Health News
I know we all prefer convenience food...it is hard to take the time to bake, but when you dig deep and look at the ingredient list of common items, you realize the importance of making your own food. One popular American diet program has a so called "diet" brownie that has an ingredient list that fills the side of the box. Steer clear! Anything with maltodexterin, high fructose corn syrup, and other unhealthy products are not going to help with weight loss, no matter how low in calories they are. Do not be fooled by marketing!
NO one wishes harm on their children, but if you feed them trans-fats, you are unknowingly setting them up for severe health issues. This is because trans-fats in foods are like BIG SUV's trying to park into a "compact" parking spaces of our cells that are reserved for healthy Omega 3 fats (DHA). When this happens, our neurotransmitters responsible for focus, mood, and memory have a hard time finding and recognizing their receptors due to the inflammation of the membranes on the brain cells caused by the consumption of trans fats.
Brain levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine (important for mood and focus) are lowered by 95% when you ingest trans fats. BUT what is even more disturbing, is that when you switch to eating 100% trans-fat free our brain remains unable to produce normal amounts of dopamine in the hippocampus (the part of the brain most responsible for consolidating memory). This is one reason for the high rates of ADHD and depression. To read more on Brain Chemicals, check out my book: Secrets to Controlling Your Weight Cravings and Mood.
Children who start at age 3 or 4 eating a steady diet of fast food, pop tarts, commercially prepared fish sticks, stick margarine, cake, candy, cookies and microwave popcorn can be expected to have a harder time focusing, an increase risk of depression, have heart disease and strokes at earlier ages. BUT even if you avoid typical "junk food," you must remain a detective! I have seen trans-fats in refrigerated SALSA!
Hostess Brownie Bites Ingredients: Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Whole Eggs, Corn Syrup, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Dextrose, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanillin), Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour (Flour, Barley Malt, Ferrous Sulfate (Iron), "B" Vitamins [Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Folic Acid)], Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Cocoa, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Water, Salt, Milk Protein Concentrate, Nonfat Milk, Sweet Dairy Whey, Mono And Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Natural And Artificial Flavor. Contains Egg, Wheat, Milk And Soybeans
"HEALTHIFIED" BROWNIE
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 tsp instant espresso (optional)
1/2 cup plus 2 TBS boiling water
2 oz unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
4 TBS butter or coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup plus 2 TBS macadamia nut oil or more butter
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups Chicory Root Sweetener(or erythritol and 1 tsp stevia glycerite)
1 3/4 cups peanut flour
3/4 tsp Celtic sea salt
2 ChocoPerfection Bars, cut into 1/2" pieces
Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 350°. Ling 13x9" baking pan with foil, pushing foil into corners and up sides of pan with excess overhanging pan edges. Grease foil. Whisk cocoa, espresso powder (if using), and boiling water together in large bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk in melted butter and oil (mixture may look curdled). Add eggs, yolks and vanilla and continue to whisk until smooth. Whisk in sweetener until fully incorporated. Add peanut flour and salt and mix with rubber spatula until combined. Fold in ChocoPerfection pieces. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted halfway between edge and center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 min. Transfer pan to wire rack and cool 1 1/2 hrs. Using foil overhand, lift brownies from pan. Return brownies to wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hr. Cut into 4" squares and serve. Makes 12 servings.
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Brownies = 243 calories, 39 carbs, trace fiber, 2.7g protein
"Healthified" Brownies = 243 calories, 3.6 carbs, 1.9g fiber, 19g protein
- Samoa Cookies
Even though they claim, tran-fat free, this isn't true. Partially hydrogenated oils are listed in the ingredients. If you look closely the cookie photo says "per serving." If the total amount is less than 1 gram, they can claim this, but even 1 gram...
- Ice Cream Cone And Adhd
Next time you serve your kids an ice cream cone...remember this: NO one wishes harm on their children, but if you feed them trans-fats, you are unknowingly setting them up for severe health issues. This is because trans-fats in foods are like BIG SUV's...
- Corndogs
On September 2nd, my 30th birthday, I was on Showcase MN at the Minnesota State Fair giving advice for healthy food choices at the fair...no, a corndog wasn't on on the list. But, here is one you can enjoy at home! Morning Star "All Natural" Corn...
- No Bake Protein Balls And Special K Bars
As consumers I want to warn you against false advertising. These Special K bars are anything but healthy and will cause weight gain rather than weight loss. Kellogg's Special K Protein Snack Bar Chocolate Delight Ingredients: COATING (SUGAR, PARTIALLY...
- Homemade Ho-ho?s
These aren't super easy, but it is a fun project to make with your kids while informing them what is in a Hostess Ho Ho...maybe you will get them to understand the importance of real food and how to avoid Trans-Fat and harmful additives. Just make...
Health News
Brownie Cut Outs
I know we all prefer convenience food...it is hard to take the time to bake, but when you dig deep and look at the ingredient list of common items, you realize the importance of making your own food. One popular American diet program has a so called "diet" brownie that has an ingredient list that fills the side of the box. Steer clear! Anything with maltodexterin, high fructose corn syrup, and other unhealthy products are not going to help with weight loss, no matter how low in calories they are. Do not be fooled by marketing!
NO one wishes harm on their children, but if you feed them trans-fats, you are unknowingly setting them up for severe health issues. This is because trans-fats in foods are like BIG SUV's trying to park into a "compact" parking spaces of our cells that are reserved for healthy Omega 3 fats (DHA). When this happens, our neurotransmitters responsible for focus, mood, and memory have a hard time finding and recognizing their receptors due to the inflammation of the membranes on the brain cells caused by the consumption of trans fats.
Brain levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine (important for mood and focus) are lowered by 95% when you ingest trans fats. BUT what is even more disturbing, is that when you switch to eating 100% trans-fat free our brain remains unable to produce normal amounts of dopamine in
Children who start at age 3 or 4 eating a steady diet of fast food, pop tarts, commercially prepared fish sticks, stick margarine, cake, candy, cookies and microwave popcorn can be expected to have a harder time focusing, an increase risk of depression, have heart disease and strokes at earlier ages. BUT even if you avoid typical "junk food," you must remain a detective! I have seen trans-fats in refrigerated SALSA!
Hostess Brownie Bites Ingredients: Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Whole Eggs, Corn Syrup, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Dextrose, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanillin), Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour (Flour, Barley Malt, Ferrous Sulfate (Iron), "B" Vitamins [Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Folic Acid)], Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Cocoa, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Water, Salt, Milk Protein Concentrate, Nonfat Milk, Sweet Dairy Whey, Mono And Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Natural And Artificial Flavor. Contains Egg, Wheat, Milk And Soybeans
"HEALTHIFIED" BROWNIE
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 tsp instant espresso (optional)
1/2 cup plus 2 TBS boiling water
2 oz unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
4 TBS butter or coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup plus 2 TBS macadamia nut oil or more butter
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups Chicory Root Sweetener(or erythritol and 1 tsp stevia glycerite)
1 3/4 cups peanut flour
3/4 tsp Celtic sea salt
2 ChocoPerfection Bars, cut into 1/2" pieces
Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 350°. Ling 13x9" baking pan with foil, pushing foil into corners and up sides of pan with excess overhanging pan edges. Grease foil. Whisk cocoa, espresso powder (if using), and boiling water together in large bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk in melted butter and oil (mixture may look curdled). Add eggs, yolks and vanilla and continue to whisk until smooth. Whisk in sweetener until fully incorporated. Add peanut flour and salt and mix with rubber spatula until combined. Fold in ChocoPerfection pieces. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted halfway between edge and center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 min. Transfer pan to wire rack and cool 1 1/2 hrs. Using foil overhand, lift brownies from pan. Return brownies to wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hr. Cut into 4" squares and serve. Makes 12 servings.
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Brownies = 243 calories, 39 carbs, trace fiber, 2.7g protein
"Healthified" Brownies = 243 calories, 3.6 carbs, 1.9g fiber, 19g protein
- Samoa Cookies
Even though they claim, tran-fat free, this isn't true. Partially hydrogenated oils are listed in the ingredients. If you look closely the cookie photo says "per serving." If the total amount is less than 1 gram, they can claim this, but even 1 gram...
- Ice Cream Cone And Adhd
Next time you serve your kids an ice cream cone...remember this: NO one wishes harm on their children, but if you feed them trans-fats, you are unknowingly setting them up for severe health issues. This is because trans-fats in foods are like BIG SUV's...
- Corndogs
On September 2nd, my 30th birthday, I was on Showcase MN at the Minnesota State Fair giving advice for healthy food choices at the fair...no, a corndog wasn't on on the list. But, here is one you can enjoy at home! Morning Star "All Natural" Corn...
- No Bake Protein Balls And Special K Bars
As consumers I want to warn you against false advertising. These Special K bars are anything but healthy and will cause weight gain rather than weight loss. Kellogg's Special K Protein Snack Bar Chocolate Delight Ingredients: COATING (SUGAR, PARTIALLY...
- Homemade Ho-ho?s
These aren't super easy, but it is a fun project to make with your kids while informing them what is in a Hostess Ho Ho...maybe you will get them to understand the importance of real food and how to avoid Trans-Fat and harmful additives. Just make...