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Written by Lars:Click to read profile

Energy Balls

½ cup raisins ½ tsp. cinnamon
1 ¾ cup chopped figs ½ cup chopped peanuts
1 cup chopped dried apricots ½ cup sunflower seeds
1 cup chopped pitted dates 1 tbsp sesame seeds
½ cup natural peanut butter ¾ cup unsweetened coconut

Place raisins in a bowl and cover with boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain, and transfer to food processor, reserving water. Add figs, apricots and dates. Process for about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl and add peanut butter, cinnamon, peanuts and seeds. Mix, if mixture is dry add 1 or 2 tbsp of reserved raisin water. Roll into balls then roll in coconut to cover.

Phosphoric Acid is the main ingredient in pop, and it creates an acidic environment in the body. This acidic environment, if not properly rebalanced w/alkalizing foods will leave the body susceptible to illness and inflammation. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and teeth, and potentially lead to osteoporosis.

Pop containing caffeine, if drank on a continual basis, can exhaust the adrenal glands, which leads to exhaustion over time.

Pop is sweetened typically with high fructose corn syrup, which will increase triglyceride while increasing LDL (bad) cholesterol while lowering HDL (good) cholesterol levels. This may lead to heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes.

Due to the sugar content, pop also causes dehydration, and if the body is not replenished with water, over time this may lead to constipation. Due to the carbonation, pop may cause excess gas in the gastro-intestinal tract.

The sugar content in pop will cause tooth decay and lead to cavities, and if consumed over time will potentially lead to weight gain, due to excess calories and sugar.

For those that think Diet pop is better for you, please read on…

Toxicity effects of Aspartame use inclue seizures and convulsions, dizziness, tremors, migraines and severe headaches, memory loss (common toxicity effects), slurring of speech, confusion, numbness or tingling of extremities, chronic fatigue, depression, insomnia, irritability, panic attacks (common aspartame toxicity reaction) marked personality changes, phobias, rapid heart beat, tachycardia (another frequent reaction), asthma, chest pains, hypertension (high blood pressure), nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, swallowing pain, itching, hives/ urticaria, other allergic reactions, blood sugar control problems (e.g., hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia), menstrual cramps and other menstrual problems or changes, impotency and sexual problems, food cravings, weight gain, hair loss/baldness or thinning of hair, burning urination & other urination problems, excessive thirst or excessive hunger, bloating, edema (fluid retention), infection susceptibility, joint pain, brain cancer (Pre-approval studies in animals), and even death.

Scientists have even named a disease related to Aspartame, it’s called Aspartame Disease. It mimics symptoms or worsens the following diseases:
fibromyalgia, arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), parkinson’s disease, lupus, multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), diabetes and diabetic complications, epilepsy, alzheimer’s disease, birth defects, chronic fatigue syndrome, lymphoma, lyme disease, attention deficit disorder (ADD and ADHD), panic disorder, depression and other psychological disorders

As a nutritionist and a person who cares about the health of my friends and family I urge you to PLEASE STOP POP…or at least reduce… FOR YOUR HEALTH!

If you would like to know more or are interested in a complementary nutritional consultation feel free to e.mail me.

If you’ve ever made an effort to drop a few pounds, you will likely agree that nothing is worse than trying very hard to lose weight and nothing seems to be working.

If you’re following a safe and effective exercise program and eating the right things, but you find yourself facing this problem, it might boil down to the fact that your meals – even if you’re eating healthy foods - are simply too big.
Many people suffer from this “portion distortion” dilemma. It’s a fact - the portions we eat in our homes and in restaurants are significantly larger than they were 20 years ago.

A fast food hamburger 1954 and today

To make matters worse, many people fall victim to the myth that because a food is healthy, they can eat lots of it. But unfortunately, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing – eating too much, even when the foods are healthy, will always lead to a surplus of calories and result in extra fat in your body.

Here are some tips to keep your portions under control: First, I suggest substituting your regular dinner plate for a smaller side or salad plate. Studies show that people eat significantly less off a smaller plate.

Secondly, your plate should be divided into 3 primary sections. 50% of your plate should be designated for vegetables, and 25% should be set for whole grains and other healthy starches. The remaining 25% of your plate should include proteins from meat and/or meat alternatives.

Another tip is to eat 4-6 small meals a day rather than 3 large ones. Your meals should be 2-3 hours apart, and I recommend you use the 50/25/25 plate trick and prepare your meals ahead of time before you get hungry. This is a sure fire way to keep control of what foods you eat and how much. I also suggest you stop eating 3 hours before bed since most of the food that you eat within that time will be stored as fat.

A final piece of advice: avoid unhealthy snacks as a reward for eating healthy meals. Sugary and or fried foods will only lead you to crave more sugary and fried foods. They will also leave you lethargic and without the energy that you’ll need to stay alert and motivated to eat well and exercise.

If you have any questions or comments about this Blog entry or are interested in learning more about Nielsen Fitness and our nutritional and personal training services, please feel free to e.mail or contact us for a no obligation fitness and lifestyle consultation.