GLUTEN-FREE DOES NOT EQUAL HEALTHY

Just because something is Gluten-Free, does not make it healthy.  

Take a look at what Frito-Lay is doing to appear more friendly to the consumer.   This is ONLY an alternative for those with Gluten sensitivities to continue to eat unhealthful snacks.

How about an organic apple instead?

IN BED TOGETHER. SAD, BUT TRUE.

FOOD MATTERS

A new way to look at food.   Well, the original way to look at food.

WATER. ENOUGH SAID.

SUMMER SWEET TREAT

A friend, Michelle Doucette, gave me this tantalizing recipe.  Perfect alternative for those pre-packaged, sugary, processed things we are used to buying.  Think of the healthy patterns we can start forming with our kids...   All it takes is a little planning to provide the whole family with healthy alternatives.  With these on hand, it IS convenience food.

Creamy Chocolate Fudgsicles

(makes 5-6 pops)

2 T cocoa powder (no added sugar)
1/2 cup canned coconut milk
2 small, very-ripe bananas (200g)
scant 1/16 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
optional: feel free to add peanut butter!

Combine all items in a blender (I used a Magic Bullet). Pour into popsicle molds and freeze. Easy, right? As I said, the hardest part is waiting for them to freeze!

A good way to remove pops is to run the popsicle mold under room-temp water for about 15 seconds, then gently twist. 

And the proper way to eat the pops is with chocolate dripping down your face.

THE FDA IS KILLING US

This is a re-post from a colleague, Jill Warren:

So much for the FDA safeguarding our health!

Neotame: 13,000 Times Sweeter Than Sugar And More Toxic Than Aspartame

In the event that the public becomes too informed and savvy about toxic additives in our food supply, what’s a multi-billion dollar industry to do? The first step is to create another more toxic version of the additive. The second step is to collude with regulatory authorities such as the FDA to convince the public that the new, more toxic additive is safe. The third and final step is to prevent the toxic additive from being listed on any ingredient labels. From the folks that brought us Aspartame, meet Neotame, a deadly sweetener that you’ll never see on a label because…well that’s just the way the FDA wants it.

Neotame is officially marketed as an inexpensive artificial sweetener made by NutraSweet, which is a former division of Monsanto and original manufacturer of aspartame.

Eighty percent of all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) complaints pertain to aspartame’s adverse reactions. These reports include: grand mal seizures, brain tumors, blindness and other health-related problems, including deaths. Monsanto’s Nick Rosa stated in 1998, that Neotame is “based on the aspartame formula.”

It is up to 13,000 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). The product is very attractive to food manufacturers, as its use greatly lowers the cost of production compared to using sugar or high fructose corn syrup (due to the lower quantities needed to achieve the same sweetening).

Neotame is aspartame plus 3-di-methylbutyl, which can be found on the EPA’s list of most hazardous chemicals. The aspartame formula is comprised of Phenylalanine [50%], which caused seizures in lab animals and Aspartic Acid [40%], which caused “holes in the brains” of lab animals — bonded by Methyl Alcohol, or Methanol [10%] which is capable of causing blindness, liver damage and death.

Methanol, or wood alcohol in aspartame breaks down further in heat and in the body, into Formaldehyde (embalming fluid), Formic Acid (venom in ant stings) and the most deadly of all — Diketopiperazine (DKP), a brain tumor agent.

When it comes to human health, neotame is in the same dangerous category as aspartame, but it is a deadlier neurotoxin, immunotoxin and excitotoxin. The long-term effects are essentially cell-death.

Even Monsanto’s own pre-approval studies of neotame revealed adverse reactions. Unfortunately, Monsanto only conducted a few one-day studies in humans rather than encouraging independent researchers to obtain NIH funding to conduct long-term human studies on the effects of neotame.

There were NO independent studies that found neotame to be safe. All industry-funded studies are now being found to be based on very poorly designed, deceptive and fraudulent research .

This is no surprise given all of the problems with aspartame industry research and scientific abuse. It is clear that any neotame research that Monsanto, industry groups, or consultants of Monsanto should be rejected until which time more trustworthy, independent research can be conducted. Such experiments should include independent animals studies and especially long-term (e.g., 4-5 years+) human studies in various susceptible population groups.

Approval and Labeling

Neotame was approved by the FDA for general use in July 2002, and has now been approved by the EU. It is also is approved for use in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The FDA loosened all labeling requirements for Neotame as part of a large-scale effort to make it a near-ubiquitous artificial sweetener, to be found on the tabletop, in all prepared foods, even in organics. It simply does not have to be included in the ingredient list. How’s that for stealth?

If you purchase processed foods, whether USDA Certified Organic or not, that food may likely contain Neotame because it is cost-effective, and since no one knows it is there, there is no public backlash.

The USDA states that their National Organic Program (NOP) does not permit the use of neotame in products labeled certified organic, however this is likely a deceptive ploy to soothe the public’s concerns about this toxic sweetener.

Since the USDA is controlled by politicians and lobbyists, it cannot be trusted to protect any of its regulatory policies. The NOP is a division within the USDA in charge of regulating the USDA Certified Organic products, labeling, enforcement etc. Considering the size of this division in comparison to the amount of organic food they regulate, NOP standards are arguably as lax and useless as USDA’s conventional foods. The employees that enforce NOP standards know this very well.

Bottom Line: Don’t trust USDA organic foods and confide in local farms with reputable practices.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Due to corporate greed, it is becoming quite apparent that the entire food supply is becoming one toxic wasteland that none of us can rely on. We need to support local farms and move back to sustainble farming practices that benefit the population rather than harm it.

If you’re still consuming processed foods with artificial sweeteners, you are gambling with your long-term well being. There are no corporations that serve agribusiness that can be trusted to safeguard public health, and the regulatory agencies that are officially in charge of that mandate are in bed with them.

SO, THIS AVOCADO WALKS INTO A SPA....

One of my very favorite healthy eats is Kale.  I now seem to incorporate it into every salad I make.  Often, Kale is the base of my entire salad.  I like the crunchiness, I like the sharpness (especially when you add raisins for sweetness and balsamic vinegar for tang).   But I never knew that Kale and I have a secret love in common....

...the massage.

Who knew that we should be massaging avocado into the kale leaves?  It takes out some of the bitterness and adds a whole new level of flavor to the gorgeous green leaf.   All you need is a little lemon juice, kale and avocado... then get your hands messy.

After the massage, you'll want to let the kale rest for a few minutes (sound familiar?) and then the leaves will return to that vibrant green. 

Have fun.  And happy, healthy eats!

PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST

What would you say if someone told you you could have pizza for breakfast (or any meal, for that matter) every day and loose weight and be healthy?   You'd probably think, "Yeah, right," or "What is this? A new 'Pizza Fad Diet?'"

Pizza can actually be good for you, but it depends on a few factors.  The first being health, fresh toppings like vegetables, lean proteins, low fat cheeses, and a low-sugar pizza sauce. 

But the main factor between healthy and not-so-healthy (aka low glycemic impact or high glycemic impact) is the crust.    I recently found a recipe for a Cauliflower Crust.  It's pretty amazing.  This recipe will make a 12" pizza crust (thin and crispy) or a 9" crust that has a doughy consistancy to it.   And let me tell you... not only does it taste wonderful (it's one of those "if you didn't know it was good for you..." recipes) but it makes your entire house smell like an Italian kitchen.

This will be a new staple in my kitchen, and I am going to be playing around with spices and cheeses.  Next step: add a little fresh grated parmesan to the mix.


Here is my answer to Cold Pizza for Breakfast:  FRESH HOT Cauliflower Crusted pizza with grilled chicken, eggplant, asparagus, and broccoli.  Served with a kale and sprout salad and sliced apples.  I sipped it with a strawberry-kiwi aloe fizzy (homemade).

WHEN BEEF IS NOT BEEF

While the Wendy's Company may be trying to resurge their famous "Where's the beef?" campaign from the 1980's with Reid Ewing (Dylan from TV's Modern Family), those of us who have been around long enough know there can never truly be a replacement for the iconic "Where's the beef Lady?"  But today's post is not about what you might find in a Wendy's hamburger....

...Today's post is about what you might NOT find in your Taco Bell beef taco.   And what you may not find is, well, beef.   To be fair, according to this article you will only find about 36% beef in your beef taco.

SODA'S HEALTH RISKS

Today's work is done for me by The Huffington Post's article which is simply one of MANY articles and studies about the detriment sodas (regular or diet) do to our bodies.

http://huff.to/Ahh3Qs

Addicted to sodas? Wean yourself off slowly.  If you drink a case a day, drop down to a six pack.  From a six pack, go to three, etc.   If you REALLY believe its the caffeine* you need, get it from other sources (coffee, black teas, green tea, yerba mate...  feel free to contact me about some of my favorite products in this arena).   If you claim its the carbonation you love, switch to flavored sparkling waters, then un-flavored sparkling waters with fresh squeezed lemon or lime.

When it comes down to it, if you want health bad enough, you will find a way to get there.  "Will-Power" is not what I am speaking of.

*most likely what you are addicted to is the artificial sweeteners.  For all you diet soda lovers who claim you need the caffeine to operate, by trying to reduce sugar by replacing it with artificial sweeteners, you are actually continuing the addiction/craving process of your body wanting/needing sugars.

MAKING EXERCISE FUN

Exercise is a key component for not just changing your body composition, but looking and feeling better about yourself.  So many of us, when we are first beginning our journey to health, may not feel comfortable going to the gym or even investing in some great workout DVDs to do at home.  Here's something I found recently that looks completely and totally do-able... and FUN.

THE HARRY POTTER WORKOUT

INSPIRATION

Recently, I have been sharing recipes with some of my fellow weight management gurus.  In fact, it was them that told me to start a blog and share with the world.   It was this meal that prompted my friends.  And it was a lack of food in my house that prompted this recipe.

"Scarborough Fair" Seasoned Stuffed Tomato.

3 eggwhites
1 large tomato - sliced in halve, then "gutted."  keep the meat, discard the juices/seeds.
roasted red peppers - sliced
asparagus
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme - to taste.
Parmesan Cheese - just a pinch, to taste

Preheat the oven to 400
Gut the tomato and in a small bowl mix the eggwhites with the meat of the tomato, red peppers, Parmesan and asparagus.
Line a baking sheet with your favorite liner (I like silpat)
Pour the egg mixture into the tomatoes.

Put in the oven for 25-30 minutes.

ABOUT ME

If you're reading this, then you're too close.  Just kidding.   Welcome to my blog.   My name is Reed Prescott.   I've built an amazing career as an award-winning consultant for health, fitness and beauty professionals.  I also am a weight management and lifestyle coach, having successfully coached people to their healthier selves by not only educating them about food, what food does in the body, but really working on each individual's relationship with food.   I use a completely customized, yet systemized approach with 100s of years of science-based research on low-glycemic impact eating.  Real Food all the time.   This blog is my chance to share amazing recipes as well as revenue-generating tips from time to time.   Oh, I forgot to mention:  by helping so many people feel better about themselves, I have been able to create a permanent passive income stream.   And I love sharing my success with others.  Enjoy the blog and feel free to contact me anytime.

-Reed Prescott