A Guide to Building Confidence and Living Your Best Life

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By Jennifer Scott of spiritfinder.org

We all want more out of our lives, but it’s not always easy to figure out the steps we need to take in order to make that happen. Keto Kooking will give you a few tips on how you can start living your best life right now and get closer to achieving your goals.

Top 5 Tips You Can Use to Build Confidence and Live Your Best  Life

  1. Know you are valued – The first thing you should do to build confidence is to know you are valued in the world. What does this mean? This means that your life matters and that your existence has a purpose here on Earth. One of the best ways to increase confidence is to let go of all those negative things others say about you and focus instead on the positive aspects of your life. Doing this opens up your mind to achieve more of what you want and will help you to build confidence in yourself.
  2. Go back to school – Enhance your career prospects with an online degree. You work hard and you deserve a career that will help you achieve your goals. Even if you have a job already, going back to school can only benefit your life. Take the time out of your busy schedule to further your education today!
  3. Stop comparing yourself to others – Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not who someone else is today. If you compare your life to someone else’s, that is not helping you. It only makes you feel as though you aren’t reaching your full potential because someone else is doing better than you. The truth of the matter is this: No two people are alike. We all have different gifts and talents which makes each one of us unique. In order to build confidence in yourself, you have to accept this and stop comparing your life to someone else’s. Focus on the positive aspects of your own life and you will soon notice how much better things are!
  4. Learn a new skill – There are plenty of online courses and opportunities to learn a new skill that you enjoy. Check out Youtube or Udemy for free or low-cost options to learn something new.  Think about what you like to do and learn more on the subject. Knowledge is power!
  5. Consume better food – Eating a nutritious diet that is full of vitamins, minerals, protein, and other nutrients is vital for our health. Consider the keto diet. It can help you to lose weight, boost energy, and improve stomach issues.

Focus on what’s important. You should be more concerned with your health, career, and things that matter in life, rather than worrying about petty things. Worrying about small things like this can put a strain on our mental health. Focus on being happy and you will feel much better for it.

In Summary

The article provides a number of tips and ideas to help you live your best life. Hopefully, these will inspire you to take the necessary steps in order to do so. The most important thing is for you not to worry about small things like this because it can put a strain on your mental health and hold you back. Focus on being happy and achieving your goals. You got this!

For more healthy tips and recipes to help you live your best life, visit Keto Kooking today!

Photo by Ella Olsson from Pexels

American Diabetes Association sees strong genetic links with Type-2 diabetes

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Personally I believe almost everything is genetically linked. With something like Type-2 diabetes there may be people that are more susceptible than others but it seems relatively curable through diet.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that type 2 diabetes has a stronger link to family history and lineage than type 1. It goes on to say that studies of twins have shown that genetics play a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes.

The ADA also advises that race can also play a role, and research Trusted Source indicates a higher prevalence among Asian, Black, and Latino people. But this may not be entirely due to genetics.

Environmental factors such as diet and lifestyle also influence the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The ADA notes that it is possible to help prevent type 2 diabetes by exercising and reaching or maintaining a moderate weight.

There can also be a genetic role in obesity, and families often develop similar eating habits. This can put someone with a genetic predisposition at more risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Is type 2 diabetes genetic? Causes, genes, and prevention (medicalnewstoday.com)

Is beef jerky healthy?

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Beef jerky is healthy without the sugar. That’s the problem with most beef jerky on the market today. You have to be careful and really read the label. A lot of jerky uses a lot of sugar. That’s part of the reason why it tastes so good. It’s not that low sugar jerky is bad. It’s different and not as addicting as the ones with sugar.

The health.com article is mostly concerned with salt. I believe it’s been proven that salt is not a big deal and is largely not responsible for high blood pressure. To me it’s the jerky with high carbs you have to watch out for.

The nutrition facts for beef jerky can vary by brand, but according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) database, a 1-ounce portion provides 116 calories, 9 grams of protein, 7 grams of fat, and 3 grams of carbohydrate. It also has 15% of the daily value for immune-supporting zinc; 11% for phosphorus, a mineral needed to produce energy and repair cells; and 8% for iron, which helps transport oxygen in the body. These key minerals, as well as the fact that it’s a handy, non-perishable source of protein, are some of the benefits of beef jerky.

Beef jerky is generally quite high in sodium. A 1-ounce portion can pack nearly 20% of the daily advised sodium limit for adults. According to the American Heart Association, nine out of 10 Americans consume too much sodium, which may increase water retention, potentially leading to puffiness, bloating, and weight gain. The organization also states that, over time, excess sodium may up the risk of various health conditions, including enlarged heart, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and kidney stones.

Is Beef Jerky Healthy? Here’s What a Nutritionist Wants You to Know | Health.com

Pecans may help reduce cholesterol

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I love pecans. I regularly make nacho cheese pecans. I created my own nacho cheese seasoning based off of a recipe I saw from Bon Appetit’s former YouTube channel. I fry raw pecans with salted butter in a pot. When they are a deep brown I remove them to a bowl and toss them with about 3 tbsp of this nacho cheese seasoning. Most people like their pecans sweet but I like mine salty and tangy like Doritos.

“We examined the impact of daily pecan consumption on blood lipids and glycemia in adults at-risk for cardiovascular disease.”

The researchers assigned 52 adults between the ages of 30 and 75 who were at higher risk for cardiovascular disease to one of three groups.

One group consumed 68 grams (about 470 calories) of pecans a day as part of their regular diet; a second group substituted pecans for a similar amount of calories from their habitual diet, and a control group did not consume pecans.

At eight weeks, participants consumed a high-fat meal to determine changes in blood lipids and the amount of glucose in the blood.

There was a significant reduction in fasting total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio, non-HDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B in the two pecan groups, with no changes in control.

Daily Pecan Consumption May Help Reduce Cholesterol Levels | Medicine, Nutrition | Sci-News.com

Pecan-Enriched Diets Alter Cholesterol Profiles and Triglycerides in Adults at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease in a Randomized, Controlled Trial | The Journal of Nutrition | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

Solving the obesity epidemic can help fight the COVID-19 pandemic

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It’s well known that one of the leading risk factors for severe COVID-19 is Type-2 Diabetes and obesity. The two conditions are tightly tied together. Poor metabolic health leads to both conditions and that can be solved purely through diet.

I’m not a doctor, obviously, so consult with your physician on your health. It’s my opinion that a keto friendly diet that is low in carbohydrates can help solve most metabolic health issues.

While eating right cannot prevent contracting coronavirus, optimal metabolic health can help prevent the negative impact of infection, several studies have shown. That’s because “good nutrition and maintenance of a healthy body weight is essential for adequate immune function, supporting resistance to infectious disease and reducing adverse outcomes in the event of illness,” according to Prof. Mona Boaz of the Department of Nutrition Sciences in the School of Health Sciences at Ariel University.“A poor diet, like the modern American diet, with its junk food, ultra-processed starches and cheap fats, causes metabolic dysfunction that can be a disaster when it’s combined with the coronavirus,” Glandt wrote in an eBook titled How to Eat in the Time of COVID-19 that she recently published with Ross Wollen and Jessica Apple.

Can what you eat save you from COVID-19? – The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)

Just say no to Keto Chow

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I ran across this favorable review of these packets of Keto powdered drinks and soups called Keto Chow (sound like dog food much?) that will cost you nearly $5.00 per packet. That’s on single packet that is supposed to replace one of your meals. When ground beef is less than $3/pound in many places this is a lot of money wasted.

Keto Chow is a drink/shake mix that has been designed to provide complete nutrition to keep you in Nutritional Ketosis. It contains a third of your daily nutritional needs of electrolytes, vitamins, protein, and more.

The Gadgeteer

This is highly processed junk food that will not provide the satiety you’re looking for. In addition, it’s fortified with nutrients. Foods that have to be fortified generally means it doesn’t have the nutrients to begin with and has to be added in artificially. Absorption of nutrients from fortified foods are generally not as good as nutrients that are naturally part of the food.

Eat real food.

A satisfying snack that’s better than a bag of chips

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It really is simple to have a snack if you must and remain on a low carb and keto friendly diet. This picture below is about as simple as it gets. It’s a single hard boiled egg, a wedge of brie cheese, a few blueberries, a strawberry, and a cup of black coffee. Anyone that is used to grabbing that quick snack of a granola bar or any type of processed snack may be surprised how something so small and simple can be so satisfying.

It’s costing more to remain keto?

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They say meat prices are rising. I was in Costco today and bought a ribeye roast for $12.50/lb. and beef eye of round for $3.50/lb. That’s relatively the same price I’ve been paying for awhile. Either it hasn’t hit here yet or it isn’t happening.

About one in three U.S. adults say they’re spending more on groceries than they were at the start of 2021, according to a Morning Consult survey of 2,200 U.S. adults conducted May 17 to 19 for Bloomberg News. Red meat was the ingredient cited most often for its higher prices, with chicken right behind.

yahoo! Finance

Low carb alternatives to pasta

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I’m just going to come out and say it. Despite the information in the article I’m linking to today I don’t think there is a true acceptable alternative to traditional pasta. Pasta substitutes just can’t compete. That doesn’t mean you can’t use these items. But just know that your dish will not be the same.

What I use is pictured above. They are thin sheets of eggs cut into noodles. To me they have been the best substitute for pasta. They’re not watery like zucchini or other vegetables. They’re not gummy like shirataki noodles. They hold sauce and soups in the tiny bubbles of the egg sheets. They have a texture that acts much like a traditional noodle. But, make no mistake it still is not pasta.

People can use vegetables such as spaghetti squash, zucchini, and cabbage in place of regular pasta. They can also use kelp noodles or bean sprouts. These low-carb substitutes have additional beneficial nutrients and fiber, which may help to balance a person’s blood glucose.

Using pasta alternatives allows people who choose low-carb diets or those who are intolerant to gluten to enjoy their favorite recipes. The alternatives are often easy to prepare, and some are suitable for dishes such as spaghetti Bolognese and lasagna.

Medical News Today