Category: healthy nutrition

Arugula

Arugula is an herb in the mustard family that is often referred to as “rucola”, “rocket”, or “rugula”. It was first cultivated hundreds of years ago in the Mediterranean but is now found around the world. It is commonly used in salads or added on top of dishes such as pizza. It has a peppery and slightly bitter flavor that is a delicious addition to many different dishes and ingredients, especially seasonal summer fruits and vegetables. In regards to nutrition, arugula is packed full of nutrients. It is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, K, fiber, iron and folate. The next time you are thinking of making a salad try adding a bit of arugula!

Photo: Metabolic Balance Canada

Health At Work

During a long day of work it can be hard to incorporate habits that help support your health. Below are a few tips to help you feel your best during a long work day.

1. Start your day with a nutritious breakfast rich in the right proteins, vegetables and complex carbohydrates – see the options in your Metabolic Balance plan!

2. Avoid short-term “energy boosters” such as coffee, energy drinks and chocolate bars.

3. Drink 8 oz of water every couple of hours can help you maintain your concentration.

4. During your lunch break, choose a lunch that will supply sustaining rich nutrients and fiber. (Your Metabolic Balance plan can help you here!).

5. Eat your lunch mindfully and not working at your desk. It’s ok to take time to nourish yourself and then get back to work. In this way you’re far more likely to be productive and ultimately get so much more done!

6. In our world, it is inevitable that we have some form of stress on a daily basis. So even if stress cannot always be avoided, be gentle with yourself and listen to your body. Frequent low energy, irritability, sleep disorders, nervousness and physical complaints such as dizziness, high blood pressure, stomach and bowel complaints and back pain are warning signs that your stress may be getting too much.

Possible ways to achieve more tranquility and balance can be regular walks, reading and taking part in physical activity or sports.

Are you taking care of yourself during a work day?

Credit: Metabolic Balance Canada

Metabolic Balance for Weight Loss

Losing weight is a constant struggle and goal for many people. Research shows that 82% of all women have tried a diet in the last two years – though their success has usually been short-lived.

At Metabolic Balance, we look at weight loss and weight maintenance as a piece of the overall health package. Our programs focus on resetting your metabolism with a permanent change in diet.

While other diets offer short-term results, Metabolic Balance creates a unique nutrition plan according to your metabolic health and personal health data, which enables you to maintain a stable weight and avoid the common yo-yo effect.

If you’re trapped in a battle of weight-cycling – heading downhill then steeply uphill again – take a look at how Metabolic Balance can help break the pattern.

Take Care of Your Body

They say our bodies are temples, and we agree, they are sacred places that need to be treated as such.

The food you fuel your body with has a huge impact on your health, while some foods can prompt chronic health conditions, others provide medicinal and protective qualities that can help ward off disease.

Research shows that having the right nutrition supports good health by reducing harmful risk factors of cardiovascular disease like inflammation, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and poor sleep. At Metabolic Balance we create a custom and personalized nutrition plan for your body to provide it with the nutrients that it needs for health and wellness. To learn more about how Metabolic Balance can help you visit our website!

Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast just as the name suggests is a type of fungi called Saccharomyces cerevisiae which is a food product that has increased in popularity in recent years. It is the same type of yeast used to make bread but unlike in baking yeast, nutritional yeast is no longer alive in the final product. Nutritional yeast has a nutty, cheesy, and savory flavor which is one of the reasons it is commonly used in plant-based cooking. In addition to having a great flavor, nutritional yeast is great for your health. It is considered a complete protein as it contains all 9 essential amino acids that humans cannot synthesize on their own. Additionally, it is packed with B vitamins and trace minerals that are important for the body. Consider trying out this great ingredient by sprinkling it over salads, adding it to soups, or trying out a new recipe.

Photo: Love and Lemons

Real Food for Real People

We’re all know there are some crazy food diets out there. Some often focus on a single ingredient that you know can’t possibly work (but, let’s be honest, you’ve probably given one a go at some time!). Whether it’s the Coconut Diet, the Grapefruit Solution, or The New Cabbage Soup Diet, there’s no shortage of wacky ideas being floated for weight loss. But the truth is, to lose weight and then maintain a stable weight you need a stable nutrition plan that is best suited for you. Metabolic Balance is all about real food for real people. Using your blood values and personal data, we create a program that is unique to you and one that will continue to help you live your healthiest life in the long term – not just for a month or two. If you’re looking for a sustainable solution for your health, get in touch with your local Metabolic Balance coach today by visiting our website.

Vegetarian and Metabolic Balance?

One of the most common questions we get from potential new clients is: “Can I participate in the Metabolic Balance program as a strict vegetarian or vegan?”

Our answer is: Vegetarian plans are absolutely possible! Vegan plans may be generated upon request but we based on your values and healthy history we may not recommend or cannot guarantee that it is possible.

For clients interested in Metabolic Balance, we recommend scheduling a call with one of our amazing Metabolic Balances coaches, who can help answer any questions you may have. To connect with one of our coaches just visit our website!

Curried Tofu with Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients:
1 serving of smoked tofu 
1 serving of vegetables (e. g. cauliflower and Brussels sprouts)
Olive oil
Curry powder
Salt and pepper
Black sesame seeds

Preparation:
Wash the vegetables and blanch them in salted water. Roast the sesame seeds in a dry pan and set aside. Cut the smoked tofu into cubes. Heat olive oil with curry, add the tofu, and add the vegetables. Cook for a few minutes over medium heat to allow the flavors to mix. Sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving and enjoy!

Brussels Sprouts

A wonderful vegetable, delicious any time of the year is the brussels sprout! Brussels sprouts are walnut-sized and light to dark green – actually grape-like arranged buds of this cabbage plant. Like green cabbage, brussels sprouts taste best after the first frost, when their sugar content moderates their bitter taste and makes their cell structure more delicate. Usually brussels sprouts are cooked and tossed in butter as a side dish, but they also taste good in casseroles, as soup or very thinly sliced even raw. Brussels sprouts have 4.7 percent of valuable plant protein with amino acids that the body can easily utilize. It is also an excellent vitamin C donor in winter and also provides the vitamins B1, B2, B6, folic acid, iron, potassium and plenty of fiber. Brussels sprouts are also used in folk medicine to reduce both weakness and tension, to facilitate weight loss, to eliminate constipation and acidification, and to prevent atherosclerosis. With a glucosinolate content of 237 mg per 100 g of vegetables, it is also associated with cancer prevention!

Vietnamese Tết Celebrations

Happy Vietnamese Lunar New Year 2023… year of the Cat! 

The Lunar New Year (Tết) is the biggest holiday in Vietnam. Did you know that Tết has the same cultural gravitas as Christmas and New Year does here in the United States.

As always, we’d like to celebrate our Vietnamese clients and colleagues with a recipe. This recipe has been submitted by Ulli Angeloni at MB head office. Ulli is a big fan of South East Asian cuisine and lived in Vietnam for several years. She also initiated the Metabolic Balance program’s translation into Vietnamese alongside Health Coach Trần Lan Hương.

This dish (nem lui hue) uses stalks of lemongrass to impart a mild lemongrass aroma to the meat. Its fibrous stalks double perfectly as skewers.

 Simply barbeque the skewers or fry them with coconut oil in a pan.

Vietnamese food is always well paired with fresh and bright salad leaves and herbs like mint and cilantro.

​ Skewer ingredients:

1 pound of ground pork or chicken

1 tablespoon of finely minced garlic

1 tablespoon of finely minced shallot

1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

Salt to taste

12-15 stalks of lemongrass

Directions:

Combine all ingredients (except the lemongrass stalks) in a bowl and mix with your hands or a fork to combine. Cover and allow to sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or overnight), allowing the flavours to develop.

Peel the outer layer of the lemongrass stalks. Rinse in water and dry.

Take one handful of the ground mixture and wrap it around the end of the lemongrass stalk, gently pressing and moulding the meat around the stalk. Repeat with the remaining meat and place on a baking sheet.

Grill over coals or gas grill for about 6-10 minutes until cooked through. Make sure to rub the grill with a paper towel soaked in vegetable oil to ensure your skewers don’t stick to the grate.

Enjoy!

*This recipe is adjusted to be compatible for Metabolic Balance participants in Phase 2.*

Don’t forget to tag Health Coach Trần lan hương when posting