DOES KETO CUT IT? Creating a Lifestyle With Fewer Carbs and More Healthy Fats
There are many diets and experts who claim to have the “next best thing” for weight loss. It can be confusing to sift through a sea of diets to know what is going to work best.
The ketogenic diet (often called the keto diet) has gained a lot of traction among experts and those who have shed serious pounds on the diet. This lifestyle can empower you to make wiser choices when it comes to your meals and nutrition, but understanding what it entails is essential to your success. The keto diet is founded on the ideas that our bodies thrive on fats and proteins and that carbohydrates are a contributing factor to many health problems. Protein provides energy to power us through our day, while “good fats” — monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats — stabilize your body’s health. These fats often contribute to a lower risk of heart disease and decreased inflammation. Meanwhile, refined carbohydrates often contain large amounts of sugar, making them highly addictive and absorbed by our bodies at a faster rate. This usually means that after one serving, you’re hungry just an hour later. However, some powerful foods also contain high carb counts, like fruits, legumes, and whole grains. Moderate portions of these foods can fuel your body while limiting the negative effect of refined carbs. On the keto diet, consumers are encouraged to cut out the negative aspects of carbohydrates by reducing the amount they consume. Some variations of the diet call for more fats over protein — and vice versa — but the goal is to cut carb intake down to about 5% per week. Before jumping into keto, consider what you’re willing to give up and what plan fits into your life. Maybe you need to ease your way into the lifestyle, or maybe you need to focus on a protein-heavy diet for your active adventures. Regardless, you must fully commit to the lifestyle for the diet to work for you. Whatever route you choose, you don’t have to go it alone. Our team of experts at The Wellness Studio can help you develop a keto-focused plan that’s going to give you the best chance at success. Get started today by calling 562.980.0555. On March 17, we all dig into the depths of our closets, pulling out our green attire lest we become the victim of a pinching. Green clothing is a staple of St. Patrick’s Day, but curiously, historians are quick to point out that green wasn’t even the color St. Patrick was most known for. WELLNESS QUIZ
Ratatouille
Inspired by Bon Appétit
Ingredients
• • • • • • • • •
1 eggplant, peeled and chopped
1 large zucchini, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
2 tsp salt
3/4 cup olive oil, divided
5 sprigs thyme
1 large onion, halved and sliced 1/2-inch thick
1 red bell pepper, chopped 2 garlic cloves, sliced 2 pints cherry tomatoes
Directions
1. Heat oven to 400 F. 2. In a colander, toss eggplant, zucchini, and salt. Let sit for 30 minutes and pat dry. 3. In an ovenproof pot, heat 1/2 cup olive oil. Add half of eggplant mixture, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Remove vegetables from pot. 4. Tie thyme sprigs together with kitchen twine. 5. In the same pot, heat remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, and cook onion, pepper, garlic, and thyme for 8–10 minutes. 6. Add half the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes. 7. Stir in original eggplant and zucchini mixture and top with remaining tomatoes. Do not stir. 8. Transfer pot to oven and bake mixture for 15–20 minutes. 9. Remove pot from oven and remove thyme bundle before serving.
What color is famously attributed to St. Patrick?
Email your answers to info@thewellnessstudiolb.com for your chance to be featured in next month’s newsletter!
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