A Very Paleo T-Giving!

No need to stuff your gob with a lotta crap like the rest of America this Thanksgiving, be the difference and the change and try a few of these recipes that'll leave you satisfied without a hungover feeling due to a carb/sugar insulin overload! Plus they're delicious! Turkey, Yams, dressing.. all the usual but only better!

http://everydaypaleo.com/2010/11/15/thanksgiving-recipes-and-everyday-paleo-pumpkin-pie-cooking-demo/

Point Blank to Dr. Andrew Weil. Cut out the CRAP!

Why Dr. Weil are you overweight? I have a hard time listening to someone about health and wellness when they themselves haven't mastered their leptin signaling hormone to the hypothalamus saying "quit storing fat"! You eat many carbs, startches, soy and grains as you tout those on your website often as "healthy" (which they aren't at all) , and that is likely the culprit of your not being able to lose. Kick grains and all carbs (save cruciferous veggies and some fruit) out of your diet and up your healthy fat intake by leaps and bounds and you'll likely drop those extra pounds.

The Hunting is Good

"In sufficient amounts, without added carbohydrates, dietary fat is satiating and calms the hormone leptin, which in turn helps control hunger and sends the message to the hypothalamus that "the hunting is good"--whereby fat stores become more expendable and more freely BURNED for energy.... The more dietary fat serves as your PRIMARY source of fuel and NOT carbohydrate, the better you will become at fat burning, and the healthier and naturally slimmer you will ultimately be...AND the longer you will live. It turns out, in fact, the very thing we have been told (lied to) is our worst enemy actually may be our very best friend, if not our salvation"

-Nora Gedgaudas "Primal Body, Primal Mind"

Awesome Paleo Stuffing!

A refreshing take on traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing. This adds more flavor and moisture then gross bread stuffing and you won't even miss it! Be sure to make it this Thanksgiving, I just gave it a test run, and it's pretty amazing!!

Sausage and Apple Stuffing
--------------------------
10 slices bacon (6 oz), diced
2 pounds pork sausage meat
2 large onions, chopped (2 c)
8 oz. medium mushrooms, sliced (2 c)
3 medium ribs of celery, chopped (1 c)
1 tsp. dried sage leaves, crumbled
1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 pound tart apples, cored and cut into 1/2" pieces (3 c)
1 cup chopped fresh parsley

Cook bacon until it just begins to brown, Crumble sausage meat in same pan
and cook till done. Add onions, mushrooms and celery cooking until onions
and mushrooms are wilted. Stir in sage, thyme, salt and pepper, then the
apples. Remove from heat, add parsley.

Recipe from CrossFit Portland

Crock pot stuffed peppers

I love love love stuffed peppers, and they're even better when you cut out the crap and fillers, i.e. rice, grains, etc...
These always turn out better than I anticipate, which always makes me want to make them over and over. I'm sure you'll concur.

Crock-Pot Stuffed Peppers

1lb Grass-Fed, Organic ground beef
1 container of Trader Joe's mirepoix (carrots celery onion mix)
1 6 oz can tomato paste
5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
2 Tbsp. Almond "flour"
sea salt (to taste)
black pepper (to taste)
1/4 c. olive oil
coconut oil
3-4 large Organic Green, Yellow or Red bell Peppers (i like to use one of each)

Saute veggie mix on medium heat in a skillet with the coconut oil. Add garlic and beef and saute until well mixed, but NOT well done (were just mixing the flavors here, not doing all the cooking as that's what the crock pots for!). Add in olive oil and spices and blend together. Remove tops of peppers and discard stems. Rinse out any seeds and stuff each with the stuffing mixture.
place securely in the crock pot and add 1/2 cup of water to the pot. Turn on Low and step away 6-7 hours, or high for 3-4.

That's it, and when you return you'll have an amazing meal on your hands.. prepare to be impressed!

Recipe by: Justin J. McCoy

Paleo Pumpkin-Chip Pancakes

Try this autumnal breakfast treat the next time you're craving pancake comfort, but you don't (obviously) eat grains any longer! They're moist, delicious and will leave you satiated and smiling!

Paleo Pumpkin-Chip Pancakes

Yield 2-3 large or 9 small servings

3 large organic eggs (separated)
1/2 c. organic pumpkin
1 heaping tablespoon raw almond butter
2 Tbsp. Coconut "flour"
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of himalayan salt (sea salt is also acceptable)
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground vanilla beans or you may use vanilla extract
2 tsp Coconut Palm sugar (optional)
1 Tbsp raw cacao nibs
Coconut oil for cooking pan

whisk egg whites til frothy, add yolks and rest of wet ingredients and blend well. Add in dry ingredients and mix together until blended.
pour into a Pre-Heated (about 10 mins) med hot pan, (careful not to make it too hot, you don't wanna burn them!)
cook for about 2-3 mins per side, flipping when needed.

Serve with grass-fed butter and/or a small amount of organic maple syrup if desired or just a fresh fruit compote. Add a few slices of organic bacon if you're feeling like a little meat on the side!!

Enjoy!

Recipe by - Justin J. McCoy

Keeping your Vitamin D levels optimal this winter

While most of us are aware that direct sunlight exposed to bare skin synthesizes the production of vitamin D in the body, many are not aware however, that during the winter months, we simply cannot produce much Vitamin D at all regardless of sun exposure.

Researchers have found that the production of previtamin D3 in your skin varies depending on several factors, which include skin type, weather conditions, and sunscreen use.

During the winter at latitudes above 35 degrees, there is minimal previtamin D3 production in the skin. Darker skin pigmentation, application of sunscreen, aging and clothing can also have a dramatic effect on previtamin D3 production.

However, at the other end of the scale, excessive exposure to sunlight does not result in vitamin D overdose, because previtamin D3 and vitamin D3 are photolyzed to biologically inert chemicals before they can build up to dangerous levels.

Most of the United States and ALL of Canada and Europe are above the 35 degree latitude and therefore it's crucial that everyone supplement with vitamin D throughout the winter and spring.

Keep your D levels at optimal levels and stay healthy this winter.

Current Vitamin D Council recommendation guidelines suggest 5,000 I.U's per day for most individuals.

I personally take 6-10,000. And remember to test your D levels periodically and make adjustments accordingly.

http://www.vitaminDcouncil.org/