Posts Tagged ‘Stevia’

Dark Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe

June 28, 2016 Written by JP

It’s cool, chocolatey and undeniably good for you! Of the three claims I just made, the first two probably won’t raise any eyebrows, but the latter one may ruffle a few skeptical feathers. After all, ice cream isn’t something you’ll find on most lists of wholesome dietary options. Even health food store varieties are probably best enjoyed as an occasional treat if only because of their sugar content. Today’s culinary creation is an exception to the status quo.

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Posted in Food and Drink, Nutrition, Recipes | 8 Comments & Updates

Reconsidering Honey

July 12, 2013 Written by JP

At this very moment, my opinion about honey is in a profound state of flux. On the one hand, I’m well aware that honey contains a relatively high percentage of fructose – a form of sugar that has increasingly been linked to adverse health consequences, such as fatty liver disease and obesity. But, why is it that so many learned, holistic advocates recommend it and use it in recipes? I believe I’ve figured out the reason why and have now come to terms with the rightful place honey ought to hold in my own diet.

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Posted in Diabetes, Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink | 6 Comments & Updates

Toxic Sugar Alternatives

April 13, 2012 Written by JP

A recent segment on 60 Minutes, the popular news program, examined the health implications of eating large amounts of sugar. According to current estimates, the average U.S. citizen consumes upwards of 130 lbs. of processed sugar per year. Not only is this shocking, but it’s also relevant because experts in the field of nutritional biology claim that up to 75% of all diseases can be prevented by drastically reducing refined food and sugar intake.

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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 12 Comments & Updates

Peanut Butter Brownie Recipe

December 23, 2011 Written by JP

Chocolate and peanut butter is a classic pairing of savory and sweet. The trouble is that most incarnations of this delectable combination aren’t very good for you. And, while an occasional treat is fine for most, eating such desserts regularly is clearly ill advised. That’s why I made it my mission to create a recipe that will please both your body and palate. Your taste buds will suspect they’re being treated to something naughty, but the rest of you will know you’re having something nice.

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Posted in Food and Drink, Heart Health, Recipes | 7 Comments & Updates

Artificial Sweetener Research

June 29, 2011 Written by JP

At this very moment in laboratories throughout the world there are scientists creating and/or isolating chemicals that the human body will hopefully perceive as sugar. The ultimate goal is to manufacture white crystalline powders that are free of aftertaste, calories and harmful side affects. By achieving this objective, billions upon billions of dollars would be assured. What’s more, consumers, including diabetics, would finally be able to enjoy desserts and sweets of all kinds without fear of health related consequences. Many regulatory agencies in the US and abroad believe such products are already available. They carry names such as NutraSweet, Splenda and Sweet ‘N’ Low. But not all consumer advocacy groups and medical experts agree with this position. Taste issues aside, some of these synthetic sweeteners may not be as safe as they claim.
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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 21 Comments & Updates

Healthy Sweet Tea

June 13, 2011 Written by JP

How do you take your tea? I typically drink it straight up – no added lemon, milk or sugar. But, I realize that I’m the exception to the rule. I was reminded of this the other night while driving past an ubiquitous fast food chain that features a product called “sweet tea”. The name pretty much says it all. Add copious amounts of sugar to tea while it’s hot and then allow it to cool. The resulting beverage is no longer bitter, but this transformation comes at a price. The tea itself has been sweetened to such a degree that it is almost certainly devoid of any health benefits. In fact, drinking conventional sweet tea isn’t much different than drinking a can of soda pop.
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Posted in Food and Drink, Recipes | 4 Comments & Updates

Natural Products Expo West 2011 Part One

March 16, 2011 Written by JP

Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday I walked the floor of the Anaheim Convention Center along with over 58,000 other members of the natural health community. I had my comfy Sanuk walking shoes on and a mission at hand: to survey the current trends in the natural food sector with a critical but fair eye. Some of what I saw left me hopeful, so that’s what I’ll focus on today. In my next installment on the Natural Products Expo West, I’ll discuss some of the more troublesome aspects of this colossal trade show.
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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Nutritional Supplements, Product Reviews | 12 Comments & Updates

Hot Chocolate 2010

November 30, 2010 Written by JP

The Healthy Fellow test kitchen really lives up to its name. I’m constantly experimenting with different recipes and ways of preparing healthy food. Some of the creations I come up with appear on this site. Others are simply used as part of my personal wellness routine until it occurs to me to post them. Of late, the medical literature has yielded a few tantalizing new studies pertaining to the health attributes of dark chocolate. As it happens, I’m currently in the midst of a hot cocoa revival at home. On more days than not, there’s been a wintry chill in the air and a steaming mug of hot chocolate right by my side.
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Posted in Nutrition, Recipes | 9 Comments & Updates

Almond Cocoa Butter Recipe

October 26, 2010 Written by JP

As you may know by now, I rely on events in my life to help inspire the columns that I write on this site. I was recently asked about an apparent paradox relating to dark chocolate. A client asked me how cocoa could possibly be heart healthy when it contains natural stimulants such as theobromine. “Won’t that cause my blood pressure to rise?”. Today I’ll address that question and the larger issue of cardiovascular health and cocoa. I’ll also include a supremely simple recipe that I sometimes use to satisfy my dark chocolate fix.
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Posted in Food and Drink, Nutrition, Recipes | 6 Comments & Updates

Coconut Dessert Recipes

June 22, 2010 Written by JP

My wife and I had the pleasure of celebrating Father’s Day with my parents and sister this past weekend. It may come as no surprise, but the topic of health almost always pops up whenever we get together. The unfortunate reality is that some of the stories we discuss are rather sobering. For instance, my mother mentioned an old friend of the family who is now in her late 90’s. Apparently she’s lost much of her appetite so that her nutritional outlook isn’t very promising. This is particularly troubling because getting adequate nutrition is all the more important for seniors. This exchange with my mom inspired the following two recipes. Read more »


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Posted in Food and Drink, Memory, Recipes | 8 Comments & Updates

Sugar Free Blueberry Cheesecake Recipe

April 13, 2010 Written by JP

Today, I’m going to attempt the impossible. Simply put, my goal is to make the case that cheesecake can be a health food. You read that right! Cheesecake is a health food. Of course I’m not just talking just any kind of cheesecake. There are a few substitutions that need to be made. But the good news is that the end result will hopefully be as equally pleasing to your palate as the unhealthy version to which most people have become accustomed. Read more »


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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Nutrition, Recipes | 14 Comments & Updates

Chocolate Hazelnut Porridge

March 23, 2010 Written by JP

Patterns are vital pieces of information in the field of preventive health care. Researchers are constantly on the look-out for trends that can be applied in the prevention of just about every medical condition known to man. Even maladies that have a strong genetic component are of interest because certain lifestyle choices can activate or de-activate genes that are associated with such illnesses. When it comes to lifestyle factors, dietary influences have received the lion’s share of scientific interest. The interplay between diet and gene expression has even been given a name: nutrigenomics. Read more »


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Posted in Heart Health, Nutrition, Recipes | 9 Comments & Updates

Stevia Giveaway

March 19, 2010 Written by JP

Last Friday I was zigzagging between exhibitor booths at the Anaheim Convention Center. One of the most pleasant surprises I discovered was the omnipresence of stevia-based items and finished products sweetened with stevia. Even the coffee shops and concession stands throughout the convention center provided only honey, sugar and stevia as condiments. There was nary an artificial sugar substitute to be found at this gathering. Read more »


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Posted in Product Reviews | 46 Comments & Updates