be a part of Hollywood. In this current celebrity-crazed era, even corporations are desperate to find the next new and fresh face.

However, celebrities are not always press-savvy or concerned with keeping the press as happy as their PR rep might like. Yet they, too, are under constant media scrutiny. This means that if the celebrity lies or, say, throws a phone, the PR person gets blamed too. This can hurt an agency’s media relationships and that will affect all its clients. If a business editor or gossip columnist finds out that they have been lied to, they will never trust the PR person. What’s worse, if you lose a celebrity client, that also gets publicized!

My client and friend, Halle Reum, a Columbia student who has been doing celebrity PR for over 2 years now has seen it first hand. She started her career at 21 and sometimes comes to our training sessions with “Guess who was at the same table as me last night?” The answers are equally impressive. Angeline Jolie. Brad Pitt. Ashton Kutcher.

Here is a photo of her last week in Las Vegas. She’s wearing the strapless dress.

It’s funny; she had been worrying herself with a big concern for over a month and a half. Her worry was wearing those strapless dresses. I keep telling her that she’s going to be the next Million Dollar Baby ☺

Recently, she told me that since she stepped out onto Las Vegas, she has felt nothing but confidence with her body. “I have so much energy; I’m like another person!” She even wore her favorite silver dress that had been in her closet for the past couple of months. She also thanked me for my dedication and hard work.

Thanks Halle for the compliment. You did all the work. I just pushed you a little to help you achieve it. You look fantastic. Keep up the hard work!

Love you, AlejandroQ.

Sweet Potatoes

Although sweet potatoes may be part of the Thanksgiving tradition, be sure to add these wonderful naturally sweet vegetables to your meals throughout the year; they are some of the most nutritious vegetables around. Sweet potatoes can be found in your local markets year-round, however they are in season in November and December.

The sweet potato has yellow or orange flesh, and its thin skin may either be white, yellow, orange, red or purple. Sometimes this root vegetable will be shaped like a potato, being short and blocky with rounded ends, while other times it will be longer with tapered ends. There is often much confusion between sweet potatoes and yams; the moist-fleshed, orange-colored root vegetable that is often called a "yam" is actually a sweet potato.

Unique Proteins with Potent Antioxidant Effects
Recent research studies on the sweet potato have focused on two areas of unique health benefits. First, there are some unique root storage proteins in this food that have been observed to have significant antioxidant capacities. In one study, these proteins had about one-third the antioxidant activity of glutathione – one of the body’s most impressive internally produced antioxidants. Although future studies are needed in this area, count on these root proteins to help explain sweet potatoes healing properties.

An "Antidiabetic" Food
Second is the recent classification of sweet potato as an “antidiabetic” food. Sweet potato has been given this label because of some recent animal studies in which sweet potato helped stabilize blood sugar levels and lowered insulin resistance. (Insulin resistance is a problem caused when cells don’t respond to the hormone insulin, which is supposed to act as a key and unlock the cell in order to allow sugar to pass from the blood into the cell). Some of its blood sugar regulatory properties may come from the fact that sweet potatoes are concentrated in carotenoids. Research has suggested that physiological levels, as well as dietary intake, of carotenoids may be inversely associated with insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels. Once again, more research is needed in this area, but the stage is set for the sweet potato to show unique healing properties in the area of blood sugar control.

How to choose the right one
Choose sweet potatoes that are firm and do not have any cracks, bruises or soft spots. Avoid those that are displayed in the refrigerated section of the produce department since cold temperature negatively alters their taste.

Sweet potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark and well-ventilated place, where they will keep fresh for up to ten days. They should be stored loose and not kept in a plastic bag. Keep them away from exposure to sunlight or temperatures above 60 F since this will cause them to sprout or ferment. Uncooked sweet potatoes should not be kept in the refrigerator.

Thank you guys for stopping by and for all the support of my clients. Thanks for everything.
Love you all, AlejandroQ.

Don't Let Asthma Hold You Back

Hey guys

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), more than 20 million Americans have asthma. So what is Asthma?

Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the air passages resulting in the temporary narrowing of the airways that transport air from the nose and mouth to the lungs. Asthma symptoms can be caused by allergens or irritants that are inhaled into the lungs, resulting in inflamed, clogged and constricted airways. Symtpoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing tighness in the chest. In severe cases, asthma can be deadly.

Although there is no cure for asthma, it can be managed with proper prevention and treatment. This means that even though exercise may induce asthma, with appropriate treatment, exercise does not need to be avoided or limited. Furthermore, with proper management, you can do well in any physical activity you choose.

Here's a great example. My client suffers from asthma, which is particularly bad during the allergy months. But our constant workouts has allowed him to progress far. In this photo (taken with my cellphone), we have just completed a set of angled leg presses with around 800 lbs of weight. How's that for progress! No wonder he's smiling!

Although we all know that regular exercise is important, for people with asthma it can actually be particularly helpful. It can increase exercise tolerance, improve self-esteem, increase confidence and improve psychological and physical well-being. You can read more about asthma and exercise at The Lung Association (L'Association Pulmonaire).

So, Don't Let Asthma Hold You Back...

Love, AlejandroQ.

The Simple Pear

Hey guys

I love the pear and it is one of my favorite fruits on this planet. It can also be used very well as in home decoration. Here is an example of how you can use it in your home.

Pears are originally from Europe and Asia. The first cultivated species were selected from the wild varieties in the prehistoric ages. The Romans knew of 6 cultivated sorts in the beginning and later mentioned 56 varieties.

A late medieval Italian list mentions 232 varieties. 
Around 1640 in England, only 60 varieties were known. In 1842, more than 700 were identified. 
In 1860, the American author T.W. Fields mentioned 850 types. This fast increase of pear cultivars during the late 18th century can be ascribed to a few French and Belgian cultivators.

Picking and Keeping
Pears are sweet juicy yellow or green fruits with a rounded shape that becomes narrower towards the stalk.

They are picked when they are almost ripe. The fruit has to come off if you lift the fruit vertically. 
The later varieties can usually be kept for months in a dark place.

Pears ripen best at room temperature. So, if you want too keep them a few days you have to keep them in a dark and cold place.

Interesting Facts

• Pears contain much kalium and riboflavine
• Pears are good for the skin
• Pears contain plenty of fibers

5-a-day-tips

• Have fresh ripe pears as a side dish with dinner
• Vanilla ice-cream is real tasty with pears, chocolate sauce and cream.

For more information on Pears, you can read about them at Pears and Quinces.

Isn't it interesting how much there really is to the simple pear?

Love, AlejandroQ.

MusclePapi Postcards

Hi guys

I want to share with you my latest postcard for my clothing line, MusclePapi. Although, it is still in production, I wanted to give you a sneak peek at it. So, here's the 'world premiere' of the card...☺

Grapes for Taste and Health...and Décor

Hey guys

It seems so long since I have had the chance to lay down on my favorite chair and write my blog. I have been really busy at work with my clients, all of whom by the way I love.

Today I want to talk about grapes. While researching, I found just too much interesting information and so, I’ll share with you only the more interesting facts.Flavor enhancer
Do you want a healthy way to add flavor to your vegetable juice? Throw in some grapes, seeds and all. Adding a small amount of grapes tremendously improves the flavor of vegetable juice. I would limit the amount to about 5 grapes per every 8 ounces of juice if you have evidence of high insulin levels, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity or diabetes, and make sure you don't eat the pulp. I would also recommend you get the red seeded grapes.

What is grape seed extract?
You have probably heard of grape seed extract. Well you can get all the antioxidant and phytochemical benefits of grape seed extract when you juice the entire grape along with their seeds. It also tremendously improves the flavor of the juice.

Grape seed extract is a nutrient derived from the seeds of grapes, which belongs to the bioflavonoid family. The active ingredients contained in grape seed extract are called "proanthocyanidins". Proanthocyanidins are known to exhibit antioxidant properties. Proanthocyanidins are also called "procyanidolic oligomers", or PCOs for short - whew!

PCO bioflavonoids were first noticed in the laboratory because they have the remarkable ability to strengthen blood vessel walls within hours after taking them. The person responsible for the discovery of PCO bioflavonoids was a French scientist named Dr. Jacques Masquelier, who first tested bioflavonoid-containing peanuts on lab animals and discovered that their blood vessel walls would double in strength only hours after ingesting them. His discovery was made in 1948. In 1951, this same doctor extracted PCOs from pine bark.

Grape seed extract has also proven to be valuable in the treatment of inadequate blood flow in the capillaries and veins. Small studies have shown increased capillary strength using as little as 50 milligrams/day, and increased venous blood flow using 150 milligrams/day.

Okay, enough of the science talk. Let’s end this with a brief discussion on a different use of grapes – décor. Grapes can be a great accent for the home. I am sure you’ll like to look at grapes on a cheese platter. Or perhaps in a nice fruit basket. You can usually see these at parties or any get together. If the grapes are not there, doesn’t the cheese platter look incomplete?

Thank you again for the support

God Bless you, Love
AlejandroQ.

Carrots

Hi guys

First, I want to say “thank you” to all my clients for their continual support. Thanks for listening to my advice and for keeping so diligently to your diets. For my part, I will keep you as motivated as I possibly can every day of your life.

Today, I am going to talk about carrots. Here’s a joke to start things off.

There were two carrots walking down the road, Big Carrot and Little Carrot. On the other side of the road, they see their friend Cabbage in his cabbage patch. Big Carrot says "Let's go visit Cabbage on the other side of the road." Little Carrot replies "But there is so much traffic here I'm afraid I might get run over.

Big Carrot says "Nonsense, just wait for a break in the traffic and run as fast as you can." Big Carrot sees a break in the traffic and runs over to Cabbage. He then calls to his friend to try. Little Carrot gets ready, sees a break in the traffic and runs across the road. Unfortunately, a big truck comes along and Little Carrot gets squashed in the middle of the road. Big Carrot feels really bad and scoops his friend up and takes him to the hospital. There, the doctors perform emergency surgery.

After several hours, the doctor comes out. "I have some good news and some bad news." Big Carrot says "Okay doc, go ahead, I can take it." The doctor says, "Well the good news is that your friend is going to live, but the bad news is he's going to be a vegetable for the rest of his life."

Okay, let’s talk about carrots proper. When I started my research about this, I could not believe how much there is out there. Did you know that there is even a Carrot Museum? Yeah! How crazy is that?The Carrot originated some 5,000 years ago in Middle Asia around Afghanistan and slowly spread into the Mediterranean area. The first carrots were white, purple, red, yellow, green and black - not orange. Its roots were thin and turnip shaped. Temple drawings from Egypt in 2000 B.C. show a plant which some Egyptologists believe to represent a large carrot. Egyptian papyruses contain information about treatments with carrot and its seeds were found in pharaoh crypts.

So we started with this and today we have the ubiquitous different colored carrot. Orange colored carrots are the most popular but, as I mentioned earlier, they are also available in White, Yellow and Maroon. The Maroon colored varieties are making a big comeback in English stores. Read more about it here.

Better Raw or Cooked?
The answer is yes to both questions. Read on.

Are carrots more nutritious in their raw state than when cooked?
That's a very good question. Opinions vary. Clearly a raw carrot has more goodness in it when it is raw and therefore you would assume it is the healthiest way to eat it. But unless the carrot is juiced then consumed, the body cannot break down the goodness because of the cellular nature of the carrot.

Benefits of Carrots

• Boosting immunity – especially among older people
• Reducing photosensitivity – beta-carotene protects the skin from sun damage
• Improving symptoms of HIV
• Easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms
• Helping to heal minor wounds and injuries
• Reducing the risk of heart disease. Reducing the risk of high blood pressure.
• Cleansing the liver, and when consumed regularly, can help the liver excrete fats and bile. Fighting bronchitis
• Fighting infection – vitamin A keeps cell membranes healthy, making them stronger against disease-causing microorganisms
• Improving muscle, flesh, and skin health
• Help fight anaemia
• Reducing acne
• Improving eye health

Hey, I still remember when I was young and the summer season started back in my country Argentina. My friends and I would always want the perfect tan. And what was better than carrot juice, lots of it! I still remember my mom and grandmother telling us not to drink too much of it as it would turn us orange. Frankly, I wouldn’t really have minded; after all, orange is one of my favorite colors. ☺

Thanks again guys for stopping by.

Keep God in first place in your life.
Love you, Alejandro Q.