CORE Changes, LLC

Whole Wheat Flour - A whole grain?

For those that have graduated from the program I teach, this will be a review.  The topic as well as the claim has popped up a few times recently I feel the need to address it. 

Whole wheat FLOUR is NOT a whole grain.  It is flour, just like any other grain flour.  To  make flour, the bran and germ are removed.  This gives the flour a long shelf life but also makes it high glycemic and no longer whole. 

Beware of labels and marketing (15 grain bread, etc).  Whole Wheat flour started with whole wheat but the end product is processed and no longer a whole grain.

I will leave you with this...  Flour + Water = PASTE.   We are more than 60% water -  how much flour do you eat every day?

Food Inc. UPDATE

For all of my Harrisburg friends - Food Inc will be playing through next week at Midtown Cinema.  Do not miss the opportunity to see this movie!

Food, Inc.

Simply stated:  EVERYONE NEEDS to see this movie.  

It doesn't matter if you have the most healthy diet of everyone you know.   This was one of the most eye opening experiences I have had in a long time.  It's one of those things that we think we "kinda know", probably do not really want to know...but we really NEED to know.  After seeing the movie, it is then up to you to make your decisions, but at least they will be more educated.   I will refrain from saying any more for now. I do not want to give anything away.   It is currently playing at Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg.

http://www.foodincmovie.com/about-the-film.php

As a lot of you may know, I teach a 12 week health & weight management program.  Once this comes out on DVD, it will be a highly suggested viewing for all of my clients.  

If you have already seen this, I would love to hear your thoughts and any changes you may have decided to make because of what you learned.

All my best,
Brenda

Label Reading Tips - Sugar

We have all probably heard or already knew sugar is not a nutrient we need.  We need glucose from healthy carbohydrates, but not "sugar".   During the 12 week course I teach we spend at least 1 session on reading labels.  One of the first things I point out is all of the different names for sugar.  What?  You mean some labels are misleading!??!!    Ah, most labels are very misleading, so here is a quick tip for you.  When looking for sugar in the ingredients look for things like:
Malted Barley
Corn Syrup
Brown Rice Syrup
Evaporated Cane Juice
Cane Juice
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Fructose
Molasses
Honey

Basically if it sounds like it might be... it most likely is a form of Sugar.  

Grocery Shopping Made Easy!

Some might think I would love grocery shopping.  While I enjoy healthy foods and teaching others to adapt a healthy lifestyle, grocery shopping is as low on my list as cleaning the bathroom!  BUT!!! I have discovered, through a very dear friend, something quite spectacular. 

My grocery store offers on-line shopping with a valet pick-up service.  I order my groceries on-line, creating a shopping list (or several) that I can save in my account.  Within a couple of hours (or I pick the time the next day) it is ready for me to drive up, pay (while still in my car) and have it loaded in the back. I can still use coupons and take advantage of the bonus buying program. Today I had a gift card.  For me, a worth while convenience...but then I started thinking....

What a great way to prevent the impulse buying and add more thoughtful control to our buying behaviors!  If you tend to lose control when you are in the store, picking up items you didn't have on your list because you still have the addiction to sugar...shop on-line!   No impulse buying and when you have your list saved, you just click send.  

Check out your grocery store.  If you want to know where I shop, contact me and I'd be happy to tell you. 

Happy clicking! :-)

Artificial Sweetners

Hi everyone!

A little delayed in blogging, but we just got back from Miami.  I am now very ready for summer! 

I felt compelled to share this with you, as it is just another example of how we are exposed to so much misleading information.  In a recipe/coupon booklet from a well know grocery store there is a "tip page" on artificial sweeteners.  Its focus is about which is better to cook and bake with as a substitute for sugar.  The one I want to point out is Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal). 

This is the tip:
"200 times sweeter than beet or cane sugar, this product loses its sweetness when cooked at high temperatures for a long period of time"   

Well, of course!  It is a dangerous chemical substitute sweetener.   With a quick search on Google you easily find information like this.

    "These are indeed extremely high levels for adducts of formaldehyde, a substance responsible for chronic deleterious effects that has also been considered carcinogenic.
....
"It is concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde adducts."
[Life Sci. (scientific journal), Vol. 63, No. 5, pp. 337+, 1998] 

Not only is Aspartame not the best for baking...it's not safe for consumption, period.  What is your normal body temperature?  It's hot enough to start the break down of this dangerous chemical substitute into the formation of formaldehyde adducts.  Another example of something that is great for the food and "diet" industry, but not great for you.