Bikram’s ‘Real Sports’ Meltdown Episode Nominated For Sports Emmy Award

That Bikram Choudhury episode of HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, the one where he calls his alleged victims of sexual assault liars and “trash,” claims 5000 women a day want to sleep with him and that his sperm is worth a million dollars, and proceeds to have an R-rated meltdown on camera, is nominated for […]

from YogaDork http://yogadork.com/2017/03/31/bikrams-real-sports-meltdown-episode-nominated-for-sports-emmy-award/
via SEO Totnes

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD: Marathons hurt your kidneys, loopholes let farms continue abusing antibiotics, and two nutrients that help with weight loss

Welcome to Friday’s For The Love of Food, Summer Tomato’s weekly link roundup. 

Next week’s Mindful Meal Challenge will start again on Monday. Sign up now to join us!

This week marathons hurt your kidneys, loopholes let farms continue abusing antibiotics, and two nutrients that help with weight loss. 

Too busy to read them all? Try this awesome free speed reading app to read at 300+ wpm. So neat!

I also share links on Twitter @summertomato and the Summer Tomato Facebook page. I’m very active on all these sites and would love to connect with you.

Links of the week

• The U.S. Can’t Really Know If Farmers Are Cutting Back On Antibiotics, GAO Says < This is incredibly depressing. Antibiotic resistance is one of the scariest threats facing humanity and the main cause is industrial meat production. Sadly the best option is still opting out of the whole thing, which I realize is not practical for most people. (NPR)
• Marathons Injure Kidneys < Interesting new research on some potential downsides of running 26.2 miles in one go. (The Atlantic)
• How to Eat Fish and Still Save the Earth < Choosing seafood isn’t easy. It’s one of the healthiest things you can eat (usually), but there are tons of caveats and the environmental impact is nothing short of terrifying. Fortunately there are still plenty of good options if you’re willing to ditch some common practices, Mark Bittman explains. (GQ)
• Can These 2 Nutrients Help You Keep the Weight Off? < Super interesting research that may explain why switching to Real Food is more effective for maintaining weight loss than normal diets. (Nutrition Diva)
• Foods Labeled ‘Healthy’ May Hide Unhealthy Secrets < FYI. The purpose of food labels is marketing, not promoting good health. (Medline)
• Walk, Stretch or Dance? Dancing May Be Best for the Brain < Such great news! (NY Times)
• Why Should a Melon Cost As Much As a Car? < I realize how douchey this headline sounds, but I can’t stop thinking about this article. I’m mortified that I’ve been to Japan so many times and never visited this Mecca of fruit. (Slate)
• Cooking family meals, skipping TV during those meals linked to lower odds of obesity < Importantly, skipping TV was more important than the frequency of family meals. TV rots the brain anyway, and if you’re putting in more than an hour a day it’s probably time for some soul searching. (ScienceDaily)
• A Positive Outlook May Be Good for Your Health < I like that there is a lot of practical and actionable advice here. (NY Times)
• Sriracha Rainbow Noodle Salad Recipe < This looks like the perfect solution to my Southeast Asian food cravings. (101 Cookbooks)

What inspired you this week?

from Summer Tomato http://www.summertomato.com/for-the-love-of-food-marathons-hurt-your-kidneys-loopholes-let-farms-continue-abusing-antibiotics-and-two-nutrients-that-help-with-weight-loss
via Holistic Clients

Style Friday – The Spring Tank Dress Every Girl Needs + 3 Ways to Style It

Hello from Milwaukee! I am making a pit stop in Wisconsin to see Mark before we head to Chicago to visit with my parents for a few days. Florida was SO MUCH FUN! I’ve got a post coming in a few days with tons of photos from my event with Tropicana, but it was so...

Read More »

The post Style Friday – The Spring Tank Dress Every Girl Needs + 3 Ways to Style It appeared first on Fit Foodie Finds.

from Fit Foodie Finds http://fitfoodiefinds.com/2017/03/style-friday-the-spring-tank-dress-every-girl-needs-3-ways-to-style-it/
via Holistic Clients

Zesty Italian Dressing and Marinade Recipe

I have a bit of a love affair with salad dressings, and Italian dressing is no exception. In fact before my switch to healthier foods, ranch was about all that got me to eat raw broccoli. Thankfully my journey to real food brought me to love all kinds of salads even without a lot of dressing....

Continue Reading...Zesty Italian Dressing and Marinade Recipe

from Blog – Wellness Mama® https://wellnessmama.com/15877/italian-dressing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=italian-dressing
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Erythritol: Is This Artificial Sweetener a Healthy Alternative to Sugar?

Now that sugar has become the devil behind many chronic health issues, health conscious people are turning to natural sugar alternatives. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol gaining popularity as a sugar alternative because it doesn’t have the after taste of stevia or the gastrointestinal side effects of xylitol. Because erythritol has the mouthfeel and taste of...

Continue Reading...Erythritol: Is This Artificial Sweetener a Healthy Alternative to Sugar?

from Blog – Wellness Mama® https://wellnessmama.com/155432/erythritol-safety/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=erythritol-safety
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Curried Cauliflower Sweet Potato Soup

This curried cauliflower sweet potato soup is really easy to make in under 30 minutes, is budget-friendly and full of beautiful flavours like coconut and lime. It’s also great to make ahead of time as the flavours only improve after a day or two after it’s made. It’s thick, rich, filling and totally bowl-licking worthy.... Read More » The post Curried Cauliflower Sweet Potato Soup appeared first on Running on Real Food.

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from Running on Real Food http://runningonrealfood.com/curried-cauliflower-sweet-potato-soup/
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Paleo Italian Meatballs with Marinara Sauce

DIY Herbal Hair Rinse for Shiny and Strong Hair

Plenty of hair care commercials promise shiny, beautiful hair, but at what cost? This DIY herbal hair rinse recipe nourishes the scalp, boosts shine, and strengthens hair naturally without the downsides of chemicals and parabens. The problem with many hair care items, even many of the natural ones, is that they strip the natural oils from the...

Continue Reading...DIY Herbal Hair Rinse for Shiny and Strong Hair

from Blog – Wellness Mama® https://wellnessmama.com/156328/herbal-hair-rinse/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=herbal-hair-rinse
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No, You Don’t Deserve That Indulgence Today

“I’ve had a really hard day…”

“I went to all my workouts this week…”

“I ate a salad for lunch…”

“I’ve put up with my in-laws for four days and didn’t snap once…”

…I deserve it.

On the surface it seems to make sense. In so many parts of life good behavior is rewarded with some kind of treat, whether it was a sticker in kindergarten or a bonus at work. It’s natural to want to apply the same logic to the food you eat, especially if you’ve ever adopted a dieter’s mindset (or trained a puppy).

I’m here today to shatter this illusion.

First let’s consider the assumptions made in the statement, “I had a hard day so I deserve some chocolate.”

“A hard day” implies that you experienced an above average amount of stress in a single day, which of course is a bummer. Also implicit in the statement is that stress must somehow be balanced out with a positive experience. And finally that food is an appropriate reward for enduring abnormally high stress.

Similar assumptions can be derived from a statement like, “I was good today so I deserve some chocolate.” The implication is that being “good” takes work and deserves a reward, and food is an appropriate reward.

Some correlates can also be deduced from the logic of these statements, which is where things get a bit more disturbing. One is that if you deserve chocolate on “stressful” days or “good” days, that implies that on regular days you do not deserve chocolate. Another is that indulgent foods (like chocolate) are intrinsically more rewarding than other foods.

Both of these deductions are demonstrably false, yet are consistent with the logic of moralizing your food choices.

When you moralize your food choices you create categories in your mind that some foods are “good” and some foods are “bad.” Typically this also stokes a subconscious belief that the bad ones are really the best ones.

When this is the frame you put on your food choices, your designated “bad” foods become rewards because most of the time you are using willpower to resist them. Eating bad is a respite from being good, and who doesn’t deserve a break every now and then? Especially on a hard day.

This frame also turns choosing your designated “good” foods into a chore, because it is no longer a choice you are making out of intrinsic motivation. Whenever you’re doing something “to be good” instead of “because I want to” it requires willpower. Research has shown that reframing things you naturally enjoy into things you are “supposed to do” undermines your natural feelings and causes you to actually like the thing less.

Are you starting to see the problem here?

When you start asking yourself if you deserve to eat a specific food at any given moment, you are fueling the very mentality that causes you to seek that food (a reward) in response to stress. In other words, moralizing your food is kindling for emotional eating.

In the moment your mind may try to convince you otherwise, but emotional eating is not a form of self-care. Self-care is restorative, while emotional eating usually leaves you feeling worse. In my experience, emotional eating is rarely even enjoyable while it is happening.

I’m not arguing that food can never feel like a treat. I’m not even arguing that you never deserve to have an indulgence. To the contrary, my belief is that you always deserve an indulgence.

When you find yourself asking, “Do I deserve this special food today?” Remind yourself that you deserve special food every day, and this is not the right question. If you’re in need of self-care the appropriate thing to ask is, “What will restore my peace and energy?” You’ll likely come up with very different answers.

Eating for pleasure shouldn’t be reserved for days when life kicks the shit out of you. Tuesday is a good enough reason to eat something amazing. Enjoyment is a perfectly valid reason to eat anything. It’s just not the only reason.

Eating nourishing, satisfying food that fuels you well feels entirely different from eating rich, heavy or sugary foods. They can both feel awesome when the food is delicious, and when you don’t choose high-quality versions, both can be terrible. Flavor (and your subjective enjoyment) is a completely independent variable.

Rich, indulgent foods can be truly amazing. And you should eat these foods sometimes, because life should be awesome.

Of course it’s that sometimes that causes problems. The faulty logic is that categorizing foods into good and bad is what makes that sometimes possible, by giving you a moral compass to guide you. But in reality it makes sometimes harder because your categories make healthy foods feel less rewarding than rich foods, and because you have to choose when you’ve been worthy enough to deserve it.

When you stop moralizing your food choices you quickly realize that the reason not to eat rich foods every day isn’t because it’s bad for you or will make you fat, but because it feels so much better not to.

Now that my body is accustomed to being fueled by fresh, delicious, and nutrient-dense foods, heavier or more processed foods will crush my energy levels anywhere from a few hours to a full day. Sometimes this is worth it and is a choice I consciously make, but I’m always delighted to go back to the habits that keep me feeling my best.

Of course no matter what I choose, delicious is always part of the equation.

This wasn’t always the case for me. Before I stopped dieting and became a foodist I rarely made the connection between what I ate and how I felt afterward. Also back then, “delicious” and “healthy” were entirely incongruous ideals. So if you’re reading this thinking, “Well that won’t work for me because I feel fine after I eat indulgent foods and still prefer them,” don’t dismiss this so quickly.

Remember that if you’re moralizing your food you’re likely enjoying your “healthy” choices less than you would naturally, had you not subconsciously labeled them a chore. Maybe you put less effort into making sure they’re delicious, because you don’t expect them to ever be. Or maybe you’ve never given them enough of a chance to truly know what it feels like to fuel your body well consistently. For me, it was all of the above.

Even if you do honestly love nutritious foods, food moralizing can still undermine your efforts by making certain foods preternaturally appealing and lead to overeating.

If some delicious and indulgent food is presented to you, don’t tell yourself you can have it because you’ve been good or had a hard day. Simply ask yourself if this particular food is worth it to you right now, and how much of it you need to be happy.

Make the question about the food quality and your goals, not your worthiness.

Do you moralize your food choices? Have you found it helps or hurts your decision making?

from Summer Tomato http://www.summertomato.com/no-you-dont-deserve-that-indulgence-today
via Holistic Clients

The Mystery of Squat Form: How Low Should You Go, Really?

You know that you should squat. Everyone—and every fitness magazine and website, ever—tells you that. And with good reason. Sitting down and standing up is one of the most basic movements in life. And from a training perspective, just about everything from your fingertips down to your toes works has to work hard to make a squat happen. That’s a recipe for building full-body strength with just one move. But it’s usefulness is not the problem. Where the debate begins (and never seems to end) is proper squat form. 

What you don’t know—and what those magazines and websites don’t often tell you—is that your squat form might not look like the ones you see in the pictures or those little “squat form demonstration” illustrations. In fact, trying to follow those how-tos might be why your squats don’t feel quite right—or perhaps even are painful—even if your squat form is “perfect.” Which, of course, is the reason why you are so often tempted to skip this move in your workout, even though you know you

No one is going to give you an extra million dollars for squatting deeper.

In fact, trying to follow those how-tos might be why your squat form doesn’t feel quite right—or perhaps why squats feel painful. Which, of course, is the reason why you are so often tempted to skip this move in your workout, even though you know you should do it.

Making matters worse, the more that you read up on squat form, the more likely you are to find conflicting information. Talking about squats is a lot like talking about politics: Everyone has an opinion on what works and what doesn’t—and chances are, they’re passionate about it. Especially when it comes to squat depth.

On one side you have the purists. These are the guys who’ll tell you that you must squat “ass-to-grass.” At the opposite end of the spectrum, are the overly cautious types who worry that squatting too low will damage your knees (it won’t, by the way). And there are plenty of others who will advocate for stopping at seemingly every other point in between—thighs parallel to the ground, or just below it, or well above it (known as quarter squats), and on and on.

So, who’s right?

[dramatic pause]

The Squat Rules: Before you Begin…

Remember all of those opinions? Technically, none of them are incorrect.

“There’s no one right way to squat—and there’s no one wrong way, either,” says Dean Somerset, C.S.C.S., an exercise physiologist in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. “It’s all about finding what works for your body.”

Before you consider that a non-answer, understanding the meaning of “what works for your body” can completely change your entire approach to training, your squat form, and lead to fewer injuries.

Just as everyone’s body is different, everyone’s squat is different. What’s right for you depends on your goals, strength, and level of mobility, which are things you can influence. But not everything that determines how well you squat is within your control.

Your body’s bone structure will affect how you move too. Because of all that, many of the standard squat cues you hear about where your feet should be or what direction they should point may not actually work for you. (But don’t worry, we’ll show you what will.)  

The bottom line: Forget the politics. Forget all the “one-size-fits all” opinions. There are a lot of ways you can go about fixing squats when they hurt. In this article we’re going to set aside the dogma and focus on what matters most: Helping you find the right range of motion for your body, so you can get this most out of the squat—a powerful muscle-building exercise and essential human movement.  

Keep those two roles in mind as you read. It’s important to remember that how low you can squat, and how low you should squat with a barbell on your back are two different things.

The Deep Squat: Great for Movement (But Not Necessarily Lifting)

The ATG fans are right about one thing: Being able to execute a full deep squat is a good thing. Doing the move requires a full range of motion at all four of the body’s major load-bearing joints (the ankles, knees, hips and shoulders) and proper mobility throughout the spine. Those joints, your muscles, and your brain all have to work together to achieve this position:

That demonstration comes from Georges Dagher, C.S.C.S, a chiropractor and strength coach based in Toronto. He likens the deep squat to brushing your teeth. “From my perspective, the deep squat movement is a toothbrush for our joints, ensuring they are all moving without any sticky or restricted areas,” Dagher writes in the Journal of Evolution and Health. Just as you brush your teeth every day, Dagher suggests performing at least one bodyweight squat per day, as deep as you can.

If you look at the photo above and think “no way,” don’t stress. Lots of people have strength or mobility issues that can make achieving a deep squat challenging—at least at first. The good news? By simply working on your deep bodyweight squat form, going as deep as you can with control and holding as long as you feel reasonably comfortable, you’ll help address and improve those issues.  

“The positions we place our bodies in will have an effect on various elements such as muscles, which can improve our comfort in the squat,” Dagher says.

You can also get more comfortable by adjusting your stance. Somerset explains that the standard squatting position— “stand with your feet shoulder-width apart…” —doesn’t apply to everyone. It’s more of a general recommendation or an average, he says, not a hard-and-fast rule.

To help his clients reach a deeper, pain-free squat, Somerset has them experiment with different stances until they find one that feels right.

“Think of it like going to the optometrist, when they put the lens in front of your eyes and ask which one is better,” Somerset says. “There’s no one standard prescription. It’s about finding the right one for you.”

Here are the two main elements Somerset asks clients to adjust when they dial in their stances for ideal squat form:

• Direction of your toes: Try them pointing straight ahead first. Let’s call that 12 o’clock. Squat as deep as you can. Now turn your feet outward slightly – think left foot pointing at 11 o’clock, right foot pointing at 1. Try the deep squat again. Now angle them even farther outward, to 10 and 2. Squat again. Notice which position feels the most natural and allows you to sink the deepest.  

• Width of your feet: Start with them set shoulder-width apart. Then, gradually try wider distances, giving each the bodyweight squat test and noticing which feels the most natural. One thing to note: The wider your stance is, the more the exercise will emphasize your glutes (the muscles in your butt), and the less work it’ll put on the quads (muscles of your upper leg around the knee).

Here’s more good news: Even if your range of motion is limited, you probably squat more throughout the day than you think. “Most of us can squat to at least a 90-degree angle,” says Dagher. “We do that every day, every time we climb into our car or get up from a chair.”

Each of those moments is an opportunity to practice lowering yourself into a 90-degree squat with control. Think of them as box squats you do throughout the day; don’t just plop onto the cushion, says Dagher. Doing this throughout the day can shore up your stability and make you a better squatter in the future.

Why Your Body Doesn’t Feel Built for Deep Heavy Squats — And What You Should Do About It

Bodyweight squats are one thing, says Dagher, who says that, with the right adjustments, pretty much everyone can go into a deep squat. But Somerset points out that weighted squats are a different story: “For some people, their squats fall apart under a certain amount of loading,” he says.

You see, even if you’ve maxed out your mobility in your joints, when it comes to doing weighted squats, you may not be as comfortable—or as powerful—at the deeper end of the squat as you’d like, says Dagher. Why? It comes down to simple genetics. Some people are built with better squatting hips than others.

Quick anatomy lesson: The place where the femur (the big bone in your thigh) meets your hip, called the hip socket, looks something like a spoon going into a bowl. The top of the femur (called the femoral head) neatly fits into the pelvic socket (acetabulum), and is held in place by ligaments.

Everyone’s hip sockets are different. Some of them are deeper than others. The deeper your socket, the harder it will be for you to squat, since the femur bone will hit the pelvic bone. To go back to our “spoon in bowl” analogy, the stem of the spoon (your femur) runs into the rim of the bowl (your pelvis).

People of Scottish and French heritage typically have deeper hips, according to world-renowned spine expert Stuart McGill. Meanwhile, people from the Ukraine, Poland, and Bulgaria tend to have shallower sockets that allow them to painlessly sink into the deep part of the squat. McGill says it’s no coincidence that Eastern Europe is home to some of the best Olympic lifters in the world.

A deep hip socket has different advantages. It’s helpful for walking and standing and great at producing rotational power (the type of force you need to hit a baseball or swing a golf club). And having deeper hip sockets doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t squat deep. But it does mean you’ll have to work harder on the move—and may feel pain when you perform it.

Meet “The Squat Form Test” [No Assembly — or Equipment — Required]

There’s a simple way to gauge the depth of your hip sockets. Simply get onto your hands and knees in an all-fours position, engage your core, and slowly rock your hips back toward your heels. You can see Dr. McGill explain how to do the move at the 2:50 mark of this video (although the entire clip is worth a watch if you have the time).

While it’d be great if you too could do the move under the guidance of the world’s leading researcher on spinal health and performance, you can do this assessment on your own. Simply set up your smartphone to your side, hit record, and do the move.

As your hips lower, you may reach a point where your lower back starts to round. The technical term for that is “spinal flexion.” When it happens while you’re squatting with a barbell on your back, the position is known by the delightful name “buttwink.”

Fun as that word may be to say out loud, buttwink while squatting under load can be bad news. “That’s when your hips stop moving and your start compensating with your back instead,” says Dagher. Disc injuries or even fractures of the spine can result.

So How Deep Should You Squat?

The buttwink is why you should not view the weighted ass-to-grass squat as something you need to aspire to.

As McGill says, a lot of great ATG squatters “chose their parents wisely.”

“The extreme amount that I see people deep squatting is just unprecedented,” McGill says. “The risk is greater than is justified by the reward. No one is going to give you an extra million dollars for squatting deeper. If you need to do that for competition, then that’s one thing. But if your objective is health, then it’s pretty hard to justify.”

The same isn’t true for deep bodyweight squats, however. “Buttwink here is not an issue,” Dagher says. Go ahead and wink away when you’re working the deep squat without weight with the goal of improving your mobility and comfort in the squat.

But where your back begins to go into flexion when you’re doing the all-fours test, that’s where you’d want your descent to stop if you were performing weighted back squat. If that means you can only squat as low as a box, no problem. If the box isn’t high enough, you can take a cue from

If the box isn’t high enough, you can take a cue from Jim Smith, C.S.C.S. and stack mats on top of the box until you reach the right height. As your mobility and ability to squat lower improves over time, you can pull mats off the pile. No matter what height you reach, Somerset says your main objective should be one thing: control.  

A deep range of motion isn’t meant for everyone, so don’t overthink your squat form. In fact, for many people, trying to reach more depth can be counterproductive–or even dangerous. And for no reason. Less depth doesn’t mean less strength or muscle. But, it also doesn’t mean creating such a short range of motion (like moving 2 inches, so it looks like you’re bouncing up and down) that you’re not creating tension in the muscles, challenging your body, or doing the exercise in a controlled manner. That’s just called cheating.

“Keeping the squat controlled is more important than the depth or the amount of weight being used,” says Somerset.

Hit the height that’s right for you, with the stance that’s right for you, using a weight that you can manage. And then work the deep bodyweight squat. You’ll soon find that you’ll improve your squat form, will move better, and you will become a lot stronger, too.

The post The Mystery of Squat Form: How Low Should You Go, Really?   appeared first on Born Fitness.

from Born Fitness http://www.bornfitness.com/squat-form/
via Holistic Clients

“Alexa, open TED Talks”

Today, we’re excited to bring the world of TED Talks further into your home with the new TED Talks skill for Amazon Alexa! Available on devices with Amazon Alexa including the Echo and Echo Dot, TED fans can now listen to the latest ideas from the world’s greatest thinkers by voice command.

For existing Alexa users, enable the skill by saying “Alexa, enable TED Talks skill,” or go directly to the TED Talks skill page and click “enable skill.”

Once you’ve opened the TED Talks skill, ask Alexa to play talks about your favorite topics — from robots and space to design and mindfulness. Want to listen to the latest talk? Simply command, “Alexa, ask TED Talks for the latest talk.”

Whether you’re a multi-tasker who wants to learn about virtual reality while folding laundry, a parent needing a talk to distract a child during dinner or just a curious individual who wants to stay inspired without too much effort, Alexa can now provide you with a great idea with ease. Ask her things like, “Alexa, ask TED Talks for something funny,” and start listening.

Enable the TED Talks skill on Amazon or simply say, “Alexa, enable TED Talks skill,” to start listening to TED!

from TED Blog http://blog.ted.com/alexa-open-ted-talks/
via Sol Danmeri

Is Yerba Mate Tea Better for You Than Coffee?

Yerba mate tea boasts some surprising health benefits and may even replace your morning cup of Joe. Much like green tea, yerba mate tea is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, and is quite tasty to boot. Coffee Is King Coffee is the undisputed king of all morning beverages. Readers ask my secret to getting things...

Continue Reading...Is Yerba Mate Tea Better for You Than Coffee?

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How to Make Herbes de Provence at Home (Recipe)

I am never without herbes de Provence in our kitchen. This mix of spices abundant in the south of France really speaks to my love of the delicious flavors of French cooking, and I use it in just about anything I can. My mom’s French heritage was a big influence growing up, and because of her...

Continue Reading...How to Make Herbes de Provence at Home (Recipe)

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Five Reasons You Should Join Me at Paleo f(x) 2017 in Austin

1. Because we’re hardwired to sit around the fire with our tribe

While you might suspect that diet and other lifestyle factors like sleep and exercise would have a far greater impact on health than social support, research suggests otherwise. A landmark study exploring social connections published in 2010 involving more than 300,000 participants found that social support was a stronger predictor of survival than physical activity, body mass index, hypertension, air pollution, alcohol consumption, and even smoking 15 cigarettes a day! Basically, your genes are telling you to join me at Paleo f(x)! Surround yourself with people who really “get” you and share your passion for health. Not only will this contribute to your overall health, but it will also provide emotional support to keep you on track with your personal wellness goals.

2. Because Paleo is more than just bacon, avocados, and coconut oil

I’m happy that the Paleo Diet became a popular trend, taking the idea that we could learn about health from our ancestors into the homes of millions of Americans. Unfortunately, most people get a simplistic version of the potentially life-changing concept. Even people passionate about health are often missing out on the true potential of living in line with your evolutionary template. This is why I called one of my earliest ebooks Beyond Paleo and introduced the idea of a “Paleo Template.” Paleo goes beyond diet and weight loss. Following a Paleo template for not only diet, but sleep, movement, and stress management can reverse chronic conditions like digestive disorders, allergies, cognitive disorders, autoimmune disease, blood sugar disorders, and more. When you join me at Paleo f(x) 2017, you’ll hear from a line-up of truly innovative, intelligent, and passionate experts. Your understanding of a Paleo-based approach to health will explode. I always come away with something new and useful. This year, my presentation is called “Too Much Junk in Your Trunk”—and no, it is not about weight loss. I’ll be discussing the growing role of environmental toxins in the chronic illness epidemic.

Where can you find products that are literally better than sliced bread? Paleo f(x).

3. Because humans have been using tools for more than 2 million years

Research and theory are important and interesting. And the promised results of living a Paleo lifestyle are exciting. But to get from A to B, you need practical steps and the right tools. The beginning of the Paleolithic era is, in fact, marked by the earliest known use of stone tools, about 2.6 million years ago. While having tools is not a guarantee of success—just ask the Neanderthals—it does make success much more likely, and a heck of a lot less work. Would you want to try to take down a woolly mammoth with a stone hammer? No. At Paleo f(x) 2017, you’ll find practical strategies, tools, and products that help you get real results. You’ll get live instruction and tools for everything, including:

• Moving like our ancestors – get your free FIT Score
• Cooking demonstrations using recipes from your favorite cookbooks
• Practical steps to follow to personalize your diet for your health goals
• Strategies for improving sleep, reducing stress, and healing your gut
• And so much more!

4. Because you’ll find new products that are literally better than sliced bread

Another great benefit of the popularity of Paleo is that there are now so many innovative people putting their genius to work and creating amazing Paleo-friendly products. Every year, I’m impressed by the new ideas, foods, and other products that really smart, hardworking people have taken from idea to reality. For example, if you join me at Paleo f(x), you’ll get …

• Exercise tools to keep your workout interesting and grounded in natural movement
• Customized supplements for everything from more energy to better sleep and healthier digestion
• Amazing personal-care products free of all those harmful chemicals and additives
• Delicious nutrient-dense foods, snacks, and drink mixes to make eating Paleo easier and tastier

5. Because it’s fun!

Before I close, let me mention that Paleo f(x) has sold out the last four years in a row. So, if you’ve been thinking about going, don’t wait too long to get your tickets. I love meeting new people, seeing old friends, learning something new, trying all the new products, and just enjoying the city of Austin in May. I go every year and wouldn’t miss it. Neither should you! You can learn more about Paleo f(x) and get tickets here.  

from Chris Kresser https://chriskresser.com/five-reasons-you-should-join-me-at-paleo-fx-2017-in-austin/
via Holistic Clients

How to Make a Healthy Fruit Pizza

Learn how to make a healthy fruit pizza with a grain-free sugar cookie crust and a delicious lemony Greek yogurt filling — the perfect healthy treat for summer!  Is it summer yet? It feels like it at Fit Foodie HQ. Lin and I have been baking and mixing and cooking up a summer storm! We’re...

Read More »

The post How to Make a Healthy Fruit Pizza appeared first on Fit Foodie Finds.

from Fit Foodie Finds http://fitfoodiefinds.com/2017/03/how-to-make-a-healthy-fruit-pizza/
via Holistic Clients

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Corn Chowder

Well, the slow cooker has made it’s way out for fall and winter recipes! I love the slow cooker for weekly food prep. I can throw one meal in on Saturdays and one on Sundays and that’s two nights I don’t have to cook during the week. It also frees up room in the kitchen... Read More » The post Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Corn Chowder appeared first on Running on Real Food.

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from Running on Real Food http://runningonrealfood.com/slow-cooker-sweet-potato-corn-chowder/
via Enlightened Marketing

How to Find Time and Energy to Exercise Despite Physical Limitations

“It’s like 1000% or nothing at all.” ~Rachelle

Rachelle was in a snowboarding accident when she was 15 years old that cost her the use of both of her legs. After 18 years of battling both illness and body image issues, she is finally in a place where she is healthy and has a better relationship with food, and she’s ready to feel strong and fit again. She’d also love to lose 20 lbs.

Rachelle believes that being in a wheelchair makes getting enough exercise too difficult and time consuming to be practical for her busy life. She’s juggling both a family and a career as a lawyer, so it’s clear that both time and physical limitations create barriers for her workout habits. After a little digging in our conversation though, it starts to become clear that Rachelle’s psychological barriers are the main obstacle.

All her life Rachelle has been ambitious. Her previous attempts at getting fit involved intense exercise programs with personal trainers and sports like boxing––things that take a ton of time, energy and resources. She knows that with her career and family, activities like this cause her to burn out. But when she compares herself to her husband who has lost 20 lbs in three months she believes she needs to be doing intense training like this in order to see results.

Together Rachelle and I work to reframe her goals in a way that makes them compatible with her work and family life, while still allowing her to lose weight. We discuss specific mental exercises she can do to help maintain this perspective (often the hardest part) and give her the cognitive flexibility to be more creative in finding new ways to be active.

Wish you had more time to listen to the podcast? I use an app called Overcast (no affiliation) to play back my favorite podcasts at faster speeds, dynamically shortening silences in talk shows so it doesn’t sound weird. It’s pretty rad.

 

Related Links:

Mindful Meal Challenge

Whole30

Peloton bike

 

Listen:

Listen on iTunes

Listen on Stitcher

Listen on Soundcloud

 

If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please fill out the form here and tell us your story.

from Summer Tomato http://www.summertomato.com/how-to-find-time-and-energy-to-exercise-despite-physical-limitations
via Holistic Clients

73: The Truth About EMFs, WiFi, and Radiation (& How to Avoid Them!)

There’s no doubt manmade EMFs (electromagnetic fields) are on the rise and growing by the minute in our technology-driven world. Cell phone towers, cell phones, laptops, Bluetooth, and WiFi hotspots are increasingly available on airplanes and everywhere else. What’s more, these signals grow in strength as technology “improves.” So, what to do … panic? Get rid of your devices? Far...

Continue Reading...73: The Truth About EMFs, WiFi, and Radiation (& How to Avoid Them!)

from Blog – Wellness Mama® https://wellnessmama.com/podcast/emfs-wifi-radiation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=emfs-wifi-radiation
via SEO Derby

VIDEO: Golden Milk Latte + My Nightly Routine

A golden milk latte is the perfect way to sooth the soul after a long day! It’s made with an almond milk base and tons of Ayurvedic spices like turmeric, dates, and ashwagandha.  Golden milk lattes seem to the all the rage and uh…I completely agree. I’m excited to be partnering with Gaia Herbs today and their Golden...

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The post VIDEO: Golden Milk Latte + My Nightly Routine appeared first on Fit Foodie Finds.

from Fit Foodie Finds http://fitfoodiefinds.com/2017/03/video-golden-milk-latte-nightly-routine/
via Holistic Clients

Tortellini, Chicken, and Arugula Salad + Weekly Menu

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Bites

Who doesn’t love a good oatmeal raisin cookie!? I sure do but I don’t love the loads of sugar and butter they were most likely made with. The solution? Raw vegan oatmeal raisin cookie dough bites! Raw Vegan Bites for Pre-Workout These oatmeal raisin cookie dough bites are a perfect pre-workout snack due to the natural sugars... Read More » The post Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Bites appeared first on Running on Real Food.

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from Running on Real Food http://runningonrealfood.com/oatmeal-raisin-cookie-dough-bites/
via Enlightened Marketing

The Power of Rest: 4 Ways to Disengage from The Hustle

Let’s talk about the power of rest.

Last year, I saw this original meme floating around the internet…and it made me pretty pissed off, so I edited it.

See, time and time again my clients have done that.

They’ve been physically and emotionally drained for weeks, years, and months and have kept up the pace despite the signs of fatigue…

Meanwhile, everyone around them, including society at large says, “Don’t be a quitter,” or, “Sleep is for losers,” or, “Just push through.”

I can’t tell you how many women have thanked me for giving them “permission” to slow down, to rest, to disengage, to recharge. It’s staggering.

I’m well aware of the power of consistency. I know all about grit. I know what it’s like to push through a big deadline and be a little extra tired.

I know what it’s like to be the family breadwinner or a full-time student on top of a demanding work schedule.

…But do you see the key word here?

EXHAUSTED.

It means “completely used up.” Think on that.

I don’t care how busy you are and how many obligations you have…

…You cannot best serve those who you seek to serve when you’re exhausted.

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You cannot best serve those who you seek to serve when you're exhausted.
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This concept of rest in the face of adversity or challenging times or 10,001 things on your to-do list is not popular.

I’m not saying to tell your boss to take a hike in the middle of a huge project and skip town on a vacation. I’m not saying you need to quit your dreams.

The Power of Rest

But what I am saying is that taking a rest when you’re exhausted will make you stronger, sharper, and recharge your energy emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically.

Choosing to disengage from The Hustle or slow down doesn’t make you a quitter or weak or a loser. It means you’re caring for your body, mind, and spirit.

So if you need permission to slow down, take a nap, disengage, say NO, do some self-care, etc. I’m here to say, “Permission granted.”

Why is rest so powerful?

To quote Tony Schwartz, “You’re not a machine.”

You’re a human being.

So much of your biology is built on cycles and rhythms, ups and downs, ebbs and flows.

Yet, the modern push and siren song of the busy lifestyle requires linear thinking and energy, ups, flows, and endless hustle. (Click hear to listen to The Hustle is Fake, my Harder to Kill Radio episode.)

As a society, it’s making us sick, sucking our energy dry, tossing us aside like withered husks.

We feel hollow, empty, and ironically unable to “get shit done” despite working more hours and doing more things.

Frequent rest, including adequate sleep, is critical to keeping you sharp and enabling you to harness your ability to solve problems.

Simply put, when you’re chronically stressed, the figurative blinders appear.

Rest decreases stress and the blinders fall away.

That is the power of rest.

This post originally appeared on my Instagram, and it absolutely. BLEW. UP.

When I emailed it to my newsletter peeps, I got the most replies EVER.

Several people said they sat reading it and cried because it acknowledged how they’re feeling.

Clearly, this Hustle, this exhaustion is being felt by so many.

4 Ways to Disengage

Disengaging from The Hustle, resting more, and choosing what’s essential in life – versus what’s just noise – takes effort and discipline. It’s not something you’re going to master in a weekend.

Recharging your energy – one of my 4 Pillars of Health that’s part of a Harder to Kill Lifestyle – doesn’t automatically mean taking weeks off at a time. Rather, it’s what you do on a regular basis, even for five minutes at a time, that can really add up.

Here are some steps for disengaging and resting more:

1) Examine what’s real about your situation versus what’s a made up expectation or pressure.

For example, it may be real that you have an 18 month old who needs you to love and care for them. However, it may be a made up expectation that you need to wake up at 5 am every morning to exercise when you’ve barely had 5 hours of sleep.

See the difference?

On a related note, get really clear about why you’re doing what you’re doing. What’s the purpose? If you can’t answer it, it’s time to do some soul-searching.

2) Practice saying “no” more often.

One trait often shared by the chronically exhausted is being the “yes” guy or gal.

If you say yes to everything, volunteer for everything, and try to be everything to everyone…you’ll eventually fail. You won’t be effective at what you’re doing.

It’s the worst form of multitasking, and we know from scientific studies – and practical life experience – that multitasking is a myth.

For help determining what’s essential in your life so you can decide what to say no to, read Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown.

3) Take more frequent breaks…

…or make the breaks you do get count.

Obviously, this depends on your work situation, but try to take more frequent breaks. Even if you can get away from your desk for 5 minutes for every 90 to 120 minutes of work, do it.

Take some deep breaths, have a snack, get outside in the sunshine, go for a walk…all ideas of how to recharge.

Sitting reading email or scrolling social media is generally not a way to renew your energy.

At best, it has no effect on your drained battery. At worst, it drains your energy even further.

4) If you’re exhausted, rest.

It sort of goes without saying, but when you’re tired, slow down and rest.

Sleep deprivation and exhaustion can make you as sharp as someone who’s legally drunk – i.e. useless.

You can’t think clearly. Forget being able to solve problems. And please, don’t even try to operate a bulldozer.

If you need someone to remind you, email me and I’ll personally give you tough love followed by a hug.

To Summarize The Power of Rest

• Periods of intense work or stress are not, in and of themselves, bad.
• Frequent rest and disengagement from The Hustle are imperative for being more productive.
• If you feel too busy, it’s time to focus on what’s most essential and put your energy into that.

Please share this article with someone in your life who could use the power of rest.

The post The Power of Rest: 4 Ways to Disengage from The Hustle appeared first on Stupid Easy Paleo.

from Stupid Easy Paleo http://stupideasypaleo.com/2017/03/24/the-power-of-rest/
via Holistic Clients

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD: How Big Ag is killing the banana, 15K is the new 10K steps, and what’s missing in the Western diet

Welcome to Friday’s For The Love of Food, Summer Tomato’s weekly link roundup. 

Next week’s Mindful Meal Challenge will start again on Monday. Sign up now to join us!

This week how Big Ag is killing the banana, 15K is the new 10K steps, and what’s missing in the Western diet. 

Too busy to read them all? Try this awesome free speed reading app to read at 300+ wpm. So neat!

I also share links on Twitter @summertomato and the Summer Tomato Facebook page. I’m very active on all these sites and would love to connect with you.

Links of the week

• Humans Made the Banana Perfect—But Soon, It’ll Be Gone < In case you haven’t heard, the Cavendish banana that we all know and love is nearing annihilation, just as the Gros Michel before it. This isn’t surprising, it’s the natural result of the monocultures in which all our major crops our grown. If this topic is new to you, this article is a must read. (Wired)
• The Psychedelic Miracle < The renaissance of research around hallucinogenic drugs is one of the most exciting developments in psychology in decades. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, and many more common psychological afflictions are all tremendously improved by guided sessions (sometimes only 1) with little to no side effects. This long read is one of the most powerful articles I’ve read on the subject. (Rolling Stone)
• The Scientist Harnessing ‘Toxic Fat’ < Super interesting new research on what may be responsible for the deleterious effects of diabetes. Hint: it’s not insulin. (The Atlantic)
• Our best shot at cooling the planet might be right under our feet < Great read about how organic farming may be the most effective approach to thwart global warming. (The Guardian)
• Cardiovascular Deaths Linked to Poor Dietary Choices < Interestingly, this research found a bigger problem over what is missing from the Western diet (vegetables, nuts and seeds, intact grains, fruit, fish) than what it contains (processed crap). (NY Times)
• The biggest threat facing middle-age men isn’t smoking or obesity. It’s loneliness. < This goes for women too. Remember that maintaining your social connections is just as important as eating your vegetables. I’m looking at you, moms and dads. (Boston Globe)
• Should 15,000 Steps a Day Be Our New Exercise Target? < Not surprisingly, being even more active is associated with even more benefits. Don’t let this discourage you though, anything more than you’re doing is beneficial. (NY Times)
• The mysterious demise of Lucky Peach magazine and its uncertain future < This bums me out tremendously. (Washington Post)
• HARDBOILED WONDERLAND & THE EGGS OF THE WORLD < The only thing I can say is that this is worth clicking through, if only for the pictures. (Cleaver Quarterly)
• Monsanto Weed Killer Roundup Faces New Doubts on Safety in Unsealed Documents < A friendly reminder that big Ag companies actively hide essential safety information from you and me and the EPA. They aren’t our friends. (NY Times)
• A pioneer of humanely raised meat is betting the farm on Blue Apron < I’m cautiously optimistic about this development. Hoping this works and provides a model for more companies to look into legit grass-fed meat resources at scale. (Washington Post)
• Cooking at home tonight? It’s likely cheaper and healthier, study finds < Learning to cook at home remains one of the best investments you can make for your health (and wallet). (ScienceDaily)
• How Close Do You Need to Be to Your Gym? < It’s easy to forget what a huge factor this is. For me personally, the numbers in this article need to be changed from miles to blocks in order to be realistic. (WSJ)
• Meta-analysis: Impact of carbohydrate vs. fat calories on energy expenditure and body fatness < Hint: they’re pretty much the same. (Stephan Guyenet)
• Creamy Vegan Saag Paneer (With Tofu) Recipe < I LOVE this classic Indian dish with spinach and cheese, but being lactose intolerant I’ve never been able to handle the cheese well. Will definitely be trying this tofu alternative (chickpeas are a nice option too). (Serious Eats)

What inspired you this week?

from Summer Tomato http://www.summertomato.com/for-the-love-of-food-how-big-ag-is-killing-the-banana-15k-is-the-new-10k-steps-and-whats-missing-in-the-western-diet
via Holistic Clients

A new civic gathering, awarding disobedience, and the case for resettlement

As usual, the TED community has lots of news to share this week. Below, some highlights.

A new civic gathering. To cope with political anxiety after the 2016 elections, Eric Liu has started a gathering called Civic Saturday. He explained the event in The Atlantic as “a civic analogue to church: a gathering of friends and strangers in a common place to nurture a spirit of shared purpose. But it’s not about church religion or synagogue or mosque religion. It’s about American civic religion—the creed of liberty, equality, and self-government that truly unites us.” The gatherings include quiet meditation, song, readings of civic texts, and yes, a sermon. The next Civic Saturday happens April 8 in Seattle — and Eric’s nonprofit Citizens University encourages you to start your own. (Watch Eric’s TED Talk)

Medical research facilitated by apps. The Scripps Translational Science Institute is teaming up with WebMD for a comprehensive study of pregnancy using the WebMD pregnancy app.  By asking users to complete surveys and provide data on their pregnancy, the study will shed light on “one of the least studied populations in medical research,” says STSI director Dr. Eric Topol. The researchers hope the results will provide insights that medical professionals can use to avoid pregnancy complications. (Watch Eric’s TED Talk)

There’s a new type of cloud! While cloud enthusiasts have documented the existence of a peculiar, wave-like cloud formation for years, there’s been no official recognition of it until now. Back in 2009, Gavin Pretor-Pinney, of the Cloud Appreciation Society, proposed to the World Meteorological Society that they add the formation to the International Cloud Atlas, the definitive encyclopedia of clouds, which hadn’t been updated since 1987. On March 24, the Meteorological Society released an updated version of the Atlas, complete with an entry for the type of cloud that Pretor-Pinney had proposed adding. The cloud was named asperitas, meaning “roughness.” (Watch Gavin’s TED Talk)

What neuroscience can teach law. Criminal statutes require juries to assess whether or not the defendant was aware that they were committing a crime, but a jury’s ability to accurately determine the defendant’s mental state at the time of the crime is fraught with problems. Enter neuroscience. Read Montague and colleagues are using neuroimaging and machine learning techniques to study if and how brain activity differs for the two mental states. The research is in early stages, but continued research may help shed scientific light on a legally determined boundary. (Watch Read’s TED Talk)

Why we should award disobedience. After announcing the $250,000 prize last summer, the MIT Media Lab has begun to accept nominations for its first-ever Disobedience Award. Open to groups and individuals engaged in an extraordinary example of constructive disobedience, the prize honors work that undermines traditional structures and institutions in a positive way, from politics and science to advocacy and art. “You don’t change the world by doing what you’re told,” Joi Ito notes, a lesson that has been a long-held practice for the MIT group, who also recently launched their own initiative for space exploration. Nominations for the award are open now through May 1. (Watch Joi’s TED Talk)

The next generation of biotech entrepreneurs. The Innovative Genomics Institute, led by Jennifer Doudna, announced the winners of its inaugural Entrepreneurial Fellowships. Targeted at early-career scientists, the fellowship provides research funding plus business training and mentorship, an entrepreneurial focus that helps scientists create practical impact through commercialization of their work. “I’ve seen brilliant ideas that fizzle out because startup companies just can’t break into the competitive biotechnology scene,” Doudna says. “With more time to develop their ideas and technology, our fellows will have the head start needed to earn the confidence of investors.” (Watch Jennifer’s TED Talk)

The case for resettlement. Since the 1980s, the dominant international approach for the resettlement of refugees has been the humanitarian silo, a camp often located in countries that border war zones. But such host countries are often ill-equipped to bear the brunt. Indeed, many countries place severe restrictions on refugee participation within their communities and labor markets, creating what Alexander Betts describes in The Guardian as an indefinite, even unavoidable, dependency on aid. In this thought-provoking excerpt of his co-authored book, Betts outlines an economic argument for refugee resettlement, arguing that “refugees need to be understood as much in terms of development and trade as humanitarianism.” (Watch Alexander’s TED Talk)

Have a news item to share? Write us at contact@ted.com and you may see it included in this weekly round-up.

from TED Blog http://blog.ted.com/a-new-civic-gathering-awarding-disobedience-and-the-case-for-resettlement/
via Sol Danmeri

Almond Flour Waffles with Strawberry Chia Compote + 5 Seasonal Spring Recipes

Looking for an all-purpose grain free waffle that tastes like the real deal? You are going to swoon over these almond flour waffles made with an almond flour + coconut flour base topped with a homemade strawberry chia compote! They’re paleo, gluten free, and meal-prep friendly! One thing I’ve done really well in the past...

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The post Almond Flour Waffles with Strawberry Chia Compote + 5 Seasonal Spring Recipes appeared first on Fit Foodie Finds.

from Fit Foodie Finds http://fitfoodiefinds.com/2017/03/grain-free-waffles-with-homemade-strawberry-chia-compote/
via Holistic Clients

Healthy Kale and Cauliflower Soup

I scream! We scream! We all scream for…..kale? Okay, maybe that’s a stretch but eating kale just makes me feel so good, you? All dark, leafy greens are nutritional champs but kale is the leanest and meanest of them all and I think I love it the most. This flavourful, healthy kale and cauliflower soup... Read More » The post Healthy Kale and Cauliflower Soup appeared first on Running on Real Food.

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from Running on Real Food http://runningonrealfood.com/kale-and-cauliflower-soup/
via Enlightened Marketing