So you want to lose weight, yet you've tried every diet in the book. You've resigned yourself to the fact that your body is in a perpetual state of self sabotage. I mean, why else would you weigh more now than when you began to diet in the first place? The fact is, your body is not in a state of self sabotage, but self preservation. You see, when you begin to restrict calories your body is programed to believe that you are entering a period of famine. This instinct is ingrained in our genes dating back to distant times when our food supply wasn't as easy to catch as the corner grocery store. Metabolism, the burning of calories to create energy, is slowed with caloric restriction. When coming out of a famine, or in modern day terms, a diet - the body begins to hoard calories as body fat in anticipation of the next famine (diet). The result?
Worse, the fad toward no-fat, low-fat foods has resulted in Americans becoming heavier. "Despite a glut of diet foods and health clubs, Americans are growing plumper." The elimination of fat from foods creates the absolute opposite reaction in the body than what is implied or perceived. When we eat no-fat, low-fat foods we don't expect for these foods to create weight gain, but that's exactly what they do. The majority of no-fat, low-fat foods are heavily refined, caloricly dense carbohydrates. These foods, if not used in the production of energy, such as vigorous activity or exercise, will be converted to unsightly adipose tissue.
Flax Fat Facts
An unlikely hero in the battle of the bulge is in fact classified as a fat. Flaxseed oil is quickly gaining acclaim as a sensible approach along with a fiber-rich, whole foods diet to weight loss and vibrant optimal health. Two of the nations top nutritionists are particularly outspoken proponents of the value of flaxseed oil. One espouses flaxseed oil as an "essential element of a healthy diet," the other, "any dietary or weight loss program undertaken without the addition of the essential nutrients in flaxseed oil is destined to fail."
Flaxseed Oil - The Non-Fat Fat
What about the fat phobic in the crowd? After all, flaxseed oil is a form of fat. While technically classified as a fat, flaxseed oil is actually an anti-fat. In fact, it is the exact antitheses to the much maligned saturated fat. While saturated fat contributes to obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke and other degenerative diseases, flaxseed oil prevents and may even reverse these afflictions. For all intents and purposes we can think of flaxseed oil as the non-fat fat. Instead of trying to fool the body such as with caloric restriction or no-fat, low-fat foods, flaxseed works with the metabolic and physiologic processes of the body resulting in natural weight loss and maintenance. The fatty acids in flaxseed oil have been identified as essential nutrients. This is to say that the body cannot convert other food sources into the essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil. As a result, your body actually craves and looks for these essential nutrients in the foods you eat. If they are not there, your body detects a nutritional deficiency and you continue to crave fatty foods and sweets. Currently, we are getting less than 0.1% of the primary fatty acid in flaxseed oil in our diet.
Adding flaxseed oil to foods, or taken with a meal, creates a feeling of satiation (feeling of fullness and satisfaction following a meal). The essential fats in flaxseed oil cause the stomach to retain food for a longer period of time as compared to no-fat or low-fat foods. The addition of flax oil to food also results in a gradual release of this combination into the small intestine. The physiological effect is a slow, sustained rise in blood sugar, then a prolonged plateau of blood sugar. Ultimately, the blood sugar undergoes a slow and gradual drop. You will experience a corresponding feeling of prolonged energy, stamina and satisfaction with no immediate hunger pangs following the meal. The net result is that you feel fuller, longer, and actually eat fewer calories in the long run than if you would have chosen a no-fat, low-fat diet.
Furthermore, flaxseed oil is converted to compounds that stoke the metabolic processes in our cells. Much like a furnace, once stoked, the cells generate more heat and burn more fuel, in this case, calories. The essential nutrients in flaxseed oil also increase oxygen consumption at the cellular level resulting in increased energy and stamina, and feeling of well-being.
General Recommendations
The American population has been found to be deficient in a key essential nutrient critical to ideal health and optimal weight. The most common food source of these essential nutrients is fresh flaxseed oil. Most Americans would benefit from consuming 1-2 tablespoons a day of flaxseed oil. The ideal method of taking flaxseed oil for purposes of weight loss or maintenance is in divided doses taken with each meal.
Flax Fat Facts
An unlikely hero in the battle of the bulge is in fact classified as a fat. Flaxseed oil is quickly gaining acclaim as a sensible approach along with a fiber-rich, whole foods diet to weight loss and vibrant optimal health. Two of the nations top nutritionists are particularly outspoken proponents of the value of flaxseed oil. One espouses flaxseed oil as an "essential element of a healthy diet," the other, "any dietary or weight loss program undertaken without the addition of the essential nutrients in flaxseed oil is destined to fail."
Flaxseed Oil - The Non-Fat Fat
What about the fat phobic in the crowd? After all, flaxseed oil is a form of fat. While technically classified as a fat, flaxseed oil is actually an anti-fat. In fact, it is the exact antitheses to the much maligned saturated fat. While saturated fat contributes to obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke and other degenerative diseases, flaxseed oil prevents and may even reverse these afflictions. For all intents and purposes we can think of flaxseed oil as the non-fat fat. Instead of trying to fool the body such as with caloric restriction or no-fat, low-fat foods, flaxseed works with the metabolic and physiologic processes of the body resulting in natural weight loss and maintenance. The fatty acids in flaxseed oil have been identified as essential nutrients. This is to say that the body cannot convert other food sources into the essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil. As a result, your body actually craves and looks for these essential nutrients in the foods you eat. If they are not there, your body detects a nutritional deficiency and you continue to crave fatty foods and sweets. Currently, we are getting less than 0.1% of the primary fatty acid in flaxseed oil in our diet.
Adding flaxseed oil to foods, or taken with a meal, creates a feeling of satiation (feeling of fullness and satisfaction following a meal). The essential fats in flaxseed oil cause the stomach to retain food for a longer period of time as compared to no-fat or low-fat foods. The addition of flax oil to food also results in a gradual release of this combination into the small intestine. The physiological effect is a slow, sustained rise in blood sugar, then a prolonged plateau of blood sugar. Ultimately, the blood sugar undergoes a slow and gradual drop. You will experience a corresponding feeling of prolonged energy, stamina and satisfaction with no immediate hunger pangs following the meal. The net result is that you feel fuller, longer, and actually eat fewer calories in the long run than if you would have chosen a no-fat, low-fat diet.
Furthermore, flaxseed oil is converted to compounds that stoke the metabolic processes in our cells. Much like a furnace, once stoked, the cells generate more heat and burn more fuel, in this case, calories. The essential nutrients in flaxseed oil also increase oxygen consumption at the cellular level resulting in increased energy and stamina, and feeling of well-being.
General Recommendations
The American population has been found to be deficient in a key essential nutrient critical to ideal health and optimal weight. The most common food source of these essential nutrients is fresh flaxseed oil. Most Americans would benefit from consuming 1-2 tablespoons a day of flaxseed oil. The ideal method of taking flaxseed oil for purposes of weight loss or maintenance is in divided doses taken with each meal.
Slow Cooker, Apple Cinnamon Steel-Cut Oatmeal
7 (3/4-cup) servings
Make this the night before and wake up to the wonderful aroma of this nutritious, delicious, ready-to-eat breakfast. The oats, flax seed, apples, and cinnamon make this a healthy power house that will help you beat the hungries all morning.
Ingredients
•2 apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (2-1/2 to 3 cups chopped)
•1-1/2 cups fat-free milk
•1-1/2 cups water
•1 cup uncooked steel-cut oats
•2 tablespoons brown sugar
•1-1/2 tablespoons butter, cut into 5-6 pieces
•1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
•1 tablespoon ground flax seed
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•Optional garnishes: chopped nuts, raisins, maple syrup, additional milk or butter
Directions
Coat inside of 3-1/2 quart (or larger) slow cooker with cooking spray. Add all ingredients (except optional toppings) to slow cooker. Stir, cover, and cook on low for 7 hours. Spoon oatmeal into bowls; add optional toppings, if desired. Store leftovers in refrigerator. Freezes well.
To reheat single servings: Put 1-cup cooked oatmeal in microwave proof bowl. Add 1/3 cup fat-free milk. Microwave on high for 1 minute; stir. Continue cooking for another minute, or until hot.
Recipe can be doubled in 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Increase cooking time 1 hour.
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