Sprouted Hummus, too.
I guess I should have called this ‘Sprouted Hummus 2′ … but you know how I am. Anyway some of you weren’t so keen on my last sprouted hummus recipe. I found this great recipe in the Navitas Naturals videos  and one of my favorite foodies, Superfoods With Jules! I wanted to share it since it has two of my favorite things…. hummus and hemp! What could be better? Now for me I can’t do the tahini, so I just added some garlic to mine instead. I’d love to see if any of you try it, and what you think of it.
April 19, 2011 No Comments
Yacon Root
The YACON is a perennial plant grown in the Andes for its crisp, sweet-tasting tuberous root. The texture and flavor have been described as a cross between a fresh apple and watermelon which is why it is sometimes referred to as the apple of the earth. The root is composed mostly of water and fructo-oligosaccharides. It has recently been introduced into farmer’s markets and natural food stores in the US.
Although sometimes confused with jicama, YACON is actually a close relative of the sunflower and Jerusalem artichoke. The plants produce two types of roots: propagation roots and storage roots. Propagation roots grow just under the soil surface and produce new growing points that will become next year’s aerial parts. These roots resemble Jerusalem artichokes. Storage roots are large and edible.
These edible roots contain inulin, an indigestible sugar, which means that although they have a sweet flavor, the roots contain fewer calories than would be expected.
The inulin and oligofructose are isolated from natural plant sources. They can be classified so as dietary fiber. They have beneficial effects on intestinal transit. The beneficial effects to health which has its consumption can be summarized as follows:
- They reduce the risk of atherosclerosis associated with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia (especially with hypertriglyceridemia), which as we know is associated with way power hipercalóricos and based mainly on Carbohydrates. Experimental data show that the oligofructose inhibits lipogénesis liver and consequently have an effect hipotrigliceridémico.
- They reduce the risk of osteoporosis, which improve the bioavailability of calcium. It has been shown that both increases bone mineral density and bone mass.
- The YACON has been used for sick patients with diabetes
There are just so many reasons why this ingredient will one day be so important to so many. And it is just one of the ingredients in Shakeology. You can also find Yacon Syrup and Powdered Yacon at Navitas Naturals.
April 13, 2011 No Comments
Live, Love & Thrive
I purchased the May issues of The Oprah Magazine themed ‘Live, Love & Thrive’. I bought it because of the wonderful article “6 Superfoods That Will Change the Way You Eat” that was about the journey they took to Peru with Darin Olien the creator of Shakeology. Between the abundance of ads, of course, I found some incredible people that were really thriving in their lives. I think that it’s so important to remember that there are all sorts of reasons why we want to be healthy – one of which is to live a long life that is full of some sort of happiness and importance.
There was a wonderful group of pictures of either a group of girls, or one little girl, all in front of a house window through changing seasons. I’m guessing it’s the same girl as she ages. Next to it is one of my favorite quotes by Emily Dickinson, “We turn not older with years, but newer every day.” It’s so true and yet we choose to feel aged all on our own. What does that to us? I mean look at 17 year old Kelydra Welcker that created a process she calls “electrosorption” that removes the acid from water. She did this after finding that DuPont was releasing potentially harmful chemicals into the water of her hometown. Of the 21 year old Bethany Hamilton that 8 years after losing her arm to a shark attack is still surfing. Do you think these young ladies will fall into the same trap as so many of us have of letting ourselves get old? I doubt it.
I think part of the problem is that we are all supposed to be beautiful and glamorous at 60 – and that’s not how it’s going to be. First off not all of us want to have botox and $400 creams on our dressers. We have more important things to do like hitting the trail or planting a garden. Second – I think we spend too much time comparing ourselves to others instead of being happy with who we are both inside and out. So – besides taking the time to figure out who you are and who you want to be, just be. Eat fresh and healthy, take a walk or do a little TurboFire HIIT. Just enjoy who you are and live, love and thrive this month.
April 12, 2011 No Comments
this diet, that diet, this diet, that diet…
I bet that about 90% of those reading this blog have dieted about 1/8 of their adult life away. So if that’s true, why are 90% of you still struggling with your weight? The truth is that dieting doesn’t work. You cannot restrict calories or food groups for a period of time, and think that when you let them back into your system there won’t be any negative consequences. Don’t you think that it’s somewhat silly to diet and lose 5 pounds, only to gain five pounds right back? And then to do it multiple times per year for the last decade or more, it just doesn’t help the cause.
“Fad diets not only fail to produce long-term weight loss, they can lead to deprivation, weight gain, and discouragement,” says Michelle May, MD, author ofAm I Hungry?What to Do When Diets Don’t Work.” In other words, you are often worse off than before you started.”
There are several reasons that these diets do not work. The first reason is that you forbid yourself from eating a certain type of food or substance, like sugar. Now I recommend you limit sugar, but if you get rid of sugar, you had better be prepared to do it for life. Sugar, and most carbs for that matter, produce those feel goods with the chemical reaction that happens in your brain – and if you let it back in, I bet it will be like the flood gates were opened. This is with any food. Tell yourself you can’t eat bread and you’ll think about bread all day long.
On top of that, your fat cells are way smarter than you are. Sorry Edison. So the main function of the fat cells is to provide you the metabolic cushion to even out nutrient resources, and give up your stored energy in times of famine. You laugh… as do I. There is very little chance of famine in my life. They also boost your immune system since the adipose tissue provides your body with the important micro-environment for the development of those white blood cells.
On top of that you have ever important estrogen production in your pre-menopause years – and so the more you fight against your fat cells, the more they fight against you.
So what should be do, give up? Sort of. You need to focus on health, and not diet. Eat healthy, eat every few hours, eat because you are hungry and eat what you need. Drink lots of water. Exercise for your heart health, bone strength and flexibility for a long active life. Beyond that, learn to be happy with who you are right now. The rest will come.
I coach my clients weekly at http://www.JumpOnFitness.com to be more accepting of themselves, and to learn what the right path is for them. Join me.
April 2, 2011 5 Comments
