Dutch processed cocoa powder (cocoa plus alkalizing agent) has a lower antioxidant amount than plain cocoa powder. So the health benefits are reduced.
Thanks. It is clear that your advice is sincere. Nonetheless, I trust myself to guide my own way far above some anonymous person on the Internet. And regarding a nutritionist or professional advice...simple observation has made it clear to me that many of them get caught up in fads as well. It is also my experience that I can know my body better than a person who has merely memorized what s/he was taught during his or her training, which is based on the aggregate and might or might not apply to my particular situation—someone who has seen me for only a few minutes out of my entire life. I will listen, but in the end, common sense will be my guide in that I have learned that things go best for me when I make decisions based on my own best judgement. Third, I have access to the general/generic advice of the top nutritionists in the nation via their publications, and am sometimes aware of advances that some doctors are not even aware of because they are not keeping up with the latest research. Fourth, I do not need to be saved from experimenting too liberally if I am not experimenting too liberally. Fifth, since I am already getting bloodwork, I needn't be told to get bloodwork, which brings me back to trusting myself to guide my way rather than an anonymous person on the Internet who doesn't even know me. And finally, my focus is on eating fresh fruits and vegetables, which can hardly be considered unnecessary. I'm not sure what micronutrients you are referring to, but it's my understanding that the best way to get all the nutrients we need is by simply eating healthy—plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, whole grains, nuts and whatnot. Anything other than that (like a carnivore diet) is of no interest to me. I still run (play basketball, lift weights and stuff) with guys in their twenties, so I think I'm doing alright.
When I was dieting I needed to request special bloodwork that isn't included in the standard lipid/metabolic panel. It cost slightly more but they test for more things. Some of these include various amino acids in the blood which could tell you more about what you actually need. As for the nutritionist that's where you bring your papers/ideas and bounce it off them. Take their feedback and incorporate it into your own work. You may have a point about them falling for fads - but you just have to get a read on them instead of dismissing the idea entirely. For example, I work on my own cars. Experimentation gets me pretty far and I have shop manuals for them. However, sometimes I still drive it into the shop and pay $150 to have an experienced ear take a listen to give me some idea of what I might want to look at. Simple as that. I'm not saying take their advice as gospel, I'm saying bring yourself into the "mechanic shop" and have an experienced ear give a listen to what you think is going on. Who knows, you might learn something. Humility is the sign of an expert. The dismissive "anonymous person" tone wasn't necessary. I'm just passing along ideas. Take em or leave em. Doesn't bother me either way. I've got no dog in this race. Having been down this road I figured I'd drop by and pass along some ideas myself. Good luck.
I don't know why Joel Fuhrman, M.D. specifies non-alkalized cocoa in his recipes, but looking it up on the Internet just now, it said that... "Dutch-process or alkalized cocoa is chemically processed to reduce the acidity and harshness of natural cocoa." Generally speaking, the less processed a particular food happens to be, the more likely I am to choose it before one of the other alternatives, which is hardly "faddish" in my eyes, as gaussian seemed to imply.
Sorry if this sounded dismissive, but I don't really know who you are. Personally, life just does not strike me as all that complicated. If I'm eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, seeing a doctor regularly, have a toned physique and plenty of energy, I'm not worried about "various amino acids" which could tell me more. I feel like all this tells me enough. If I felt like something were wrong (like tingling in my fingertips, which is why I now know my hemoglobin A1c level), that would be reason for me to go see a specialist and get specialized tests. Like I said, it is clear that your advice is sincere, but you are not going to convince me that I am (or might be) on a fad diet.
It wasn't on my previous list, but I needed to buy alcohol-free vanilla extract. However, the grocery store didn't have it, so I was going to purchase it online. It costs a lot more than the regular kind though, so I tried to find out what were its advantages...unsuccessfully. So, I'm just going to go ahead and buy the regular kind tomorrow, and in fact, there really is no such thing as alcohol-free vanilla extract anyway. Technically, they are non-alcohol vanilla flavors, because to meet the FDA's legal definition of an extract, they must be at least 35% alcohol and contain at least 100g of vanilla beans per liter of extract. Also, the store had raisins and dried prunes, but no Medjool or Deglet Noor dates, so I'm going to see if I can purchase them online right now. (No, the shipping cost is ridiculous. So it looks like I'm going to have to go to the Walmart in a nearby city to get some.) Wait...that was Medjool dates. It looks like I can get the Deglet Noor dates at the Target down the street, and they cost less than half as much as the Medjool, so I will pick them up when I get the vanilla extract tomorrow.
My diet was Vegan for about 3 years and now Pescatarian. I do dabble in meat once in a while but make sure the portion is no more than like 3 -4 ounces. Sometimes I get crazy. The bottom line is I agree with Captain. If it’s going to be long term you have to be able to make it easy on YOU. Also important is the time you eat. I do very little breakfast, biggest meal is lunch and nothing after 7 pm. Keep in mind that your digestive system is at its most optimal state mid day so lunch should be your biggest meal. I didn’t say that it’s part of the ayervedic diet. I’ll say this over and over and over . Humans primary food is SLEEP. You can eat great and if you are not sleeping well or handling stress your health will deteriorate. It goes Sleep, stress and then food. The above is not for losing weight but for health. Also something people overlook is how keep your nervous system healthy. Huge. Read up on it. Read up on sympathetic (flight or fight) realeses cotisol, adrenaline etc and para sympathetic (rest and digest, releases melatonin, serotonin etc).
(Unless stated otherwise, all the dessert recipes I post here are from Joel Fuhrman, M.D.’s book: The End of Dieting: How to Live for Life.) Apple Surprise Service 6 1 cup raisins 1/4 cup water 8 apples, peeled, cored, and dried 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 4 tablespoons ground flax seeds 1 tablespoon cinnamon Place raisins in a pot and cover with 1/4 cup water. Place diced apples on top. Cover and simmer to steam the apples over very low heat for 7 minutes. Transfer apple/raisin mixture to bowl and mix well with remaining ingredients. Note: This recipe keeps well in the refrigerator for 7 days. Expiated’s comments… I have never eaten flax seed in my life, so I looked up what it is. Here is an extremely brief summary: Grown since the beginning of civilization, flax seeds are one of the oldest crops. There are two types, brown and golden, which are equally nutritious. Flax seeds are good sources of many nutrients. Their health benefits are mainly due to their content of omega-3 fats, lignans and fiber. So, what is a lignan? Any of a class of propyl phenolic dimers including many found in plants and noted for having antioxidant and estrogenic activity. Propyl: Of or denoting the alkyl radical. Phenolic: A colorless crystalline solid and aromatic compound. Demerization: An addition reaction in which two molecules of the same compound react with each other to give the adduct. Adduct: A product of a direct addition of two or more distinct molecules, resulting in a single reaction product containing all atoms of all components
Banana Mango Sorbet Serves 2 1 ripe banana, frozen 2 cups frozen mango 4 slices unsweetened dried mango 1/4 cup almond, hemp, or soy milk 6 ice cubes Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Note: You can substitute 4 Medjool or Deglet Noor dates for the dried mango.
The Secret to Making Easy and Delicious Sorbets and thick Shakes Blend together one bag of frozen fruit with one fresh fruit and a little nondairy milk. To make a creamy ice cream instead of a sorbet, add a healthy fat source such as hulled hemp seeds, cashews, coconut flakes, or macadamia nuts. Frozen desserts that contain some fat from nuts or seeds will stay softer and can be stored in the freezer before serving. Black Cherry Sorbet 3 cups frozen sweet black cherries 1 cup vanilla soy, hemp, or almond milk 1 ripe banana, frozen 1/2 cups walnuts 3 Medjool or 6 Deglet Noor dates, pitted Blend all ingredients in a high-powered blender.