Detox Debunked

Detox...Cleanse...Lose 10 lbs in 2 days...

Sound familiar?

I really dislike companies that promise consumers a "quick fix" when it comes to weight loss. Cleansing/Detox is just that.

Here's the real scoop:

1. Our bodies are amazing machines. They DO NOT need to be detoxed or cleansed. They are capable of doing that all on their own. You can thank your kidneys, liver, colon, etc. 

2. Any weight that you lose I can almost guarantee will come back and then some. Sure, eating/drinking 500-800 calories a day will promote weight loss, but the moment you go back to eating how you always did the weight comes back too. 

3. Interested in losing muscle? I didn't think so. When we deprive our bodies of adequate calories and protein by cleansing, it looks to other sources for energy...aka our muscles. 

4. Potential health complications and serious side effects. Yup, that's a risk you're taking when you sign up for a detox/cleanse.

Now, ready for the real solution?

1. Eat lots of whole fruits and vegetables. Think apples, broccoli, spinach, berries, etc. 

2. Drink water

3. Incorporate lean protein. Salmon, chicken, tilapia, pork tenderloin, etc.

4. Don't forget fiber, low-fat dairy and whole grains. 

5. Get moving. Even 10 minutes/day is better then no minutes/day.

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?   Have you ever tried a detox or cleanse? What were your results?  ?

Apple Muffins

When I bake, I like to try and incorporate healthy ingredients and alternatives when possible. I found these Apple Muffins and decided to give them a try. They are heart healthy and packed full of nutritious ingredients.

Here's what you'll need:

1/2 cup oat bran (I made my own by putting oatmeal through the food processor)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 egg, beaten
4 Tbsp canola oil
1/3 cup applesauce
1 shredded apple (I used something similar to a cheese grater for this)
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees

Next, whisk together in a large bowl the oat bran, flour, flaxseed, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg

 

Then, in a separate bowl, whisk together the egg and oil until smooth. Stir in the applesauce, shredded apple, and sugar

Combine mixtures and fold in pecans (don't be turned off by how the mix looks...they taste much better then they look!)

Spoon batter into paper-lined muffin cups. I made mini muffins, so my baking time was less than the 22-25 minutes recommended. They baked approximately 12-15 minutes.

These were great! They were super hearty and filling! One regular sized muffin has approximately 150 calories, so if you make mini muffins they're a perfectly portioned snack! Enjoy!


 ? What's your favorite kind of muffin? ?