The Core Diet Blog

Eating "clean" once meant nothing more than steamed broccoli and chicken in a Tupperware container. Putting an end to this myth can actually mean extra attention to eliminating additives, bulking agents, preservatives, pesticides and hormones. By doing just this, you really clean up your food, and your body will run much better. Similar to an automobile engine that uses only premium fuel, to decrease residue collection, we can streamline our energy source and decrease unwanted deposits in many parts of our bodies.

Today is not much for tropics, but with left over pineapple and papaya I will try to give it a go. I have previously decided to add the ginseng over the horseradish, and so do. There is nothing sparkling today about my juice as I feel like predetermining the ingredients removes a bit of the excitement. Maybe if I add a spontaneous ingredient, things will perk up. In attempts to mask the tropical feel, I go with beet and romaine, and am quite surprised at the smooth vegetable taste.

Project Juice: Day 19

This morning I am participating in a workout/lecture (I'm lecturing in between intervals of circuit training) so I think that juicing before this event may be helpful. I like the superfood properties of the kale and the tomato addition really adds some substance. The two of these together seem like they may stand on their own quite well, but something is telling me to add some kind of heat. Perhaps cliché with the tomato, but I pull out the forgotten horseradish root. Somehow I will work the juicer into an adult beverage, but alas, another blog topic. Not knowing much about horseradish, I had purchased some while in the root section picking up my ginger and ginseng. Now, I am quite pleased that I did. Properties of horseradish root include strong antibiotic, expectorant, bronchodilatator, antibacterial, coronary vasodilatator. However, systemically horseradish raises blood pressure associated with its heat characteristic. The immune system is stimulated, and oh yes! it has anti-inflammatory properties in addition to being antiparasitic, antianemic, antiscorbutic (prevents scurvy by preservation of vitamin C) and is a diuretic. It can stimulate the appetite. Also it is known that horseradish has aphrodisiacal properties. Seriously! Where has this been hiding and why does this not get more press! Horseradish, I love you.

Project Juice: Day 16

I have been hearing such unbelievable things about kale, I decide to incorporate some leaf into my juice today. Additionally, I will continue the morning ritual to juice first thing in the morning! I am ready. Hopefully, the rest of the family is ready, as well.

Project Juice: Day 13

In celebration of pomegranate season, I have purchased likely, too many. I am a huge fan of the pom, but clearly the prep can be a deterent. I suppose I'd better get busy peeling and popping. What I have decided to try is a dual pomegranate prep. I will peel and pop 2 at one time and seal the anrils from one in an airtight container in attempts to decrease oxidation of the precious antioxidants. I think this may not be optimal, but nonetheless, a technique to get me going on the delectable poms.

Project Juice: Day 10

Today, I thought I would read the instructions for my new juicer. Fortunately, I don't think I have been operating the juicer in an unsafe manor the previous 9 days. However, a solo tip about a particular fruit stands out. There is no mention of food with the exception of pomegranate. I figure this must be important. There are explicit instructions on how to eat and prepare a pomegranate. According to Bella, one should score the outside of the pomegranate to peel off the skin, then under running water and into a bowl of water, push the anrils into the bowl. The fiber will float, the anrils will sink (for the most part) and you will have successfully separated your fruit and are ready to juice. Bella recommends juicing the pomegranate twice (the pulp, not the juice) to fully extract all the juice.

Project Juice: Day 7

Well things are certainly picking up at this time of year, and initially I have a sense of gloom about my juice. I was rushed and behind schedule, but onward I pushed to collect some ingredients for juice. In fact, once I started the process, I became far more engaged and excited about what I should create. Hey, kind of like a day where you don't quite feel like doing the workout, but lace up the sneakers anyway, and have a great session!

Project Juice: Day 4

Feeling like I have made some serious progress, purchasing the actual juicer, I am confident that I will be able to make some quality juices. Simplicity as the Golden Rule, I create an orange, ginger and ginseng juice that I deem quite tasty and full of vibrant health! Perhaps because I have bought enough root to take me through the month do I feel the compulsion to add ginger and ginseng to everything I make. Quite frankly, these ingredients just sound as if they belong in a juicer. However, how much ginseng should I really be getting?! After researching a bit, ginseng root has many healthful benefits, including lowering blood sugar, blood pressure and improving the immune system. Warnings about ginseng in high doses only appear regarding extracts and supplements, not the actual root.

Core Diet dietitian Anne Rollins chronicles here journey on the Core Diet holiday juicing challenge! Join her in her 30 day journey……

So, I have been lured into a 30 day trial of juicing. Perhaps a bit of previous intrigue, and with minimal taunting, I am in… 30 Juices in 30 days.

My disclaimer: I have never juiced, am scared of juicing and do not own a juicer.

Typically, if I choose to start a new endeavor, I will research and analyze every possible angle, perspective and internalize until I feel expertly versed…Unless of course, I feel like jumping in with no knowledge at all so as to create a larger margin for improvement. The later is true for my juicing. After wrapping up the racing season and moving into holiday mode, I'm feeling like I need some raw enzymes and with no time to prep.

There are always many trends in nutrition, but the one currently gaining momentum is a return to softer claims by food companies and manufacturers, and a revisited focus on inherent nutrition. The trend is away from trends. This shift is multi-factorial, and who could say which factor is most important. Our modern world produces food lacking in minerals, vitamins, fiber, enzymes, and antioxidants. Fortunately, our culture is starting to evaluate our food supply, including, additives that we can't read, pesticides that may be harmful, antibiotics wreaking havoc through the food chain, added hormones that may be linked to altered hormones and development in humans, carcinogenic food stuffs (and yes, food stuffs is the name given to something that may be eaten, but does not retain enough of its' original wholesomeness to be referred to as food), fruits and vegetables with decreased nutrients because of unrotated crops or overplanting on depleted soils, or with many travel miles that may allow for increased oxidation, or worse, a chemical agent to delay ripening… to name a few.

Variety is the spice of life they say, but yet, I've had a salad for lunch 5 out of 7 days for the last three years. Some people pass me by at the salad bar on their way to the burger line and comment on my healthy choice, but is it?

Perhaps we are all behind because of a LONG winter, and as we emerge into spring, I find myself surrounded with tales of increasing stressors. Seemingly, no one has enough time to perform the necessary tasks of the day in an appropriate amount of time. (We wasted our spring cleanup time shoveling!) We've probably all hoped for more hours in the day, but realistically, how do we handle increasing workloads and commitments while our culture demands everything be done yesterday…and perfectly? Some may say we are losing out on valuable developmental coping mechanisms by moving too quickly in our goals for ultimate achievement. What to do so as to not fall behind? Some of us exercise. We compete to feel fulfilled, for a sense of accomplishment or to feel the simple pleasure of sport, but then we have training goals that may increase the very stress they were designed to eliminate.

Anthropometrics, the measurement of the human individual for the purposes of understanding human physical variation, can be excellent tools for athletes to help achieve a sport specific body composition. Individual sports may have optimal metrics so that strength is not a limiter or present in excess and either ultimately hamper the athletes' performance, not enhance it.

After a recent trip to the supermarket, I wondered if spending double for my wild salmon was a worthwhile investment. I remember reading a few articles many years ago when salmon hit the Top 10 List dissuading folks from purchasing farm raised salmon for a multitude of reasons, but surely we have addressed these issues by now…or have we?

As we approach the off-season, conveniently coinciding with the holiday season, the tendency to forego strict nutrition and loosen up is understandable. We've all worked hard and sacrificed for the passion of sport. The time is now to celebrate our accomplishments and live it up! Cereal parties, pancakes and Halloween candy (if you haven't read Rachel's latest bog, check out which treats may trick you) are the perfect choices now that training and competing are wrapped up. Well…(insert audio of needle scratching across the vinyl here)…not so fast.

Some of you know me by now, but to most I am likely a new face. I have recently started with QT2 as a dietitian after years of working with runners and other athletes specific to the New York market. During my recent relocation process, one that was a bit bumpy, I continued to run. However, my training and fueling were not well thought out as I had given them the back burner to other more pressing priorities.