Nutrition is a field that requires constant learning.
As a Holistic Nutritionist, I engage in continuing education to maintain my certification as a Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner and Natural Nutrition Clinical Practitioner. In the Product Information department, we are passionate about having accurate information so we can best serve the people we speak with every day.
I read studies by day, and I read everything I can at home.
Titles currently on my bedside table:
- The Secret Teachings of Plants by Stephen Harrod Buhner
- Vitamania by Dr. Catherine Price
- Botanical Medicine by Dr. Marisa Marciano and Dr. Nikita Vizniak
- Wheat Belly Total Health by Dr. William Davis
- Dirty Genes by Dr. Ben Lynch
On my phone, I have a digital copy of The Biohacker’s Handbook by Olli Sovijärvi, M.D., technology expert Teemu Arina and nutrition expert Jaakko Halmetoja.
The Biohacker’s Handbook is a highly referenced, well-illustrated guide that presents practical and applicable suggestions for anyone who like to geek out on the topics of optimal human performance, health, and well-being. The authors claim the information it contains can help you:
- Achieve peak physical & mental performance
- Live a healthier & longer life
- Be more productive and focused
- Prepare and eat healthy food with quality in mind
Sounds good—and completely aligned with our mission at Flora.
Although some of the recipes use scores of exotic ingredients, many tips in the book—such as get enough magnesium and healthy fat—are straightforward. Another easy tip? Use marinades! That’s right, marinades improve flavor, texture, and health.
Studies show that combinations of herbs and fats with citrus fruit and vinegar reduce harmful compounds like acrylamide forming in cooked food. Marinating food in sour ingredients such as lemon juice and vinegar reduces Advanced Glycation End Products. Otherwise known as AGEs, these compounds age our skin, because they interfere with our collagen.
Knowing that warm weather is just around the corner, here are two barbecue-friendly recipes inspired by The Biohacker’s Handbook:
The biohacked marinade uses ingredients like apple cider vinegar, olive oil, ginger, garlic, and thyme. The nourishing, superfood, frozen-custard-style ice cream is packed with MCTs, butyrate, vitamins A & C, choline, turmeric, vitamin D, and a variety of antioxidants.
It was a pleasure developing these for you. I am enjoying living out another tip from the book: work to enrich your life. I hope you enjoy!
Let us know in the comments if you try the recipes or if you have a favorite book title to share with us!
Biohacked Honey Garlic Marinade
*Frying in extra virgin olive oil produces the least HCAs compared to other oils such as rapeseed oil **The amount of HCAs is reduced by up to 90% when the meat is marinated for 4 hours or more in spices such as garlic, ginger, thyme, and AGEs are reduced by using lemon or vinegar.
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds chicken (about 3 boneless, skinless breasts or 4 bone-in, skin-on thighs)
- 1/4 cup Flora Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 shot / 100 mL Flora Apple Cider Vinegar Wellness Tonic - Ginger and Lemon Flavor
- ¼ cup reduced sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp dried thyme – or 1 teaspoon fresh
- To taste white pepper
- 2 tsp. tapioca or arrowroot powder
Instructions
- Optional: Cut up chicken to create more surface area for the marinade.
- Combine all marinade ingredients in a non-reactive dish large enough to hold the chicken.
- Submerge chicken, cover dish, and place in refrigerator to marinate for 4 hours or more.**
- Allow chicken to come to room temperature (no more than two hours). Remove chicken from marinade and cook as desired. Discard marinade.
Dana Green Remedios, RHN, RNCP, NNCP, is a Vancouver-based educator and coach. She is a regular contributor to the FloraHealthy blog and can answer your questions in English, French, and Spanish as a Product Information Specialist at Flora.
