Can You Fast?

Whenever I discuss my weight loss approach with interested folks, there is that dreadful moment that comes after we go over sugar/starch replacements and fermented foods. These two topics are usually received with curiosity and enthusiasm. Then we touch on the topic of intermittent fasting, and almost invariably doubt and anxiety appear. “Fasting? Isn’t it too radical? Can I fast?” 

Read more

Three Hot Drinks to Keep Blood Sugar Down

Keeping one’s blood sugar level steady is imperative not only for diabetics but for the folks with a healthy metabolism as well. Stable blood sugar protects against excessive insulin spikes, the consequences of which we discussed earlier. Here are three hot drinks that can help stabilize blood glucose. They also are very helpful on fasting days as they help curb hunger.

Read more

Red Lentil Penne – Another Wheat Pasta Substitute

You remember our Black Bean Pasta, I am certain – it’s difficult to forget. Today I’ll show another non-wheat pasta based on the same family of plants. It’s Red Lentil Penne:

Read more

Food Guide and You

Sometimes things that happen “up there” remain, at least for a time, largely abstract for most of us. Sometimes they are of immediate concern for us, as they touch on something significant, with which we deal on daily basis. And what can fit that description better than food?

In December of 2016, a group of almost 200 Canadian Physicians and Allied Health Care providers sent an open letter to Health Canada, urging to rework the dietary guidelines. The letter suggests making an emphasis on real food, on actual scientific evidence and, well, common sense. To illustrate just how far from common sense current recommendations are, let me quote from the letter:

Read more

Relaxation Technique for Good Rest

Would you like to learn a relaxation technique from a Special Forces officer? A guy who uses this method to get a good night’s sleep before an operation, to get some rest during a break in tense situations, or to calm down after a stressful time must know a thing or two about effective methods for relaxation. I have been lucky enough to learn from such an instructor and have been using his method for many years. If you’ve tried the traditional advice of imagining yourself at a beach or a lake while breathing deeply and still find it difficult to escape rushing thoughts or to calm down restless muscles, try this technique and see if it works better for you.

Read more

Is Your Snack Plotting to Kill You?

Sad to say, but it probably is. Worse yet, it’s doing so while pretending to be your friend – the one you miss, wait for impatiently, and embrace when finally get to see. How treacherous. If you feel betrayed, you should – and not only by the snack, but first and foremost by a misleading nutritional advice

Read more

How we get thin

“We discussed earlier how we get fat, and how to lose weight. One more post on the mechanics of weight loss can’t hurt, can it? This time let’s deal with the standard advice: “Eat less, move more.”

Great advice… one problem with it, though – it doesn’t work. Attempt to follow it produces a short-lived result, followed by a dreaded plateau and a bounce – and that bounce often takes a dieter all the way back and then some. If it sounds familiar, it should; an overwhelming majority of people trying this approach experience just that. Here is why.

Read more

Baked Cheese Topped Zucchini

Not only is zucchini tasty and versatile vegetable, it’s also one of the long-standing favorites among healthy-eating crowds. Well deservedly so, too. Even convinced carnivores appreciate its taste, texture and the way it yields itself to all kinds of add-ons and toppings.

Most of the zucchini-based dishes are fairly simple to cook. This one is no exception. Judge for yourself.

Read more