Cyd Notter

Author and Nutrition Educator, Founder of The "Plan A" Diet™

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  • Articles of Interest
    • Food Topics
      • How Are Soy Curls Made
      • What’s the big deal about fiber?
      • Artificial Sweeteners – What you should know
      • Which food has 8x more cholesterol than beef?
      • 3 Big Reasons to Include Berries in Your Diet
      • Success Tips for Changing Your Diet
      • Suffering from Carbophobia?
      • What about alcohol?
      • The Slippery Slope of “Eating in Moderation”
      • A Nutrition Pop Quiz
      • Protein and Calcium
      • Aren’t Starches Fattening
      • Oils
        • Coconut Oil – Yes or No
        • Oils – what you should know
      • Eating Enough Fruits and Veggies?
      • Do You Have a Holiday Game Plan?
      • Making Only One Change?
      • America’s Love Affair with Bacon
      • Is it Safe to Eat Soy?
      • Are gluten-free diets for everyone?
      • Planning to diet this January? Do this instead.
      • Fabulous Flax Seed Has it All
      • How Important is the Glycemic Index?
      • Eating Out at Restaurants or Parties
      • Healthier Halloween Options
    • Health Topics
      • Common Barriers to Change
      • Omega Fatty Acids
      • Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Foods (Printable List)
      • What is Vitamin B12 and how much should I take?
      • Why exercise?
      • 5 Reasons to Skip the Charcuterie Boards
      • MEN: Prostate Stats You Should Know
      • The Aluminum in Our Foods is Strongly Linked to Dementia
      • Diet and Gallbladder Disease
      • Infants are Being Fed Junk Food by Their First Birthday
      • 4 Things Necessary for a Successful, Healthy Diet
      • Habits – Good or Bad?
      • Is it too late to start eating healthy?
      • Making Small Changes but Expecting Big Results
      • Family and Social Pressure
      • Genes, Schmenes – It’s most likely the food
      • Is a plant-based diet safe for children?
      • Which Processed Meats Should We Avoid?
      • Gut Bacteria and Our Diets
      • Diet & Breast Cancer Prevention
      • Statins – Don’t Believe Everything you Read
      • Diabetes – “Manage” or Reverse?
      • The Health Benefits of (a little) Unprotected Sun
      • Making Changes Stick
      • Evaluating Research
      • Vitamin D and Sunshine
      • Featured in Health Science Magazine
    • Faith Related
      • Addressing Biblical Objections to a Plant-Based Diet
      • The mathematical odds that Jesus is who He said He is…
      • Poem: Lessons from a Bike Ride
  • Recipes
    • Southwest Burgers with Low-fat Green Chile Sauce
    • Easy, Fat-free Hummus
    • Chocolate Sweet Potato Frosting
    • Date-Sweetened Berry Jam
    • Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
    • Berry Rice Cake Bites – by Vicki Brett-Gach
    • Pasta Fagioli Stew
    • Iced Beverages
    • Frijoles Charros by Mark Cerkvenik
    • Black Bean Quinoa Salad with Tangy Date-Lime Dressing
    • Easy Braised Onions & Green Beans
    • Best Blueberry Pancakes
    • Vegan Sausage Patties
    • Zucchini Bean Burritos
    • Minestrone Soup (Easy!)
    • Rainbow Kale Slaw
    • Gingerbread Biscotti
    • Instant Pot Pineapple Chili
    • No-Flour Corn Muffins
    • BBQ Soy Curls
    • Carrot Cake with Glaze
    • Blueberry Oat Bran Muffins
    • Choco-Mint Nice Cream & Sauce
    • Homestyle Squash and Pinto Beans
    • Barley Burgers
    • Chocolate Orange Nice Cream (and Sauce)
    • Easy Instant Pot Risotto
    • Easy Meals and Desserts
    • Recipe Links
    • Pumpkin Raisin Muffins
    • Roasted Veggie Pasta
    • Zucchini Muffins
    • Fat-free Green Chile Sauce
    • Tofu Lettuce Wraps
    • Creamy Chickpea Pot Pie Soup
  • Upcoming Events
  • Resources
  • Testimonials
    • Amanda G. – Loses Digestive Issues and 115 lbs.
    • Tim P. – Off all 8 Meds!
    • Cindi R. – Reversed Blocked Carotid
    • Doug M. – Doc says “Cured!”
    • Denise V. – At Peace with Food and Body Image
    • Linda Z. – Autoimmune Skin Disorder now Dormant
    • Olga A. – Improved Cognitive Function
    • Kim C. – Relief from “Getting Older”
  • Blog
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  • Coaching Services

Score a Win-Win with that Leftover Halloween Candy

October 31, 2020 By Cyd Notter

Have you heard about the national Halloween Candy Buy Back (HCBB) program? It was started back in 2005 by a dentist, Dr. Chris Kammer, with the goal of getting the surplus candy ‘off the streets’ and reducing the over consumption of sugar by children. 

Not only does the program “buy back” the candy, the collected treats are then sent to our troops abroad as a token of appreciation for serving to keep us safe.

Image by Vecteezy.com

 

 

Since the time HCBB was founded, dental offices across the nation have responded in increasing numbers, and hundreds of tons of candy have been collected over the years. HCBB has been featured by dozens of local news outlets and was even featured by Diane Sawyer on ABC News. 

Dental offices generally pay the kids $1 per pound for the candy (usually a 5 lb. limit), and then send it to Move America Forward or Operation Shoebox, organizations who sort/package/ship it to the troops abroad along with other necessities. 

Not only do the kiddos benefit from eating less sugar and getting a lesson in generosity, the troops abroad get a nice treat as well. Definitely a win-win!

To find a participating dental office near you who’ll buy back your candy, go to the HCBB website and type in your zip code. 

 

When you’re given a box of candy, don’t gulp it all down; eat too much chocolate
and you’ll make yourself sick. (Proverbs 25:16, MSG)

Filed Under: My Blog Tagged With: 'Plan A' Diet, buy back, candy, candy for troops, faith based diet, halloween, Plant Based Diet, vegan, vegetarian, whole food plant based

Can Weight Loss Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer?

October 20, 2020 By Cyd Notter

In light of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I'd like to share some very interesting facts that Dr. Kristi Funk presented on a recent YouTube interview hosted by Chef AJ.

Dr. Funk is a breast cancer surgeon who happens to be extremely energetic and passionate about what she does!

Here are a few things she covered:

  • Red flags for the BRCA gene mutation; when to be tested, and what it means it you have it
  • Being overweight is the highest preventable risk factor. Think of your weight at age 18, and then consider these statistics according to your current weight: Those who gain under 8 pounds stay at normal risk; a weight gain of between 8-14 pounds increases breast cancer risk 25%; a weight gain of 14-29 pounds = a 60% risk increase; over 29 lbs = a 90% increased risk.
  • That's because fat cells contain/lead to increased estrogen levels.
  • BUT, anyone that loses weight can reverse the trend.
  • Which foods are so anti-estrogen that they block cancer? Whole SOY foods, because of the genistein content. She recommends daily consumption (and shares all the soy stats).
  • Ground flax seed are also super cancer fighters, because of their LIGNAN content; lignans are anti-estrogen.
  • Broccoli (raw or lightly steamed) - the sulforaphane is another powerful cancer fighter.
  • Cacao powder - at least 70% cacao - a breast cancer superfood.
  • Alcohol should be reduced or eliminated - even moderate drinking raises cancer risk.

I highly recommend watching the entire video!

She shares the weight gain statistics "not to PANIC anyone, but to incentivize them."

PS: Be sure to check out this FREE training class:

3 Food Mistakes You're Making Which Lead to Painful Joints, Extra Pounds, and Health Problems the Doctors Aren't Solving. 

 

Filed Under: My Blog Tagged With: breast cancer, Cancer risk, faith based diet, Plant Based Diet, plant-based nutrition, The Plan A Diet, vegan, vegetarian, weight gain, whole food plant based

Cholesterol and Breast Cancer – is there a connection?

October 7, 2020 By Cyd Notter

Another October has rolled around, and it's time once again for all things PINK.

October is commonly known as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month," a campaign that was founded over 30 years ago as a team effort between the American Cancer Society and a pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca.

Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, and their second leading cause of cancer death (only lung cancer kills more women each year).

It's my personal opinion - and one that I express every October - that the campaign's focus of "awareness" is sadly misplaced. Instead of mainly focusing on early detection and subsequent treatment, let's bring more awareness to the area of prevention since breast cancer is largely a lifestyle-related disease.

To do otherwise is like constantly mopping up the water under the sink while neglecting to turn off the faucet.

A woman's lifestyle choices matter more to her health than toxins, environmental chemicals, and genetics...

...which brings us to the question initially posed. Cholesterol and breast cancer - is there a connection?

There absolutely is. Oxidized cholesterol (concentrated in products containing eggs, processed meat, and parmesan cheese) has cancer-fueling estrogenic effects on human breast cancer. Read more about it here.

The good news is that there is MUCH you can do to tremendously reduce your risk of breast cancer. This previous blog post provides more dietary tips that all women should consider.

 

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. 

(Romans 12:2, MSG)

 

 

Filed Under: My Blog Tagged With: breast cancer awareness, breast cancer prevention, diet and breast cancer, faith based diet, Plant Based Diet, plant-based nutrition, The Plan A Diet, vegan, vegetarian, whole food plant based

Pop Quiz #3: Which food has the most saturated fat?

February 27, 2020 By Cyd Notter

Last week's pop quiz (which food has the most fiber) was sort of a trick question. But at least you're really on your toes, now, right?

This week's quiz isn't a trick, however. The question does have one right answer. It's an important topic since saturated fat stiffens the artery walls, makes our blood viscous (thick), leads to high blood pressure and heart disease, impairs brain function, and contributes to type 2 diabetes and many other diseases.

Question: What food is the highest source of saturated fat in the American Diet?

a) Steak

b) Potatoes

c) Cheese

d) Fish

e) Chicken

f) Beans

g) Glazed donuts

So many choices on this one.....

Let's see, it probably isn't the beans......

Could it be the donuts? Maybe not?

Answer: Cheese. Cheese is an extremely fatty product and is the number one source of saturated fat in the American diet. About 70% of its calories come from fat, most of which is saturated fat, or “bad” fat. Americans eat more than 34 pounds of cheese per person per year – three times more than they did in 1970.

That's not to say the steak, fish, chicken, and glazed donuts don't contain a great deal of saturated fat. They do. But cheese is the highest source.

Fortunately, there are MANY delicious plant-based recipes for cheese, cheese sauce, nacho cheese, parmesan cheese, holiday cheese balls, and much more. Check out www.eatplant-based.com or www.thevegan8.com for some yummy recipes.

Next week's Pop Quiz will be the final one of the series! Unless you want to keep going 🙂

 

Filed Under: My Blog Tagged With: 'Plan A' Diet, faith based diet, Healthy Diet, Plant Based Diet, plant based recipes, plant-based nutrition, saturated fat, The Plan A Diet, vegan, vegetarian, whole food plant based

Reasons to exercise other than weight loss, and how often

January 2, 2020 By Cyd Notter

New year, new resolution to exercise, right? It's a commendable goal to be sure, but today I'd like to share a few reasons to exercise other than weight loss that will help keep your motivation strong.

All three types of exercise - aerobic, strength, and flexibility - provide some amazing health benefits you may not be aware of (a better mood, a boosted metabolism, a lower risk of many disease, stress management, more energy, and better sleep, just to name a few). What's not to love?

How often to you need to exercise to see the benefits? Read more here........

 

 

Filed Under: My Blog Tagged With: 'Plan A' Diet, Benefits, Christian, exercise, faith based diet, how much, how often, Plant Based Diet, plant-based nutrition, The Plan A Diet, vegan, vegetarian, whole food plant based

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