Making Kale Chips: A Photo Tutorial

Kale is a leafy vegetable that is part of the cruciferous family. It is packed with phytonutrients that support healthy liver detoxification.

Kale chips are a healthy and delicious snack. Never made them? Here's a handy tutorial that shows you how quick and easy it can be. Feel free to skip the potato chips and dig into these crispy treats instead!

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Start out by rinsing the stalks of kale, and you can let them dry out on a towel while you work. For one person, use about three stalks. For a family, clean up the whole bunch.

Tear the leaf away from the stalk, then tear the leaves into medium-size chunks.

When you have torn all of your leaves into chunks, drizzle with some olive oil and toss. Use about 1 tsp. if you're making them for one, or use 1-11/2 T. if you're making a bunch.

Spread the leaves out in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and sprinkle with salt and your choice of additional seasonings.

Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the edges turn brown. Enjoy!

Read more about the healthy benefits and nutrients found in kale at World's Healthiest Foods

Primal Eating

I started reading a new book, "The Primal Blueprint" by Mark Sisson. I've been following his blog Mark's Daily Apple for a while now. He follows pretty closely in line with the folks at Weston A Price Foundation, which is the standard I come back to for whether we should eat something. Were people eating this 500 years ago and were they rugged and healthy. While the WAPF recommends grains and legumes which are properly prepared (soaked, sprouted, etc), The Primal Blueprint does not. If you are more than 10 lbs overfat, then I would recommend you avoid the until which point you have healthy enough insulin and blood sugar regulation to add them back in moderation.
So you have to give up grains, what do you replace it with? How about meat, chicken and seafood and lots of veggies. I came across an article on oysters and their nutritional content as well as a recipe for lemon granita. It's basically lemon juice, salt, pepper and diced red onion. A spoonful on top of a raw oyster and bingo you have a delicious snack. I say snack because oysters are so nutritionally dense and low in calories. Below are the nutrition facts for the 3 I just had.

As you can see, loaded with Zinc, Selenium, B12, and Vit D all with only 30 kcals. Zinc status is very low in this country and zinc plays a vital role in sugar metabolism via insulin. It is also required for optimal levels of testosterone in men and progesterone in women. Both hormones keep estrogen from becoming over-dominant. Men think man boobs, women think PMS and both think increased cancer risk. This is my 4th time having oysters, the first 2 I had them on a saltine and kinda choked them down. But I am willing to try about anything if it's good for me. The past two times I used the granita and I really enjoy them now. I even chew them and slurp the brine.

Gym is open

I held the first workshop at Imprimis Kettlebell this past Saturday. A small but good group of students attended. The next workshop is scheduled for June 2nd. The workshop included the Functional Movement Screen, instruction on self myofascial release aka foam rolling, the kettlebell swing, get up and goblet squat. We wrapped up with an introduction of indian club swinging. The workshop is a prerequisite for our group exercise classes which meet Monday and Thursday evenings.
If you are new kettlebells or just want to see the gym join us on Saturday June 16th from 11-1 for an Open House. There will be demos of different techniques and equipment and some snacks.

What I'm reading

I haven't posted in almost a year. I am greatly improved since last post. It was probably December or January before I really felt back to mostly normal. I'm probably 97% there now. I have the occasional tightness in the right leg but no pain. I'm moving much better than I was before the injury because I'm really working on my hip extension. I have a new kettlebell gym opening in a couple weeks and I'll be offering group classes 2 evenings a week. I've decided to post some links to the information I'm reading on a daily basis so if you are interested you can see what material is shaping my life. Here is my list for today:
2 Samuel 17
Primal eating and gout at Mark's Daily Apple
Dan John talking about training goals and fat loss
Started reading 6 pack abs 365 by Geoff Neupert MRKC