I am always astounded by how quickly the world changes by new technology that’s developed. Everything is becoming simple, instantaneous and accessible. Now with the use of technology we can even become healthier!

One amazing device I use everyday is called FitBit. It logs my meals, workouts, and weight. It even tracks how many steps I take through out the day and my calorie intake! There are many devices on the market today that track fitness, its truly a brilliant technology! It’s little innovations such as these that can really improve the quality of life. Share what your favorite health related technology is by tweeting with the hashtag #iorganic

2012 is among us, and although it is sometimes hard to get back into the swing of things after the holidays, it is important to remember your health! Most of us have plans getting back into shape in the New Year and these energy boosting tips can most certainly help in decreasing those pesky calories!

1. Try to eat smaller meals on a more frequent basis- by doing this you will speed up your metabolism, feel more energized, prevent fat storage and burn more calories.

2. Fit in the time to exercise- try to spend a total of 1 hour a day doing some sort of exercise YOU enjoy, be it jogging, walking, biking, dancing or what have you. Even little things such as taking the stairs, parking farther away from your destination, or walking around the office can help.

3. Increase your muscle mass with resistance training- by doing these weight lifting sessions 2-3 times a week it will transform your body into a better calorie burner. Remember- the more muscle you have the more calories you burn!

4. Drink green tea and eat thermogenic foods daily- this will help increase your metabolism and curb your cravings. Thermogenic foods include spices, coconut oil and protein.

5. Drink water throughout your day- The goal is to drink 8-10 cups of water per day, this can increase your metabolic rate by 30%!

These tips are simple, easy and efficient in keeping those calories away! Keep that energy up and start your 2012 the healthy way!

Going out to eat can be tricky if you are trying to order healthy, although things have certainly improved over the last few years. Many restaurants are now incorporating at least the calories for each item on their menu if not all the other nutrition information as well. However, without this information supplied or sometimes even with knowing it, it is still hard to tell how your food is actually prepared.

I make sure to order as health conscious as I can when I go out to eat, as certain items although healthy if cooked at home, have the potential to be fried in oils and fats. An interesting announcement from the Center For Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) was announced today regarding the winner of their contest called “ The Xtreme Eating Awards.” This is not what you think however; these are awards restaurants do not want as it is for the dish with the highest calories, fat and sodium. Turns out the winners for this year were Denny’s Fried Cheese Melt coming in at 1,260 calories and The Cheesecake Factory Farmhouse Burger coming in at 1,530 calories! The winner of all is the Cold Stone Creamery PB&C shake coming in at the enormous amount of 2,000 calories, 131 grams of fat and 153 grams of sugar! Now this is just ridiculous, no wonder the US has an obesity issue.

After hearing about this, I truly appreciate all of the restaurants that have taken a healthy approach to updating their menus with natural, healthy and organic items. I am hoping more and more restaurants will take the healthy approach, especially the fast food industry. Although it is the restaurant like Denny’s or Cold Stone offering these unhealthy dishes, it is also your decision to consume them. Make the right decisions on what you put into your body. Food is fuel!