Hurry, GET ON BOARD the LOWCARB, and OTHER HEALTH LIVING TRAIN, is leaving the station..

CookingWithCarlo.com ^ | Oct 12 2003 | Carlo3b Dad, Chef, Author

[carlo3b]

Eat some Chocolate Cake and just Relax..!!

Maybe not!.. It's A GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS story...

We always knew this was so, but most of us were at a loss to explain it.. Eating something devilish, like cake or anything sweet, makes us simmer down.

Well, let me try to explain it in words that may assist us all in understanding.. This is with the help of, none other than the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.

THE GOOD NEWS. Those sweet and fatty foods that we often turn to in times of stress might in fact calm nerves, and relieve anxiety. That's the good news in an innovative biological theory of people's responses to stress. (If you are already stresses, you should stop here an get another Hershey's kiss, before proceeding)

The bad news (You knew this was coming so calm down) is that for those with chronic nervousness, and unusual levels of stress, those extra servings of comfort food come with potentially dangerous baggage, extra fat around the waist. SHAAZAM!

If that didn't do it for you .. Chronic stress, brought about by everyday trials and tribulations, is less well understood than are intermittent bouts of extreme, and acute stress. Here is what scientists know, that when a cat is suddenly attacked by a dog or a person prepares to give a speech, the adrenal gland pumps up production of stress hormones, including those known as glucocorticoids. When present at high-enough concentrations, glucocorticoids provide feedback to the stress-response system, eventually shutting it down.

To the researchers, it is still unclear how the stress response is controlled in animals that remain anxious for days at a time. However in the labs of  physiologist Mary F. Dallman of the University of California, San Francisco and her colleagues, they aim to close that knowledge gap.

Drawing on their animals studies and experiments, these and other scientists propose that glucocorticoids work differently in the long term than they do in the short term. Meaning, that when chronically present in the brain and body, the hormones maintain the stress response instead of shutting it down. At the same time, they drive animals to seek out pleasurable foods, much the same as we do in our own nest. This directs the added calories to accumulate as abdominal fat,

However, there is a bright light in this process, at least in animal experiments. That unwanted extra fat eventually checks the glucocorticoids' alarmist effects and tells the brain to Whoa!

The results from several laboratory experiments with rodents (isn't this comforting.. get another Hershey's Kiss)  support this view, the scientists say. In one set of conclusions, Dallman and her colleagues simulated chronic stress by increasing the brain concentration of a rodent version of the glucocorticoid called cortisol. As cortisol concentration rose, the rats responded by drinking increasingly more sugar water, eating increasingly more lard, and gaining abdominal girth. Ugh!

In an additional experiment, the researchers found that rats (maybe even you, you dainty mouse) with extra padding produce less-than-average concentrations of a brain chemical that triggers early molecular events underlying the stress response. HUH?
 

"If you put on some extra weight, there seems to be some sort of signal that says things are better," says Norman C. Pecoraro of UC-San Francisco, a coauthor of the paper. While Dallman and her coworkers don't know what signal the abdominal fat sends, they suspect it's involved with the regulation of metabolism.

The model "puts a new and more meaningful slant on what we mean when we talk about 'comfort foods,'" says Bruce S. McEwen of Rockefeller University in New York. "These may actually calm down an important brain system linked to anxiety."

In a fast-paced society where food is easy to get, glucocorticoid action probably causes chronically stressed people to take in extra calories and to gain weight, says McEwen.

"People are somehow stressed, and they are self-medicating because food is available," adds Pecoraro.

"We also eat sugar and fat because they are good tasting and cheap," notes Adam Drewnowski of the University of Washington in Seattle. The stress response isn't the only brain pathway that controls consumption of sweet and high fat foods, he adds.

Whatever accounts for the urge to eat a big helping of Lasagna, it's best not to indulge in it every day. The abdominal weight gain that Dallman and her colleagues have linked to glucocorticoid action increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes. {{{{{SHUDDER}}}}} OH! I see... *<@)... I just thought you should know..
SOOOO.. put down the Kiss and go kiss someone..

 

[Ditter]

I have tried 2 different kinds of stevia & it is nasty tasting stuff. Yuck! It doesn't even taste sweet!
I will try this WheyLow, thanks!

[STARWISE]

Sounds good .. is it at the health food store or the grocery store? Ya know, I felt I had used too many drops of stevia too 'cause I got an aftertaste. Thanks for the info, and take care. ;-)

[lulu67]

Please add me! The Mr. and I have recently begun Atkins. He is having more success than I.

[Fawnn]

I've only ordered Whey Low through the Web site. Other than looking up the carb count (to confirm that my memory was correct and not wishful thinking LOL), I haven't read the Web site in awhile. The last I'd heard, they'd hope to be nationally distributed through health food stores by the end of this year, but I don't know whether or not they reached that target or not.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Proudly announcing that I switched to Atkins last Monday. I have lost 11 pounds in this one week.

Wow!

[carlo3b]

Welcome aboard.. here is your first dividend.. :)

LowCarb Flourless CrepesCrepes:

• 1  large egg
• 1 Tbs. cream
• 1 tsp oil
• 1/4 tsp sugar substitute (adjust to taste)
• 1/8 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients and divide
1) Put half in a well buttered crepe skillet, or no stick frying pan and swirl to coat pan cook at medium until top looks dry, then flip for a few seconds.
2) Put on a plate, add your favorite filling and roll up and enjoy.
This will make two crepes.

Ricotta Filling:

• 1/3 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 pkg. sugar substitute

Mix well. This will fill both crepes.

Total carbs: 5.5 g

[carlo3b]

Proudly announcing that I switched to Atkins last Monday. I have lost 11 pounds in this one week. I wish I had done this earlier. This absolutely rocks.

Congrads are in order, and a bit of the bubbles (IN YOUR CASE, DIET PEPSI), for a toast.. :)

One container LowCarb Lunches

Here is something that can be prepared the night before and assembled in the morning.. Pop it into a micro, with the Tomato Sauce, or eat just the tomatoes and green beans chilled, either way it is delicious!

Garden Fresh Tomato and Green Beans

Try this with broccoli, asparagus, zucchinis, eggplant..etc..yummmmmm!

• 3 fresh tomatoes
• 2 cups fresh green beans
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
• olive oil, extra virgin
• salt & pepper to taste


1) Wash, blanche, peel,  and dice fresh tomatoes.
2) Wash and chop green beans or other vegetable.
Heat sauce pan with olive oil, on medium low.
3) Add garlic, tomatoes, green beans, salt and pepper.
Stir and cook down till tomatoes look saucy and green beans are tender, about 10 - 15 minutes.

Fresh Tomato Sauce

• 2 -3 fresh tomatoes
• 1 clove garlic per tomato, diced
• olive oil,
• salt & pepper


1) Wash and dice fresh tomatoes.
2) Heat oil, garlic, tomatoes, salt and pepper in a sauce pan.
Stir until it cooks down and forms a mildly thick sauce, 5-10 minutes.

[GrandMoM]

BUMP

[carlo3b]

 
LowCarb Taco Hell Chicken Fajitas

This mix, made with a combination of common spices and cornstarch, can be kept indefinitely until your brain's fajita-craving neurons begin firing. When you're set to cook, you'll just need some chicken, a bell pepper, and an onion, and then you simply throw it all together.. Turn on TV, call the kids.. Smile

Seasoning Mix

• 1 Tbls cornstarch
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp Splenda
• 3/4 tsp crushed chicken bouillon cube
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp cumin   

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Prepare fajitas using the following ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 to 1 1/4 lb.), cut into thin strips
• 2 Tbls oil
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into strips
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 2 Tbls favorite salsa

1. COOK and stir chicken in hot oil in a large nonstick skillet 5 minutes on medium high heat.
Seasoning Mix, water, green pepper, and onion; cook and stir on medium heat 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
2. PLACE tortillas on microwavesafe plate. Cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on high 1 minute.
3. SPOON chicken mixture onto each tortilla. Add salsa.
Roll up tortillas.

[carlo3b]

 LowCarb Mocha Coconut Frappuccino

• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 3/4 cup double strength coffee
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup Sorbee Zero Sugar Chocolate Syrup
• 3 tablespoons Sugar Twin sugar, or any of the many fine sugar subs now available
• 2 cups ice
• whipped cream


Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
1) Spread shredded coconut on a baking sheet and toast coconut in the oven.
2) Stir the coconut around every 10 minutes or so for even browning. After 25 to 30 minutes the shredded coconut should be light brown. Cool it off.
3) Make double-strength coffee by brewing with twice the coffee required by your coffee maker. That should be 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per each cup of coffee. Chill before using.
4)  To make the drinks, combine cold coffee, milk, 1/3 cup of the toasted coconut, 1/3  cup chocolate syrup, and sugar sub in a blender. Blend for 15 to 20 seconds to dissolve sugar.
5) Add ice and blend until ice is crushed and the drink is smooth. Pour drinks into two 16-ounce glasses.
Garnish each drink with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate, and a pinch of some of the remaining toasted coconut. Straws
Serves 2  drinks.

[StarCMC]

Baked chicken casserole

3 c. baked chicken breasts, cubed
1 c. Salad Dressing (I used Miracle Whip)
6 oz. cubed swiss cheese
1/4 c. onion. chopped
Dash pepper
1 T. pimento (optional -- I don't use it)
1/4 c. slivered almonds

Mix all together except the almonds. Spread in 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle almonds on top. Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes or until almonds are toasted and casserole is bubbly. Serves 4. (I double the chicken because we need more meat!)

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning Carlo. Yum sounds good.

[carlo3b]

Good Morning my sweet, our rain has finally stopped in the Houston area, and it is a breathtakingly beautiful day.. I wish the same for you.. :)

[carlo3b]

Baked chicken casserole

What a wonderful recipe.. it's full of flavor, fast and oh so easy.. THANKS.. :)

[Soaring Feather]

No rain today in my neck of the woods. Some overcast skies, no snow so that's a plus.

In spite of being in the mole months and on the East Coast I still manage a happy heart.

:-)

How about a pome for you. Sweets for the sweet!

[carlo3b]

:)

[Soaring Feather]

Contentment Looked Blue

Contentment looked blue

hope is rainbow clouds

soft sky motion

and love found

is something of value


 
****************


bentfeather

a/k/a HML

Copyright © 11/17/2003

All Rights Reserved

[cyborg]

very good... I will never give up my addiction to coffee

[hattend]

Bump it again

[Core_Conservative]

Is this low Carb, or is it just low fat? If it's just low carb - replace the margerine (Depending on the margerine - it could be high in carbs) with real butter, the skim milk (actually has more carbs than whole milk) with whole milk or half -n- half - this will probably proved even better flavor.