Nutrition Notes 1

Read your labels

Yea, we know it says Trader Joe’s.

Where not here to promote or vouch for them. They hardly need us. But if you're trying to find a healthy way to escape from the questionable at the least and unhealthy at best dairy product world here is a worthy substitute for whipping up those smoothies, green, chocolate or vanilla. It’s a few

pennies more than some, but you know what they say. When you find out please share it with us because we don’t really know.

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COFFEE:  IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT
It would be difficult to name a substance more schizophrenic than coffee. It's hailed and cursed regularly by the so-called nutritional cognoscenti. That most likely makes coffee really pretty normal. Moderation in all things we are told and if you have some discipline--without it moderation is a lost cause--here's how you can cut some fat.

Drink two cups of black coffee to boost your metabolism roughly 16% versus the decaf stuff. Forget the sugar and cream; they add north of approximately 60 calories you most likely don't want or don't need in your quest to cut fat.

As for coffee's bipolar reputation, we'll leave that up to you to decide which side of the discussion you choose. We use it and have used it with professional athletes as part of our Intermittent Fasting routines. It works. One more time: it works.

WHEN IS BIG NOT BETTER?
Big meals equal big insulin dumps equals more stored fat plus sleepiness and inactivity and even more stored fat. Some might recognize that as a culinary vicious circle.

Carbohydrates with a high Glycemic Index score--rice, potatoes, bread, processed cereals and fruits containing glucose or sugar-- help speed tryptophan to the brain causing a rise in serotonin, a sleep inducing hormone. And it doesn't take long. About 45 to 60 minutes.

Proteins exert just the opposite effect. They inhibit tryptophan and help increase alertness. Another good reason to backload not front load your carbs.

IF YOU CAN'T CONTROL YOURSELF
If you can't control yourself at the table or refrigerator, you might do well to recall what Epictetus, the Greek Stoic philosopher noted: "No man is free who is not master of himself."  Born in Turkey in 50 AD, he died in Greece in 135 AD. It seems that's been a long-time problem for human kind. But who would've thunk it--eating and control, the Siamese twins of culinary moderation.