Last night I took some rotini pasta, turkey meatballs from Trader joes and a jar of pasta sauce for a quick dinner last night, had a ton of leftovers and made soup with it tonight here is the recipe!
4 cans chicken broth
1 can black beans
1 cup chopped up carrots and onions
leftover meatballs chopped up
leftover pasta
1 scoop MILA for your Omega 3 dose for the day
boil the broth and carrots for 30 minutes add the black beans for 5 minutes, add the meatballs for 10 mins then add leftover pasta, salt and pepper to taste, fantastic!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Are you gaining weight because you're hibernating?
Great article by Doc Gurley
What if the real reason Americans are gaining more and more weight is because we, as mammals, are unintentionally putting ourselves into hibernation mode? That's a theory that's being thrown around. So how does this work?
There are (at least) two common types of fats in our diets - omega-3s and omega-6s. Well, those and what I think of as the Frankenfat, called transfats - those are fats that have been chemically altered to make them less biodegradable (think of them as a sort of burned, charcoaled fat). Omega-3s occur in leafy greens, flax seeds, and fish (among other foods). You can think of omega-3s as "spring" fats. Omega-6s, in contrast, occur mostly in fall-harvested foods - corn oils, grains, soybean and cottonseed oils, among others. Some decent animal research shows that the signal to hibernate in mammals occurs when the diet shifts from mostly omega-3 ("spring") fats to mostly omega-6 ("fall") fats.
Our industrialized human diet has changed dramatically in just a couple of generations. Omega-3s are almost non-existent in the average American diet. We've not only got omega-6s saturating our diet everywhere, 24/7, season after season, but we've also got the technology to dunk anything we want, any time, in a hot vat of omega-6s. If you believe the omega-6 hibernation theory, that means we're giving ourselves a depth-charge signal to hibernate every time we order "fries with that."
What's more, we've changed equally dramatically the way we raise our meat in the same time-frame. Instead of grass-fed meat, we're now gorging our livestock year-round on omega-6 packed grains. That means that, instead of eating the spring lamb or the fatted calf - which were meant to help us survive the last gasps of winter - we're eating, year round, what was supposed to be rare, fall-slaughtered meats. Are we all chowing down all the time on hibernation-signaling omega-6-marbled roasts?
Although it's not part of the original hibernation theory, I would add the potential role of vitamin D. Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, drops as the seasons change. Vitamin D is associated with weight gain, and - independent of weight - also associated with higher blood pressure and diabetes. Our lifestyles also have changed dramatically in the same few generations until almost all of us are now living completely indoors and behind glass. Most of us are now low on vitamin D year-round - and some of us dramatically low, which may be a double-whammy of hibernation signals.
Sheesh - so what's a person to do? Even without hard science to prove the theory, even just as a way of thinking about what we eat, the hibernation-signal theory can be a good motivator to make some positive changes for our health. For many MANY health reasons, it's important to make the shift to more omega-3s. It's time we all treat our body like a valuable car and ask ourselves - have you changed the oil lately? You can think of trans-fats as a kind of gritty, cheap oil that can clog your engine. Omega-6s are like a cleaner oil, but still thick and sluggish. Omega-3s, in contrast, are the premium-grade, light and lubricating stuff - worth the extra money to keep your internal engine running smoothly. Keep in mind, however, that our fish are often contaminated with mercury, so - especially if you're pregnant (or wanting to become pregnant), you want to limit your fish intake.
And, for many MANY other health reasons, it's also important to get your blood vitamin D level checked - and to keep it in the normal range.
Those simple health moves will do your body some good. And I, for one, don't want to hibernate my life away...
What if the real reason Americans are gaining more and more weight is because we, as mammals, are unintentionally putting ourselves into hibernation mode? That's a theory that's being thrown around. So how does this work?
There are (at least) two common types of fats in our diets - omega-3s and omega-6s. Well, those and what I think of as the Frankenfat, called transfats - those are fats that have been chemically altered to make them less biodegradable (think of them as a sort of burned, charcoaled fat). Omega-3s occur in leafy greens, flax seeds, and fish (among other foods). You can think of omega-3s as "spring" fats. Omega-6s, in contrast, occur mostly in fall-harvested foods - corn oils, grains, soybean and cottonseed oils, among others. Some decent animal research shows that the signal to hibernate in mammals occurs when the diet shifts from mostly omega-3 ("spring") fats to mostly omega-6 ("fall") fats.
Our industrialized human diet has changed dramatically in just a couple of generations. Omega-3s are almost non-existent in the average American diet. We've not only got omega-6s saturating our diet everywhere, 24/7, season after season, but we've also got the technology to dunk anything we want, any time, in a hot vat of omega-6s. If you believe the omega-6 hibernation theory, that means we're giving ourselves a depth-charge signal to hibernate every time we order "fries with that."
What's more, we've changed equally dramatically the way we raise our meat in the same time-frame. Instead of grass-fed meat, we're now gorging our livestock year-round on omega-6 packed grains. That means that, instead of eating the spring lamb or the fatted calf - which were meant to help us survive the last gasps of winter - we're eating, year round, what was supposed to be rare, fall-slaughtered meats. Are we all chowing down all the time on hibernation-signaling omega-6-marbled roasts?
Although it's not part of the original hibernation theory, I would add the potential role of vitamin D. Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, drops as the seasons change. Vitamin D is associated with weight gain, and - independent of weight - also associated with higher blood pressure and diabetes. Our lifestyles also have changed dramatically in the same few generations until almost all of us are now living completely indoors and behind glass. Most of us are now low on vitamin D year-round - and some of us dramatically low, which may be a double-whammy of hibernation signals.
Sheesh - so what's a person to do? Even without hard science to prove the theory, even just as a way of thinking about what we eat, the hibernation-signal theory can be a good motivator to make some positive changes for our health. For many MANY health reasons, it's important to make the shift to more omega-3s. It's time we all treat our body like a valuable car and ask ourselves - have you changed the oil lately? You can think of trans-fats as a kind of gritty, cheap oil that can clog your engine. Omega-6s are like a cleaner oil, but still thick and sluggish. Omega-3s, in contrast, are the premium-grade, light and lubricating stuff - worth the extra money to keep your internal engine running smoothly. Keep in mind, however, that our fish are often contaminated with mercury, so - especially if you're pregnant (or wanting to become pregnant), you want to limit your fish intake.
And, for many MANY other health reasons, it's also important to get your blood vitamin D level checked - and to keep it in the normal range.
Those simple health moves will do your body some good. And I, for one, don't want to hibernate my life away...
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Omega-3 Deficiency Causes 96,000 Deaths a Year
Find out why these polyunsaturated fats are so important to your health.
[Read About the Author]
By Carey Rossi
Staff Writer
About the Author
October 14, 2009
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How important is getting enough omega-3 fatty acids? Very, according to a report in the Public Library of Science Medicine Journal. Harvard researchers looked at twelve dietary, lifestyle and metabolic risk factors such as tobacco smoking and high blood pressure and used a mathematical model to determine how many fatalities could have been prevented if people took control of their health. Amazingly, they found that between 72,000 and 96,000 preventable deaths each year due to omega-3 deficiency. (Danaei G et al. PLoS Med. 2009 Apr 28;6(4):e1000058.)
We think we know why. The scientific community continues to find good stuff that omega-3 fatty acids do for our bodies. Just take the following latest findings that have been published:
Omega-3s Decrease Inflammation
Researchers from the Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics Group at Wageningen University found that after six months of fish oil intervention, healthy elderly subjects had less inflammation markers in their blood. The study is said to be the first to show that DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) can affect gene expression to a more anti-inflammatory status. (Bouwens M. et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 90:415-424. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.27680.)
Omega-3s Could Save Your Eyesight
Researchers from the National Eye Institute in Bethesda found that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids could help prevent age-related macular degeneration. Omega-3s were shown to retard the progression of lesions in a mouse model of age-related macular degeneration. The omega-3s were also associated with an improvement in some lesions. (Tuo J. et al., American Journal of Pathology. 175: 799-807, doi:10.2353/ajpath.2009.090089.)
Omega-3s Keep You Thin
New findings reported in the British Journal of Nutrition indicate that overweight and obese people have blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids almost one percent lower than people with a healthy weight. (Micallef M., et al. British Journal of Nutrition. Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1017/S0007114509382173.)
The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Why become a statistic? Take supplemental omega-3s to keep you living a long and healthy life. In addition to the research presented here, scientists have found that omega-3s also have brain and heart benefits. To make sure that you’re reaping their rewards, take at least 500 - 800 mg of omega-3s daily.
I thought this article was really interesting and she referenced where she gathered her info. As always, take a look at MILA, the best Omega 3's from a plant source, no fish oil no flax seed, sugar and gluten free. Amazing product, you can find out more info at www.lifemaxtammy.com or www.whatiflifemax.com Enjoy!
[Read About the Author]
By Carey Rossi
Staff Writer
About the Author
October 14, 2009
Print this page Email this page
Change Text Size A | A | A
How important is getting enough omega-3 fatty acids? Very, according to a report in the Public Library of Science Medicine Journal. Harvard researchers looked at twelve dietary, lifestyle and metabolic risk factors such as tobacco smoking and high blood pressure and used a mathematical model to determine how many fatalities could have been prevented if people took control of their health. Amazingly, they found that between 72,000 and 96,000 preventable deaths each year due to omega-3 deficiency. (Danaei G et al. PLoS Med. 2009 Apr 28;6(4):e1000058.)
We think we know why. The scientific community continues to find good stuff that omega-3 fatty acids do for our bodies. Just take the following latest findings that have been published:
Omega-3s Decrease Inflammation
Researchers from the Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics Group at Wageningen University found that after six months of fish oil intervention, healthy elderly subjects had less inflammation markers in their blood. The study is said to be the first to show that DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) can affect gene expression to a more anti-inflammatory status. (Bouwens M. et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 90:415-424. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.27680.)
Omega-3s Could Save Your Eyesight
Researchers from the National Eye Institute in Bethesda found that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids could help prevent age-related macular degeneration. Omega-3s were shown to retard the progression of lesions in a mouse model of age-related macular degeneration. The omega-3s were also associated with an improvement in some lesions. (Tuo J. et al., American Journal of Pathology. 175: 799-807, doi:10.2353/ajpath.2009.090089.)
Omega-3s Keep You Thin
New findings reported in the British Journal of Nutrition indicate that overweight and obese people have blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids almost one percent lower than people with a healthy weight. (Micallef M., et al. British Journal of Nutrition. Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1017/S0007114509382173.)
The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Why become a statistic? Take supplemental omega-3s to keep you living a long and healthy life. In addition to the research presented here, scientists have found that omega-3s also have brain and heart benefits. To make sure that you’re reaping their rewards, take at least 500 - 800 mg of omega-3s daily.
I thought this article was really interesting and she referenced where she gathered her info. As always, take a look at MILA, the best Omega 3's from a plant source, no fish oil no flax seed, sugar and gluten free. Amazing product, you can find out more info at www.lifemaxtammy.com or www.whatiflifemax.com Enjoy!
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