Month: February 2014
Have You Had Your Coconut Oil Today?
Have You Had Your Coconut Oil Today?
Coconut oil is an amazing oil. Here are just a few things it can do:
- – promotes great heart health
- – promotes weight loss
- – promotes the immune system
- – promotes a healthy metabolism
- – promotes a great energy source
- – promotes skin health and youth
- – promotes healthy thyroid function
Not all saturated fats are created equally. There are those created “naturally” and those man made or artificially manipulated into a saturated state through a process called hydrogenation. This is a process of adding hydrogen atoms to vegetable and seed oils while heating it, which produces a rancid and thickened oil that only enhances the shelf life of the product it becomes a part of. These become trans fats and these are not healthy for you.
Most nutritional experts agree that these types of trans fats should be avoided, but somehow in the process ALL saturated fats got a bad rap. This is not true though, there are healthy fats and very unhealthy fats and even healthy fats become unhealthy if you cook them at a high heat.
Coconut oil has a unique ingredient called lauric acid, which is 50% of the fat content in coconut oil and is rarely found in nature. Lauric acid is converted into monolaurin, which has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoa properties. Wow!
Coconut oil is also one of the FEW oils that stays healthy while cooking it at a HIGH heat. Add it to a smoothie, cook your pancakes and french toast with it, add it to your quinoa recipes to make them delicious….even use it as a moisturizer!
The possibilities are endless! Enjoy and be healthy ( :
Protein Power For Your Day
Protein Power For Your Day
Hmmm…..What do I know about protein? Well, a lot, but yet maybe not enough.
We know the incredible benefits of protein. Eating whole foods and especially healthy protein is a natural thing for our bodies and part of our history through the generations of family before us. Our parents and grandparents ate protein as a staple, but we have somehow strayed from this lifestyle into the convenient processed fast food lifestyle. What a shame. What choices of food we eat makes an incredible difference in our daily life. This everyday choice affects our LIFE directly because it affects our ENERGY, the BALANCE of our body’s systems and processes, and it affects our STAMINA and even our OUTLOOK for the day.
Unfortunately, the food industry is not helping us out in this regard. Our food supply has become more watered down than ever and actually is filled with things we don’t even need or want (extra sugar, dyes, artificial ingredients, and fillers of all kind, many hidden even in the labels we are reading!). We are all super busy and we do our absolute best each day, but deep inside, we all know we could do BETTER. We don’t have to harp on that or be hard on ourselves, we just have to keep striving to eat foods that are closer to nature…whole foods, foods we prepare ourselves from scratch. Each day is a NEW day to improve our health, eat healthy protein, increase our food’s nutritional value and in the process literally gain more LIFE!!
It’s all about getting back to the basics and treating our body to exactly what it needs. It’s so easy! It’s not just convenience and buying the latest greatest processed and perfectly packaged and marketed food that we have been sold on. It’s taking that extra step feeding ourselves and our family what our body can actually utilize and build on. Educating yourself on healthy alternatives to processed foods. A little bit of knowledge goes a long way and toward long lasting health.
We need to eat everyday anyway, why not pick something healthy that sustains you. Whatever your meal consists of, focus first on a healthy protein as the center, allow yourself some healthy fats and a few healthy carbs to fill it out, then it’s a perfect meal. Or whip up a whey protein shake. They are easy and super healthy feeding your body the protein it needs.
Show your “protein power” abilities starting today!
Enjoy A Coconut Moringatein Smoothie
Yummy!!
Enjoy A Coconut Moringatein Smoothie
Get a tropical boost from using delicious coconut milk to blend your Moringatein smoothie! It tastes great and has a light feel to it, so it works well as a snack in your busy day!
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup of unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 scoop of Moringatein powder
- ¼ cup of coconut water
- 1 tablespoon of organic coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1 tablespoon of ground chia or flax seeds
- ½ frozen ripe banana
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 large cup of ice
Blend at high speed to perfection, garnish with a sprinkle of coconut and a slice of lime and enjoy!
We’re preparing to launch a Crowdhoster campaign for Moringatein in early 2014. Sign up for our email newsletter and connect with us on social media so you can be the first to learn how you can be a part…
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How to Use Herbs in Cooking
Great article!
An important part of cooking is also to know the flavors of herbs and spices and how to use them. Seasonings are the key to making a great meal.
If you are not familiar with different herbs, experiment. Get to know the flavors and how herbs work to flavor your food. Also be aware herbs are not just for flavoring foods, but also have nutritional value as well as medicinal traits.
The following are the most popular used herbs.
Basil: This herb has a very aromatic odor and some can even be sweet. It can be fresh or dried. The herb goes well with lamb, fish, roast, stews, ground beef, vegetables, dressing and omelets. Basil should always be added after cooking your recipe dish, as heat chances the color and texture of basil.
Basil is also best used as whole leaves or torn. Do not use kitchen shears to cut…
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Win A One Week Supply Of Moringatein!!
Join the movement!
Delicious Moringatein
Moringatein combines the nutritional power of Moringa leaves and a time-released protein blend into a delicious and convenient meal replacement smoothie the whole family will enjoy. When you drink Moringatein, you are investing in sustainable Moringa farming and creating generational change to help end world malnutrition.
Win a one week supply of delicious Moringatein! All you have to do is commit to sharing your one week experience with us in a testimonial. Sign up with our email or social media and we’ll include you in the drawing on March 7th.
We’re preparing to launch a Crowdhoster campaign for Moringatein in early 2014. Sign up for our email newsletter and connect with us on social media so you can be the first to learn how you can be a part of this nutrition movement.
The Story Behind Moringatein
The Story Behind Moringatein
http://moringatein.com/
We’re preparing to launch a Crowdhoster campaign for Moringatein in early 2014. Sign up for our email newsletter and connect with us on social media so you can be the first to learn how you can be a part of this nutrition movement.
Fabulous Foods With High Fiber Content For Improved Health
Fabulous Foods With High Fiber Content For Improved Health
What is fiber and why do we need it in our diet? Fiber is the part in our foods we eat that the body cannot digest or absorb. It is found in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes. It has a long list of health benefits, and a major one is it can significantly decrease the risk of heart disease. It also greatly aids in our digestive health.
There are two types of fiber, insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fiber is found in whole-wheat flour products, wheat bran, nuts and vegetables. It helps to increase your stool bulk and promotes the movement of your food through your digestive system. Soluble fiber is found in peas, carrots, oats, beans, apples and citrus fruits. This type of fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like substance. It helps your body to slow down the absorption of food components, so you can retain more nutrients.
What are some delicious and easy foods that are high in fiber?
- Almonds
- Black beans
- Whole wheat bread
- Broccoli
- Walnuts
- Avocado
- Pears
- Lentils
- Mango
- Apples
- Oatmeal
- Raisins
- Barley
- Pumpkin
- Blackberries
- Okra
- Artichoke
- Raspberries
- Spinach
New information is now showing that a diet high in fiber may actually help to slow the epidemic of Type 2 diabetes, mainly by enhancing insulin sensitivity. This actually isn’t because of the fiber content, it is because foods high in fiber tend to be a major source of important micronutrients. When you’re choosing high fiber foods, focus on whole plant foods like from the list above, not fiber pills or supplements to achieve this added benefit.
Who knew that something we can’t even digest is so good for us!
Easy High Protein Foods To Eat Each Day
Easy High Protein Foods To Eat Each Day
Protein is a life sustaining macro nutrient composed of essential and non-essential amino acids required for the proper growth and function of the human body. Our bodies can manufacture several of the amino acids required for protein production, but it cannot produce the essential amino acids. These need to be obtained from an animal source or combined vegetable sources, or both.
The easiest way is through animal protein because they contain ALL of the essential amino acids. If you are a vegetarian, then you will have to eat variety of plant foods to achieve the same result.
How much protein do we need to eat each day? There is considerable debate on this subject, but a good rule of thumb is to eat .5 gram of protein for each pound of body weight. If you are more active or doing bodybuilding, then increasing your protein intake might be necessary. Eating too much doesn’t do more because your body can only process so much protein at once. It’s best to eat it throughout the day. Not getting enough protein can lead to muscle atrophy, and impaired functioning of the human body in general.
Here are some great high protein food suggestions:
- Fish, a 3 ounce fillet = 22 grams
- Cheese, a 2 ounce slice = 18 grams
- Chicken breast = 17 grams
- Eggs, 2 large = 12 grams
- Beef, 6 ounces = 38 grams
- Pork chop, 5 ounces = 33 grams
- Black beans, 1 cup = 15 grams
- Tofu, 3 ounces = 6 grams
- Milk, 1 cup = 14 grams
- Peanuts, 1 ounce = 7 grams
- Almonds, 1 ounce = 6 grams
- Whey protein powder, 1 scoop = 15-23 grams (varies)
Make sure to get the proper healthy protein you need today!
The Truth Behind The Diabetes Epidemic And Obesity
The Truth Behind The Diabetes Epidemic
Unfortunately the world is losing the battle against diabetes. Many experts believe the number of people now living with it is estimated to be over 380 million. This is mostly Type 2 diabetes that is directly related to obesity, a poor lifestyle, little or no exercise and eating an excess of processed foods lacking little if any nutritional value. We are creeping towards 10% of the world’s population having this disease (adults).
This is becoming a major health issue that is fast approaching near epidemic proportions across the world because there are more than 1.7 billion adults who are overweight, and approximately 300 million or more are considered obese. Even more tragic is this epidemic is trending towards younger and younger individuals, even as young as prepubescent ages. Sadly, there are now at least 150 million children worldwide who are overweight or obese.
In 3rd World countries over 70% of the population has Type 2 diabetes and this number is increasing each year. The most commonly affected are the people in the middle of their lives, between 35 and 65 years old, those years when they need to be the most productive.
In contrast, in developed countries people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are usually past the age of retirement and it occurs mostly in the highest poverty areas. Whether it is in developing or modern developed countries, poverty and a greater consumption of low cost per calorie foods, processed and packaged foods and sugary drinks goes hand in hand and makes Type 2 diabetes thrive.
This is a serious problem that needs serious solutions, nutrition education, lifestyle changes and better choices and avoiding these empty processed foods that increase the likelihood of obesity at any age.
A great start is to focus on eating healthy protein, vegetables, drinking lots of water and beginning an exercise program (even a small one). You’ll start to feel better, lose weight and have the energy and focus to make even more positive lifestyle changes!
Are You A Comfort Food Eater?
Are You A Comfort Food Eater?
We all crave different foods, but especially during the cold part of the year. We get this feeling if we just eat certain things it will somehow give us a boost in energy and to our mood. The truth is most foods we crave are not healthy whole foods that will achieve this. Instead we tend to crave foods that do the opposite, like a soda or sweet indulgent coffee drink (both for the caffeine slump in the mid afternoon), processed foods filled with carbs and sugar or heavy fat items such as some hot fries through the drive through or a sweet milkshake. If you’re guilty of this, then you might just be guilty of being a comfort food eater.
The bummer is most of these comfort foods leave us in a bigger slump than we were already in and not long after they have passed over our lips (not to mention they all help pack on the pounds). New research shows that there’s also a link to eating these types of food and inflammation in our body that interferes with the mood regulating chemicals in our brains, possibly even leading to a depressed state.
However, did you know that when you eat heavy carb based foods, doing so actually fuels the production of serotonin? This is your brain’s neurotransmitter that makes you feel good and activates receptors in your brain that help control your appetite and your mood. Like in the winter right now, there is less daylight and so our bodies produce less serotonin. As a response to this we carb load to stimulate the production of more serotonin. It’s something to be watchful of though! Pick the right carbs to achieve this, like healthy complex carbs, not simple processed carbs.
Another fact is that fewer hours of daylight causes our bodies to produce more of the sleep inducing chemical melatonin. This is why we sometimes feel lethargic in the winter and it can cause you to crave sugar. This is another pitfall for many because gorging on sweets will ultimately leave you grumpy and sometimes even depressed. Consuming lots of sugar causes a blood-sugar spike in your body creating these challenging symptoms. Sugar can be a quick source of energy, but it’s a poor choice to get that much needed boost. A much better alternative is to get your lift from a great cup of delicious organic coffee….leave the sugar out though.
One of the best cures for consuming too many comfort foods is instead eating sunshine….getting plenty of vitamin D (which is actually a hormone, not a vitamin). It’s great for chasing away the seasonal winter blues but it also improves your production of serotonin and less melatonin, which will boost your energy and you’ll feel great. It’s an incredible immune booster that will help you get through the flu season! If you can’t actually sit in the sun or escape to the tropics, then definitely supplement this amazing hormone every day. You’ll feel the difference.
Mission Nutrition 