SARS-CoV-2 stability similar to original SARS virus
Recipe of the Week - Loaded Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
/Ingredients
1 sweet potato
1-2 tablespoons avocado oil
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
2 strips bacon
1/4 small onion, diced
1 pound ground venison*1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup pickles, diced
1/4 tomato, diced
1/4 cup lettuce, shredded
1/4 avocado, sliced
*you'll use about 1/3 cup cooked for 1 serving
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
Wash the skin of the sweet potato. Prick sweet potato with a fork. Rub with 1 tablespoon avocado oil, and sprinkle the outside with coarse sea salt.Place sweet potato directly on the rack of the oven. Place a pan underneath the sweet potato to catch any drippings.Roast sweet potato for about 50 minutes, or until the thickest part of the potato has no resistance.Remove potato from oven, set aside, and turn off the oven.
Dice bacon. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add bacon and cook until your desired crispness.
Remove bacon from the skillet and drain on paper towels.
Add onion to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add ground venison to the skillet, breaking it up into small chunks. Venison is a leaner cut of meat, so if your skillet is too dry, add 1 tablespoon avocado oil, and stir.
Cook venison until it's browned, stirring occasionally and continuing to break up large pieces. Once cooked, stir in pickles, then turn off the heat.
Make a slit down the middle of the cooled sweet potato, taking care not to cut all the way through the bottom skin of the potato. Pull the halves apart carefully without tearing the potato in two.
Spoon about 1/3 cup of the ground venison into the sweet potato pouch. Save the rest of the ground venison for leftovers or another recipe.
Top the sweet potato with the cooked bacon, diced tomato, shredded lettuce, sliced avocado, and Special Sauce. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Servings: 1 Loaded Potato
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 609
Total Carbs: 40 grams
Net Carbs: 32 grams
Fat: 37 grams
Protein: 29 grams
Several Texas Schools Tripled Recess Time And It Has Been Helping The Growing ADHD Problem
/
The majority of us who attended public school probably have dreadful memories of enforced drudgery - being forced to sit at our desks, listen to the teacher, memorize textbooks, and complete tests based on that rote memorization. As horrible as this sounds, it's actually been getting worse.
Physical education, art, and music classes are slowly being phased out of school curriculums, which inevitably means more desk time, memorization, and regurgitation.
Naturally, children are acting out more than ever before. Children aren't meant to be sitting for hours on end; they are meant to be playing, observing, and learning through experiences rather than through facts read in a book. Resistant to this type of education, children are being labelled with disorders such as ADHD at an alarming rate and then medicated to ensure their conformity.
But what if these children don't have a problem at all? What if it is the current school system that is the problem? Wouldn't that mean we are drugging our children unnecessarily, and to their detriment? There are much better solutions out there that should have been considered before we began diagnosing young children who simply don't want to sit at a desk all day.
I know there are some exceptions, and there are some extreme cases of ADHD where children absolutely do need assistance, but that does not encompass the general populous of school-aged children.
Recipe of the Week - Soba Noodle Veggie Stir-fry
/This spicy Soba Noodle Veggie Stir Fry is a quick and easy meal for one, and perfect as a dairy-free, vegetarian dinner.
Ingredients
2 ounces uncooked soba noodles
1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
½ teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ cup chopped onion
¼ cup chopped bell pepper
¼ cup broccoli florets
1 large pasture-raised egg
1 tablespoon coconut aminos
1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce, or less if you don't like it too spicy
1 tablespoon creamy nut butter
Directions
Fill a medium pot halfway with water and bring it to a boil. Add the soba noodles and cook until tender, about 4 to 6 minutes.While the noodles cook, heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the garlic, ginger, onion, bell pepper, and broccoli. Cover the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Strain the soba noodles and add them to the vegetables in the skillet.
Push everything to one side and crack the egg into the skillet and cook, breaking up the yolk and white until scrambled, then mix into the vegetables and noodles.
Add the coconut aminos, Sriracha, and nut butter and mix well. Serve warm.
Nutrition
Servings: 1 Bowl
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 488
Carbohydrates: 63.5g
Protein: 18.5g
Fat: 21g
Saturated Fat: 3.5g
Cholesterol: 186mg
Sodium: 1102.5mg
Fiber: 4g
Sugar: 4g
Walking 10,000 steps a day won't help with weight loss, study claims
/
We may have been too foolish to believe that mere walking would be the answer to our weight problems.
A recent study from Brigham Young University suggests that the mere act of walking - specifically, walking between 10,000 and 15,000 steps per day - was not enough to prevent weight gain among the 120 freshman students who took part in the research.
Researchers determined the results by dividing the students into three groups, and instructing them to walk 10,000, 12,500 or 15,000 steps (respectively) for six days per week over the course of 24 weeks.
In the end, the study's authors observed that the increased step counts were not enough to prevent the students from gaining an average of 3.5 pounds over the 24-week period. (The researchers cited previous studies that suggested college students "commonly" gain between 2 and 9 pounds in their first year at school.)
"Exercise alone is not always the most effective way to lose weight," lead author Bruce Bailey, the professor of exercise science at BYU, said in a summary posted to the university's website. "If you track steps, it might have a benefit in increasing physical activity, but our study showed it won't translate into maintaining weight or preventing weight gain."
Recipe of the Week - Sesame Encrusted Chicken Tenders
/If you like the taste of sesame seeds as much as I do, you'll love these Sesame Encrusted Chicken Tenders coated with sesame seeds, panko and a hint of soy sauce. Bake them or make them in the air fryer!
Ingredients
8 chicken tenderloins, 18 oz total
3/4 tsp kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp low sodium soy sauce
6 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 cup panko
olive oil spray
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick oil spray.
Combine the sesame oil and soy sauce in a bowl, and the sesame seeds, salt and panko in another.
Place chicken in the bowl with the oil and soy sauce, then into the sesame seed mixture to coat well.
Place on the baking sheet; lightly spray the top of the chicken with oil spray and bake 8 to 10 minutes, until slightly browned on the bottom.Turn over and cook another 4 - 5 minutes or until cooked through and the edges are crisp. Serve over rice with more soy sauce, if desired.
Air Fryer Cook Time
Preheat the air fryer 400F. Cook 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway until cooked through, crispy and golden.
Nutrition
Servings: 2 Chicken Tenders
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 197
Carbohydrates: 5.5g
Protein: 23g
Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 1.5g
Cholesterol: 51mg
Sodium: 400mg
Fiber: 1.5g
Sugar: 0.5g
Is Keto Bad For Cholesterol?
/
We've all heard the story. Maybe we've even been the protagonist.
Person goes full keto. They lose a bunch of weight, normalize their pre-diabetic glucose numbers, resolve their high blood pressure readings, have more energy, feel great, and have nothing but high praise for the new way of eating.
Except for one thing, everything seems perfect: their cholesterol is sky-high. It throws a wrench into the whole operation, installs a raincloud over the procession, spoils their confidence.
"Could I be killing myself?"
"Are my health improvements just a mirage?"
In other words, are the apparent benefits of keto merely superficial if your cholesterol skyrockets?
The evidence is pretty clear that for the majority of adults who go keto, their cholesterol numbers improve.
In obese adults with type 2 diabetes, a ketogenic diet improved blood lipids and boosted fat loss compared to a low-calorie diet.
Recipe of the Week - Low-Carb Cacio e Pepe Brussel Sprouts
/Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprouts swaps out pasta for shredded Brussels sprouts in this low-carb take on the Italian classic.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1½ teaspoons freshly ground pepper
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- 14 ounces shredded Brussels sprouts
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/3 cup toasted hazelnuts or pecans, roughly chopped
Directions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the olive oil, pepper, and red pepper flakes together until toasted, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Add the Brussels sprouts and cook, without stirring, until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes.
- Season with the salt, and cook until the Brussels sprouts just begin to char, about 2 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and add the Parmesan, lemon zest, and hazelnuts.
- Serve warm, topped with more fresh Parmesan, if desired.
Nutrition
- Servings: 1/2 Cup
Amount Per Serving
- Calories: 204
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Protein: 12g
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 16.5mg
- Sodium: 591.5mg
- Fiber: 3.5g
- Sugar: 2g
6 Concrete Ways to Rewire Your Brain for Successful Habit Change
/
We all know the grim stats about how many New Year's resolutions fail. It's not because making resolutions is hokey or people are inherently lazy. It's because most resolutions come down to one of two things: adopting new (good) habits or breaking old (bad) habits, and habit change is hard.
People struggle at every step, from picking the right goals-ones that are motivating and achievable-through the implementation process.
The trick is to be strategic and intentional about changing your habits. Rather than relying on willpower and wishes, get good systems in place. As James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, says, "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."
Successful habit change is the process of taking a behavior that currently requires cognitive effort and making it automatic.
Recipe of the Week - Easy 15-Minute Wonton Soup
/This quick and easy wonton soup is super simple, loaded with veggies and takes under 15 minutes to make thanks to the frozen wontons.
Ingredients
6 cups chicken broth low sodium
1- inch piece fresh ginger, sliced thin
1 clove minced garlic
20 mini frozen wontons
1 1/2 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms
4 baby bok choy, halved lengthwise and halved
1 tablespoon soy sauce1 teaspoon sesame oil
scallions, sliced green parts only for garnish
Directions
Bring chicken broth to a boil in a large pot.
Smash the sliced ginger with the side of a knife to bring out the flavor and add to the pot with the garlic, cover and cook 5 minutes.
Add the bok choy and partially cook 5 minutes, then add the frozen wontons and mushroom, simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, until the wontons are heated through and bok choy is tender and wilted.
Stir in soy sauce and sesame oil.
Divide soup in four bowls. Garnish with fresh scallions.
Nutrition
Servings: 1 1/2 Cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 136
Carbohydrates: 22.5g
Protein: 9g
Fat: 2g
Saturated Fat: 0.5g
Cholesterol: 6.5mg
Sodium: 1218mg
Fiber: 2.5g
Sugar: 5g
Learn Proper Running Form to Increase Efficiency and Decrease Injury Risk
/
Running is the most simple and straightforward of fitness activities, so we generally don't pay much attention to learning and refining proper running form. Consequently, there's a widespread problem of joggers and runners with extremely inefficient technique that can lead to slower times and increased risk for injury.
Unfortunately, when you plod along at a jogging pace, the penalty for inefficient running form and lack of explosiveness is minimal. In contrast, when you sprint, you try to generate maximum explosive force with each footstrike, so even the slightest technique inefficiency or wasted motion delivers a severe performance penalty. Sprinting, Primal Blueprint Law #5, is a great way to clean up technique errors and drift in the direction of proper running form.
Recipe of the Week - Mixed Baby Greens with Pomegranate Gorgonzola and Pecans
/The beautiful, delicious fall or winter salad is made with mixed baby greens, pomegranate, gorgonzola and pecans with a pomegranate vinaigrette.
Ingredients
5 cups Mixed Baby Greens
5 cups bunch Baby Arugula
1 cup pomegranate seeds, from 1 POM Wonderful Fresh pomegranate
2 oz pecans, chopped (about 28 halves)
1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled (4 oz)
Pomegranate Vinaigrette:
5 tbsp pomegranate juice, I use POM Wonderful
3 tbsp champagne vinegar
1 tbsp shallot, finely minced
1 tbsp honey
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
salt and fresh pepper
Directions
For the vinaigrette, combine pomegranate juice, olive oil, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper in a small glass jar and shake vigorously.
Toss mixed greens in a salad bowl and top with pecans, gorgonzola and pomegranate seeds.
Drizzle with vinaigrette right before serving.
Nutrition
Servings: 1 1/4 Cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 228
Carbohydrates: 14g
Protein: 5.5g
Fat: 17.5g
Sodium: 206mg
Fiber: 3.5g
Sugar: 9.5g
Experts Condemn Keto. Will People Finally Stop?
/
For the third consecutive year, the annual U.S. News and World Report ranked the exceeding popular keto diet as one of the worst possible diets to follow. The ranking is culled from medical journals and government data, plus input from a panel of health and nutrition experts; since at least 2018, this review process has placed keto at or just above the very bottom of the list. Yet people continue to follow this diet, shoveling heaps of protein and fats into their mouths and eating so little carbs it makes them physically ill.
The core notion within keto (short for ketogenic) is that it forces the body into "ketosis," where it preferentially burns fat because there is no carbohydrate-derived fuel to use. (Never mind that your body can absolutely burn fat without being in this state of forced stress.) To achieve ketosis, the keto diet advises getting most of your calories from fat, eating moderate amounts of protein, and eating fewer carbs per day than are in an apple. Studies have shown that sort of diet to be helpful for children with epilepsy and people with diabetes, but in an otherwise healthy person, it's routinely discouraged.
Recipe of the Week - Greek Chicken Meal Prep Rice Bowls
/Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2 large or 3 small)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1-1/4 cups quick cooking brown rice, such as Uncle Bens 10 min rice
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 dry pint cherry or grape tomatoes
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 small orange bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
20 pitted Kalamata olives, sliced
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium lemon, quartered
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
Directions
For the chicken:
Combine lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, garlic and oregano in a small bowl.
Place the chicken breasts, 1 at a time, in a Ziploc bag. Pound with a mallet or rolling pin to an even thickness, about ½ inch thick, being careful not to puncture the bag.
Add marinade to the bag. Allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
Bring the rice and broth to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook 10 to 12 minutes (or until rice is tender and broth is absorbed).
Meanwhile preheat a grill, grill pan or heavy skillet over medium heat. Spray with oil and add the chicken, discard the marinade.
Cook 5 to 6 minutes per side or until chicken is cooked through. Allow chicken to rest while you make the rest of the bowl.
To assemble bowls and eat immediately:
Slice the chicken breasts. Place 3/4 cup rice in each bowl, top with chicken, 1/4 of the tomatoes, cucumbers, pepper and olives.Drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil, lemon juice from 1 wedge, 1 tablespoon feta cheese and a sprinkle of parsley.
For meal prep:
Slice the chicken breasts. In 4 meal containers, layer 3/4 cup rice and 1/4 of the chicken, in separate containers or baggies pack ¼ of the tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, olives and feta.
When ready to eat, heat the chicken and rice, top with veggies, olives and cheese and drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil and lemon juice from 1 wedge.
Nutrition
Servings: 1 Bowl
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 418
Carbohydrates: 23g
Protein: 44g
Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 133mg
Sodium: 781.5mg
Fiber: 2.5g
Sugar: 2.5g
Fasting As Hormetic Stressor and the Influence of Biological Sex
/
Men and women both need to enter a "fasted" state in order to burn body fat. This should go without saying, but regularly undergoing periods where you're not inserting calories into your mouth is an absolute requirement for weight loss and basic health, no matter your sex.
These periods are called "fasted states," and they begin as soon as you stop processing the energy from your meal. An "intermittent" fast is an extended period of not eating done for the express purpose of weight loss and other health benefits.
Intermittent Fasting for Women: What We Know Now
/
The blank slate hypothesis has fallen. Everyone comes into this world imbued with attributes, characteristics, and predilections that are uniquely theirs. We're all humans, but we're a diverse bunch, and that makes it interesting. And though it also makes giving cookie cutter health advice impossible, I just take that as an opportunity to stand out from the crowd and provide actionable advice that genuinely helps real people.
A perfect example is biological sex. Anyone who's lived with the opposite sex, been married, or had kids of different sexes knows that males and females are different-on average.
There's a ton of overlap, don't get me wrong.
We all need fat, protein, and carbohydrates. We all have the same requirements for sustenance and wellness. We all breathe oxygen, get stronger and fitter when we work out, use the same neurotransmitters, and produce the same hormones. The biological basics are identical.
It's the details that differ. And matter.
Take fasting.
Recipe of the Week - Lemon Chili Shrimp Quinoa Bowls
/These quick and easy Lemon-Chili Shrimp Avocado Quinoa Bowls are great for lunch or dinner, or make them ahead for meal prep!
Ingredients
For the Quinoa:
1 cup uncooked quinoa, tri-color or red
1 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable or chicken broth
Shrimp:
24 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined (20 ounces)
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Juice and zest of 1 lemon, divided
1 tablespoon fresh oregano
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes, or more to taste
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
black pepper, to taste
Bowls:
1 medium Haas avocado, pitted and sliced (yields 5 ounces)
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce or your favorite greens
1 cup diced tomato
1/2 cup diced red onion
Directions
Cook the quinoa:
Bring broth to a boil in a medium heavy pot. Rinse quinoa under cold water and drain well. Lower heat and cook, covered, for 25 minutes. Turn off heat and let rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
For the shrimp:
While the quinoa is cooking, add 2 teaspoons of the olive oil, half of the lemon juice, half of the lemon zest, oregano, parsley, garlic, chili, salt and pepper to a small bowl and mix well. Add the shrimp and toss.
Heat a grill pan or heavy skillet over high heat. When hot, spray with oil and add the shrimp. Cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
Divide greens into 4 large serving bowls on one half of the dish.
Add half the quinoa to the other half, then top with shrimp, avocado, tomato, and onion.
Drizzle each salad with 1 teaspoon of the remaining olive oil, salt, pepper, red chili flakes and drizzle with remaining lemon juice.
Nutrition
Servings: 1 Bowl
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 484
Carbohydrates: 44.5g
Protein: 37g
Fat: 17.5g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Cholesterol: 215.5mg
Sodium: 308mg
Fiber: 9g
Sugar: 8.5g
Research of the Week: America Will Import More Sugar This Year Than It Has In 4 Decades
/First came the water. "Ten inches, up to almost 20 inches of rain," Younggren says. The fields in his region were so wet that farmers couldn't work in them.
"After that came the snowstorm, barreling up off the West Coast," he says, followed by a blast of freezing cold. Farmers in his beet-growing cooperative, the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association, abandoned more than 100,000 acres of beets, and Younggren is now playing counselor to younger farmers, telling them not to lose hope or blame themselves. "You did nothing wrong," he tells them. "You put the seed in the ground and you matured it ... and somebody else decided that you're not going to be able to harvest it."
About half the United States' sugar normally comes from beets. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the beet harvest was down about 10% this year. The effects are now rippling through America's food industry. Last month, two big sugar producers announced that they won't be able to deliver all the sugar they'd promised to candy-makers and bakers, including Tippin's, a pie-maker in Kansas City, Kan.
You Better Watch Out, But Not Because of Santa...
/Did you know this fact about Christmas?
7,000
Is the average amount of calories a single person consumes on Christmas Day.
This number is more than 3x the recommended amount of calories recommended for a single day.
Be mindful this Christmas… Or as the classic Christmas song says, you better watch out!
Recipe of the Week: Stuffed Mushrooms with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage
/These Italian stuffed mushrooms filled with broccoli rabe and sausage are the perfect festive holiday appetizer!
Ingredients
16 oz uncooked sweet Italian chicken sausage, casing removed
1 large shallot, chopped
3 cups uncooked broccoli rabe, Rapini, chopped, discard large stems, use thinner stems only
24 baby bella mushrooms, stems pulled, chopped and set aside / caps brush off to clean
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1-1/2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 oz white wine
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons plain breadcrumbs, or gluten-free crumbs
Directions
Preheat oven to 400F.
In a large skillet, add the sausage over medium-high heat and begin to break down with a spatula.
Add shallots and broccoli rabe and continue to break apart the sausage while cooking for about 7 minutes.
Add in the garlic, chopped mushroom stems, and the salt, peppers, oregano, parsley, and wine and cook over medium-low. Continue cooking 10 minutes, breaking down the sausage and cooking the wine down.
Remove from heat and place the sausage mix into a mixing bowl.
Allow the sausage mixture to cool for about 10 minutes.
Add in the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese and mix well.
Place mushroom caps on a baking sheet and fill each mushroom cap with the sausage mixture. Caps should be overfilled and not level.
Place in oven and cook for 20 minutes.
Nutrition
Servings: 3 Stuffed Mushrooms
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 121
Carbohydrates: 6g
Protein: 13g
Fat: 5.5g
Saturated Fat: 1.5g
Cholesterol: 45mg
Sodium: 422mg
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 1.5g
