-
Nutrient Absorption
How to Maximize Nutrient Absorption “You are what you eat” is a very famous saying . . . although, you may have heard the more accurate version of it: “You are what you absorb of what you eat.” Absorption is incredibly important. It’s possible to eat a variety of highly nutrient-dense foods but not get the full benefit from these nutrients simply because they pass right through you and are not absorbed. Not absorbing nutrients is similar to not getting them in the first place. Nutrients can’t help your body if they never truly make it inside to support your…
-
Wondering – can I increase my metabolism?
Weight is just one SMALL measure of overall health, but it is one that many of my clients are concerned with and have questions about. If you are intrigued – this post is for you! Hundreds of millions of people are concerned with their weight, so if this is you, please don’t feel alone. Often times it’s about more than just the weight – maybe you aren’t feeling your best, you would like to increase your sex drive, you’re in pain, your energy fluctuates by the hour, etc. Eating nutritious foods, and being physically active can help improve your well-being…
-
The Salad Dressing
Fat is our friend! Dietary fat does not equate to body fat, in fact, often times it’s the opposite. Fat packs flavor and is incredibly satiating. Sugar, is often the culprit in weight gain, and it is a common additive in foods today. EVOO is a healthy fat. It has a high content of antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects and protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation. BECAUSE EVOO is packed with nutrients, it is not very heat stable. It’s smoke point is about 325 degrees F. Why is this important? Once an oil goes beyond its smoke point, the molecular structure becomes…
-
Chia-licious Chocolate Pudding
I love having pets around, but, in my opinion, these serve us much better as a tasty addition to our diet. Chia seeds are quite incredible; they are a complete protein and are packed with omega-3 fatty acids! What’s a complete protein? – A food that provides us all 9 essential amino acids, which we can only get from food. There are few plant-based complete proteins. Why are omega-3 fatty acids good? They are anti-inflammatory! The last thing we want is chronic inflammation. Chia seeds have been shown to: Decrease triglycerides and LDL (“bad” cholesterol) Increase HDL (good cholesterol) Be…
-
Savory Chicken Ramen
So savory and delicious!! I love this recipe because you can adapt it according to what you have in your fridge. In fact, that’s how this recipe came about. Other vegetables that are delicious in this ramen are mushrooms, bok choy, radishes, bell pepper, kale, and green beans. Adapted from Fox and Briar Recipe Ingredients: For the soup: 1 Tbsp oil (I prefer avocado with a splash of sesame) 1 onion, sliced (sweet or white onion) 1 Tbsp ginger, fresh, grated 4 garlic cloves, minced 1-2 Tbsp chili flakes (depending on heat desired) 1 tsp maple syrup 1 Tbsp red…
-
Kids, Play With Your Food.
I used to get in trouble at the dinner table… A LOT. For giggling. My brothers are very funny. I didn’t always enjoy it, but I am so grateful that she fed us vegetables all the time because now I love em. She’s so wise. So, let’s get psychological. Growing up, our surroundings have a profound impact on what we eat and what we like to eat as adults. Children are very receptive to their environment and those around them. Familiarity impacts food acceptability. Now, full disclosure: I am not a mother, but here are some handy tips from the…
-
Cold Rice for Better Glucose Levels
I’m not talking about rice that you left on the counter for a couple days, please don’t eat that. Throw that away. Rice contains something called resistant starch, which is appropriately named because it’s hard for us to digest. BUT, this starch isn’t present unless the food is heated and then cooled. This process changes the structure of the food and in this configuration, it is harder for our bodies to break the bonds. Which is a good thing for our blood glucose levels. The harder the bonds are to break, the slower we are to digest. The slower we…
-
Crush Garlic and Let it Rest Before Cooking or Eating
You may be thinking, ‘Pearl, come on, you gone crazy.’ Well, maybe…but not about this. Not everything in nutrition is this precise but I love this fact because it highlights not only the amazing complexity of plants, but also that the way we eat them can make a difference. This might get a little sciency but bear with me please and I’ll try to throw in more improper words to make it interesting. Garlic contains organosulfur compounds, which, whaddaya know, contain sulfur. Sulfur is stinky, but it’s essential for life. These compounds are: anti-inflammatory antioxidant antiviral anti-carcinogenic The exact mechanism…
-
Mushrooms Can Continue to Absorb Vitamin D After They’ve Been Harvested
Where did these magical plants come from?! Wherever they came from, I am glad they are here. Mushrooms are strange, majestic, and packed with incredible healing powers. They are one of the few plants that actually contain vitamin D and can continue to absorb this precious vitamin even after they’ve been harvested! If you live in the PNW, like me, you know how hard it is for us to get adequate levels vitamin D. Our bodies synthesize it from the sun and up here near the 45th parallel, we only have the opportunity a few months out of the year.…
-
Nacho Cheese Kale Chips
Nacho average kale chips, HA! The flavor is incredibly similar to Doritos nacho cheese and it’s all made with healing spices commonly found in the pantry! Turmeric, I’m sure you’ve heard, is especially beneficial. It contains curcumin which has incredible anti-inflammatory properties. Science is showing that chronic, low-grade inflammation in the body contributes to almost every chronic illness in the US, including:– Type II Diabetes– High blood pressure– Heart disease– Asthma– Eczema– IBD & IBS– Dementia and more Make sure to include black pepper whenever you use turmeric, components of pepper increase the bioavailability of curcumin by 2,000%!! Incorporating foods…
