This weeks VLOG Carol addresses all the benefits of adding nuts and seeds to your daily diet.  When and how much is the key to getting optimal results without effecting the scale.

Both seeds and nuts are rich in nutrients and should be part of our diets. (Not intended for P2) They are very rich in minerals, fiber, and essential vitamins. Both nuts and seeds contain Lecithin, which aids in cleaning the liver (our best detoxing and fat burning organ), and it intervenes with the body’s ability to form fat deposits. They are also very helpful in improving your mood.

Raw almonds have been found to have a significant on lowering cholesterol and heart disease, and fighting many cancers. Almonds contain potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin E.

Raw hazelnuts contain vitamin E, B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc. These vitamins and minerals are in different ratios in the hazelnuts than they are in almonds, but you still get some of the same nutrients. Hazelnuts can also help lower cholesterol levels.

Raw walnuts are a rich source of Omega 3’s and contain uridine. Uridine influences levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine—two important brain chemicals that been known to correct mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disease. I always eat walnuts when I am detoxing. They contain Arginine which is an amino acid that helps detoxify the liver.

Raw macadamia nuts provide a wide range of beneficial compounds. They are a high energy food and contain no cholesterol.  They contain an abundant amount of monounsaturated fats and are low in sodium. Macadamia nuts have been known to raise ketones which helps aid in weight loss.

Click here for more information about consuming raw nuts.

Flax seeds are an excellent source of omega 3’s as well as fiber. You can eat them either whole or ground. The oil within the flax seeds are so tight within the coating that it makes it good for baking as it can withstand higher temperatures. When adding them to recipes, you are adding a lot of nutrition and fiber! Another way is to grind them as the seed coating is so very hard that it will pass right through you without giving you the full healthy benefits they provide. This is recommended especially if you are not baking or cooking with them. Grind them yourself or purchase them ground – Ground Flax Seeds or Flax Seed Meal.

Sesame seeds are not only a great source of fiber, they also are rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, Vitamin B1, and zinc. In addition, seeds carry sesamin and sesamolin which are part of the beneficial fibers called lignans and have been known to reduce cholesterol levels.

Pepitas (Pumpkin Seeds) are rich in zinc which is an important mineral and is said to help prevent cancer. It also helps lower cholesterol and acts as an anti-inflammatory for those who have Arthritis.

We highly recommend seeds as part of our daily diet,  especially when detoxing. They also contain Arginine which is an amino acid that helps detoxify the liver.

Here is my guide for consuming these beneficial foods on a daily basis.

This is MY food guide which I found works for me. I have shared this with many others who also say this is a good guide. But ever body is different so you need to find the amount your body can have. There are days where I have a few more seeds because I’ll add it to my salads, so look at this guide as a general rule when choosing your daily beneficial oils and fats. (Carol)

I usually have 1 serving of seeds and 1 serving of nuts per day. A typical plan for me is 1 Tbsp ground flax seeds, 1 oz of nuts. Get out your handy scale or eyeball about ¼ cup. 20-25 almonds= 1 oz. 12-14 walnuts = 1 oz. I also a little sprinkle sesame seeds on my salads. Then I figure out what else I want to consume and follow my guide. Some days it is ½ of an avocado, and other days it is Olive oil (save for when I dine out) or butter/peanut butter, etc. I don’t really consume a lot of the oils on my list as I mainly use coconut oil and MCT oil which fall in a different category.

Try These Tasty Recipes:

Healthy Granola- (Click Here)

Healthy Trail Mix- (Click Here)

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Question of the Week? – What about the ” Fat Fast”

The question of the week will address the “Fat Fast” and other methods used to manipulate the scale during the protocol. In Pounds and Inches, Dr. Simeons discusses the importance of the process in resetting the hypothalamus. This protocol, whether you are on the original or on a modified version through your doctor, is point specific to do two things; break down abnormal fat and reset your hypothalamus so the weight stays off.

When we get anxious for quicker results we find there are many versions of scale manipulation out there that others have tried and it starts a bandwagon effect on everyone doing whatever it takes to get the scale to go lower. The fact is, with this particular diet stalls do happen, and there is a reason for them. (Read this article on stalls.) When we are not losing pounds, our body is reshaping and we are losing inches.  You need to track your inches from day one and throughout this diet.  Your body needs this catch up time to be able to reshape the inches and get rid of stubborn fat in areas we have never been able to lose before.

I would encourage you if you are doing the protocol to stick to its guidelines and boundaries.  If you want to forever be done with yo-yo dieting, re-setting your hypothalamus is key.  We have seen many fads of scale manipulation come and go over the last few years and I can tell you those that do them are still on the roller coaster.  If you want to do this right, then think of the this as a tool you are using to re-train your body to eat healthy and also look for the long term benefits to your overall health.

This diet can cause some people to focus to much on the scale, but it is important to remember that it is not all about the numbers at the scale.  We encourage you to avoid that crutch by focusing on optimizing your body for long term health and benefits.  Use food as your fuel and for nutrients versus a # at the scale in the morning.  If you make the right choices you will see your body will stabilize and you will be able to maintain for life.

Addressing some of the scale manipulations, the most recent has been the “Fat Fast”, which in its own texts tells you it can be dangerous to your health for anyone who is losing weight normally.  If your body will lose weight, even slower than you like, then the “Fat Fast” was never indicated to be a tool for you to manipulate the scale.  I would also point out that on Phase 2 it could completely ruin your overall results and stabilization efforts.

Focus on healthy eating habits of a balanced diet and you will see the benefits of dedication and consistency.

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