Dogs Eating Carbs

Five years ago, I had an interesting conversation with a veterinarian friend about dog food. We were talking about diabetes in one of the dogs she was treating, and I remarked "that's what happens when you feed a carnivore carbohydrate". She gave me a funny look. At the time, I was seeing the world through the low-carb lens, and I remember thinking how bizarre it was that she didn't yield to my impeccable logic. As they say, live and learn.

The journal Nature published a fascinating paper on the evolution of the domestic dog today (1). Researchers compared the genome of wolves and domestic dogs to see what genetic changes accompanied domestication.

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Simple is Healthy

Simple is Healthy!

Simple is Healthy ~ Food, Part 1

YES…I have lots to say about keeping it simple and being such a chatter box, and trying not to jump too hard on the soap box, I knew this was going to become a series of SIMPLE.  I came across a quote that struck me “90% of people avoided obesity and diabetes long before anyone knew what a calorie was let alone counted them…let’s make “healthy” healthy again” and it ended with the word…SIMPLE.

WOW, I thought on that and realized just how dynamic and powerful this statement was to me and how true it is for my life.  As a child, my parents modeled living from the land in our back yard and boy do I ever remember how my weekends were spent…pulling weeds from the garden.  Talk about a bitter sweet chore as a child…dirty hands, dirty knees, blisters…and the smell of tomato leaves so strong it could choke you…anyone relate?  Fruit trees adorned our backyard, and my Dad was a master grafter trying to create the perfect blend of fabulous fruit flavors.  I could walk in the garden and pluck a vine ripe tomato or enjoy an apple from one of our many trees…Simple.  What I am trying to say by sharing a small glimpse into my childhood is that food should be simple, and for me…simple is healthy.  Part one of this Blog, I will be covering food and what simple means for my Stay Healthy Life and as it relates to what and how I eat. 

I enjoy food in its’ true, SIMPLE form to this day and believe that the simpler the food, the healthier the food.  If it comes in a box, with a label full of words that I can’t understand, and the ingredient list takes up the entire side of the product, this is not a simple food…it is a bunch of mixed up crap in a box that sits on a shelf and has a shelf life longer than me.  That is what I am talking about, and am I going to put this in my body...A BIG NO on that.  Now, toss me an organic Fuji apple, and this is one happy girl ready to enjoy Simple Real Food, full of nutrients that my body needs.  Keeping food simple eliminates all stress of what I should be eating…how fabulous is that.  Once food becomes complicated, stress over the how much, what, and when  to eat enters the picture…ok…a small soap box…and thanks to agencies that will go un-named, media, marketing, blah blah blah…this world has gone crazy with complicated food and empty promises of pseudo health in a box that has greatly increased illness in this country.  Bringing food back to simple keeps me healthy and I am sure all of America would be healthier too. 

Simple means fresh, simple means I can pick the item up and smell it, and inspect it for the best pick of the produce.  Simple means one ingredient, I can usually eat the item at purchase, and if I am hungry for example, I will enjoy an organic piece of fruit during my drive.  When this concept is truly grasped, it eliminates all questions like…what did she/he eat to look like that? What did they do?  What diet was used…YUCK…diet is a dirty word in my book.  Keeping my food simple is how I maintain ME.  There is no secret this or that and I am hopeful that one day, everyone will wake up and realize this.  A few other foods that I include in my simple line up are organic boneless skinless chicken breasts, wild caught fish, grains, nuts, seeds, strained organic Greek yogurt, and cage free organic eggs…now, check this list in addition to what I shared earlier.  I am eating foods that are from the earth, as fresh as possible when I purchase organic, not processed in a factory and stuffed in a box. 

I enjoy the colors, aromas, textures, and flavors of simple foods and when I combine them into a salad…WOW…simple at its’ very BEST!  Of course some of my food items come in bottles and containers such as my Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Vinegars, Honeys, Nut Butters, Quinoa, Brown Rice, Greek Yogurt, Almond Milk, etc…but I research to ensure that they are minimally and organically processed, minimal ingredients and simple stored form.  NOW…this is the thing about eating my simple food…if I do not eat it raw or blend for a green smoothie, I am in the kitchen slicing, dicing, and cooking up a SIMPLE and HEALTHY meal that surpasses any complicated junk- in- a- box non-food item that is being passed off as “good for your health” food. 

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

I enjoy a stress free simple eating life that allows me to enjoy lots of healthy foods throughout the day.  I do not keep a food journal, count calories, grams, ounces, etc…I SIMPLY eat to live.  My body tells me when to eat and that is usually every 2 ½ hours and I eat to satiety, not to feel uncomfortable.  It is amazing how much MORE food I can eat when it is simply healthy…my large salads for example…OH MY…they seem to get bigger instead of smaller with every bite.  One of my favorite simple veggies right now are brussel sprouts….I roast these in the oven with EVOO and spices and OH MY…these nutrient packed baby cabbages are filling. 

So….I will continue to keep my food SIMPLE…it is my LIFESTYLE…and I am happy to know that I am making “healthy” healthy again! Stay Healthy ~

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list.  If you are inspired, LIKE my entry, leave a comment and I look forward to responding! 

 

Stay Healthy~ Darla

 

 

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Food Reward Friday

This week's "winner"... the Garbage Plate!!

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Appearance on "Ask the Low-Carb Experts" Podcast Postponed

I was scheduled to appear on Jimmy Moore's show "Ask the Low-Carb Experts" this Thursday.  I don't consider myself a low-carb expert, but I do have expertise in obesity and metabolism, and Jimmy had invited me to discuss these topics on his show.

Due to a confluence of events, I've decided that this is not the best time to do the show.  I want to be clear that I don't intend this as a rebuke of Jimmy Moore or his show-- most of my reasons for postponing have nothing to do with Jimmy.  Thanks for your understanding.

Overfeeding and Elevated Insulin

It's commonly accepted in the obesity research community that fat gain causes insulin resistance and an increase in circulating insulin, and that this is a major reason why obese people usually have insulin resistance and high circulating insulin. Part of the rationale is that substantial fat loss by almost any means improves insulin sensitivity and causes circulating insulin to decline, and substantial fat gain from deliberate overfeeding causes insulin sensitivity to decline and circulating insulin to increase. I recently cited three references to support this contention on another blog, and was challenged, so I decided to revisit these references to make sure I had understood them correctly (1, 2, 3). Since I took the time to do this, I figured I may as well write it up for my readers, since these studies are quite informative.

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Food Reward Friday

This week's "winner"... the Heart Attack Grill's Quadruple Bypass Burger!

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Extreme Flu Activity in the US

A friend of mine came down with a nasty flu recently. I checked Google Flu Trends, and found that flu activity is currently at "intense" levels throughout the US. This is the highest flu activity Google Flu Trends has recorded in the last six years (image from Google Flu Trends 1/3/12).

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The Potato Diet

In 2010, I wrote a series of blog posts on the health properties of potatoes (1, 2, 3). The evidence showed that potatoes are non-toxic, filling per calorie, remarkably nutritious, and can be eaten as almost the sole source of nutrition for extended periods of time (though I'm not recommending this). Traditional South American cultures such as the Quechua and Aymara have eaten potatoes as the major source of calories for generations without any apparent ill effects (3). This is particularly interesting since potatoes are one of the highest glycemic and most insulin-stimulating foods known.

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Food Reward Friday

This week's "winner"...

The Pizza Hut hot dog stuffed crust pizza!

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Is it Time to Re-write the Textbooks on Insulin and Obesity? Part II

A new paper published on December 6th in the journal Science once again tackles the question of whether elevated insulin drives the development of obesity (1). Mice were generated that lack Jun kinases 1 and 2 specifically in immune cells, impairing their ability to produce inflammation while having very few off-target effects. These mice do not become insulin resistant when placed on a fattening diet, and their insulin levels do not increase one iota. Are they protected from obesity? People who read the last post should know the answer already.
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Turkey Chili

Here is another high protein meal that I like to make on the weekend, then refrigerate for leftovers throughout the week.  I don't think I ever make it exactly the same way twice, since I'm always tweaking the spices, cooking time, and ingredients.

Below is a basic recipe that you can adjust based on your taste preferences.

Ingredients

• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/4 lb extra lean ground turkey
• 3 cloves of garlic minced
• chili powder- 2 teaspoons
• black pepper- 1/2 teaspoon
• cumin- 4 tablespoons (I like a lot, maybe I use more??)
• chili beans- 1 or 2 cans, rinsed
• diced tomatoes, undrained- 1 can 14 oz
• tomato paste- 1 can 6 oz
• chicken broth- 1can 14 oz
• 2% shredded cheese for topping

Directions

• Heat oil in a large dutch oven or pot on medium heat.  Add onions until translucent. 
• Add turkey and break into small pieces.  Cook until browned.
• Stir in garlic and spices.
• Add beans.
• Add tomatoes, tomato paste, and chicken broth.
• Then I start tasting and adjusting the spices.  I sometimes add a pinch of cayenne, a little salt, and more cumin and/or chili powder.
• I cook it for about 45 minutes on a low simmer.  

Food Reward Friday

This week's "winner"... Kellogg's Krave cereal!

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Is it Time to Re-write the Textbooks on Insulin and Obesity?

A recent study in Cell Metabolism by Dr. Arya Mehran and colleagues found a result that, according to a press release, "could overturn widely accepted notions about healthy eating habits" (1), and has set the Internet abuzz.

In this study, researchers generated mice that lack one copy of the pancreatic insulin gene, and compared them to mice carrying both copies (2). Then, they exposed both groups to a fattening diet, and found that mice lacking one copy of the insulin gene secreted less insulin than the comparison group (i.e., they did not develop the same degree of hyperinsulinemia). These mice were also completely resistant to fat gain, while the comparison group became obese. The authors came to some rather large conclusions based on these results, suggesting that the "accepted model" that hyperinsulinemia is the result of obesity is "incompatible with our results that put the insulin hypersecretion genetically upstream of obesity". Ergo, diet causes hyperinsulinemia, which causes fat gain. It's a familiar argument to those who frequent Internet diet-health circles, except in this case the hyperinsulinemia is caused by a high-fat diet.

The problem is that the "accepted model" they want to replace overnight didn't come out of thin air-- it emerged from a large body of research, which was almost completely ignored by the authors. When carefully considered, this evidence suggests an alternative explanation for the results of Dr. Mehran and colleagues.

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My Fit Foods

I wanted to share with you a food shortcut that I've used in the past that really works well when you don't have time to cook, but want to eat healthy.  I typically like to cook our meals, but this is another option.  My Fit Foods is pre-cooked, fresh, refrigerated packaged meals that you just heat up for a couple minutes and they are ready to eat.  A while back, we bought enough meals for our family for several lunches and dinners.  I buy the small, but the large would be about enough for two meals for me.  Normally, I might just buy a couple a week to take to work for lunch so I don't have to go out or bring leftovers.

One of my favorite meals is the Atlantic Baked Salmon with quinoa and broccoli.  But I also really like the salmon cakes, chicken wrap, and chili.  They have breakfasts too and tons of choices.

The nutrition information is provided on each package, like this for my salmon:

All of the meals are based on a  40% low glycemic carbohydrates, 40% lean protein, and 20% healthy fat.  

I know My Fit Foods is in Texas and opening a location in Phoenix too.  I'm wondering if there's something similar where you live, and if so, have you tried it?  What do you think?  I remember before I tried it, the thought of pre-packaged foods sounded pretty bad, but they are actually good and you can't beat the convenience.   p.s.  I'm not being compensation by MFF for this post- I just wanted to share:)

Great Grandma's Hot Chicken Salad

Today's recipe comes all the way from my beloved, late Great Grandma, and it was passed down to me by my Grandma.  My Grandma is a great cook and she's always sending me recipes and healthy eating articles she's clipped from magazines, since she's diabetic.  I love that this Hot Chicken Salad recipe is in her own sweet handwriting.  You can tell I've used it a bunch since the notecard is worn and dirty- a great sign of a good dish!

Over the years, I've tweaked the recipe some and added a few new ingredients.  I never really measure anymore, opting to just toss everything in- about a cup of each vegetable.  

Ingredients

• 1 Rotisserie Chicken - I like to use the white meat only 
• Olive oil - couple tablespoons
• Onion - diced
• Carrots- diced
• Celery- diced 
• Peas- frozen
• Garlic- couple cloves minced
• Light mayonnaise - 1/2 cup
• Cream of mushroom soup- one can
• Fat free milk- a glug 
• Sliced olives - small jar
• Prepared Pesto - couple tablespoons 
• Lemon juice - couple squeezes
• 2% shredded cheese - a big handful 
• Large shell macaroni (you can use whole wheat) - cup cups dry 
• Salt and pepper to taste- I usually just add a very small amount. 

Directions

• Boil the pasta until al dente.
• In a second large pot, cook the onion, celery, and carrots in olive oil until softened.  Add garlic.
• Shred the chicken and add to the pan.
• Add mayo, cream of mushroom soup, milk, olives, lemon juice, and pesto.
• Add the peas.
• Add the cooked shells.
• Stir to combine.

• Pour the mixture into a baking dish and top with shredded cheese. 

• Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. 

• This is one of the meals I portion out into about 10 small plastic containers and take to work with me.   I reheat it for about a minute.

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Food Reward Friday

This week's winner... the Starbuck's Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino!

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$100 Nordstrom Gift Card Giveaway!

To celebrate YOU and thank YOU for reading, commenting, and following along on my new blog, I'm doing a GIVEAWAY!  This blog is a labor of love and I sincerely hope it is a place of encouragement for you.  As women, we can be especially critical of our appearance and bodies and I hope that we can try to change what we don't like, accept what we can't change, and just all love ourselves more, regardless of what we look like.

For the giveaway, I chose one of my favorite places to shop- Nordstrom!  One winner picked at random will win a $100 gift card to the store.

You must be a follower or subscriber to enter.  You can also be an Instagram follower (@Honeywerehome) or Pinterest follower 

Just leave a comment letting me know. (Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win).  You can blog, facebook, tweet, pinterest . . . for additional entries. 

I'm so thankful for my readers!

The winner will be announced on Friday, December 14, 2012.  

U.S. and Canadian friends welcome to enter.   

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5 Reasons to Work Out During the Holidays

Hello and happy Monday!  I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and long relaxing weekend.  I had a nice Thanksgiving, but ended up eating way too much.  I went for a great walk/jog in our neighborhood park on Friday morning and it felt so good to get outside and get moving.  That jog made me realize how important it is to keep working out for the rest of the year.  With the Christmas holiday approaching and a schedule that is extra full, workouts can be the first thing to go.   But, I encourage you (and myself) to stick with (or start) exercising for these reasons:

1.  Reduce Your Stress.  For some of us, the holidays can be a stressful time of year and working out definitely helps to alleviate those tensions.   Even if I don't feel like going to the park or gym, by the time I'm finished, I feel so much better!  I have never regretted a workout, but I have regretted not working out.  Working out helps clear my mind and improve my mood a ton.

2.  Working Out Helps You Eat Healthier.  This is true for me, but I wonder if it's true for you too?? When I'm working out consistently, I tend to eat better.  I recognize that I worked hard at the gym and I don't want to "blow it" by eating poorly.  On the other hand, if I'm not working out, I tend to eat badly- indulging in way too many desserts.  It's a double whammy either way.

3.  Finish Strong.  For me, I've worked really hard to get into good shape and I want to maintain what I've accomplished.  If you've done the same, don't spoil it by quitting now!

4.  Be Ahead of the Game for the New Year.  When the New Year comes and everyone resolves to "get in shape" you'll be ahead of the curve!  How great will that feel?!

5.  No Guilt for Small Indulgences.  I try to eat healthy most of the time, but I admit to having a sweet tooth and indulging in desserts (and wine!).  I don't think total deprivation is a good thing and knowing I work out helps remind me that it's okay to indulge during the holidays without feeling guilty.

I don't tell you anything that I don't tell myself.  Writing this blog helps motivate me to continue my efforts at living healthy too.  My leg is feeling better, so I plan to pick back up my Live Fit Trainer.  I made my meals for the week on Sunday and I plan to Finish Strong and start the New Year off right!

via FitSugar

Also, I realized that I now have over 300 followers on Honey We're Healthy!  To celebrate and say Thank You, I will be announcing a GIVEAWAY this week.  If you want to follow this blog, click HERE or subscribe HERE.

Food Reward Friday

This week's winner: poutine!

While not as appetizing looking as the Monster Thickburger, poutine is probably more popular. For those who aren't familiar, poutine is a large plate of French fries, topped with gravy and cheese curds. It originated in Quebec, but has become popular throughout Canada and in the Northern US.

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Bring on the Dessert!

When it comes to Thanksgiving, most of us look forward to eating some lovingly prepared home cooked food and indulging in a few (or more) drinks.  I'm no exception and especially love getting my kitchen all dirty and smelling delicious aromas from the oven.  This year, I'm not hosting Thanksgiving, so I'm just preparing a few desserts to take.  I like to indulge, but not to the point where I'm uncomfortably stuffed, so I usually nibble on the appetizers, eat a smaller main meal, and sample all of the desserts!

This year, I'm in charge of the chocolate.  I'm making

Salted Caramel Chocolate Brownies

(I'm trying one of these sauces this time.)

Chocolate Covered Toffee

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Chocolate Peanut Butter Globs (from Ina Garten's new cookbook, Foolproof)

What's on your Thanksgiving menu?  I hope you have a wonderful day!