Part 4 of a 4 Part Series: How to Transform Your Mid-Section in Just 12 Weeks

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

Think whole foods are bland and boring? Well, think again, as it’s quite the contrary. So what’s the best-kept hidden secret between bland and boring, and health-supportive tantalizing whole-food dishes? It’s all in preparation and experimenting with a complimentary seasoning mix of natural herbs and spices.

Just like every other red-blooded American girl, there was a time when I loved pizza, pasta, and everything in between, that is until the day I discovered that I was consuming a stripped-down, chemical-laden processed food diet, full of hidden additives and preservatives while robbing my body of essential vitamins and key nutrients that play an important role in immune function.

A diet that taxes one’s immune system with potential lethal odds as in Russian roulette by triggering autoimmunity and chronic inflammation, a precursor to the onset of many common ailmentsincluding cancerous transformations through epigenetic modifications.

That’s when I turned to whole foods and a flare for cooking while saying goodbye to the dreadful handful of supplements and vitamins I had grown accustomed to taking as a substitute for diet and exercise, or better, lack of. I’ve tried about every food restrictive diet and supplement plan out there known to mankind, but have learned through the school of hard knocks that there are no secrets to diet and exercise. It’s all about moderation and burning more calories than you take in while MOVING. Making each calorie count, plain and simple.

Don’t be fooled by all the hype surrounding diet and exercise and those selling weight loss products, or “secrets” to their success. The simple truth is, there are no secrets. It’s all about finding the right balance. Everything in moderation and commitment to healthy living for a lifetime. A basic principal for which the only one who profits is you and your waistline

What is the best diet for weight loss and/or management proven effective? Whole foods or similarly a “Mediterranean” diet full of fresh greens, fruit, grains, legumes, and wild caught fish or seafood.

For breakfast, I’ll prepare a green drink, have oatmeal, or egg-whites seasoned just right and loaded with veggies and organic cheese, a banana or fresh berries. Lunch is a salad or hearty soup, followed by an afternoon snack and light dinner while staying hydrated throughout the day to curb my appetite. After all, roughly 70% of an adult’s body is made up of water. So when famine strikes and you’re feeling a sense of starvation, try drinking an 8 ounce glass of purified water and wait 15 minutes. Often times its dehydration, which we mistake for hunger.

Today in this 4 part health series, I’d like to share my favorite hummus recipe courtesy of Food.com.

2 cloves garlic 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drain and reserve liquid 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin (or try rosemary, my favorite) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon paprika 2 tablespoons light sour cream (organic, free of hormones, steroids, and antibiotics)

Directions

1. Mince garlic in the bowl of a food processor. 2. Add 2 tablespoons reserved liquid and remaining ingredients. 3. Process until smooth, adding additional reserved liquid as needed to reach desired consistency. 4. Refrigerate several hours to thicken.

Try topping with Pine Nuts or drizzling with extra virgin olive oil or other garnish when hosting a party or serving to guests. Serve with raw vegetables, pita chips, crackers, olives, or stuff in pita bread with tomatoes and cucumber and eat as a sandwich. I also like to top my favorite salad or greens with hummus for protein as a dietary substitute for animal protein. Garbanza beans (also known as chickpeas) contain a healthy amount of protein as well as a number of other beneficial nutrients such as fiber to make you feel full and and satisfied long after eating.

And for those of you who don’t have much time to spare and are tempted to buy prepackaged hummus at your local convenience store, remember to read the ingredient list and consider buying organic without MSG or other hidden-artificial ingredients and preservatives by visiting your local Whole FoodsMarket or Trader Joe’s.

I leave with you one known fact, which is disease does not discriminate. It sees no age, race, color, creed, or status. No one is exempt. It can strike at any moment; turn your life upside down like a thief in the night. The time to act is now and it’s called PREVENTION. Improve your odds today by committing to healthy living. Don’t gamble with your own life- – the greatest gift of all.

Senseless and cowardly acts of terrorism remains a global threat and always will; however it’s a much more manageable risk compared to cancer, a known terrorist of its own kind on the prowl, lurking silently in the background, preying on its victims ready to pounce on when most vulnerable. In America, a staggering one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime while the number of new cases of cancer is set to nearly double by the year 2050, according to the latest statistics. Won’t you join me today in the global war on cancer? Visit nomdeplumestudio.com for more information

So what you are cooking up today? Care to share a whole-foods recipe?

Journal Source: http://www.allaboutwater.org/ http://www.livestrong.com/article/366998-protein-in-garbanzo-beans/ http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/content/12/1/20.full

General Disclaimer: This series is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with a qualified physician, pharmacist, or other health care professional before starting any diet or exercise plan, or adopting any homeopathic remedy, treatment plan, or before taking any nutritional supplement(s) suggested by this website or linkages. RENAKREBSBACH.COM is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical condition.

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