To help you stay in peak shape (and nutritionally attuned) this summer, I am sharing three installments of Spotlight Series, where I focus on a specific nutritional topic for a handful of successive posts. The installments for summer 2012 include POWER FOODS, KEY SUPPLEMENTS, and TREAT YOURSELF RECIPES.
One of my main nutritional practices is eating strictly whole foods: no isolates or packaged/processed foods parading around as "healthy." Basically, I eat things as close to their natural state as possible. It is a matter of knowing how and with what you consciously nourish your body. You have to take extra care for her so that she will shine for you when you need her most!
Say what? Yeah, you've probably never heard of these puppies, and if you have, I bet you didn't know you could eat them whole. People commonly take milk thistle in capsule form, and let me tell you, they are missing out!
The whole seeds, which you can buy from nuts.com, taste like a cross between hemp and flax seeds. They are 18-25% protein by weight and boast an excellent amino-acid profile. I like to sprinkle (err, more like dump) them on my monster evening salads but you can use them just like you would any other nut or seed (i.e. in shakes, baking, etc).
But the true magic in milk thistle comes from a bioflavanoid called silymarin. This compound enhances cell membranes in the liver and can boost cellular growth by stimulating protein synthesis. Healthier liver cells, in turn, prevent toxins from entering and damaging the liver. And what does a healthy liver do for you?
While many people take milk thistle supplements (ahem, isolates) to treat hormonal imbalances or to enhance liver function, It is important to note that like many other herbal remedies, milk thistle is not subjected to the same rigorous evaluation as pharmaceutical drugs and therefore, has not been approved by the USFDA for any treatment purposes. But if you're eating the seeds whole like me, it doesn't really matter because you are eating a whole food that is nourishing you with protein, crunch, taste, and has the added benefit of tuning up your liver. Your muscles will be happy (protein), your brain will be happy (amino acids), your taste buds will be happy (CRUNCH), and your liver will be happy (what's up now, toxins?!).
Now, isn't that holistic goodness better than worrying about USFDA approval for that isolate you're poppin' every morning?!
One of my main nutritional practices is eating strictly whole foods: no isolates or packaged/processed foods parading around as "healthy." Basically, I eat things as close to their natural state as possible. It is a matter of knowing how and with what you consciously nourish your body. You have to take extra care for her so that she will shine for you when you need her most!
***
POWER FOODS: Whole Milk Thistle Seeds Say what? Yeah, you've probably never heard of these puppies, and if you have, I bet you didn't know you could eat them whole. People commonly take milk thistle in capsule form, and let me tell you, they are missing out!
The whole seeds, which you can buy from nuts.com, taste like a cross between hemp and flax seeds. They are 18-25% protein by weight and boast an excellent amino-acid profile. I like to sprinkle (err, more like dump) them on my monster evening salads but you can use them just like you would any other nut or seed (i.e. in shakes, baking, etc).
But the true magic in milk thistle comes from a bioflavanoid called silymarin. This compound enhances cell membranes in the liver and can boost cellular growth by stimulating protein synthesis. Healthier liver cells, in turn, prevent toxins from entering and damaging the liver. And what does a healthy liver do for you?
- Promotes weight loss: the liver metabolizes fat and purifies blood
- Maintains hormonal balance: a healthy liver can filter out bad forms of estrogen
While many people take milk thistle supplements (ahem, isolates) to treat hormonal imbalances or to enhance liver function, It is important to note that like many other herbal remedies, milk thistle is not subjected to the same rigorous evaluation as pharmaceutical drugs and therefore, has not been approved by the USFDA for any treatment purposes. But if you're eating the seeds whole like me, it doesn't really matter because you are eating a whole food that is nourishing you with protein, crunch, taste, and has the added benefit of tuning up your liver. Your muscles will be happy (protein), your brain will be happy (amino acids), your taste buds will be happy (CRUNCH), and your liver will be happy (what's up now, toxins?!).
Now, isn't that holistic goodness better than worrying about USFDA approval for that isolate you're poppin' every morning?!
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| The majestic milk thistle |
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| The scrumptious whole seeds |
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