Well, I will tell you that I never get tired of talking about or blogging about nutrition, I love to study it and will find myself lost in reading about it for hours.
One thing I do get tired of is the same old silly misconceptions about nutrition, not sure what I am talking about? Let me school you.
Should I eat before my morning workout?
Convention studies say yes, because you will need fresh carbs and protein otherwise you will use stored nutrients.
Knowledge ad research, tells me this is bunk and experience illustrates that this is not the truth. Not eating before a workout is very beneficial especially when you are looking to lose weight. If you are a muscle builder than you need to eat some protein before your workout and then slam some protein within the hour after your workout.
Using stored carbs are a good thing because they are not being used! All nutrients coming into the body should be used and not stored if you are storing, than you most likely are not getting the right quality of nutrients. Understanding this will make it easier for you to lose the pounds plus push out the toxins stored in the unusable carbs and proteins.
Next question.
Should I stay away from carbohydrates?
Conventional answer.
Yes there are no good carbs, carbs will inhibit weight loss and make you fat.
Research.
You can have carbs and lose weight too! Good carbs are a great part of a natural balanced diet. The key word is balanced, you need a balance of nutrients, like protein, sugars, and carbohydrates. Study the difference, you will be surprised at what you can have as long as they are nutrient dense.
The single most important thing to remember when listening to conventional healthcare and fitness "experts" is that you are not "everybody". Usually you are getting a "catch all" remedy to a specific lack of nutrients.
Don't subscribe to conventional knowledge always do your research and get knowledge! You can overcome anything as long as you have the drive to get educated about it.
Now go and be healthy!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Foods For Weight Loss Part 5
So first let’s talk about water. Most people have heard of the vital importance of water to our bodies. Our bodies are mostly water. Yeah, strange, I know… but we are 60-90% water… I like a wide range cause everyone is different, and some people are really dry. That was joke.
Water is the medium for so many different processes in the body. It helps to digest, breakdown, and excrete our food. It helps dissolve and distribute vitamins and minerals through the blood. It helps to remove toxins. It helps to regulate body temperature. It helps, it helps, it helps. Get the picture?
So is water, water? Are all waters the same? First of all, the water in our bodies is very different in that it contains all sorts of proteins and like I mentioned it carries vitamins, minerals, and even toxins.
Problems? Who’s Got Problems?
Water that you drink may have all sorts of stuff in it. It may have chemicals leftover from your local wastewater treatment plant (have you visited one of those?). After all, there are regulations requiring water to be at a certain pH. So how about they just throw some stuff to change the pH, like lye… no one is gonna get hurt by that… not like in this article. Oh yeah, and to disinfect let’s use toxic chlorine… which while a lot of it may evaporate it will also form cancerous compounds called chloramines which will not.
So I guess you can already tell that I highly recommend that you filter your water. I have written about it in previous posts (like here and here) and in doing further research since then I am even more convinced that you should filter your water. I have also studied some of the so called science against filtering your water. That is, the scientists who call it pseudoscience to drink filtered water. They clearly haven’t been to a third world country.
Just because Americans are not infected by dangerous bacteria that we know about in a rapid manner does not mean that we are not taking in toxic substances in our water that accumulate and/or cause chronic illness or illness that presents itself later in life. Common sense.
What To Look For, What To Look For…
Before moving on, I will tell you what I believe to be the best water.
1. Water that is clean, natural, and unadulterated as God intended.
2. Water that has a neutral pH or is slightly alkaline (def on the alkaline side as opposed to acidic).
3. Water that preferably has an anti-oxidant effect on the body.
4. Water that is preferably ‘wetter’… that is, has a lower surface tension (it’s a better solvent).
By having lower surface tension, and by being a better solvent (being able to dissolve things easier), water is not only better able to help the body assimilate and transfer nutrients it is also better able to remove toxins.
Water as an anti-oxidant? When studying water, you may hear a lot about ORP or Oxidation Reduction Potential… basically it’s ability to act like an anti-oxidant and reduce oxidative stress on the body. Most water you drink does not have this ability and it has an oxidizing effect in your body (think about all those blueberries you eat because they are high in anti-oxidants… this has the opposite effect). That is why so many people buy something like an ionizer as it creates water that has this anti-oxidant potential by using electricity. I think this is one of the areas where you can cheat on when looking for water, especially if you are getting good water otherwise (judging from the points mentioned).
Read more at
www.ettlt.com
Water is the medium for so many different processes in the body. It helps to digest, breakdown, and excrete our food. It helps dissolve and distribute vitamins and minerals through the blood. It helps to remove toxins. It helps to regulate body temperature. It helps, it helps, it helps. Get the picture?
So is water, water? Are all waters the same? First of all, the water in our bodies is very different in that it contains all sorts of proteins and like I mentioned it carries vitamins, minerals, and even toxins.
Problems? Who’s Got Problems?
Water that you drink may have all sorts of stuff in it. It may have chemicals leftover from your local wastewater treatment plant (have you visited one of those?). After all, there are regulations requiring water to be at a certain pH. So how about they just throw some stuff to change the pH, like lye… no one is gonna get hurt by that… not like in this article. Oh yeah, and to disinfect let’s use toxic chlorine… which while a lot of it may evaporate it will also form cancerous compounds called chloramines which will not.
So I guess you can already tell that I highly recommend that you filter your water. I have written about it in previous posts (like here and here) and in doing further research since then I am even more convinced that you should filter your water. I have also studied some of the so called science against filtering your water. That is, the scientists who call it pseudoscience to drink filtered water. They clearly haven’t been to a third world country.
Just because Americans are not infected by dangerous bacteria that we know about in a rapid manner does not mean that we are not taking in toxic substances in our water that accumulate and/or cause chronic illness or illness that presents itself later in life. Common sense.
What To Look For, What To Look For…
Before moving on, I will tell you what I believe to be the best water.
1. Water that is clean, natural, and unadulterated as God intended.
2. Water that has a neutral pH or is slightly alkaline (def on the alkaline side as opposed to acidic).
3. Water that preferably has an anti-oxidant effect on the body.
4. Water that is preferably ‘wetter’… that is, has a lower surface tension (it’s a better solvent).
By having lower surface tension, and by being a better solvent (being able to dissolve things easier), water is not only better able to help the body assimilate and transfer nutrients it is also better able to remove toxins.
Water as an anti-oxidant? When studying water, you may hear a lot about ORP or Oxidation Reduction Potential… basically it’s ability to act like an anti-oxidant and reduce oxidative stress on the body. Most water you drink does not have this ability and it has an oxidizing effect in your body (think about all those blueberries you eat because they are high in anti-oxidants… this has the opposite effect). That is why so many people buy something like an ionizer as it creates water that has this anti-oxidant potential by using electricity. I think this is one of the areas where you can cheat on when looking for water, especially if you are getting good water otherwise (judging from the points mentioned).
Read more at
www.ettlt.com
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Vegetables Aren't as Good for You as They Used to Be?
According to new research, produce in the U.S. not only tastes worse than it did in your grandparents' days, but also contains fewer nutrients. In fact, the average vegetable found in today's supermarket is anywhere from 5 percent to 40 percent lower in minerals such as magnesium, iron, calcium and zinc than those harvested just 50 years ago.
Today's vegetables are larger, but do not contain more nutrients. Jumbo-sized produce actually contains more "dry matter" than anything else, which dilutes mineral concentrations.
An additional problem is the "genetic dilution effect," in which selective breeding to increase crop yield has led to declines in protein, amino acids, and minerals. Breeders select for high yield, effectively selecting mostly for high carbohydrate content.
And finally, as a result of the growing rise of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, modern crops are being harvested faster than ever before, meaning that produce has less time to absorb nutrients either from synthesis or the soil.
There is a resolution, planting and demanding organic products. If you have enough people asking for quality more producers and farmers will make it available.
Today's vegetables are larger, but do not contain more nutrients. Jumbo-sized produce actually contains more "dry matter" than anything else, which dilutes mineral concentrations.
An additional problem is the "genetic dilution effect," in which selective breeding to increase crop yield has led to declines in protein, amino acids, and minerals. Breeders select for high yield, effectively selecting mostly for high carbohydrate content.
And finally, as a result of the growing rise of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, modern crops are being harvested faster than ever before, meaning that produce has less time to absorb nutrients either from synthesis or the soil.
There is a resolution, planting and demanding organic products. If you have enough people asking for quality more producers and farmers will make it available.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Fibromyalgia, Dealing With The Pain
Dealing with Fibromyalgia can be a very painful process but I can assure you once you start you can limit your "break outs" or eliminate them all together. Here is a list of symptoms followed by some things you can do to help the cause of the pain.
Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
One of the most important criteria to determine whether or not you may have fibromyalgia is significant pain in very specific areas of your body, including:
Inside of your elbows
Your collar bones
Inside of your knees
Your hips
Usually these locations are symmetrical, so you’ll have pain equally present on both sides of your body. Experiencing significant pain when someone presses on those areas, on both sides, is indicative of fibromyalgia.
People also frequently report pain all over their bodies -- including in their muscles, ligaments and tendons -- along with a feeling of exhaustion, as well as a variety of other nebulous conditions, such as:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Depression
Ringing of the ears (tinnitus)
Headaches
Another major part of the diagnostic criteria for this condition is some type of significant sleep disturbance.
In fact, part of an effective treatment program is to make sure you’re sleeping better.
The typical treatment strategy you’ll be offered, if seen by a conventional physician, is some form of pain medication, and perhaps psychotropic drugs like antidepressants. I don’t recommend either of them because they do not address the cause of your problem in any way shape or form.
Additionally, many fibromyalgia sufferers do not respond to conventional painkillers, which can set in motion a vicious circle of overmedicating on these dangerous drugs.
Effective Drug-Free Treatment Strategies for Fibromyalgia
Get Proper Sleep -- Sleeping well should be first on your list of essential treatment strategies. It’s important to realize that even if you lead a very healthy lifestyle – which includes getting appropriate sun exposure to optimize your vitamin D levels, eating organic, locally grown food, exercising and having low amounts of emotional stress – if you’re not sleeping properly you will definitely experience negative health consequences, despite all your other efforts.
Implement a regular exercise regimen -- One of the most important strategies to help you sleep better is regular exercise.
Unfortunately, people suffering from fibromyalgia pain tend to shy away from exercise, and understandably so. But research shows that a combination of aerobic activity and strength training can actually improve fibromyalgia symptoms.
In one study by Harvard researchers, after exercising for 20 weeks, women with fibromyalgia reported improved muscle strength and endurance, and lessening of their symptoms including pain, stiffness, fatigue and depression.
Now, it’s important to remember that tolerance is a key point if you suffer from fibromyalgia. You don’t want to do exercises that will worsen your condition.
If you perform an exercise that aggravates your pain within a few hours or the next day, it’s a good gauge that you’ve done too much and need to back off, or switch to something else. You’ll need to slowly but surely progress into a program that will make you better.
Ideally, you’ll want to get up to an hour per day, varying your exercise routine so that you’re not doing the same exercises each day.
You’ll want to strive for a combination of aerobic, anaerobic, burst-sprint type exercises and strength training, preferably supervised by an exercise professional. But again, always take into account your own tolerance to each exercise.
Optimize your vitamin D levels -- Interestingly, some of the new research in vitamin D shows it is very effective for muscle pain, so I strongly encourage you, not just for fibromyalgia but for numerous other reasons as well, to make sure you have your vitamin D levels tested.
And, if you are deficient, follow my recommendations on how to optimize your levels, as this could make a significant difference in your overall health. For more information, I recommend you watch my free one-hour lecture on vitamin D.
Eat right – “Eating right” includes avoiding processed foods, and concentrating on fresh, whole foods. Ideally foods that are both organic and locally-grown. This will help to regulate nutrient density and insulin swings.
There are, however, several food items that can aggravate fibromyalgia symptoms and should be avoided as much as possible, including:
• Corn
• Wheat
• Dairy
• Citrus
• Soy
• Nuts
Address your emotional challenges – In my experience, nearly all fibromyalgia sufferers have some form of underlying emotional challenge that contributes to their condition.
There are many ways to address your emotional issues, including meditation and prayer.
Natural Alternatives to Relieve Pain
Additionally, as you work to normalize your emotional traumas the following therapies can further help to reduce pain and get you back on track to optimal health, without resorting to potentially dangerous drugs:
• Chiropractic Care -- Especially the disciplines in chiropractic that address the emotional components, like TBM, NET and BEST. Dr. Kent provides some excellent recommendations on how to locate a good chiropractor if you don’t currently know of one.
• Acupuncture -- Western studies have shown that the use of acupuncture on pain-relief points cuts the blood flow to key areas of your brain within seconds, which may explain how this ancient technique might help relieve pain. It’s also been suggested that acupuncture may help support the activity of your body's natural pain-killing chemicals, and studies have found it to provide relief from fibromyalgia pain for up to 16 weeks.
If you start applying these techniques you likely will not need to rely on conventional drug therapy to help relieve some of the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
One of the most important criteria to determine whether or not you may have fibromyalgia is significant pain in very specific areas of your body, including:
Inside of your elbows
Your collar bones
Inside of your knees
Your hips
Usually these locations are symmetrical, so you’ll have pain equally present on both sides of your body. Experiencing significant pain when someone presses on those areas, on both sides, is indicative of fibromyalgia.
People also frequently report pain all over their bodies -- including in their muscles, ligaments and tendons -- along with a feeling of exhaustion, as well as a variety of other nebulous conditions, such as:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Depression
Ringing of the ears (tinnitus)
Headaches
Another major part of the diagnostic criteria for this condition is some type of significant sleep disturbance.
In fact, part of an effective treatment program is to make sure you’re sleeping better.
The typical treatment strategy you’ll be offered, if seen by a conventional physician, is some form of pain medication, and perhaps psychotropic drugs like antidepressants. I don’t recommend either of them because they do not address the cause of your problem in any way shape or form.
Additionally, many fibromyalgia sufferers do not respond to conventional painkillers, which can set in motion a vicious circle of overmedicating on these dangerous drugs.
Effective Drug-Free Treatment Strategies for Fibromyalgia
Get Proper Sleep -- Sleeping well should be first on your list of essential treatment strategies. It’s important to realize that even if you lead a very healthy lifestyle – which includes getting appropriate sun exposure to optimize your vitamin D levels, eating organic, locally grown food, exercising and having low amounts of emotional stress – if you’re not sleeping properly you will definitely experience negative health consequences, despite all your other efforts.
Implement a regular exercise regimen -- One of the most important strategies to help you sleep better is regular exercise.
Unfortunately, people suffering from fibromyalgia pain tend to shy away from exercise, and understandably so. But research shows that a combination of aerobic activity and strength training can actually improve fibromyalgia symptoms.
In one study by Harvard researchers, after exercising for 20 weeks, women with fibromyalgia reported improved muscle strength and endurance, and lessening of their symptoms including pain, stiffness, fatigue and depression.
Now, it’s important to remember that tolerance is a key point if you suffer from fibromyalgia. You don’t want to do exercises that will worsen your condition.
If you perform an exercise that aggravates your pain within a few hours or the next day, it’s a good gauge that you’ve done too much and need to back off, or switch to something else. You’ll need to slowly but surely progress into a program that will make you better.
Ideally, you’ll want to get up to an hour per day, varying your exercise routine so that you’re not doing the same exercises each day.
You’ll want to strive for a combination of aerobic, anaerobic, burst-sprint type exercises and strength training, preferably supervised by an exercise professional. But again, always take into account your own tolerance to each exercise.
Optimize your vitamin D levels -- Interestingly, some of the new research in vitamin D shows it is very effective for muscle pain, so I strongly encourage you, not just for fibromyalgia but for numerous other reasons as well, to make sure you have your vitamin D levels tested.
And, if you are deficient, follow my recommendations on how to optimize your levels, as this could make a significant difference in your overall health. For more information, I recommend you watch my free one-hour lecture on vitamin D.
Eat right – “Eating right” includes avoiding processed foods, and concentrating on fresh, whole foods. Ideally foods that are both organic and locally-grown. This will help to regulate nutrient density and insulin swings.
There are, however, several food items that can aggravate fibromyalgia symptoms and should be avoided as much as possible, including:
• Corn
• Wheat
• Dairy
• Citrus
• Soy
• Nuts
Address your emotional challenges – In my experience, nearly all fibromyalgia sufferers have some form of underlying emotional challenge that contributes to their condition.
There are many ways to address your emotional issues, including meditation and prayer.
Natural Alternatives to Relieve Pain
Additionally, as you work to normalize your emotional traumas the following therapies can further help to reduce pain and get you back on track to optimal health, without resorting to potentially dangerous drugs:
• Chiropractic Care -- Especially the disciplines in chiropractic that address the emotional components, like TBM, NET and BEST. Dr. Kent provides some excellent recommendations on how to locate a good chiropractor if you don’t currently know of one.
• Acupuncture -- Western studies have shown that the use of acupuncture on pain-relief points cuts the blood flow to key areas of your brain within seconds, which may explain how this ancient technique might help relieve pain. It’s also been suggested that acupuncture may help support the activity of your body's natural pain-killing chemicals, and studies have found it to provide relief from fibromyalgia pain for up to 16 weeks.
If you start applying these techniques you likely will not need to rely on conventional drug therapy to help relieve some of the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Rip, Rest, Repair, Repeat
Your muscles need the 4 R's in order to grow, rip, rest, repair, and repeat. This is what it takes to get the most out of your muscles.
Rip: is when you work your body through muscles to the extent that they are in essence ripped or stretched. Doing this will give them a chance to repair and as they repair and retract they will not come back as far thus building muscle.
Rest: If you are doing any routine the muscle and body need rest, and a lot of it. But rest just isn't sleep its the right kind of sleep, getting to bed before 10pm will help the body get the rest is needs. 1 hour before midnight is like 4 hours after midnight, and make no mistake about it your body knows when its time for bed.
Repair: Rest and repair go hand in hand because they need to be attacked with precision. Protein is an obvious ingredient to repair but with out amino acids the building blocks of protein, you are doing nothing. For example you will find usable protein in places that you don't expect like an avocado or nuts. The most pure and usable protein has the amino acids, peptides and enzymes to fully, completely digest and assimilate the protein.
Repeat: Exercise is nothing without routine but routine can also be a detriment to the body. You see the body adapts to workouts and routine very quickly. So its important to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to your exercise routine. Concentrate on confusing your muscles as often as you can whether it is through a regular cardio workout or a muscle training regiment.
You will find success when you strive to educate yourself in the battle for health. Its not "cut and dry" for everybody but it can be some what consistent when it comes to nutrition and healthy living. The key is to keep learning and striving, and remember that if you don't want fake muscles then don't take in fake protein and other supplements!
Rip: is when you work your body through muscles to the extent that they are in essence ripped or stretched. Doing this will give them a chance to repair and as they repair and retract they will not come back as far thus building muscle.
Rest: If you are doing any routine the muscle and body need rest, and a lot of it. But rest just isn't sleep its the right kind of sleep, getting to bed before 10pm will help the body get the rest is needs. 1 hour before midnight is like 4 hours after midnight, and make no mistake about it your body knows when its time for bed.
Repair: Rest and repair go hand in hand because they need to be attacked with precision. Protein is an obvious ingredient to repair but with out amino acids the building blocks of protein, you are doing nothing. For example you will find usable protein in places that you don't expect like an avocado or nuts. The most pure and usable protein has the amino acids, peptides and enzymes to fully, completely digest and assimilate the protein.
Repeat: Exercise is nothing without routine but routine can also be a detriment to the body. You see the body adapts to workouts and routine very quickly. So its important to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to your exercise routine. Concentrate on confusing your muscles as often as you can whether it is through a regular cardio workout or a muscle training regiment.
You will find success when you strive to educate yourself in the battle for health. Its not "cut and dry" for everybody but it can be some what consistent when it comes to nutrition and healthy living. The key is to keep learning and striving, and remember that if you don't want fake muscles then don't take in fake protein and other supplements!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
What To Do About Avocados
Here is a article from one of my other sites called www.whattodoabout.com
it mainly for fun. But once in a while we make some valid points.
They got a bad rap I tell you! Well, maybe not… but I still hear people saying not to eat avocados because they are high in fat. Bologna! (now that’s something you shouldn’t eat).
Sure avocados are high in fat, but it is fat that is good for you! People wrongly assume that all fats are equal. Avocados promote HDL (good cholesterol) and lower LDL (bad cholesterol). They are full of monounsaturated fat (oleic acid) which is good for heart health. They are also bursting with nutrients… bursting I tell you! Avocados contain vitamins A, B-complex, C, E, H, K, minerals like folate, magnesium, copper, iron, calcium, potassium, and all of the essential amino acids that our body needs.
And guess what else. Many vitamins are fat soluble and your body absorbs them much better with fat. So eating avocado with vegetables actually increases the amount of vitamins and carotenoids that you are able to use in the body.
So, if you can’t tell, I am a big fan of avocados. I like to just take one and spread it on toast with some salt. Wow is that good. And sliced in salsa. Wow is that good. And homemade guacamole. Wow is that good. If you have any avocado stories or recipes, feel free to share.
it mainly for fun. But once in a while we make some valid points.
They got a bad rap I tell you! Well, maybe not… but I still hear people saying not to eat avocados because they are high in fat. Bologna! (now that’s something you shouldn’t eat).
Sure avocados are high in fat, but it is fat that is good for you! People wrongly assume that all fats are equal. Avocados promote HDL (good cholesterol) and lower LDL (bad cholesterol). They are full of monounsaturated fat (oleic acid) which is good for heart health. They are also bursting with nutrients… bursting I tell you! Avocados contain vitamins A, B-complex, C, E, H, K, minerals like folate, magnesium, copper, iron, calcium, potassium, and all of the essential amino acids that our body needs.
And guess what else. Many vitamins are fat soluble and your body absorbs them much better with fat. So eating avocado with vegetables actually increases the amount of vitamins and carotenoids that you are able to use in the body.
So, if you can’t tell, I am a big fan of avocados. I like to just take one and spread it on toast with some salt. Wow is that good. And sliced in salsa. Wow is that good. And homemade guacamole. Wow is that good. If you have any avocado stories or recipes, feel free to share.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Food For Weight Loss Part 3 www.ettlt.com
Tim Mallon is a very trusted source for me and this blog, he is the one responsible for my nutritional studies and has inspired me to get more out of my food. Tim has been my friend now for about 9-10 years and through some tough times he learned to eat for life and shared this with me because he cares for his friends. I treasure our friendship and the fact that we have learned a lot from each other through the years. That being said please enjoy this article from my best friend and trusted source to whom I am blessed to know.
Part 3 is about grains, carbs, and starches. Of course, if you ever read this blog you already know that I am already referring to whole foods and not processed and refined foods. So, if you are on a mission to lose weight and are wondering what grains or carbs you should eat to help your mission, then you are in the right place.
Certainly, cutting out carbs does a lot for losing weight, controlling blood sugar, and reducing inflammation in the body. In fact, many of these things are tied together and one impacts the other. So if you are focusing on losing weight, then you definitely want to be careful which carbs you are eating, but I think you can effectively lose weight while keeping carbs in your diet.
Some stellar winners in the carb category that you should become acquainted with are buckwheat, quinoa, millet, and amaranth.
Buckwheat is the number one recommendation for people trying to lose weight as it has so many benefits. It is actually the seed of a fruit and not a true grain, but it can be used like one. Buckwheat’s protein characteristics and minerals make it a low glycemic food that helps to control blood sugar levels (very important when trying to lose weight). Buckwheat is also unparalleled in its ability to lower bad cholesterol (you should already know that I am a fan of good cholesterol and saturated fat). There is more, buckwheat actually has a fair amount of antioxidants as well and studies have been done combining it with traditional wheat and wheat breads to boost the antioxidant value. Also, buckwheat is virtually gluten free which makes digestion easier for most people (even people who are not allergic to gluten will digest it easier).
So. You can see why I am such a fan of buckwheat… besides, it tastes so good. Buckwheat pancakes and crepes are so good. You can experiment in all sorts of baked goods and the inclusion of it in even partial amounts boosts the nutritional aspect of the food and will help you in your quest. Now, I know we are talking about controlling blood sugar and losing weight, but I just have to say that I have made buckwheat chocolate chip cookies that totally ruled! Some of the best cookies that I have made. Of course I used unrefined cane sugar. You can find buckwheat flour in health food stores or in the “natural” section of several grocery stores. Read the ingredients and make sure that it is just buckwheat flour… as different things can be added… and it is good to always read the labels.
Quinoa is the next carb I would like to highlight. It contains all nine essential amino acids (buckwheat contains 8 of the 9) and so it is a complete protein. Quinoa also is not a true grain, but is the seed of a plant… although it is used as a grain. It is especially high in the amino acid lysine which is essential for tissue growth and repair, and thus, quinoa is the choice of many athletes and those with heavy workout routines.
Prone to migraines? Well, first you should probably be drinking a lot more plain water. BUT, you can also eat more quinoa. Since quinoa is high in magnesium it helps to relax blood vessels and can reduce the frequency of migraines and hypertension. You can use quinoa in so many different ways… just like you would use rice.
Well that’s all the space I am going to devote to highlighting better options for grains and carbs. In general, if you are trying to lose weight, substitute all of your wheat products for something like buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth, and millet. Spelt flour is also better than wheat (it’s basically an older form of wheat). If you have spelt and wheat products it is best to have them either soaked or sprouted (sprouted grain breads)… or fermented (sourdough breads). However, it will be easier to lose weight if you use buckwheat and quinoa.
Now a quick word on what to avoid. Avoid the whites! Ha. Avoid white flour, white sugar, white salt… etc. In general all of these have been processed and refined and many times bleached to look pure when in reality the good stuff has been taken out. Flour is not pure white. Sea salt usually is a little gray or has some speckles in it (depending what area/ocean it is from), and real sugar is definitely not white.
Check out Part 1 and 2 at www.ettlt.com
Part 3 is about grains, carbs, and starches. Of course, if you ever read this blog you already know that I am already referring to whole foods and not processed and refined foods. So, if you are on a mission to lose weight and are wondering what grains or carbs you should eat to help your mission, then you are in the right place.
Certainly, cutting out carbs does a lot for losing weight, controlling blood sugar, and reducing inflammation in the body. In fact, many of these things are tied together and one impacts the other. So if you are focusing on losing weight, then you definitely want to be careful which carbs you are eating, but I think you can effectively lose weight while keeping carbs in your diet.
Some stellar winners in the carb category that you should become acquainted with are buckwheat, quinoa, millet, and amaranth.
Buckwheat is the number one recommendation for people trying to lose weight as it has so many benefits. It is actually the seed of a fruit and not a true grain, but it can be used like one. Buckwheat’s protein characteristics and minerals make it a low glycemic food that helps to control blood sugar levels (very important when trying to lose weight). Buckwheat is also unparalleled in its ability to lower bad cholesterol (you should already know that I am a fan of good cholesterol and saturated fat). There is more, buckwheat actually has a fair amount of antioxidants as well and studies have been done combining it with traditional wheat and wheat breads to boost the antioxidant value. Also, buckwheat is virtually gluten free which makes digestion easier for most people (even people who are not allergic to gluten will digest it easier).
So. You can see why I am such a fan of buckwheat… besides, it tastes so good. Buckwheat pancakes and crepes are so good. You can experiment in all sorts of baked goods and the inclusion of it in even partial amounts boosts the nutritional aspect of the food and will help you in your quest. Now, I know we are talking about controlling blood sugar and losing weight, but I just have to say that I have made buckwheat chocolate chip cookies that totally ruled! Some of the best cookies that I have made. Of course I used unrefined cane sugar. You can find buckwheat flour in health food stores or in the “natural” section of several grocery stores. Read the ingredients and make sure that it is just buckwheat flour… as different things can be added… and it is good to always read the labels.
Quinoa is the next carb I would like to highlight. It contains all nine essential amino acids (buckwheat contains 8 of the 9) and so it is a complete protein. Quinoa also is not a true grain, but is the seed of a plant… although it is used as a grain. It is especially high in the amino acid lysine which is essential for tissue growth and repair, and thus, quinoa is the choice of many athletes and those with heavy workout routines.
Prone to migraines? Well, first you should probably be drinking a lot more plain water. BUT, you can also eat more quinoa. Since quinoa is high in magnesium it helps to relax blood vessels and can reduce the frequency of migraines and hypertension. You can use quinoa in so many different ways… just like you would use rice.
Well that’s all the space I am going to devote to highlighting better options for grains and carbs. In general, if you are trying to lose weight, substitute all of your wheat products for something like buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth, and millet. Spelt flour is also better than wheat (it’s basically an older form of wheat). If you have spelt and wheat products it is best to have them either soaked or sprouted (sprouted grain breads)… or fermented (sourdough breads). However, it will be easier to lose weight if you use buckwheat and quinoa.
Now a quick word on what to avoid. Avoid the whites! Ha. Avoid white flour, white sugar, white salt… etc. In general all of these have been processed and refined and many times bleached to look pure when in reality the good stuff has been taken out. Flour is not pure white. Sea salt usually is a little gray or has some speckles in it (depending what area/ocean it is from), and real sugar is definitely not white.
Check out Part 1 and 2 at www.ettlt.com
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