Are Cauliflower Substitutions Really Healthier for You?

by DebbieJ MS RDN | Apr 11, 2019 | All, Ask Our Dietitian, Home, Nutrition

Question:

Cauliflower seems to be all the rage. Cauliflower pizza crust, cauliflower rice, cauliflower mashed potatoes – is it really healthier than the alternatives? (i.e. regular dough, white/brown rice, mashed potatoes) I’ve noticed that sometimes it seems like these cauliflower products are very high in cholesterol, seems counterintuitive. I need an expert’s advice!

Answer:

It IS a craze! Cauliflower is a highly nutritious and under consumed cruciferous vegetable. Incorporating it in forms other than whole raw and steamed may reduce its benefit a smidge but at least more people are eating it. Its mild flavor and bland appearance make the versatile cauliflower suitable for replacing white starches for restricted carbohydrate, Paleo or gluten-free eating. Yes, I know purple, orange and green varieties exist. Here’s a rundown of the various popular ways cauliflower is offered (at present) compared to the original alternatives:

Riced cauliflower vs. rice – As a side dish, minced cauliflower is lower in calories and carbohydrate than traditional white rice. It offers more fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin K while enriched medium grain white rice provides more iron, magnesium, zinc, and folate. *

Mashed cauliflower vs. mashed potato – With a higher water content than potato, cauliflower contains fewer carbohydrates and calories than the equal volume of spuds. For a moist food like mashed potato, the substitution works, particularly once salt, garlic, butter, sour cream or chives are added for flavor. Cauliflower provides more fiber, calcium, folate, vitamin C, and vitamin K while potatoes provide more potassium, zinc, and magnesium:*

100 g boiled, drained cauliflower 100 g peeled, boiled potato

23 Calories 83
4 gm Carbohydrate 20 gm
2.3 gm Fiber 1.8 gm
0.32 mg Iron 0.31 mg
16 mg Calcium 5 mg
142 mg Potassium 379 mg
0.17 mg Zinc 0.30 mg
9 mg Magnesium 22 mg
44 mg Vitamin C 13 mg
44 µg Folate 10 µg
14 µg Vitamin K 2.2 µg

Cauliflower pizza crust vs. traditional dough – To hold the consistency together without wheat gluten, oil, egg and xanthan gum are added to cauliflower with starches like tapioca and brown rice flour. The oil content is responsible for higher fat, while egg is why the saturated fat content is often higher than the original dough version. Of course, switching the crust can only partially offset the pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings which are usually not healthy!

Sources:

http://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy-eating/food/article/catch-cauliflower-craze Accessed 3.11.2019

*Nutrient values from USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Legacy Release, April 2018 database. Findings were used along with RDN’s professional judgment.

– Debbie J., MS, RD

This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.

Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Ask our Dietitian

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Have You Heard of HIIT by LAF?

by Candice Currie | Apr 10, 2019 | All, Fitness, Home, Workouts

Short on time but still looking to get a solid workout in? Then it’s time to turn to HIIT by LAF®. If you aren’t sure what HIIT stands for, it’s short for high-intensity interval training – and it’s definitely something you should be adding to your workout routine.

If you’ve never heard of HIIT training, or you’re looking for a group setting to help give you that extra encouragement and push, then HIIT by LAF® is the right thing for you.

What is HIIT by LAF?

HIIT by LAF is a workout that is designed for almost every level of fitness, age, and goal type. These high-tech and high-energy workouts are led by motivating, certified fitness coaches who set the pace and vibe of the room. Each workout is 50-minutes long and comprised of a variety of functional exercises, core training, cardio interval training, and strength training. Wearing optional heart rate monitors, participants are led through five heart rate training zones, with each zone representing variations in levels of intensity that may result in participants burning up to 1,000 calories per workout, including calories that may burn even after the workout ends (results may vary).

Intense? Yes, but don’t let that word scare you away.

HIIT helps burn more calories in a shorter amount of time and if you manage to stay within the “fat-burning” zone during your workout, it can leave the body burning more calories even after the workout is over. This special “fat-burning” zone varies from individual to individual, so it’s important to know your resting heartrate and your max heartrate in order to gauge your different zones.

Different Zones?

This is where MYZONE comes into play. A heart rate monitor that takes your workout to the next level.

MYZONE uses wireless and cloud technology to accurately and conveniently monitor physical activity. It monitors heart rate, calories and time exercising that converts into MYZONE Effort Points (MEPs*), with a focus on rewarding effort.

Heart rate training zones are a range of values expressed as percentages of maximum heart rate (HR max). The HIIT by LAF workout incorporates 5 heart rate training zones. If you’re interested in signing up for HIIT by LAF® classes on a regular basis, the MYZONE heart rate monitor is available for purchase at an additional cost.

Each zone is identified by zone color, heart rate percentage range, zone description, and the target amount of time that should be maintained in each zone to achieve the greatest benefits of a HIIT workout. Utilizing these zones in relation to the exercise benefits of each one aids in the development of the best programming to maximize endurance, calorie burn, and fat loss.

* MEPs (MYZONE Effort Points) are earned based on the effort exerted by the participant. Time spent in each Heart Rate Zone earns different numbers of MEPS:

Grey = 50-59% – Earns 1 MEP/minute
Blue = 60-69% – Earns 2 MEPS/minute
Green = 70-79% – Earns 3 MEPs/minute
Yellow = 80-89% – Earns 4 MEPs/minute
Red = 90-100% – Earns 4 MEPs/minute

Who is HIIT for?

HIIT is for anyone and everyone looking to take their fitness to the next level. HIIT is for moms, runners, professionals, athletes, and beginners. For moms, it’s a great escape. For runners, it’s the motivation and methodology necessary to prepare for the next run or race. For professionals, it’s the time-efficient workout when health and well-being are important, but time is tight. For athletes, it is the real-time feedback, ability to track progress and interval training necessary to improve performance. For beginners, it’s the push—the education and encouragement—necessary to reach an entirely new level of fitness.

Is HIIT Safe?

It depends on the underlying condition of the patient/client and their baseline fitness level or physical activity status. HIIT is not for someone with a prior heart condition, who is sedentary and has not gone through proper supervised exercise testing first.

Anyone who has been very active has no cardiac risk factors, and has been screened by his M.D. about his cardiovascular fitness can definitely try HIIT and enjoy the benefits in our time-crunched environment.

The response above provided by Dr. Myla Subbarao, MD, FACC, and volunteer with the American Heart Association.

Check out our Living Healthy podcast episode on HIIT training by clicking here!

If you’re interested in learning more about HIIT by LAF®, visit welcome.lafitness.com/hiit-by-laf/.

How to Boost Metabolism and Lose Weight After 40

by DebbieJ MS RDN | Apr 9, 2019 | All, Ask Our Dietitian, Home, Nutrition

Question:

I wanted to know what’s the best way to boost metabolism and lose weight for a man once you’re over 40?

– Jermaine H.

Answer:

Fighting midlife weight gain is certainly a challenge! Hormone levels and lifestyle are common causes for the metabolism and weight change from prior decades. Targeting these two areas are likely to bring about the most benefit. Thus, it is wise to visit with your physician for a checkup. Amping up your physical activity during the day (walking, cleaning, washing your own car, dancing) outside of exercise is recommended to help lose weight in middle age.

At the gym and in the kitchen, the goal is to preserve muscle mass (and therefore metabolic function) and promote a calorie deficit. ProResults® Trainer, Morgan Connors, advises strength training and cardio workouts. Nutritionally, you should eat the bulk of your calories earlier in the day, include protein at each meal, limit added sugars and alcohol, and get enough fiber and water. Consuming green tea and chili peppers temporarily boost metabolic rate… a little. Other foods purported to raise metabolism include fish, egg whites, coffee, milk, yogurt, coconut oil, lentils, red beans, cinnamon, garlic, broccoli, and berries.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/metabolism-and-age#section7 Accessed 3.11.2019
https://www.webmd.com/men/guide/male-menopause Accessed 3.11.2019
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266749.php Accessed 3.11.2019
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/mens-health/in-depth/male-menopause/art-20048056 Accessed 3.11.2019
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-ways-to-boost-metabolism Accessed 3.11.2019
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14802091/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/can-you-really-change-your-metabolism/#.XIbSUYhKiUk Accessed 3.11.2019

– Debbie J., MS, RD

Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Ask our Dietitian

Have a nutrition question? Our registered dietitian is ready to help!

Email nutrition@lafitness.com or submit your question below and it may be featured in an upcoming article!

How to Read A Nutrition Label – Podcast Ep. 21

by Andrew Gabell | Apr 8, 2019 | All, Home, Nutrition, Podcast

Welcome to the 21st episode of the Living Healthy Podcast, presented by LA Fitness.

On this episode of the Living Healthy Podcast, we have a listener favorite on the show, Dietitian Debbie, who helps us better understand nutrition labeling and we hear all about Andrew’s love for popcorn (and more importantly, his confusion about popcorn nutrition labels!)

How Are We Doing?

Tweet us! @LAFitness using the hashtag #LivingHealthyPodcast
Email us at blog@fitnessintl.com.
Post a photo on our Instagram and using the hashtag #LivingHealthyPodcast

This podcast should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.

Timecard Markers – Nutrition Label Reading – Podcast Ep. 21

Intro    

Begins at 0:01    

“The History Lesson You Never Knew You Wanted” re: Nutrition Labels

Begins at 1:07   

Dietitian Debbie Joins the Show