Adding fresh herbs to your meal is one of the best things you can do for your health. Herbs are packed with vitamins, minerals, flavanoids and antioxidants - all of which help your body fight disease. The high concentration of chlorophyll purifies your blood, liver and kidneys. Parsley has 3 times the Vitamin C by volume than an orange. It is an excellent source of Folic Acid which helps regulate blood pressure. The Vitamin K in parsley is essential for bone health and blood clotting. Basil is known for it's anti-inflammatory benefits. It helps to ease joint and muscle pain. Basil is also very good for asthma. It helps remove phlegm from bronchial tubes and mucus from lungs. Basil has been known to sharpen memory (I am now going to add basil to my salad tonight - I need all the help I can get).
Start experimenting with these awesome gifts from nature! Throw a bunch in your salad, sauces, soups,  guacamole, salsa, potatoes or rice. 
Add parsley to your smoothie!
Here is my daughter's favourite bruschetta recipe. Toast up some delicious, clean bread and enjoy  :)
PS: Please don't omit the oil. Your body need sit to gain the benefits of lycopene (antioxidant) from the tomatoes. Some fats are good for you!

6-8 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/2 cup fresh basil - chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley - chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 Tablespoons extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil
1 Tablespoon good quality balsamic vinegar
2-3 good pinches of salt (start with 2, then to taste)
a couple of rounds of freshly ground black pepper
COMBINE AND DIG IN!

I am often asked about the latest weight loss "magic pill" featured on the Dr. Oz show. 
My answer is always the same. NOTHING takes the place of exercise and eating clean. (There is an earlier posting about Green Coffee Bean Extract on this blog because of such a question). You have to OWN your health and be that person who respects your body enough to take excellent care of it. But, you know that!
There will never be a one pill, cure all, fat loss supplement. We are all far too unique in our molecular make up and day to day existence! How could one pill be perfect for all of us? Ridiculous. 
As I have said in the past, I recognize what a difficult job Dr. Oz has (had?) - faced with the need to come up with something new and exciting EVERY DAY. To grip the attention of his audience and keep "wowing" the public. He went too far and is now paying for it through public embarrassment. Dr. Oz is now being called out and getting in some pretty serious shit. Will his license be taken away? Probably not. In fact, I saw a commercial for his new night time show scheduled for the fall (NY MD - or something like that). 
In the beginning of his tv career, I was thrilled to have him on the air. It was great to have a 'real' doctor support phytonutrients and certain supplements. It made my job as a holistic nutritionist a lot easier! Sad, but true. Clients were more apt to try probiotics or flax seed oil once Dr. Oz gave the okay.
Now, it's backfired. I have included a link to an Australian talk show that invited our very own Dr. Yoni Freedhoff (who is awesome!) to comment on the Dr. Oz  fiasco. 
Take a look when you have a moment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KERoOj8OjSA&feature=youtu.be

Granola is a calorie-dense, nutritious food that's been around since the 1800s!  Packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals - this wonderful creation satisfies hunger along with your sweet and salty cravings. It is easy to make, so don't rely on packaged granola! These are usually filled with bad fats and tons of sugar. 
Here is a great recipe for you:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees and line a baking pan with parchment paper. In a bowl, combine about 1 1/2 cups of large flake oats, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (shelled - the green guys), 1/2 cup of dried fruit (your choice), 1/2 cup slivered almonds, chopped hazelnuts or brazil nuts (or a combo of all!), 1/2 cup unsweetened, dried coconut, 2- 3 Tablespoons almond or sunflower seed butter, 1/4 cup raw honey or maple syrup, and sprinkle some salt.  Mix really well and then press onto parchment. Bake for about 1/2 an hour to 40 minutes. 1/2 a cup is a great snack!!!!  Add some cold coconut or almond milk to a cup (or more!) and what an amazing breakfast. YUM!

These guys are pretty damn good for you. Too bad we only associate them with pooping and old age homes!
Yes, yes, yes they help you "go".....but that is definitely not all they have to offer.
For example, eating 10-12 prunes a day can actually reverse bone loss in postmenopausal women (Alive magazine, April 2011). The women who participated in a study that illustrated this showed improved bone formation markers after only 3 months of their daily prune intake.That's pretty impressive.  
Prunes work by stimulating osteoblasts, promoting new bone formation. Prunes contain the nutrients necessary for proper bone health: boron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and Vitamin K. Boron is necessary to convert Vitamin D to its active form.
Prunes have TONS of antioxidants. These guys help fight against disease. Antioxidants are crucial to good health as they fight free radicals that cause cellular damage. Prunes have higher antioxidant activity than blueberries.
Fibre is what they are most famous for and rightly so. They are a great source of insoluble fibre, the kind that stays in your digestive tracts and absorbs water - helping to make stool easier to pass. Gross, I know, but had to be said.
However, that isn't the only way they help with constipation. Prunes contain compounds that stimulate the intestine, causing it to contract. How cool is that?! This process is essential for regularity.
Prunes also contain a great amount of soluble fibre. This is the type that lowers bad cholesterol levels and consequently lowers the risk of heart disease. 
Although prunes will never be the cool, trendy fruit - buy some and reap the health benefits of this humble offering  :)