By Dr. Patrick Zitt, DC, DNM, MS

Seed oils are a huge source of controversy in the food and nutrition world. Cheap and easily accessible, they no doubt provide a means to more affordable food. There are a handful of studies that support mainstream claims that these oils are okay to include in a balanced diet. However, there are piles of evidence demonstrating the negative health effects of these oils, and that should give us all pause when making smart consumer choices. 

What are seed oils?

Seed oils (also referred to as vegetable oils or industrial oils) are unsaturated oils made from crops such as soybean, corn, sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, cottonseed, rapeseed/canola, grapeseed, and rice bran.

Unlike coconuts or olives, these crops do not easily give up their oils. After the seeds are gathered, they require extensive processing before the desired result is achieved:

1. The seeds are first heated to extremely high temperatures, oxidizing* the oils...

By Dr. Patrick Zitt, DC, DNM, MS

There is a lot of contradictory information when it comes to nutrition and the food group most subject to this kind of confusion is fats and oils!

We’re here to clear it up.

What are oils and fats?

Macronutrients -fats, proteins, carbohydrates- are the main building blocks to the foods we eat. All three are essential to good health and energy and are required in relatively large amounts. Each gram of a micronutrient contains a specific number of calories (energy):

• Carbohydrates = 4 calories per gram
• Protein = 4 calories per gram
• Fat = 9 calories per gram

In some circles (we're looking at you, Keto), fats and oils are considered the holy grail of nutrition, encouraging up to 80% of daily calories from fat. Others preach that all fats and oils are health eroding, obesity inducing devils that should be limited as much as possible. The truth is a lot more nuanced than that!

The many benefits of dietary fat

Fat...

By Melissa Zitt

If there is one thing I have learned after years of avoiding gluten, dairy, refined sugar, and processed oils, it's that you really don't need any of those things to make something delicious.

This chocolate zucchini quick bread (or muffins) is everything you could want in a healthy indulgence:

• High protein
• Low(ish) carb
• Healthy fats
• Grain free
• Refined sugar free
• Hidden veggies
• Chocolate
• Quick assembly
• Easy cleanup
• Foolproof

I adapted this recipe from the Gluten Free Palate to include more veggies, protein, and gooey chocolatey goodness.

Great results every time.

Over the past few weeks I have made several batches and I discovered that you cannot mess this recipe up. I have added protein powder and left it out. I used a small zucchini and then a large one. I got distracted and left the loaf in the oven about 10 minutes too long. And even though I suppose there were slight differences between the batches, they each received their own rave...

By Melissa Zitt

Warm. Rich. Creamy. CHOCOLATY GOODNESS IN A CUP.

Who doesn’t love hot cocoa?

If you’re following a dairy or sugar free lifestyle though, you may have thought this indulgence was lost to you forever.

WELL MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU! Because we’re bringing you a hot chocolate recipe that is:

• High Protein
• Low carb and ketogenic diet adaptable
• Gluten, dairy and refined sugar free
• AMAZING!

What’s even better? This recipe is as simple as opening up a packet of Swiss Miss. No crazy substitutions or chemistry experiments to make it taste like the real deal.

Of course you can get fancy if you wanted to. Add a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, a dash or two of cinnamon and nutmeg or even a dollop of coconut whipped cream (betchya thought you couldn't have whipped cream anymore either!)

So! Light a fire, turn on a Hallmark Christmas movie and sip on this delicious hot chocolate.

Why we chose Designs For...