Have you ever wondered why your blood work looks normal but you still do not feel well?  It takes 10, 20 or 30 years before your blood work may become abnormal.  You went to your doctor all those years saying that you don’t feel well, your energy is low, your body temperature is low or that you have a sudden weight gain, constipation or even hot flashes which are all symptoms we don’t attribute to thyroid.  It is estimated that 90% of America has thyroid issues and most go undiagnosed.  The key is to understand that these symptoms are attributed to thyroid despite what your blood work looks like.  When the blood work becomes abnormal, your doctor gives you thyroid replacement hormone and 9 times out of 10 your blood work becomes normal, however, you still don’t feel well. Let’s explore why this happens. Three reasons why your blood work can be normal and you still don’t feel well. Autoimmune condition – this condition, most common called Hashimoto’s, simply means that your own immune system is attacking its thyroid. Most doctors don’t test to see if you have an autoimmune thyroid condition or not because the treatment is the same…

If you are looking for some almond flour recipes for the holiday season, these Peppermint Pretzel Bars are easy to make, gluten, free, and absolutely delicious! These peppermint pretzel bars are are a delicious combination of chocolate peppermint bark and almond shortbread crust. Add them to your holiday cookie list! Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 12 minutes Total Time: 42 minutes Author: Linley Richter Yield: 12 bars Category: Dessert Method: Oven Cuisine: American Ingredients Crust 1.5 cups superfine blanched almond flour 2 tablespoons butter, melted 2 tablespoons maple syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Chocolate Layer 1 cup dark chocolate chips 1 teaspoon coconut oil 1/2 cup chopped pretzels, gluten-free if desired 1/4 cup crushed peppermint candies 1/4 teaspoon sea salt Instructions Crust Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside. Mix all ingredients for the crust in a medium-sized bowl. Mix together and then use your hands to form a ball with the dough. Place ball in the greased 8×8 pan and flatten to the bottom of the pan with your hands or a spatula. Place into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until…

(BPT) – Bring the gift of nutrition to holiday gatherings by incorporating sweet cherries into your favorite menu. It may not seem the season for cherries, but this is the time to raid the summer stash that has been frozen, dried or canned. Adding a bright, festive touch, sweet cherries will provide a boost of flavor and nutrition to power you into the new year. “The holidays are a perfect time to unleash the goodness locked into preserved sweet cherries to help stay in peak health during the busy season,” said Mia Syn, a registered dietitian nutritionist. “Change up traditional cranberry sauce with a cherry-cranberry version – it’s low in sugar, quick, easy and versatile. Add some ginger or orange peel to complement your menu, and you may have a new, nutritious winter favorite.” Try your hand at cherry-cranberry sauce, and make the holidays brighter with these five hidden health benefits: 1. Reduce oxidative stress If there’s a time to reduce stress, the holidays are it. Oxidative stress results when free radicals and antioxidants are out of balance in your body. Normally, free radicals help fight off pathogens that can lead to infection or disease, but too many can attack…

(BPT) – You may have noticed more appetizers and entrees draped with pickled onions in the last couple of years. You may even have been adventurous enough to try them, learning how their tartness and onion flavor kick every dish up a notch. Pickling has been around some 4,000 years to preserve vegetables. It became popular in 18th century England to preserve food, according to savoringthepast.net. Pickled onions are traditionally served with fish and chips or with what is called a ploughman’s lunch, a dish of bread, cheese and onions – part of the English diet for centuries. Today, pickled onions are used all over the world in a variety of dishes. As with fashion, food trends come and go, and the pickled onion has made a resurgence in the U.S. in recent years. According to a Datassential survey on menu trends, the use of pickled onions has grown 191 percent in restaurants and diners in the U.S. in the last four years. From 2016-17, their use grew 8 percent. Chefs have learned the pickled onion adds an interesting twist when paired with burgers, dogs, salads and sandwiches. Adding pickled onions to your dishes doesn’t have to be the work…

It wasn’t that many years ago that we Seniors experienced one of the great joys of the Fall season, that’s right Halloween. I am sure that many of you have memories of your favorite Halloween of the past, you know, when you participated in the fun of going “Trick or Treating”. Going back to a time when our lives were somewhat different living without the fears we experience today. Thinking back, it was always an impromptu event, because although you knew the date of October 31st was coming, aside from determining your costume (which many times consisted of borrowing some of your parents’ old clothes) and your facial appearance, there was minimal preparation. Remember some facial masks were available but they usually were of frightening characters, and non-political, although I do recall a Richard Nixon mask. However, the true players would hit their mom’s cosmetic bag and begin face painting with her makeup – the clown face was extremely popular. And, remember the weather was always an important element to making it a sensational event or a bust.  Although, I don’t believe rain was ever a deterrent for the true participants. So, the plan was you waited until the sun…