What Are Branched Chain Amino Acids and Do They Help Muscle Growth and Recovery?

By: Mark Sisson

I remember back in the day, you’d see all the bodybuilders at the gym sipping on purple water from those clear shaker bottles. They were drinking water spiked with BCAAs, or branched chain amino acids, the idea being the BCAAs provide your body a steady drip of amino acids to maximize muscle hypertrophy and stay anabolic all day long. Heck, even I sipped the purple water when I was trying to gain mass. In more recent years, BCAAs have fallen out of favor, or at least become less “vital” a supplement for people interested in gaining muscle.

However, branched chain amino acids are still among the most crucial amino acids for human health, metabolism, immunity, and hypertrophy.1 Without adequate intake of the BCAAs leucine, isoleucine, and valine, we won’t be able to activate all the metabolic pathways we need to generate energy and utilize macronutrients. Our intestinal health suffers. Our immune system grows sluggish. And, most importantly, without BCAAs we won’t be able to trigger the mTOR pathway necessary for muscle building and repair.

That’s what everyone cares about when they talk about BCAA supplementation: muscle growth and recovery. That’s why the purple water was so common. So, what’s the deal? Do BCAAs work for muscle growth and recovery?

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Recipe of the Week - High Protein Oat Waffles

These high protein oat waffles are made with cottage cheese, oat flour and eggs. So good you’ll never make them any other way!

INGREDIENTS

• 2/3 cup 4% milk fat small curd cottage cheese

• 2 large eggs, separated

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon sugar, (optional)

• 1 cup oat flour, or grind old-fashioned rolled oats in blender

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

INSTRUCTIONS

• Heat a waffle iron on its medium setting.

• Place cottage cheese, egg yolks, vanilla, and sugar, if using in the blender. Add 6 tablespoons water, oat flour, baking powder and salt and blend until mixture is smooth batter. Transfer to a medium bowl using a spatula to get all the batter out.

• Beat the egg white to soft peaks then fold into the batter.

• Spray pre-heated waffle iron with oil spray. Pour batter into iron (about 1/4 cup) and cook until golden brown and steam is no longer being released.

Serving Sizes & Nutritional Information
Serving Size: 2 small waffles (1/2 cup batter),

• Calories: 121

• Carbohydrates: 12g

• Protein: 8.5g

• Fat: 4.5g

• Saturated Fat: 1.5g

• Cholesterol: 81mg

• Sodium: 224.5mg

• Fiber: 1.5g

• Sugar: 1.5g

Orthorexia: Where to Draw the Line Between Healthy Eating and Obsession?

By: Lindsay Taylor PhD

Dr. Steven Bratman coined the term orthorexia ("right appetite") more than two decades ago to describe what happens when health-conscious diets go too far.

Although it still hasn't been accepted as an official medical diagnosis, orthorexia nervosa is a proposed eating disorder that involves an extreme obsession with eating a "correct" diet. People with orthorexia nervosa strive to eat only foods they consider healthy and strictly avoid foods they deem to be unhealthy or impure. Their obsession with eating a healthy diet takes over their lives, eventually impairing their mental, social, and even physical well-being.

The topic of orthorexia is controversial within health circles. On the surface, it can be hard to distinguish between folks who are simply health-conscious and those who have crossed the line into disordered eating. Any diet-even relatively mainstream ones like Mediterranean or paleo-could veer into orthorexia depending on the individual.

People who raise concerns about orthorexia often get accused of "fit-shaming." Then the straw man arguments begin: "Oh, so I guess it's healthier just to eat Twinkies and Big Macs, then?" No, obviously not. Orthorexia starts with food rules or following diets, but it's much more than that.

To be clear: Wanting to be healthy is not orthorexic. Neither is believing that some foods are healthier or more nutritious than others. Cutting out certain foods, tracking macronutrients, or following a specific diet is not inherently problematic. However, those behaviors can be stepping stones to orthorexia, so this is a conversation we need to be willing to have.

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Recipe of the Week - Avocado Bacon Folded Breakfast Tortilla

Here's a savory avocado bacon breakfast tortilla wrap that takes just minutes to make.

Ingredients

• Almond flour tortilla (Siete or Whole Foods brand)

• 1 fried egg

• 2 slices cooked bacon, broken into a few pieces

• 1/4 sliced avocado

• 1/2 oz. cheese of choice

• Avocado Oil Spray or Avocado Oil

• Salsa for dipping
  

Directions

• Preheat a seasoned cast iron skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Once hot, add a little avocado oil or use avocado oil spray. Place the tortilla in the pan and let it heat up for 15 seconds on each side. You want the tortilla to be pliable and soft, but not to the point where it gets too toasted and gets tough.

• Quickly cut a slit halfway through the center of the tortilla. Orient the tortilla so the cut side of the tortilla is facing you.

• Arrange the fillings in each quadrant of the tortilla.

• Fold the bottom left flap of the tortilla up to meet the top left. Flip that section to the right to cover the top right quadrant. Then flip one more time to cover the bottom right quadrant.

• Add a little more avocado spray to the pan. Once the oil is hot, place the folded tortilla in it. If needed, you can gently press the tortilla down with a small skillet or bottom of a heavy jar.

• Flip the folded tortilla over with a spatula until both sides are nice and browned.

• Repeat with additional tortillas and fillings.

• Eat your tortillas as is, or dip into your favorite salsa!

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 1 Wrap

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 424

• Sugar: .7g

• Sodium: 620mg

• Fat: 35g

• Saturated Fat: 10g

• Unsaturated Fat: 5g

• Trans Fat: .2g

• Carbohydrates: 9g

• Fiber: 4g

• Protein: 17g

• Cholesterol: 229 mg

Arsenic, toxic metals found in baby food including Walmart, Gerber, Beech-Nut brands, according to new report

A congressional investigation has found levels of arsenic, lead and other toxic metals that can harm brain development in many popular baby foods, including organic brands.

In a report released Thursday, a U.S. House Subcommittee said it requested internal data from seven companies, including Walmart, in 2019 after a nonprofit called Healthy Babies Bright Futures published results of testing it did on baby foods.

Four of the companies - Gerber, Beech-Nut, Earth's Best Organics maker Hain Celestial and Happy Family Organics maker Nurture Inc. - shared documents. The subcommittee said Walmart, Sprout Foods and Campbell Soup Co., which makes Plum Organics baby food, didn't cooperate.

Arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury - metals that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers harmful to human health - can remain in the environment for decades from past pesticide and herbicide use, according to Michael Hansen, a senior staff scientist with Consumer Reports.

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Recipe of the Week - Cottage Cheese Egg and Sausage Frittata

This protein-packed Cottage Cheese Egg Bake with spinach and chicken sausage is filling and delicious. Enjoy for breakfast, lunch, or dinner with a salad and some crusty bread.

Ingredients

• Cooking spray1 link Italian chicken sausage, casings removed

• 8 large eggs

• 1/2 cup 1% cottage cheese

• 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese

• 1 cup chopped baby spinach

• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Move oven rack to the second highest from the top.

• Lightly spray a 10-inch oven safe skillet with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, cottage cheese, Pecorino, spinach, salt and pepper. Set aside.

• Add sausage to a skillet, breaking it up in small pieces with a wooden spoon over medium heat and cook, until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes.

• Add the egg mixture to skillet and cook 1 minute to let the bottom set.

• Bake in the oven until the top is set, about 16 to 18 minutes.

• With a spatula, carefully slide frittata out of the skillet onto a cutting board and cut into 4 wedges.

• Serve with salad and whole grain bread, if desired.

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 1 Wedge

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 233

• Carbohydrates: 2g

• Protein: 21.5g

• Fat: 15g

• Saturated Fat: 5.5g

• Cholesterol: 386mg

• Sodium: 723mg

• Fiber: 0.5g

• Sugar: 1g

Ask a Health Coach: Sleep, Stress, and the Snooze Button

By: Erin Power

Alicia asked: "I've been trying to get up early to exercise, but I always end up hitting the snooze button and falling back asleep. Got any tricks to get myself up on time?"

I love that you're setting goals for yourself. It proves that you don't have to wait until New Year's or (another) Monday to make a change in your life. But I get it. Any routine that's different from your normal one can be a challenge to start, let alone stick with.

The good news is, this is kinda my specialty. I love teaching my clients to nuture their own personal accountability. When you're responsible for your own actions - and the outcomes of those actions, it puts you in the driver's seat. You're in control when it comes to what you're doing and not doing. It also sends a positive message to yourself that you're worth it and that this change is important enough for you to make it a priority.

On the flip side, when you just toss a plan out there, cross your fingers, and hope for the best with a lukewarm attitude (and zero consequences), you're pretty much setting yourself up to fail.
The first rule of accountability? Getting clear on your goals and the reasons why you want to achieve those goals. For your situation, I'd start by asking:

• What time am I waking up?

• What kind of exercise will I be doing?

• What type of equipment or gear will I need?

• Where will I be doing it?

• How long will I be exercising?

• Why does this matter to me?

• What will happen if I don't break my snooze button habit?

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Recipe of the Week - Instant Pot Braised Beef

Instant Pot Braised Beef spiced with fragrant spices cooks in a fraction of the time in the pressure cooker. Perfect for everything from rice bowls and tacos to enchiladas.

Ingredients

• 1 3-pound chuck roast, cut into 4 pieces

• 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

• Olive oil cooking spray

• 1 cup finely chopped onion

• 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• 2 teaspoons dried oregano

• 1 teaspoons ground cumin

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 14- ounce can diced tomatoes, drained, (discard liquid or reserve for another use)

• 3 canned chipotle peppers in adobo, finely chopped, plus 1 tablespoon adobo sauce

• 1 cup beef broth

• 1 cinnamon stick

Directions

• Season the beef pieces with the salt and pepper.

  Set instant pot multi cooker to SAUTÉ (normal heat) function. Spray inner pot with cooking spray.

• Add beef, in two batches, and brown-about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a plate and set aside.

• Add onions and garlic to the pot; cook stirring for 2 minutes. Stir in oregano, cumin, and bay leaves; cook for 1 minute more.

• Turn off heat and add the remaining ingredients.

• Return the beef and any accumulated juices back to the pot.

• Close the lid and set the pressure release valve to SEALING. Pressure cook (on HIGH) for 60 minutes.

• Allow pressure to release naturally (let the pot sit without disturbing) for 10 minutes, then turn the pressure release valve to the VENTING position to release the remaining steam.

• Open the lid and remove the meat to a large shallow dish. Set aside.

• Skim as much fat as possible from the surface of the cooking liquid then strain over a bowl, pressing the solids to extract all of the juices.

• Set the cooker to SAUTÉ function and allow the liquid to boil until reduced by half (about 1 1/2 cups), about 10 minutes.

• While the liquid reduces, use two forks to pull the meat into shreds. Adjust salt, to taste.

• Serve moistened with sauce.

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 3ounces beef (about 3/4 cup), plus 3 1/2 tablespoons juices

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 255

• Carbohydrates: 5.5g

• Protein: 36g

• Fat: 10g

• Saturated Fat: 3g

• Cholesterol: 126mg

• Sodium: 477mg

• Fiber: 1g

• Sugar: 2g

How to Quit Sweets, for Real This Time

By: Lindsay Taylor PhD

By far, the number one complaint I hear from people who are trying to upgrade their diets is that they can't seem to ditch sweets. Even once they're comfortable eating a Primal or keto diet, sweet cravings still hang around like a devil on their shoulder, whispering that they should go ahead and "cheat." I'm using the term "sweets" here to encompass the wide world of candy, baked desserts (cookies, cakes, cupcakes), ice cream, donuts-that sort of thing. Let's throw soda and sugary breakfast cereals on the pile, too. You know what I'm talking about: the sweet-tasting, uber-palatable foods we categorize as treats in the modern diet.

Note that I'm specifically not using the term "carbs" here-as in, "I need to quit eating carbs"-for several reasons. One, "carbs" is not really a type of food, it's a macronutrient. Second, the way most people use the term, they also mean savory grain-based foods like bread and pasta. Certainly, lots of people crave those foods, and most of what I say here will apply to grains, too, but the focus is on sweets because that's where most people have a harder time. Third, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and even things like mollusks contain carbohydrates. People aren't grappling with those. But lots of people struggle to stop eating sweets. It's why there are so many books and influencers promoting sugar detoxes, promising to help you break free of sugar cravings forever in three days, five days, a week. Of course, if it was simple, quick, and unambiguously rewarding to cut sweets from your diet, we wouldn't need so many programs.

No, You're Not Just Weak

Before getting into it, I want to validate that eliminating sweets from your diet can be very difficult. This might seem like a no duh, but I see so many people spiral into shame, guilt, and self-recrimination when they struggle. They believe it "should" be easy, if only they were stronger or more determined. "If I were just 'better,'" they think, "I wouldn't experience such strong cravings, and I definitely wouldn't give in to them." They reproach themselves as if we aren't hard-wired as humans to seek out quick and easy energy. As if we aren't all surrounded by messaging and advertising that encourages us to indulge in foods that have been manufactured to be hyperpalatable. As if most of us haven't learned through a lifetime of associations to use these foods for comfort and pleasure.

I'm not saying your efforts to quit sweets are doomed to failure, nor that you shouldn't take responsibility for health. You can and should do hard things that help you achieve your goals. However, I firmly believe that unrealistic expectations cause a ton of angst and are a major reason people give up. When they inevitably struggle and stumble, people shame-spiral and quit instead of dusting themselves off and taking another step forward.

In the spirit of having realistic expectations, I'll tell you up up front that I don't have the one crazy secret that cures sugar cravings forever! I do have some ideas and perspectives you might not have considered before, and they start with (surprise surprise, if you know me at all) self-awareness and mindset.

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Recipe of the Week - Zero-Proof Jalapeno Paloma

Zero-Proof Jalapeno Paloma is the perfect grapefruit mocktail if you're cutting back on alcohol or doing a dry challenge but want to have an adult beverage.

Ingredients

• 1/4 jalapeno

• 1/2 Tbsp agave syrup

• 1 1/2 tsp water

• juice from 1/2 red or pink grapefruit, about 1/3 cup

• 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice

• Sparkling water or grapefruit Lacroix to top1 grapefruit wedge for serving

• Optional: Sea salt, kosher salt, or Tajin seasoning for the rim

Directions

• If you like salt on your rim, add a few tablespoons to a wide, shallow bowl. Zest half the grapefruit into the bowl and stir to combine. This will make enough to salt several cocktails and you can save the leftovers in a Ziploc for a day or two.

• Chop the jalapeno (leave the seeds and pith to make it a little spicier; remove them for milder) and add them to a cocktail shaker or sturdy glass along with the agave syrup. Use a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon to muddle the jalapenos (basically, gently mash to release the flavor and start infusing the syrup), then add the grapefruit and lime juices. For a spicier drink, let it infuse for at least 15 minutes.

• If you're salting your glass, use a paring knife to cut a small slit into the grapefruit wedge and rub it along the rim to moisten it, then roll it in the salt until coated. Gently tap away any excess.

• Fill the glass with ice and pour in the cocktail, jalapenos and all. Top with sparkling water, 1/3 to 1/2 cup or to taste. Serve with the grapefruit wedge.

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 1 Drink

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 66

• Carbohydrates: 17

• Protein: 0.5g

• Cholesterol: 16mg

• Sodium: 1mg

• Sugar: 14g

How to Eat More Vegetables

Photo by Iñigo De la Maza on Unsplash

By: Mark Sisson

It's been my experience that people rarely have trouble eating more meat when going Primal. Sure, former vegetarians may struggle with the transition, but the average omnivore usually welcomes the opportunity to indulge more often. Vegetables, on the other hand, seem to present more of an issue. We don't live in a very veggie friendly culture. Vegetables get a bad name from the overcooked, colorless portions served in schools to the tiresome model of bland "house salads" across America. (Can we all just agree that iceberg lettuce is just a wrapping vehicle for real food?)I get emails and comment board questions from time to time asking how to incorporate more vegetables into a Primal diet. Sometimes they're from self-professed vegetable haters. Other times, folks are just looking for tips to expand their limited horizons in the produce section or in the cooking realm.

Why put off making a positive change? Here are nine practices to incorporate to eat more vegetables every single day. Let's dig in.

9 Ways to Eat More Plants

Eating more vegetables can be as simple as committing to eating more. But, I would argue that if you grew up in typical western societies, it's not that easy. You have to change the way you think about vegetables (for example, start considering veggies a breakfast food). Here are nine things you can do to eat more vegetables.

1. Train your palate

2. Add one quality vegetable at a time

3. Share them

4. Learn to cook each vegetable

5. Use seasonings and accompaniments

6. Eat vegetables for breakfast

7. Get creative with salads

8. Opt for veggie snacks (that go beyond carrot sticks)

9. Sneak vegetables into your favorite dishes and comfort foods

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Recipe of the Week - Shrimp and Andouille Sheet Pan Dinner

Shrimp and Andouille Sheet Pan Dinner with broccoli, mushrooms, bell pepper, onion, and celery seasoned with Cajun spices for a light and easy sheet pan meal.

Ingredients

• ¾ pound large shrimp, peeled

• 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided

• 1 ½ tsp Creole seasoning, divided

• 1 small head broccoli

• 5 oz Baby Bella mushrooms

• 2 to 3 stalks celery

• 1 red bell pepper, sliced

• ½ large red onion, sliced

• ¾ pound smoked sausage, preferably andouille, sliced

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

• 1 lemon , for serving

• Steamed rice, optional for serving

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 400F.

• If you're using frozen shrimp, thaw it completely and drain as much water as possible, using a paper towel to pat it dry.

• Toss to coat with 1 Tbsp olive oil and ½ tsp Creole seasoning; set aside.

• Cut the broccoli into florets, halve the mushroom caps (quarter the larger ones), and cut the celery into approximately 2-inch pieces.

• Add them to a large rimmed baking sheet with the sliced bell pepper, onion, and smoked sausage.

• Drizzle 1 Tbsp olive oil over the sheet pan and season with 1 tsp Creole seasoning, the garlic powder, and the cayenne. Toss to coat, then spread in an even layer.

• Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the onions are just starting to brown around the edges.

• Add the shrimp and roast for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until it's firm, opaque, and cooked through.

• To serve, zest the lemon and squeeze its juice over the roast.

• Serve with steamed rice if you'd like.

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 1/4 the recipe

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 374

• Carbohydrates: 18g

• Protein: 38g

• Fat: 18g

• Saturated Fat: 3.5g

• Cholesterol: 189mg

• Sodium: 1050.5mg

• Fiber: 6.5g

• Sugar: 6.5g

Revisiting Fasted Training

By: Mark Sisson

I'm a huge fan of fasted training. It feels right, it feels "Primal." And it jibes with my sense of how life was back in the hunting and gathering days: if you wanted to eat, you had to go hunt, and you had to hunt on an empty stomach (because you didn't have much food laying around, let alone a refrigerator full of it). This is the natural state of animal life in the wild-get hungry, perform physical tasks to obtain food, eat-and it always made intuitive sense that following that pattern when working out as a modern human would confer special benefits. Our big disconnect nowadays is that food is separate from physical labor. You no longer earn your meal on a visceral, physical level. There are social benefits to this new setup, but there are also metabolic, health, and fitness consequences. Fasted training could be a way to correct that disconnect and restore the ancient relationship between food and movement. It's plausible. But what does the research say?

Benefits of Fasted Training - There is actually a decent body of evidence suggesting multiple benefits to fasted training.

• Improved insulin sensitivity

• Better recovery

• Stronger anabolic response to weight lifting

• Improved capacity to perform without food

• More fat burning

Improved Insulin Sensitivity
Intermittent fasting improves insulin sensitivity, as I've mentioned before. And exercise is perhaps the most reliable way to increase insulin sensitivity, even absent any changes to your diet. When you combine the two, the effect is even greater. By the end of one study, subjects who fasted while training had lower body weights (the only group not to gain weight), better body-wide glucose tolerance, and enhanced insulin sensitivity compared to the subjects who ate normally and exercised.

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Recipe of the Week - Shrimp Pho with Vegetables

This Shrimp Pho with Vegetables (Vietnamese Noodle Soup) makes smart use of scraps, so you can make a shortcut stock that tastes like it spent all day simmering while also having zero waste.

Ingredients

• 1 pound large shrimp

• 1 ½ quarts vegetable or chicken broth

• 1 Tbsp fish sauce

• 1 Tbsp soy sauce

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 1 star anise pod

• 1- in piece ginger, sliced

• 8 oz white mushrooms, halved

• 1 bunch cilantro

• Salt to taste

• 6 ounces thin rice noodles

• 3 cups cauliflower or broccoli, from 1 small head

• Garnish: Thinly sliced jalapeno, lime wedges,, mung bean sprouts, fresh mint, Thai basil, sliced scallions, sriracha, and/or hoisin sauce

Directions

• If you're using frozen shrimp, thaw it completely and drain as much water as possible, using a paper towel to pat it dry.

• If you're using fresh, shell-on shrimp, peel it and reserve the shells for the stock.

• Add the broth, fish sauce, soy sauce, cinnamon stick, star anise pod, sliced ginger, and (if applicable) shrimp shells to a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer.

• Chop the leafy tops from the bunch of cilantro. Add all the stems to the saucepan.

• Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, or until very fragrant, then use a slotted spoon to remove and discard the solids. Keep at a gentle simmer.

• Meanwhile, just before the broth is ready fill a wide skillet with water and bring to a boil over high heat, then remove from heat and add the rice noodles.

• Let soak for 3 to 5 minutes, or according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

• Add the mushrooms and cauliflower florets to the broth and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until tender but still crisp.

• Add the shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until firm, opaque, and pink.

To Serve:

• Divide the rice noodles to each bowl first, then use a slotted spoon to distribute the shrimp and veggies, about 1 1/4 cup each.

• Ladle 1 cup broth over the top and garnish however you like.

• Serve with lime wedges and sriracha.

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 1 Bowl

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 233

• Carbohydrates: 19.5g

• Protein: 30.5g

• Fat: 2.5g

• Saturated Fat: 0.5g

• Cholesterol: 172.5mg

• Sodium: 1548.5mg

• Fiber: 3.5g

• Sugar: 4g

Recipe of the Week - Salmon Coconut Curry with Spinach and Chickpeas

Seared salmon with spinach and chickpeas in a creamy coconut curry sauce is an easy one-pot meal that cooks in under 20 minutes!
Ingredients

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 4 6-ounce skin-on salmon filets

• 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided

• 1 small onion, diced (about 1 small)

• 3 peeled garlic cloves, grated

• 1 2-inch piece peeled ginger, grated

• 1 large Fresno chili, finely diced

• 1 15-oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

• 1 1/2 teaspoons Madras curry powder

• 1 14-ounce can light coconut milk

• 5 ounces baby spinach

Directions

• Season both sides of salmon with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Set aside on a plate.

• Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with oil to fully coat the bottom of the pan.

• Add salmon to the pan, skin-side down, and cook without disturbing until skin is crispy, 5 to 6 minutes.

• Return to the plate (skin-side up) and set aside.

• Add remaining teaspoon of oil, then add onions, garlic, ginger, and Fresno chili pepper; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

• Add chickpeas and curry powder and continue to cook, stirring, for 2 minutes more.

• Reduce heat to medium-low, add coconut milk, stirring, to release any browned bits stuck to the pan.

• Stir in spinach and 1/2 teaspoon salt . Cover the pan and cook 2 minutes until spinach wilts.

• Add the salmon, skin-side-up, and cook until fish is done, about 5 to 6 minutes.

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 1 Filet l/2 cup Veggies

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 453

• Carbohydrates: 23.5g

• Protein: 41g

• Fat: 20g

• Saturated Fat: 7.5g

• Cholesterol: 94mg

• Sodium: 275mg

• Fiber: 5g

• Sugar: 1.5g

11 Questions to Ask Yourself at the Start of a New Year

By: Mark Sisson

One thing I like to do at the end of every year is look back on how I spent the last 12 months. This past year was like no other. There were a lot of surprises. A lot of reasons goals were more difficult to achieve. A lot of forces in play.It's possibly more important to reflect on this year than any other year. My reflection practice follows loosely the same structure every year. I'll go through my usual practice of asking myself tough questions about my successes and failures - and to be brutally honest with my replies. But this year, there's another layer.The overtone is, what did I overcome? Now, this exercise must be done with some dedicated effort. A passing read through the questions while nodding only to forget about them in twenty minutes won't get the job done. Discuss them with a friend, spouse, or loved one to make them real. Write them down on a piece of paper, or type your answers out. However you pay special attention to this exercise, give careful, thoughtful answers. This is about resolutions, but even more than that, this is about dialogue. Open, honest dialogue between your multiple selves, between the person that should be doing this or would rather be accomplishing that, and the person who does neither but desperately wants to. The resolutions will come, but expect it to take a little work. Let's get to it...
1. What health practices did you let go of in the face of uncertainty?

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How to Enjoy Your Holiday Feast, Guilt-Free

By: Erin Power

I think everyone can agree that things look a lot different this year. We're planning smaller holiday gatherings with just our immediate families. There are restrictions at stores and restaurants. And, in some places, limited supplies of groceries and household items.

One thing that looks the same (at least with my health coaching clients) is the internal dilemma of whether or not they're going to stick with their healthy eating habits or say "Screw it!" and dive into a plate of real bread stuffing, cornstarch-thickened gravy, and multiple slices of pecan pie.

On one hand, there's the philosophy that holidays are a special occasion and should be treated as such. And that includes all the traditional carb-laden goodies. On the other hand, there are people who are 100 percent committed to their Primal lifestyle and prepare their holiday feast accordingly.

Let me emphatically state that there's no right or wrong answer here.

Just Don't Call it a 'Bad Food Day'Honestly, I don't care if you indulge in several servings of green bean casserole or marshmallow-crusted sweet potatoes. What I do care about is the level of guilt you carry around with you after doing so.What does guilt have to do with food? Guilt is the feeling that you've done something wrong. At a young age, most of us are taught the difference between right and wrong. So, in a general sense, you might feel guilty if you stole something, hurt someone, or got caught up in a lie. On the other hand, you might have been rewarded or praised for doing something right (i.e. getting good grades, helping a neighbor, doing chores without being asked).

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Recipe of the Week - Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp and Asparagus

Angel Hair with Shrimp and Asparagus is a quick and easy pasta dish made with fresh tomatoes and asparagus in a light tomato broth.

Ingredients

• 1 bunch asparagus, tough ends removed, quartered

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 6-8 ripe plum tomatoes, diced

• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

• 16 oz large shrimp, peeled and de-veined

• 1/2 cup chicken broth

• 2 oz white wine

• kosher salt and fresh pepper, to taste

• 1/2 tsp herbs de Provence, or you can use your favorite herbs

• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, gives it a little kick

• 8 oz angel hair pasta, wheat or gluten-free

Directions

• Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet on high heat.

• When skillet is hot, spray with oil and add shrimp.

• Cook shrimp about 1 to 2 minutes in each side until ALMOST cooked through and remove from the pan. Set aside.

• Reduce skillet heat to medium, add olive oil and garlic and sauté until golden, careful not to burn, about 1 minute.

• Add tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Simmer until tender, about 4 minutes.

• Add the white wine and broth and stir, cook 1 minute then add the asparagus, salt, pepper and herbs.

• Cover and simmer for 10 minutes on medium low heat, until the vegetables are tender.

• While sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta al dente. Drain when done.

• After sauce simmers 10 minutes, return shrimp to sauce and finish cooking, about 1 minute (Do not overcook or shrimp will get tough).Add pasta to the sauce and toss well.

• Divide equally in 4 bowls and top with a good grated cheese.

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 1 1/2 Cups

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 378

• Carbohydrates: 52.1g

• Protein: 32g

• Fat: 6.8g

• Fiber: 8.5g

How Stress Affects Gut Health (and What to Do About It)

By: Mark Sisson

Stress is physical. It's caused by physical phenomena in the material world. It manifests as a physiological response using physical hormones and neurotransmitters and other chemical messengers in the body. It changes biomarkers, neurochemistry, behavior, appetites, and our perception of the world around us. Stress can make us fly off the handle at something that we wouldn't even notice in a normal state of mind. Stress can make us eat food we'd never normally consider eating.

And, like other physical phenomena our bodies interact with, stress can affect our gut health.

The first hint of this relationship lies in that split second sensation most people feel in high-intensity situations. You feel it right there in your gut. It's a cue from the environment that things are going to get hairy for a little while, and you should prepare yourself. The gut is so central to everything, it's our first real interface with the outside world. The gut is where food goes. It's where outside nutrients or pathogens or interlopers try to gain entry to our inner world. The "gut feeling" is a Primal one that we cannot ignore.

So what happens to our guts when we endure too much stress without relief?

Stress and leaky gut.They used to say "leaky gut" was a myth. It's not. In clinical trials, they call it "intestinal permeability," but it describes the same phenomenon: instead of the tight junctions that line our gut closely regulating the passage of toxins, allergenic particles, and nutrients into the body, the gates are thrown open to allow anything entry into circulation. This can increase or trigger autoimmune disease, allergic reactions to foods, and infiltration of toxins and pathogens. The end result is increased inflammation and oxidative stress, and there are a whole host o diseases and conditions linked to leaky gut. Stress is a major and reliable trigger for leaky gut.

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Recipe of the Week - Pizzelle Cookies

Italian Pizzelle Cookies are light and crisp, made lighter with less butter and sugar for a tasty holiday treat.

Ingredients

• 1 large egg

• 1 large egg white

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 2 tablespoons melted salted butter

• 2 tablespoons skim milk or milk of your choice

• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, or GF flour mix

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• cooking spray1 tablespoon powdered sugar, for topping

Directions

• In a large bowl, beat egg, egg white and sugar until thick.

• Stir in the melted butter, milk and vanilla.

• Sift together the flour and baking powder, and blend into the batter until smooth.

• Heat the pizzelle iron. Lightly spray iron with oil.

• Drop about one level tablespoon of batter onto each circle on the iron. You may need to experiment with the amount of batter and baking time depending on the iron.

• Bake about 45 to 50 seconds, or until steam is no longer coming out of the iron.

• Carefully remove cookies from the iron and transfer to a cooling rack.

• Repeat with spray and batter.

• Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

• To serve, top with powdered sugar.

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 2 Cookies

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 91

• Carbohydrates: 14.5g

• Protein: 2g

• Fat: 3g

• Saturated Fat: 1.5g

• Cholesterol: 25mg

• Sodium: 25mg

• Fiber: 0.5g

• Sugar: 7.5g