Udo Erasmus, pioneer of essential fatty acids, EFA's, omega-3, omega fats, Udo's Choice, Udo's Oil, cold-pressed flax-seed oil, trans-fats, Trans Fatty acids

Udo's Oil™ featured on Channel 12 Heartland NewsSpecial Report: You are What You Eat

By: Lauren Keith / KFVS-12 TV

It took a lot of persuasion for Robin Hepp of Anna to allow our cameras inside her kitchen, but I really think she leads a lifestyle a lot of us could learn from.  When I met Robin during an outing in Union County, I couldn't believe it when she told me she was a grandmother.  I just had to know what's in her kitchen and what she does to keep herself looking so vibrant.

"I have to be honest, I don't see it," says Robin.

But when I asked several of my co-workers at Heartland News to guess how old she is, just by looking at her, I got several responses.  The oldest guess was 37; the youngest was 32.

"But I'll be 44 in October!" she says.

So, what does she do to keep herself looking so vibrant? It all starts with a blender in the morning. I'll get back to the speciific ingredients in a moment, but first here's Robin's daily routine.

"I don't count calories. It's about what I eat and health. I drink a shake on the way to work. About 10 am, I eat a piece of fruit or yogurt with granola. For lunch, I have a salad and some sort of lean protein on it. Sometimes I'll eat at Subway. I'm just like anyone else. I drink a lot of water during the day and dinner is simple: fish, chicken, or bison and a potato," she says.

Robin also is very particular about where she buys her food and how it's been handled. She frequents the Carbondale Co-op and the organic foods section in local grocery stores.

"Lots of blueberries and fish in here," she says as she shows me her fridge.

Heartland Health sponsored by Southeast HospitalShe eats wild caught fish about four times a week, she distills her own water, and even tosses her own salad dressings. From time to time, she'll allow herself to eat a nugget of dark chocolate or lowfat ice cream – hey, we're all human---but there's one item she never eats.

"I do not eat fried food. Two reasons--it's unhealthy and I get sick to my stomach," says Robin.

She also replaces all sugar with natural Stevia sweetener...again, she buys it locally from a grocery store.

"My groceries are the same as anyone else's," she points out.

Yes, but the difference is...what she does with the food.

"I eat a lot of vegetables...a lot," says Robin.

If you're like me, you hear all this healthy advice, often on the news, but you just don't know to cook it or toss it all together. Maybe Robin's story will help. By eating this way, she already feels better.

"I don't feel sluggish. It really decreases stress levels and you're more vibrant," says Robin.

Still, she admits her morning shake doesn't look appetizing, but it's the key to keeping her feeling fuller longer and possibly why her skin looks so supple.

"It's not near as bad as it looks," says Robin.

Robin uses Udo's EFA oil to maintain soft, young-looking skin
Robin starts with some organic greens and carrots, Gala apples, some extra fiber and something she swears by...Udo's Oil 3-6-9 Blend.  Robin believes the Omega 3 fatty acids in this are the secret to good skin. 

I'd love to have that, but I'm unsure I can guzzle some of the thick, green shake down.  I take a sip, and really it's not bad! Honestly, I really only taste the natural sweetness of the apples....I'm serious!

So, why eat this way?

"My mom has a lot of health issues, so that's made me more aware of what I'm putting in my own body," says Robin.

The good news for those of you reading this piece, Robin only started really examining what she eats in the last five years. As she raised her own family, she admits the drive-thrus were convenient, but she was never a big junk food eater.

Robin prepares shake with Udo's OilNow in her 40's, she says she might want to be a nutrionist someday. She doesn't necessarily want to live to be 115, she'd rather be full of life and vibrant for as long as she can in this lifetime.

"Do it for health reasons---to be healthy. examine what you're eating and putting into your body," says Robin.

By the way, Robin exercises about three times a week, focusing a lot on toning and weights.  She wears sunscreen when she's outside for a long time, but she points out she wants to soak up some of the sun's rays to help Vitamin D production.  She also makes sure to eat blueberry pancakes a few Sundays out of the month, to help her splurge, and simply because she and her husband like them!  That certainly goes along with dietitian's advice.  You have to vary things up to keep eating healthy!

Robin's husband is a chiropractor in Anna. The Hepps sent me some recipes of foods they eat and blend daily.  You can find a link to those next to this story.

ROBIN'S FAVORITE HEALTH RECIPES!

Morning Shake:

2 organic carrots
1 organic gala apple
¼ cup of oat bran
1 tbsp. Udo's Omega 3-6-9 oil
1 scoop of NanoGreens powder
1 cup of cold distilled water
1 handful of organic greens
3 or 4 ice cubes

Blend the carrots, water, apple, NanoGreens and water, then add the Udo's oil, greens and ice cubes.

Aarons daily breakfast shake:

20 oz. of distilled water
1 scoop of NanoGreens powder
2 scoops of the Natural Whey Vanilla Flavored Whey Protein Isolate Powder  ** There is NO sugar or artificial sweetener in this. You have to watch that in protein powder!
½ cup organic blueberries
1 tbsp. Udo's Omega 3-6-9 oil

Put all ingredients in the blender and blend on medium about 30 seconds

Hummus:

1 16 oz. Garbanzo beans
3-5 tbsp. of Lemon juice  (fresh lemon)
1 ½ tbsp Tahini
Celtic sea salt
2 cloves of Fresh garlic, crushed

Aaron's daily lunch shake:

20 oz. distilled water
1 big handful of organic greens
2 large organic carrots
1 organic gala apple
2 or 3 organic strawberries
1/4 cup oat bran
2 dashes of cinnamon
1 dash of cumin

Put all ingredients in the blender
and blend on high about 2 minutes

 

Cream of Spinach Soup:

1 cup of organic spinach
1 thin slice onion
1 organic carrot or 4 baby carrots
1 rib celery with leaves
1 chicken or vegetable bouillon cube
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup organic low fat milk
¼ low fat Swiss or Cheddar cheese

Place all ingredients in the blender container in order listed.  Secure the lid. Select variable speed #1.

Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to #10; then high.  Run for 3 to 4 minutes or until smooth and steaming.  Serve immediately.

Blender shake using Udo's™ Oil
Udo's Omega-3 rich Oil Blend
Robin in her kitchen
Robin & Lauren try a shake using Udo's Oil Blend

 

 
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