Optimal Nutrition | Optimal Nutrition For Life

FUEL SAFE ZONE

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protein cookies 1 c (4 scoops) vanilla whey protein powder 1 c almond flour 1 c almond butter 1½ c unsweet applesauce 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt sweetener optional, and for taste: Recommend to use a stevia based one and about 1 Tbsp is perfect amount for the recipe. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Use as a batter and shape into cookie size on a baking sheet (3″ diameter, can roll into a ball and press slightly down to flatten). Bake at 350 […]

RESOLVING TO BE A BETTER TRIATHLETE

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Ilana Katz MS, RD, CSSD (a partner in crime) Just the other day I was pleased to see a whole bunch of 5:00am-ers waiting for the gym doors to open. The regulars were there too, most of them with their eye roll to one another (translation: “these new folk will be gone before the next cold days emerges”). According to Time.Com. the most broken resolutions are related to diet and exercise. So why then do people keep making the same resolutions and breaking them year after year? More importantly, what […]

FUEL SAFE ZONE

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Energy Balls with a twist of coconut A couple of energy balls are a perfect go to snack in the middle of an afternoon slump, or actually… whenever 😉 ½ c oats 1 scoop (¼ c) of vanilla whey 2 Tbsp honey 1 tsp almond extract ½ c peanut butter (or almond butter (or nut/seed butter of choice)) ½ c unsweet coconut (shredded) 1 Tbsp coconut oil 3 tsp of dark chocolate chips Mix all the ingredients together. Roll into balls with diam. about tip of thumb size.

Metabolic Efficiency: Who Needs it?

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As a sports dietitian, as well as an endurance athlete (triathlon and marathons) that struggles to lose weight, I often find myself frustrated with the low response my body has to my consistent training and very disciplined eating habits. I also have many athletic clients that struggle with the same dynamic. I thus began to research the concept of “Metabolic Efficiency”, defined as “Energy intake based on body weight that is required to maintain current weight.” I even went as far as having a basal metabolic rate test done, only […]

Beat the Heat with a Watermelon Treat

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Watermelon – not just for seed spitting. Not only is watermelon is a favorite summer food selection and barbeque closer, it is equally beneficial to health. The antioxidant lycopene is a chemical found in plants that gives certain foods (watermelon, tomatoes, red grapefruit, and guava) their red color. Part of the large class of plant compounds called carotenoids, which help protect and preserve body cells from oxidation and damage, lycopene may reduce one’s risk of various cancers, particularly prostate cancer. Watermelon is also a good source of antioxidants, that work […]

NEED AN OIL CHANGE

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Ilana Katz MS, RD, CSSD There has been much debate about the healthiness of different oils in the nutrition media lately. With the boost on research and essential fats, oils, some of which do offer the good source of fat to our daily intake needs some analysis. The reason why I want to blog on this is although many have been deemed healthy, depending on whether you use them for cooking or not, may change their chemistry. In other words, heating various oil sources can create free radicals which in […]

Planning Your Meals

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In my practice, I find the biggest roadblock to weight loss success is that people do not take the time to plan their day as far as eating goes. So they either wait for meal times, or until they are hungry, and then just see what is convenient to grab. This sets you up to either not eat enough during the day, or gorge on whatever is available, or just get the most convenient food which is more than likely prepackaged and processed. If you take a few moments in […]

Quick review on Anti-Inflammation Nutrition

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I have recently been asked many questions on whether the anti-inflammation diets really work. So while such diets may not target weight loss exactly, there is evidence that they aid in anti-inflammation, and weight loss may even be a secondary benefit. This makes sense because inflammation foods, such as processed or refined foods, sugary foods, white breads, and hig fat (particularly trans or saturated fat) foods are eliminated for anti-inflammatory responses. I put together a quick summary to answer these basic questions. Inflammation affects individuals differently. From research, the main […]

Training (outside!) in the winter

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Resolve to run (outside!) through the winter. Why some people make it through and others don't.

Garbage or Gourmet?

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The phrase “Eat healthy” more than likely creates a visual of fruits and vegetables in most people’s minds. Even I, in my office, have a poster that recommends “Eat a Rainbow” today. The poster represents a rainbow made from food, from red beets and tomatoes, to green leafy vegetables, yellow squash, bright orange papaya and even purple eggplant. Many of us actually do eat this way, but we also tend to throw away the parts of our rainbow that could offer a greater nutritional value than the parts we […]