The YumUniverse Interview with Brendan Brazier—Bestselling Author, Ironman Triathlete and Speaker on Performance Nutrition

Photo © Melissa Schwartz

Many of you know that we love our Brendan Brazier around here—I think if there were an extra few hours in the day, Team YU and I would start an official Brendan Brazier Fan club. We all love plant-based food, and we all love fitness, and Brendan is THE expert on both. He’s a bestselling author on performance nutrition, a vegan Ironman triathlete and a renowned speaker who has been a significant inspiration to us active herbivores for years now. If you aren’t familiar with Brendan yet, now is the time. He spent some time talking with me last week about his newly launched plant-based food delivery service THRIVE Foods Direct (based on the principals/recipes in his newest book THRIVE Foods), his Vega Sport Line, his thoughts about how to stay on track and his recommendations for how to best navigate social situations this holiday season. And he has provided a special discount code for YU to try out THRIVE Foods Direct, so dive in.

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La Bella Figura Co-Founder Victoria Fantauzzi Brings YU Plant-Based Eco-Luxury Skincare

If you put in on your skin it’s absorbed into your skin and bloodstream—think about nicotine patches or patch-birth control. Why would lotions, lipsticks or shampoos be any different? Once you learn about the carcinogenic dangers involved with most cosmetics, body care and toiletries, you are often left wondering “what can I use?”

Well, for radiant skin, lips and hair, La Bella Figura has your plant-based and fair-trade secret weapons and they are working not just to produce beautiful quality skincare made from nature, but to educate folks on why plant-based beauty is better. Read more…

Meet New YU Contributor, Chef and Fitness Expert, Mark Beier

In order to acheive optimal health you have to not only consume the foods that nourish your body, but you have to move that body. Mark Beier is a powerhouse of fitness and food knowledge so it was a no-brainer to bring him on board with Team YU. He’s the founder of Chicago Fit Club, a proud papa, Lululemon Ambassador and will be launching his own line of nutrition bars very soon. I’ve tried them, and W.O.W! Read more…

Introducing Rea Frey Holguin, New Contributor for YumUniverse

I am very excited to introduce the newest contributor for Team YU, personal trainer, author, relationship expert and nutrition specialist, Rea Frey Holguin. Rea is going to share her best “recipes” for a balanced life—a.k.a. nutrition, exercise and love. Delicious, quick and easy plant-based recipes that you can prepare in a snap? Rea is your go-to gal.

So, grab a nice cup of herbal tea and spend some time reading our interview with this inspiring, strong woman. Her views and approach are refreshingly aligned with YU. I am so thankful to have her voice a part of our lovely community.

Be sure to welcome Rea with that legendary YU kindness. Questions, too. She’s here to help make your plant-based journey the best that it can be! Read more…

Meet Lauren Scruggs, Founder of LOLO Magazine

Let’s take a break with some fashionable fun today. Meet Lauren Scruggs, founder of LOLO. Lauren has interned in wardrobe for Gossip Girl, the Michael Kors showroom, and she reports for New York, Paris and Montreal fashion weeks. Her hunger for style has fueled a successful blog and now a soon-to-launch online magazine that will feature what’s hot in everything from beauty to food—LOLO Magazine! This is where YumUniverse comes in—look for me as an official LOLO food expert, sharing recipes and tips for delicious plant-based livin’. Cartwheels! Thanks LOLO.

Get to know the inspiring woman behind this new online magazine. Lauren tells YU about her favorite healthy foods, her eco-conscious inspirations, how LOLO is different from other fashion mags and even where the adorable name “LOLO” comes from…

So, sit back with a YumUniverse treat (Lauren recommends Raw Cacao Pudding) and read on.

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The Plant Rx Plant-Based Health Study: Interview with Dr. Jenna Taylor

If you do one thing for yourself and your health today, please take 10 minutes to read the following interview with Dr. Jenna Taylor, founder of The Plant Rx.

Jenna is an inspiring woman who is currently conducting a very important 60-day plant-based diet study, in which participants (Stephanie, Nikki, Vanessa, Megan, John and Jax and Amber) will be changing their diets from either a Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) or a Vegetarian Diet, to a Plant-based (Vegan) diet for 60 days. Dr. Taylor and her team will be measuring the participants changes in health, both quantitatively and qualitatively—and in an effort to be as transparent as possible, all test results will be published at ThePlantRx.com.

Dr. Taylor’s perspectives not only as a physician, but as a vegan, are invaluable, and I am looking forward to sharing more of her progress and efforts to share the benefits of a plant-based diet with YU.

One of the most important things she said during our interview is that “[physicians] have been subjected to the same programming as you and I were and just like lots of other people out there, they still believe it. That being said, this is why it is imperative for people to be in charge of their own health. Ask questions, read, research, etc. No one is going to care more about you, than you do.”

Amen, sister. Read more…