http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain
(Image credit: Susanna Hopler)
There are certain foods that one only eats at the state fair. In the olden days, folks would look forward to an enormous cream puff as their special fair indulgence. Nowadays, you don’t want to know what people are doing with red velvet cake and a deep fryer. Only, secretly you do.
So go on: Gather up your pals, pile into the car, and head to the closest fair grounds.
http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain
Sometimes the best way to eat more salad is to think outside the salad plate. We find this to be particularly true with caprese, the much-loved salad layered with a trio of ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil. To make sure you get your fill this summer, here are five more ways to eat caprese (sans salad plate).
http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain
(Image credit: BBC)
Season three of the Great British Baking Show wrapped up last Friday for the United States, and Nadiya Hussain was named the winner. The season actually concluded earlier this year, and since that time Hussain has been busy cooking up her own projects. She released her first cookbook, Nadiya’s Kitchen, baked a birthday cake for Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday, and starred in another TV show called The Chronicles of Nadiya, which looks at her roots in Bangladesh.
Her latest project, however, might be the most exciting.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/
Today’s guest post is written by Elle Russ, author of Primal Blueprint Publishing’s newest upcoming title, The Paleo Thyroid Solution, which is available on Amazon.com. To learn more about Elle, you can visit her website, ElleRuss.com. Elle is not a medical doctor. Her story and advice below are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure thyroid issues, but instead to serve as a point of discussion between you and your doctor.
Chances are, you or someone you know has suffered from some kind of thyroid dysfunction.
There is a big discrepancy among experts’ estimates of how many thyroid patients exist in the United States. But the common assessment seems to be about 20 million Americans, while some groups estimate 27 million—with 13 million of them undiagnosed. Roughly 200 million people worldwide have some form of thyroid disease, and 60% of those with thyroid disease are undiagnosed and unaware of their condition.
Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid disorder and the main subject of The Paleo Thyroid Solution, is disproportionately a woman’s disease. It’s chronically misdiagnosed; doctors often mistake the symptoms of hypothyroidism as symptoms of other conditions, without factoring thyroid dysfunction as a potential cause of those symptoms. Instead, the patient is given a prescription for the misdiagnosed condition (such as high blood pressure or depression)—and the patient remains hypothyroid and continues to deteriorate. Even when properly diagnosed, hypothyroidism is often treated with the wrong combination and/or wrong dosage levels of thyroid hormones along with the widespread unavailability of proper nutritional coaching. Both the absence of treatment and the widespread practice of mistreatment results in unnecessary suffering while creating a platform of disease within the body that eventually leads to other life-threatening conditions, such as diabetes/metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, depression, miscarriages, infertility, a variety of gynecological disorders, inflammation-related diseases, cancers, and more.
Twice in ten years, I struggled with hypothyroidism—I was slowly dying. I saw and corresponded with over fifty doctors during these two bouts, and no one knew how to help me either time. The reason all of those doctors failed to diagnose me is that they all ordered the same, incorrect blood tests, which is a widespread problem. I could feel my brain and body deteriorating rapidly, and I had developed a variety of other health problems caused by hypothyroidism and the low metabolic rate that goes hand in hand with it. It was frightening to say the least. If my thyroid condition continued to go unresolved longer than it had, I can only imagine the countless medical atrocities that would have ensued. I had already been misdiagnosed with another disease (PCOS, or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome); I developed a uterine fibroid and a uterine polyp (which later had to be surgically removed); and I had alarmingly low hormone and nutrient levels of all kinds. What else was in store for me? How many more health disasters would I have experienced before I met an extremely premature demise? How many more years of my life would be wasted on this disease? These are the thoughts that motivated me to write The Paleo Thyroid Solution: so I could help save others from the grim reality of undiagnosed and mistreated hypothyroidism.
Ultimately, I took my health into my own hands—and without the assistance of doctors or medical professionals, I solved both bouts of hypothyroidism on my own (one bout was a Reverse T3 problem which is an ever-increasing problem in people who have not had a history of thyroid issues, as well as a growing problem for people on thyroid hormone replacement).
For one, you can’t live without it. Well, technically you can live without the actual gland, but you must give your body what the missing thyroid gland once gave you: thyroid hormones. The reason you cannot stay alive without a thyroid gland—or, more importantly, adequate levels of thyroid hormones—is that the thyroid is the master gland of the human body. The thyroid gland controls the metabolic rate of every organ in the body, from the production and regulation of sex hormones, adrenal hormones, body temperature, growth development, brain function, and heart rate, to every other element that keeps your body functioning. Inadequate or suboptimal levels of thyroid hormones in the human body will ultimately contribute to a miserable existence, likely rampant with diseases and health problems.
Adopting a paleo/primal lifestyle positively affects everyone’s fat-burning thyroid hormone metabolism more than any other way of eating and more than any other lifestyle strategy. This applies to people who currently don’t have thyroid issues and to people who take thyroid hormone replacement.
Here are four processes of fat-burning metabolism that apply to everyone (people taking thyroid hormone replacement and for people who have no thyroid issues):
The thyroid gland outputs T4 and T3
(or you take thyroid hormone replacement)
Your body converts the T4 into the active, fat-burning T3 hormone
The T3 arrives at work (the cells)
The T3 “punches in” to work (enters/affects the cells)
There is really only one thyroid hormone that we know for a fact is critical to life, and that hormone is called T3 (triiodothyronine). T3 is extremely powerful and is responsible for fat burning, brain function, body temperature, healthy heart rate, healthy blood pressure, physical energy, and more. T3 is energy. Having adequate levels of T3 contributes to lean muscle mass and calorie burning. T3 is what keeps your body temperature at an average of 98.6°F in healthy humans. And if you don’t have enough of it, that can lead to a whole host of hypothyroid problems.
I had all but three or four symptoms on this brutally long list. Many hypothyroid symptoms are not visible to others, and oftentimes doctors and family members/friends think these symptoms are in one’s head, somehow fabricated by hypochondriacal tendencies. These symptoms are not only real, they are rampant in people suffering from undiagnosed or mistreated hypothyroidism.
Cold hands/feet and generally being cold regardless of the weather
Insidious weight gain
Inability to lose weight no matter what you do
Weak arms
Low energy and stamina
Serious depression or general malaise
Needing a nap every day
Constipation
Sluggish reflexes or clumsiness
Dry cracked skin on heels, ankles, and elsewhere
Hair feels like straw or like a rubber band when touched or pulled
Hair loss or loss of curliness in curly or wavy hair
Inability to focus and concentrate
Mixing up words in speech (sort of like dyslexia of the mouth) and difficulty finding/remembering words
Lower/deeper voice or scratchy/raspy voice
Brain fog and forgetfulness
Menstrual irregularities such as heavy bleeding, constant bleeding, uterine fibroids/polyps, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), miserable and long-lasting PMS.
Fibrocystic breasts (also an indication of estrogen dominance)
Infertility and miscarriages
Weak, brittle, cracking, breaking, splitting fingernails
Achy muscles and overall soreness
Blood pressure issues (high or too low)
Itchy inner ears (It’s like trying to scratch an itch that you cannot reach, even with a cotton swab. This one drove me nuts!)
Heavy legs when walking (feels like you are walking with cement legs)
Unhealthy/concerning cholesterol results
Low body temperature
Uncomfortable feeling in the throat/neck area
Digestive problems (gas, abdominal bloating)
Problems at work or the inability to function well at work
Relationship issues with family/friends, romantic partners, etc.
Increased or uncontrollable cravings for sugar and carbohydrates
Allergies (rare allergies are often related to untreated or mistreated Hashimoto’s)
Messy handwriting (Issues with brain-hand-muscle dexterity)
Heart palpitations (Often related to adrenals and/or low iron.)
Restless legs (Often related to low iron.)
Compromised immunity (Getting colds and/or flus more often)
Extended recovery needed after exercise and sore after exercise
Sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells (Often related to adrenals.)
Low or zero sex drive
Moody, sensitive, easily agitated, and feeling overwhelmed by simple everyday tasks
Swelling and inflammation
Puffy eyes and face upon waking – overall puffiness and bloat
Myxedema (Swelling of the skin and underlying tissues is typical of patients with underactive thyroid glands. Discoverable by visual assessment and not being able to pinch a miniscule bit of skin on the outside of your arms, near your shoulders. Instead one is only able to pinch a thick, large portion of skin.)
A growing “tire” of fat around your waist (thyroid and adrenal related)
Headaches
Constant thirst and water won’t quench it
Feeling as if something wrong is happening to your brain, as if you are getting “dumb” and losing your cognitive abilities
Anxiety attacks
The Paleo Thyroid Solution dispels outdated, conventional thyroid wisdom still practiced by uninformed doctors, and provides the in-depth guidance necessary to solve hypothyroidism, achieve vibrant health, and optimize thyroid fat-burning hormone metabolism. It contains the only lifestyle and weight loss plan specifically targeted for maximizing thyroid hormone metabolism in harmony with paleo/primal/ancestral health principles.
If you or someone you know is suffering from thyroid issues, just know that there is hope, and don’t believe any doctor who tells you that your symptoms are permanent or something you’ll just “have to deal with” throughout your life. It is my mission to help thyroid sufferers get on the right path to wellness and transform from being fat, foggy, and fatigued to FIT, FOCUSED, and FULL OF LIFE!
Elle Russ
http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain
(Image credit: Leela Cyd)
Peak tomato season is in full swing, which can only mean one thing: It’s your duty to consume as many as possible. Before you know it, your choice will be those mealy guys at the grocery store in the dead of winter, and you’ll only be left with the memory of those juicy tomatoes from late August.
So do yourself a favor and make the season count. Here are 30 ways to eat up the best tomatoes before time runs out.
http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain
(Image credit: iravgustin/ Shutterstock/Shutterstock)
It’s sweltering out. Sweat is trickling down your back in a way that is most unappealing. There’s little respite from what feels like the inside of an armpit — except a cold drink. A chilled soda, the perfect iced tea, or a frosty beer, perhaps?
But as counterintuitive as it may sound, you may be better off reaching for the hot drink instead.
http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain
(Image credit: Kurt Pickard)
The Olympics are here — neither Zika, nor heat wave, nor presidential impeachment, nor plumbing woes could keep this age-old competition from moving forward. We’re planning marathon Olympic-watching sessions, of course, but all these amazing athletes got us thinking about what it takes to fuel such terrific prowess — in the pool, on the field, in the ring. We asked 10 athletes to share what they eat on a daily basis. Here’s what we found out.
Age: 26
Hometown: Lakeside, CA
Event: BMX Cycling
Training Regimen: Four to six hours every day, except Sundays
http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain
(Image credit: daggistock/Shutterstock)
Good heirloom tomatoes come and go from our lives like a fleeting kiss. We wait all year long for August to finally taste true love, only to realize it’s ephemeral. Breakups are hard, but saying goodbye to a tomato is harder. Enjoy it while the season lasts.
If you’ve felt this heartbreak year after year, you know the pain I’m talking about. Here are the 10 stages of falling in love with a tomato.
Originally posted at: http://www.nerdfitness.com/
War is coming…
Okay not really, but like the start of any great epic nerdy movie, we need to set the stage: WAR IS COMING.
There we go!
Every day, our modern world is being dragged further into the darkness. Fast food to keep us fat, technology and entertainment expertly crafted to distract us and make us lazy, forcing us into a life void of direction. This insidious sickness has been wreaking havoc on us unsuspectedly for decades, and only now are we starting to fight back.
Hmmm, that’s a bit dramatic. But I bet I got your attention, right?
Today is a big day for the Nerd Fitness Rebellion. Starting RIGHT NOW, you’ll notice some changes around here, and we’ve just released a fun update that can be the foundation on which you’ll be building your leveled-up life.
You can now create your free Nerd Fitness Character, turning yourself into a video-game character, and start completing a multitude of quests designed to challenge you and help you get stronger, lose weight, and live a healthier life.
We’ve been working on this for years, and today we’re excited to add a fleshed-out questing feature to the mix!
If you’ve been reading NF for a while and you’re already sold, stop reading now and click below to create your free character today!
CREATE YOUR FREE NERD FITNESS CHARACTER NOW.
If you need more convincing, keep reading below about the benefits you get from joining the 20,000 people who have already created an NF character.
If you’ve ever played a video game before, you know how addicting it can be to watch your character turn from weakling with just a cloth tunic and wooden sword into DRAGON SLAYING BAD-ASS!
Games are successful at this because they actively target certain parts of your brain that love to make progress. When you’re level 1, you know what you need to do to get to level 2, onward to level 3, and so on. Like a carrot dangled in front of a horse, we see that next quest and say “okay fine just one more…”
I’ve dedicated the last decade of my life to studying video game mechanics and how they can benefit my personal health and fitness, and the wellness of my fellow NF rebels.
Starting today, you can level up your life too. After all, what kind of boring game would Life be without quests!?
When you create an NF character, you’ll have access to hundreds of free quests, tied to corresponding experience point values, that help you get started (and stay committed to) your journey to living a healthier life. Whether it’s going for a mile walk, making healthier food choices every day, or even deadlifting twice your bodyweight, you will have tasks to complete that are designed to help you cultivate a healthier, stronger, happier life.
Just like in a game, as you complete these quests your character will level up. That satisfaction of seeing “DING! LEVEL UP!” can become addictive, and you’ll start to wonder what other quests and things you’re capable of.
You’ll always have a quest to work towards, you’ll be motivated to reach the next level, and you’ll have fun with it along the way. These quests are broken down by category depending on how you want to train:
With each additional quest completed, you’ll get closer to that life you’re fired up about. Life CAN be a game, and it CAN be fun.
Note: outside of the HUNDREDS of free quests, we have some added quest lines that are locked – those are quest lines available to people that have joined the Nerd Fitness Academy, Nerd Fitness Yoga, or Camp Nerd Fitness.
We’re excited to add more free quests as time goes on, along with new quest lines that tie into NF premium courses and events.
I want to help you find out what you’re capable of.
I love hearing from people who have really taken this “I’m a character in a big ass game of life” to heart. When you create your character on Nerd Fitness, you’ll be asked what type of character best resonates with you. You can learn all about each of the different classes but here’s a quick breakdown:
Your CLASS is based on your physical training style. You can read all about it here:
WARRIOR: You love the idea of getting stronger and more powerful. Every day is an opportunity to move heavy things or test yourself against others in competition and prove your might.
SCOUT: Built for distance and efficiency rather than strength and power, you can outlast any animal on the planet. Your muscles are designed with endurance in mind, and you can cover great distances whenever necessary.
RANGER: A jack-of-all-trades, Rangers are well-equipped for any situation. You’re good at strength training and pretty good at covering distances when required, but neither is a specialty.
ASSASSIN: Every building can be climbed, every gap can be jumped, every obstacle can be conquered. Assassins spend most of their time training with functional body-weight exercises, as that’s usually the only thing they need to lift.
MONK: Monks can kick your ass with their fists and feet, and they can do it before you even know what’s happened. Incredibly agile, lightning fast, and loaded with power, Monks specialize in martial arts to stay in shape and destroy the opposition.
DRUID: Druids spend a majority of their time training in the arts of yoga, tai chi, and other movement-based disciplines. Each movement has a purpose, and that purpose is to further improve the dexterity, agility, and strength of the druid.
ADVENTURER: Adventurers are brave souls who fear nothing and are always curious about what’s over the next hill or across the ocean. They are often found working diligently with their allies to help ensure that every adventure leads down the correct path, exploring and learning for the sake of others.
Think of this like a fun way to differentiate your character and give him/her/it an identity.
You can change your class whenever you want depending on how you’re training or what you’re working on in your life, so have some fun with it!
In addition to that, you are definitely encouraged to craft a badass character name, write an epic origin story, and share your dreams of world domination with friends and fellow Rebels. You’re only limited by your imagination, and you can choose (or not!) to nerd out as much as you’d like with roleplaying your character in this game of life.
In addition to really digging deep into your character’s identity and origin, you can even create your own series of life quests and assign point values to those as well.
If you’ve read my book “Level Up Your Life,” you’ll know all about how to structure your life quests and make progress on them.
So, you’ll have two different leveling systems: your NF level goes up when you complete the free quests, and your EQ level goes up when you complete the Epic Quest missions you’ve created for yourself.
You are not alone.
Nothing makes me happier than getting emails from people who stumble across Nerd Fitness say “I feel like I’ve found my new home.” 20,000+ people have already created characters, and almost 300,000 people from all over the world have joined the Nerd Fitness Rebellion.
Turns out that even though we may feel weird and alone, we’re not. We’re spread throughout the world, but we can level up together right here.
Regardless of where you live, where you’re at on your fitness journey, and what you’re struggling with, here you can be who you want to be, quirks and all.
Join us.
Create your character and start leveling up your life today. Share your character page with your friends and fellow rebels and ask for help. We have a thriving message board community ready, willing, and able to help you join the fight for a better life.
Embrace what makes you unique – and share it proudly. Create a character that speaks to your personality and pick quests that align with your goals.
This is just the beginning… we have some grand plans for our Nerd Fitness character system, so I hope you have grand plans for life.
Let us know and share your character page below. Who are you, and what character are you building?
I’ll start:
I’m Steve Kamb, aka Rebel One, a level 15 Assassin hell-bent on world domination inspiring my fellow rebels to live healthy, happier lives by setting a good example. I want to find out what I’m capable of, and every day I wake up excited to find out what I can do today that I couldn’t do the day before.
Who are you, what is your class, and what do you hope to accomplish?
-Steve
PS: In case you skip to the PS, or you think I’m too long winded (definitely true), just click here and create your character!
http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain
(Image credit: Brie Passano)
Twenty minutes might feel like a bit of gimmick when it comes to pulling off a really good risotto, but not when the pressure cooker is involved. This recipe brings together the familiar culinary partners of tomatoes and rice to create a creamy main dish that still tastes like summer. To ensure the essence of tomato is evident in every spoonful, we use grated tomatoes as the primary liquid, creating a fresh-tasting risotto stained a pretty shade of pink.
For now classes are 6pm and 640pm at 2840 Wildwood st in the Boise Cloggers studio.
Book your class NOW!
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