1. Eat Eggs occasionally, but not Egg Beaters
2. Pastured Eggs are ideal (Buy at Fairway Market)
3. Second choice: Organic or Free-Range Eggs
4. Top 5 nutrients in Eggs:
?Sulfur – boost Skin and Joint Health
?Vitamin B12- boost Energy and fight Depression
?Choline- boost Energy and Brain Health
?Vitamin D- boost Immunity and Bone Heath
?Lutein- boost Vision Health
5. Egg yolk contains most of these vitamins and minerals
Understand Egg Label
Photo by The Humane Society of The United States
Read more about eggs and choline in my Eat Eggs blog post.
Why do so many of us have chocolate cravings? My patients are wondering if it is due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Overall, chocolate is a good source of magnesium and iron. I tried to provide other (magnesium and iron) alternatives such as nuts, seeds, dark leafy greens, lentils & beans, and did not find any reduced cravings of chocolate in my patients. Perhaps it is due to the mood-calming compound in chocolate that release your body’s “feel good” chemical- Dopamine and Serotonin, or just the complex, rich flavor and smell of chocolate ??.
Chocolate craving is not a nutritional concern as long as you are sticking with the less processed forms. In fact, the flavonoids in dark chocolate is beneficial to your skin and heart health. This powerful anti-aging antioxidant can help to reduce blood pressure, the bad cholesterol “LDL”, and keep your skin soft & moist.
I like the bitterness, woody taste and smooth texture in a piece of dark-chocolate (85% cocoa), a warm cup of unsweetened almond milk with a tablespoon of pure cocoa powder, or a few bits of cacao nibs in my homemade smoothie or oatmeal.
I do not recommend white chocolate, milk chocolate, peanut butter/caramel chocolate candy bars, or chocolate with more than 10g of sugar per 40g serving.
Last year, I posted a recipe of Homemade Protein Chew on my Instagram. I was exploring a caffeine-free version and have created this Vegan, Less Fat, Sugar-Free formula. I replaced the cocoa and honey in the original recipe with Chatfield’s All Natural Carob Powder* (naturally sweet, low in fat).
Photo Credit: Chatfield’s
* While Carob powder is a good substitute of cocoa powder for those who are very sensitive to caffeine or watching their weights, please note that it doesn’t contain the phytochemical flavonoids. However, this product is delicious in warm, almond milk and baked goods.
Recipe:
Raw Vegan Protein Chew
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp of Epic vanilla protein *
3 Tbsp raw shelled #hempseeds (@harvesthemp)
6 Tbsp Chatfield’s All Natural Carob Powder
1 Tbsp #coconutoil
1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 cup of Almond Milk
Directions:
1. Mix the first 5 ingredients in a bowl. 2. Add almond milk gradually while mixing the batter.
3. Knead and roll batter into #proteinballs.
4. Place on wax paper and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Enjoy ?
* Reviews of Epic Protein Supplement
The American Heart Association recommends to consume at least two servings (~8oz) of fish per week for heart health. You are studying the restaurant menu at length, couldn’t decide between the Tilapia or Sea Bass? Use the following nutrition tips to cut through the confusion and enjoy your seafood meal. If you would like to expand your ethnic culinary repertoire, check out my recipe for Chinese-Style Steamed Strip bass
Nutrition Tips:
Choose a variety of fatty fish and focus on wild-caught species (ex. Pacific sockeye salmon) instead of farm-raised species if possible.
Choose steamed/baked seafood over fried/smoked seafood.
Choose seafood with a high omega-3 FA to omega-6 FA ratio, such as Pollock, Sea Bass, Cod, Caviar (roe), and King Crab.
Limit seafood with a high omega-6 FA to omega-3 FA ratio, such as Tilapia and Catfish.
Omega-6 fatty acids to Omega-3 fatty acids ratio?
Increasing omega-3s through fish or shellfish intake is preferable. The most beneficial omega-3s are EPA and DHA. Read more about the anti-inflammatory benefits of EPA and DHA on my Instagram post here The box of dreams .
Unlike omega-3s, consuming too much omega-6s can lead to inflammation, which increase risk of rheumatoid arthritis, blood clots, cancer, and Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It’s essential to maintain proper ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in our diet. Studies found that a ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 of 4:1 to 1:1 is considered healthy. Unfortunately, most of us are consuming a ration of >20:1 in modern diet.
Omega-6 fatty acids are loaded in vegetable oil (sunflower, safflower, corn, grape seed), peanut oil, salad dressing, margarine, fried food, and chips.
Not all fish are created equal. Farm-raised tilapia and catfish has a high ration of omega-6 to omega-3 (11:1) compared to the Wild-caught trout and salmon (1:1). Choose cold water fish such as Wild-caught trout, salmon, tuna, sardines for the benefits of EPA and DHA.
Avoid/limit imported fish/seafood as they may be contaminated or loaded with antibiotics that are banned in the US.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, a high quality, purified fish oil would be the safest source of EPA and DHA.
When you crave for something warm and light, noodle soup can be a quick meal option that’s satisfying, fresh, and grease-free. Making your own Noodle Bowl at home is surprisingly easy, all you need are 4 elements: soba noodle, broth base, veggies, and protein. Soba, AKA, Buckwheat Noodles are good source of fiber, manganese and contain high quality protein (6-9g per 2 oz serving). They are uniquely rich in the essential amino acid Lysine, which is lacking in many grains. Manganese and Lysine are involved in the creation of collagen and absorption of calcium, maintain bone health. Keep your noodle portion small (1-2 oz soba) and pair it with lean protein choices (tofu, tempeh, edamame, fish, shrimp, chicken) and steamed/sauté veggies of your choice.
Ingredients (serves 4):
6 oz soba noodles
2-inches ginger, grated
6 oz Tofu Cutlet, sliced
8 pieces of shrimp wonton, boiled
8 cups rainbow veggies, steamed
3/4 Tbsp Brown Rice Miso
Directions:
Boil a pot of water over high heat. Add ginger and 3/4 Tbsp of Miso.
Cook soba noodle with tofu cutlet for 5 minutes.
Top with steamed rainbow veggies.
Garnish with scallion or a dash of sesame seeds.
Smile and serve.
Nutrition Tips:
If you want to try flavor soba noodles like this one, check the ingredients to make sure it is made with real green tea matcha and not food colorings. Hime’s Green Tea Noodles are light and fragrant, and a sneaky way to add a dose of antioxidant into your pasta.
Try to consume at least 2 cups of veggies in each meal. Pick a rainbow selection (at least 4 colors) of seasonal vegetables and serve them on the side of the noodle bowl.
1 small nub Ginger Root
1 small nub Turmeric
1 tbsp Fresh Mint
2 medium cucumbers
3 orange/yellow bell peppers
💊If you are pregnant or have any medical condition, don’t forget to get your doctor’s approval before trying herbs and supplements as they may interfere with other medicines you are taking.
PreventingChronic Disease with a freshly made organic juice in the morning. Experience with different in-season produce and keep a blend of vegetables and fruits at a 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 ratio. If you can tolerate a pungent taste, incorporating healing roots such as ginger and turmeric may boost your immunity.
According to Ayurvedic Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ginger and Turmeric have been associated with digestive health and having anti-aging properties. Their powerful antioxidants can repair the free radicals our body produces, reduce cellular DNA and membrane damages that cause premature aging and chronic disease.
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center suggested that FRESH ginger and turmeric (Curcumin) may contain anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially suppressing cancer cells growth and inflammation. Other lab studies suggested that ginger may protect brain cells against Alzheimer’s disease, delay the aging process and strengthen memory. The anti-inflammatory agents in ginger and turmeric may be helpful in improving the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Don’t forget to maintain an active lifestyle. Proper exercise can improve joint mobility and reduce inflammation.
