Protein - Carson Natural

It’s Cinco de Mayo, and at Carson Natural, we are celebrating! One year ago today, we started our Feeling Good Friday Facebook Live broadcasts. Can you believe it has been a whole year? We haven’t missed a single Friday yet, and we are planning on keeping it going! Check out some of our fun photos on instagram!

With it being Cinco de Mayo, many people would like to celebrate with a little Mexican style food today! If you are going out to eat at your favorite Mexican restaurant tonight and are trying to eat healthier, you can! Maybe you are on some kind of special diet like I have been over the past few weeks. I’ve been doing a 21 day cleanse and purification diet. Tortilla chips and flower tortillas are not on the menu for me, but that’s alright because I have found an awesome alternative to corn tortilla chips . . . Beanitos.

Have you tried these healthier chips yet? You’ve heard of BYOB restaurants where you can bring your own beverage, right? We need a BYOC restaurant . . . Bring Your Own CHIPS! I LOVE these chips. They are a healthier alternative to the tortilla chips. They have twice as much protein, potassium, and they don’t increase your blood sugar as fast as the corn chips do. If you are a diabetic, that is really important.

Another thing you can do in place of eating tortillas, is to eat just the vegetables and the meat that comes with the fajitas. A lot of people order fajitas, and you can still do that without eating the tortillas. You CAN eat healthy at a Mexican restaurant. It might not be the easiest thing to do, but YOU CAN DO IT!

If you aren’t planning on going out to eat tonight, you can still celebrate at home with an easy to make healthy Mexican style meal. My friend and client, Corie Jones, recently blogged about a really fun way to celebrate at home and stay healthy with her family. She even provides a fun DIY craft for the kids. Check out her Cinco de Mayo blog post! Corie made this statement, “We have to remember that eating healthy is not about depriving ourselves but finding healthy substitutes. This can still be accomplished while supporting our fiesta taste buds today.” Corie, I love it and couldn’t agree more.

Remember what I always say. I’ll say it in Spanish first today. Mantente hidratada, amigos. Es posible que no estar bebiendo suficiente agua, pero usted necesita ser! Stay hydrated, my friends. You might not be drinking enough water, but you need to be!

Keep on Fiesta-ing!

Healthy Blessings,

Dr. Phil

I mentioned in my previous blog that one of the things I add the mighty Chia Seed to is protein smoothies.

Protein smoothies are a great and delicious way to improve your health. They are a wonderful nutritious alternative to the processed foods that people consume today, and they are quick and easy to make. I always recommend them as meal replacements for my patients who are wanting to lose weight, as well as those who are wanting to gain weight. I also recommend them to athletes who are seeking to increase muscle mass. I recommend them for people who are going through chemo therapy for nutritional support because they are often unable to eat solid foods, and the protein smoothie is great way to provide the nutrition their body needs. I also recommend them for elderly patients who have a loss of appetite. They often find they can drink the smoothie, which provides them with the nutrition necessary sustain them and to prevent muscle loss. My favorite protein is Standard Process Whey Protein Complete. It not only contains a high quality whey protein but also other ingredients to support gastrointestinal health and your immune system.

Here are some facts from the official brochure for Whey Protein Complete

Provides 15 grams of protein/serving

Contains colostrum(ingredient of breast milk) which supports healthy immune function and provides antibodies to protect the GI tract

Supplies powerful antioxidants to fight free radicals in the body

Contains Inulin which supports healthy immune function and increases calcium and magnesium absorption in the stomach

Includes lactoferrin which supports growth of good bacteria in the gut

Below is one of my favorite recipes for a protein smoothie and a video showing how simple it is to enjoy one for yourself!

Dr. Phil’s Mixed Berry Smoothie

3 oz Dr. Smoothie Four Berry Crushed Fruit Blend**

2 oz Almond Milk or Water

2 scoops of Whey Protein Complete

1 scoop of Nitro (optional mineral supplement)

2 tbsp of White Chia Seed

11 oz of Ice

**Alternative to Dr. Smoothie Fruit Blend – Use 1 cup of frozen mixed berries, 4oz of Almond Milk or Water instead of 2oz, and eliminate the ice