Basil-Walnut Egg Scramble

Recipe provided by Kimberly Roberto, co-author of Maximized Living Nutrition Plans

Eggs are always a family favorite meal, whether it's for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are so versatile! Try this egg recipe on for size, because it packs a lot of taste with the addition of fresh basil and crunch of (protein and good fat loaded) walnuts!

Ingredients

• 2-3 organic eggs
• handful fresh basil
• handful walnuts
• sea salt/black pepper to taste
• optional:  dash of nutmeg

Heat a non-toxic skillet to medium heat.  Add a pat or two of organic butter  and drop all ingredients into the pan and scramble right in the pan.

Why You Can't Lose Weight

The answer to this question has to do with your hormones, not how much you eat or how much you exercise.  The specific hormone is called Leptin.  It is the hormone that tells your body to stop eating and to burn fat.  If your Leptin is out of balance, despite your best efforts, you will not be able to lose weight.(more)

What do diabetes, heart disease, stroke and acid reflux have in common

By Dr. Benjamin Ozanne and Dr. Brandon Vinzant

More than 1 in 10 American adults has diabetes. Diabetes patients spend an average of $6,000 annually on costs for treating their disease, according to a recent survey conducted by Consumer Reports Health. But the total doesn’t include the costs of medical complications that often result from Type 2 diabetes, such as heart disease, strokes, liver and kidney damage, eye damage and a susceptibility to infections and poor healing that can lead to amputations. The C.D.C. estimates that diabetic patients on average pay twice as much as those without the illness for health care.

The multi-billion dollar drugs marketed as treatment for diabetes have not been successful against the biggest cause of death related to it: heart disease. Four new studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine are a wake-up call to diabetics who rely on drugs to lower their risk of heart attacks and strokes.(more)

Is Your Pant Size Killing You?

Not happy with your weight, yet finding it hard to lose?  The majority of Americans feel this way today.  64% of Americans are overweight or obese, but the problem isn’t just about looking good in the mirror or not fitting into the same clothes you did 5 years ago.  The effects of being overweight on your body are far more dangerous when it comes to your health.  High blood pressure, high cholesterol, various cancers, diabetes, digestive problems, thyroid issues, hormone imbalances and the list goes on of health problems that have been sky rocketing over the last 15 years right along with obesity; is there a correlation?(more)

Strawberry Gelato

Recipe provided by Kimberly Roberto, co-author of Maximized Living Nutrition Plans

Great summer or after school treat....and oh so easy to make! Just 3 simple ingredients to throw into a blender and you have a refreshing dessert.

Ingredients

1 – 10 oz bag of frozen strawberries (about 2 cups)
1 ripe avocado, pit and peel removed
Stevia to taste

Put the strawberries and avocado in a heavy duty blender (preferably with a plunger).  Make sure you blend it well then add stevia to taste.  It won’t take much because the strawberries are sweet on their own.

Workout of the week

Marinated Kale Salad

Recipe provided by Kimberly Roberto, co-author of Maximized Living Nutrition Plans

Ingredients

1 bunch raw kale, chopped and de-stemmed
1/4 cup flax seed oil
1/3 cup lemon juice
1-2 tablespoons liquid aminos or tamari
sea salt and pepper to taste
 

Massage the liquid ingredients into the kale.

Are Antidepressants An Expensive Failure

By Dr. Ryan Sousley and Dr. Ben Lerner

Is “science” making progress in the fight against depression?  The numbers say “No.”  Depression is ten times worse over the last four decades and has gone from a mean age of 29.6 to 14.5!    (more)

Homemade Pesto

Recipe provided by Kimberly Roberto, co-author of Maximized Living Nutrition Plans.
In previous posts we showed you how to make oven baked pesto chicken and grainless pasta with pesto, but we have not provided a pesto sauce receipe. Well here it is!

The great thing about pesto, is that it is so versatile! You can use it on poultry, meat or fish dishes as well as veggie dishes! Or integrate into a smaller dishe and you have an appetizer. Create away!

Ingredients

3 cups fresh basil
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
1/2 cup  pine nuts or walnuts ground fine
2/3 cup grated parmesan
1/2 teaspoon chili powder, optional

Place the basil in a blender.  Pour in about 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, and blend the basil into a paste.  Gradually add pine nuts or walnuts, cheese, garlic, chili powder, if desired, and drizzle in remaining oil.  Continue to blend until smooth.

Extra pesto sauce can be used on eggs, on cauliflower or other steamed vegetables, over spiral sliced zucchini, or as a dip. 

Tip: Freeze leftover pesto (or make extra!) in ice cube trays for use later.

Exercise Of The Week

(Good) Fat Doesn't Make You Fat - It Makes You Skinny !

The TRUTH IS EATING FAT DOESN’T MAKE YOU FAT.  It’s the inability to burn fat that makes you fat.  In fact, depriving your body of fat can have detrimental effects to its function.  Your brain, your nervous system, your hormones, and the cells of your body are built from fat.  Therefore, for your body to function at its optimal level, you need to replenish your body with a good source of FAT in your diet. (more)

Exercise of the Week Ep. 22: Good Mornings > Maximized Living > Maximized Living Blog

Exercise of the Week Ep. 22: Good Mornings > Maximized Living > Maximized Living Blog