"Beef It Up" Weekly Wisdom

May is National Beef Month

In the past, there has been a lot of dialogue about agriculture and its effects on the environment. I think this had led to a lot of confusion for all people, including health professionals on how they view food from crop and livestock production. It has gotten a little cloudy and I feel it has taken many of us away from the nutrition these foods provide us. That's why I want to celebrate beef month. 

I am not here to educate you on how currently, emissions from cattle, including those that come from the feed production, fuel, and electricity only account for 3.7% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. But I want to share why beef is happiness to me. Not only is beef delicious and nutritious, but the beef industry continues to implement numerous proven sustainability practices throughout each and every step of the “pasture-to-plate” process that contribute to the way beef is responsibly raised today.

Being responsibly raised and being full of nutrition is why beef makes me happy. One of the biggest way beef has made me happier is because of my own personal health. Because beef has 10 essential nutrients, it has added back some nutrients I was missing from my diet and I have to share with you my own personal story. 

I love beef and all animal proteins but because of a busy lifestyle, my intake decreased. I wasn't finding less time to cook as much with a crazy work schedule. As a result, I was getting less protein, becoming more fatigued, and noticed a few more strands on my hair brush. This led me to a trip to the doctor and I found out I was iron deficient and I knew I needed more protein in my diet with beef. Sure I could take a supplement but I am a firm believer in food first and beef has protein, iron, selenium, vitamins B12 and B6 and zinc - the major nutrients I was missing for energy, muscle growth, and preventing hair loss. As a dietitian, I know all of these are so important to make sure my brain is working, my hormones and thyroid are functioning properly and to keep my stress levels down. 

Along with increasing my produce intake to 6 servings a day, I increased my lean beef intake to 12 ounces a week for 3 months and noticed a change in all my symptoms including my iron deficiency. My favorite recipe right now is this Mediterranean Beef and Salad Pita. Making time to make meals in a non-negotiable and I am happier because I feel better. 

So in a way, maybe money can buy me happiness and health with a delicious burger, a sirloin steak, or a savory pita?

#freedom | #EmbraceTheHellYeah

~AE

"Freedom" Weekly Wisdom

 

Found my theme for this year, a little late, but still relevant. 

Freedom. 

I'm not talking about the "throw caution to the wind and live in my car" kind of freedom - HA, I would last about 2 days and then I would crumble. No, I am talking about breaking the chains of the constraints I put on myself. And I sincerely mean, the "I put on myself" part. Society does a lot of things to us, mentally and physically but I cannot put the blame on society for the walls I have built around myself. I put up barriers of protection - from criticism, from failure, from being emotional and showing weakness (god forbid ever crying), from frustration/anger and from feeling inadequate or less then. 

No way, you are not going to get to me society or anyone else who has doubted me, treated me like shit, broke my heart or said horrible things about me behind my back - cut to me, continuing to build those walls, brick by brick. I have built this fortress that is holding me back from being truly authentic and living my best life. 

I have felt this way over the past couple years and know it is of my own doing. I am not going to break them all down, there is still going to be a chain linked fence to let in the air and give me the ability to see everything around me. It may feel like the first time but I know while I was under this protection, I have learned, gotten stronger and know very little is ever going to hold me back.  

Any of this feel familiar to you?  With all the chapters in your life, has it made you the architect of walls that are closing in on you?  

#Freedom | #EmbracetheHellYeah

AE

"Chemistry" Weekly Wisdom

Who out there loved Chemistry in school?

I wanted to love it. I tried to love it. I hired tutors to love it. I went to group study each week to love it. And yet... I could never get a grade higher than a C in any of my chemistry classes in high school or in college. Boy oh boy, did I feel like a complete failure. 

I almost am tempted to retake it now, see if I really just don't get it or was it my young brain that just could not process the information. I fear both scenarios, so I am not going to place that bet. 

I am going to place my bet on the chemistry of life because I feel my success in this subject has come from the atoms and bonds of the humans I have met along the way so far. There is something about this big world and how the protons and electrons of human bodies attract to each other from near and far. As I look back on all those people, people who I had some type of bond with or bonds that were broken with, I can see how chemistry was happening in a positive way for me outside of school. As time passes, I see myself intentionally being the true catalyst in my life, creating the equilibrium of my journey, each step of the way. Only I can create this chemistry in the lab of life and this is how I make peace with those weary chemistry class days. 

Keep the chemistry coming, I love acing tests. 

#freedom | #EmbraceTheHellYeah

AE