Dessert Has Never Been Sweeter: R.C.’s Microwave Chocolate Cake Recipe

On January 21, 2014, in Recipes, by Editor
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Authored and contributed by R.C., an Only Protein customer from Roanake, Texas

ONLY PROTEIN MICROWAVE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Ingredients

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 scoops Only Protein Vanilla or Chocolate protein powder

2 tablespoons peanut flour or just more protein powder

1/4 tsp saltchocolate-cake

12 drops liquid stevia or ½ tsp (approx 3-4 packets) of stevia powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tablespoons pumpkin puree, applesauce, or mashed banana (I used pumpkin)

1/4 cup milk of choice (I used unsweetened almond milk)

1 whole egg or 2 egg whites; can use one flax or chia egg for vegetarian option

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons Peanut Butter Greek yogurt icing (optional; recipe below)

Directions

Combine dry ingredients and mix well; add liquid, stir, and then transfer half of the batter to a greased round, shallow dish like a ramekin.

Microwave 2 minutes and 10 seconds (may need another 20 seconds if not set). Wait for it to cool about 2 minutes, remove from dish and cook other half of batter.

Spread icing on top of first half, set other half on top and use remaining icing to cover the top.

Optional: sprinkle with cinnamon or cacao nibs with a cherry or strawberry on top. Oh, I bet sliced banana would be great too!

Greek Yogurt Protein Icing

1/3 cup plain, non-fat Greek Yogurt

1/4 cup peanut flour, vanilla protein powder, or chocolate protein powder

1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

This is fabulous on its own too!

 

The Science Behind the Success of Garcinia Cambogia Extract

On January 19, 2014, in Fat Burners, Meal-Replacements, by Editor
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organic whey protein meal replacement powder

Only Protein’s meal-replacement formula contains the popular weight-loss catalyst Garcinia Cambogia

The airwaves and Internet are ablaze with talk of Garcinia Cambogia Extract, a naturally-occurring compound known as hydroxycitric acid (HCA) found in a fruit known as Garcinia Cambogia.  From the Dr. Oz show to prestigious medical reviews from the journal Nutrition Research and Georgetown University Medical Center, Garcinia Cambogia is being hailed as the most effective weight loss supplement on the market-and for good reason.  In addition to producing profound weight loss, Garcinia Cambogia has been shown also to reduce so-called “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and positively regulate the body’s blood sugar levels.  Just as importantly, each study has demonstrated that use of Garcinia Cambogia comes with no adverse side effects to individuals seeking an effective weight loss supplement.

The following excerpt is from the online fitness journal Health-Lifestyles.org:

Move Over Weight Watchers, a new dietary supplement has doctors raving. Due to its almost unbelievable results, it has also created quite a frenzy among dieters. Since recently featured by the most famous Doctor in America and beloved talk show host,Garcinia Cambogia Extract is the latest buzz in weight loss and being touted as the “The Holy Grail of Weight Loss”. Doctors worldwide and millions of people are praising this so called revolutionary fat buster. - But not without controversy.

Critics say the compounds - hydroxycitric acid, or HCA (the extract from the Garcinia Cambogia fruit), cause such dramatic weight loss that it is are ripe for abuse by people who only want to lose weight for cosmetic reasons. Proponents of the nutrient claim that it has been proven by scientific studies to be effective and safe, and that banning the natural compounds would be akin to banning vitamins.
One thing people on both sides can agree on is that the controversial, new supplement drastically works. According to a new study from researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center, men and women who took the Garcinia Cambogia supplement for 8 weeks lost an average of 16.5 pounds without additional diet or exercise.

Another study published in the journal Nutrition Research found that people taking Garcinia Cambogia extract lost an average of 6.7 percent of their total body weight, including 12.3 percent of their total body fat - with zero side effects. In fact, not only were there not any side effects, but people using the supplement actually experienced improved health measures across the board, including reductions in bad LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar.

And if all that weren’t reason enough to have desperate slimmers stocking up, researchers from the Department of Laboratory Medicine found that people taking Garcinia Cambogia extract experienced a significant decline in cravings for sweets and other foods high in carbohydrates - likely due to the nutrient’s positive effect on insulin and blood sugar counts.

Two products in the complete Only Protein system contain Garcinia Camogia: the ever-popular meal-replacement powder-available in both a 21-serving jug and on-the-go single-serving sticks-and the company’s latest addition, the all-natural fat-burner known as Meta-Therm.  When combined, these two products create a dynamic, extremely effective weight-loss system.  And when used in conjunction with Only Protein’s 100% natural protein powder-sourced from grass-fed, antibiotic-free New Zealand cattle-these supplements will ensure your body burns fat while still getting the vital protein and other nutrients needed for a healthy and active daily lifestyle.

 

The Importance of All-Natural Ingredients: Do You Know What’s in Your Supplements?

On January 14, 2014, in Diet, Meal-Replacements, Testimonials, Whey Protein, by Editor
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Authored and contributed by R.C., an Only Protein customer from Roanake, Texas

Read the ingredients label on most protein powder bottles and you’re likely to see a long list of words you’ve never heard of or can even pronounce. It’s hard to find simple, pure protein powder without a lot of useless and even harmful artificial ingredients, but luckily there are a few good choices out there.

So, what’s the issue with artificial ingredients, you ask? To go into detail would require publishing a novel, but what it boils down to is that our bodies are not designed to consume artificial or synthetic ingredients. It should come as no surprise that ingredients created in a lab will put unnecessary stress on the body trying to absorb and use these chemicals however possible. What the body is unable to use may become stored within our cells and tissues which can cause serious problems as the stores increase over repeated consumption.

gluten-free-protein-vanilla-15pack

Only Protein’s products are truly high-performance fuel for your body!

All natural ingredients, on the other hand, allow our bodies to use what is needed and safely eliminate the excess. Sure, that chocolate-banana-peanut-butter-flavored protein powder might taste great, but how many lab-made chemicals had to be added to obtain that flavor? Too many unpronounceable and unnatural chemicals is the answer. A better bet is to use a naturally flavored protein powder like Only Protein’s vanilla or chocolate protein powder and blend with real banana and peanut butter! Besides avoiding any chemical aftertaste, you’re getting all of the beneficial nutrients by using real food for extra flavor. It’s a win-win!

Protein powder is not the only supplement where you’ll find artificial ingredients lurking-they are found in the majority of packaged products on the shelf today. Make sure to scrutinize the label on supplements before taking them so you know you are only putting quality ingredients in your body. High-quality performance requires high-quality fuel; that’s why you’ll never see dragsters filling up with 87 octane gas. If you apply the same standards for yourself, you are sure to reap the rewards of better reaching your fitness goals.

Here’s a quick checklist of ingredients I avoid when selecting a supplement:

- Artificial Flavors

- Acesulfame Potassium (a.k.a. Acesulfame K): artificial sweetener; found in most diet drinks

- Aspartame: artificial sweetener; found in most diet drinks and “low-carb” foods

- Sucralose: another artificial sweetener found in most diet drinks and “low-carb” foods; a.k.a Splenda

- Any added colors; i.e. FD&C Yellow #5

- Hydrogenated Oils: there should be no oil added to a protein powder, but “hydrogenated” is a word that makes me automatically put a product back

- Carrageenan gum: thickener; other gums like guar and xanthan do not give me problems, but carrageenan always upsets my insides

- Sugar in the form of cane juice, fructose, or any other names used for sugar

I use protein powder on a daily basis, and am very thankful that Only Protein’s protein powders are all-natural and free of the garbage I strive so hard to avoid.

In sum, artificial ingredients in supplements contain chemical compounds that were not meant for human consumption and do not occur in nature. As humans, our bodies have developed to consume the food available to us from nature, not the food produced in a lab.

 

Leaving Holiday Overeating Where it Belongs: Last Year

On January 2, 2014, in Diet, by Editor
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Most of us enter the food-rich holiday season with the very best of intentions.  Sure, we’ll sip on a bit of bubbly, get a taste of our favorite traditional holiday foods, and maybe even indulge on Christmas day-after all, it only comes once a year!  And, to be sure, there is absolutely nothing wrong with any of that.  Unfortunately, many of us are left feeling guilty after such indulgences, and these feelings often make it seem like getting back on track with our diets is a daunting and intimidating endeavor.

desserts

Fortunately, regrouping after the holidays doesn’t have to be difficult at all-and the sooner you get back on track, the better you’ll feel as any residual guilt fades away and your body responds to returning to its routine of healthy eating and exercise.  The Cederquist Medical Wellness Center (CMWC) recently published a list of four easy ways to get your diet back on track for the new year and leave behind the guilt and calories that can come with Christmas.  Perhaps the most important of the Cederquist Center’s recommendations is to revisit and revise your goals.  As the CMWC article states, “If you’ve overindulged, then that can make your goals seem very out of reach.  But don’t be afraid to revise them, and make them something you can achieve.  Success will bolster you onward.”

To read the complete list of suggestions published by the Cederquiest Medical Wellness Center, visit the following URL:

http://www.drcederquist.com/weight-loss-library/weight-loss-management.aspx/4-ways-to-regroup-after-holiday-eating.aspx