Don Colbert's Blog, page 11

Sick of Feeling Sick? 5 Beyond Keto Immune Hacks to Try Now

During this time of year, you need all the help you can get in fighting off colds and sickness. But, did you know? A high-sugar diet may impair your immune system. On the other hand, a Beyond Keto lifestyle, with healthy fats, high-antioxidant spices, and anti-inflammatory nutrients can boost it. In fact, throughout the day you can use these Beyond Keto healthy immune hacks to encourage a strong immune system.

Best of all?

They are easy! They fit perfectly into the Beyond Keto lifestyle you’re already using to obtain a healthy weight and head-to-toe wellness.

If you truly want your food to be your medicine, try these Beyond Keto Healthy Immune Hacks today!

5 Beyond Keto Healthy Immune Hacks1. Start the Day with Dr. Colbert’s Keto Zone Coffee

Start by brewing 8 ounces of coffee. While it’s brewing, place 1 tablespoon butter, 1 scoop MCT Oil Powder,  and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in the blender. Pour in hot brewed coffee. Blend well until combined, being careful to allow steam to escape so it doesn’t spew out. After blending, add collagen powder and pulse to incorporate. Enjoy! Serves 1.

Immune Hack: Both collagen and MCT Oil are amazing immune boosters. Collagen supports digestive health and immune function. MCT Oil powder is highly anti-inflammatory. And as you’ll read below, cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant.

Nutrition info (per 16 servings): 230 calories, 22 grams fat, 0 grams net carbohydrates, and 6 grams protein (86% fat)

2. Add Immune Boosting Supplements Each Morning: Omega-3s and More!

Right now – these are bundled and on SALE!!! Click here to order today.

First, Wild Alaskan Salmon Omega-3 is an immune system all-star. Divine Health omega-3 capsules are made from salmon found in the clean waters of the North Pacific, which contain incredibly high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids. The proprietary extraction method used shields the oil from damaging high heat. The result is a pure and balanced fish oil that delivers all the essential fatty acids, along with vitamins A, D, and E, and the antioxidant Astaxanthin – all naturally found in Alaskan salmon!

Next, Divine Health Immune Support contains a concentrated form of Elderberry Extract, Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 to support the body’s ability to ward off harmful free radicals that are constantly trying to weaken our body’s immune defenses. The degree at which the body is bombarded with these free radicals depends on many factors such as sleep, stress, sugary food and drink intake, environmental toxins and contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, as well as excess exposure of amalgam, aluminum, mercury, lead and cadmium. Just two immune support caps each morning provide your body with antioxidant-rich nutrients that act as protective armor to the cells of your body, neutralizing and deflecting free radicals that are shot at those cells.

Immune Hack: Specific nutrients like omega-3s, vitamins, minerals, herbs, and extract can encourage your immune system to fight through reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

3. Eat an Immune Boosting Late Breakfast

Slice an unpeeled, small avocado in half lengthwise. Twist it to separate the piece and remove the pit. Place one avocado half on a baking sheet or oven-safe pan. Add 1 teaspoon grass-fed butter in the avocado hole. Crack one large egg and place the yolk in avocado whole (reserve the egg white for another use). Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook in 425 deg F oven for 15-20 minutes. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Serves 1.

Nutrition info: 270 calories, 29 gm fat, 3 gm net carbs, 2 gm protein (97% fat)

Immune Hack: This snack utilizes many high-nutrient fats. Avocados are full of anti-inflammatory fats. Olive oil is loaded with antioxidants, high in anti-inflammatories, and anti-bacterial (1, 2).

4. Choose Healthy Immune System Snack and Shun the Sugar!

Here are 3 easy, nutritious snacks that fit perfectly into Beyond Keto while boosting your immune system.

1-Lemon Fat Bomb: Mix 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) coconut butter, 1 ounce coconut oil, 1 Scoop Vanilla MCT Oil Powder, 1 ounce unsalted butter, keto sweetener to equal 1 tablespoon sugar (such as organic stevia), and 1/2 cup lemon juice in a saucepan. Heat over low heat. Once melted, remove from heat, pour into an 8×8 baking pan, and place in the refrigerator to cool. Allow to set for 1 hour, sprinkle with coconut flakes or your favorite keto sweetener, and enjoy!

Immune Hack: The real immune-boosting star of this recipe is lemon juice. It is high in vitamin C, a potent antioxidant. Lemon juice is also known to be anti-bacterial and great for oral health. Yields 16 servings.

Nutrition info (per 16 servings): 70 calories, 7 grams fat, 0.5 grams net carbohydrates, and 0 grams protein

2-Triple Spice Nuts: Preheat oven to 250°F/120°C. Lina baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Stir together 4-6 tablespoons erythritol (or equivalent favorite keto sweetener), 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper in a medium bowl. In another bowl, beat 1 egg white with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Toss 2 1/4 cups pecans with cinnamon mixture. Then, fold in egg whites. Spread pecan mix onto the prepared baking tray in a single layer and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake for 35-45 minutes, checking every 15 minutes to toss/stir. Make sure they don’t burn. Allow to cool several hours until crisp. Enjoy and store in an airtight container.

Immune Hack: Spices such as cinnamon and black pepper are amazing for the immune system. First, they are potent antioxidant foods, which fight free radicals and cellular damage in the body (3). Next, they are anti-inflammatory. As inflammation in the body decreases, the immune function gets a boost (4, 5)!

Nutrition info per ~1/4 cup: 175 calories, 18 grams fat, 1 gram net carbs (4 grams carbs, 3 grams fiber), 2 grams protein (93% fat)  

5. Double Down on Immune Boosting Nutrients at Dinner

You’ve come this far in the day, now keep it going with an immune boosting dinner. One of the best? Salmon, herbs, olive oil, and vegetables. Not only will this encourage healthy immune function, but it is a delicious, easy meal.

Let Your Food Be Your Medicine – Beyond Keto Pesto Salmon

Immune Hack: Every ingredient in this salmon dinner helps your immune system. From omega-3s to greens to lemon juice, it’s an immune all-star!

More Lifestyle Immune Hacks

Of course, there is more you can do within a healthy lifestyle to bolster your immune system. Try these 12 habits:

 

12 Easy Daily Healthy Immune Habits

Bottom Line

We’re in the thick of it. But, you don’t have to be sick, down and out. Try our Beyond Keto immune hacks, from when you wake up to when you go to bed, and help your body fight. We’re in this with you!

 

The post Sick of Feeling Sick? 5 Beyond Keto Immune Hacks to Try Now appeared first on Dr. Don Colbert.

Want Lasting Change and Newness in the New Year? Here’s the Answer.

We talk a lot about making positive changes. These include eating a healthy diet, achieving a healthy weight, and taking care of your body from your head to your toes. But let’s be real, lasting change is hard. We’ve formed habits, reactions, and brain pathways (these work like muscle memory) from early childhood until now. Much of how we act is ingrained in us.

As you continue in this New Year, maybe it’s time to look to the real Change Maker. The one who can take any life, any habit, any stressful or reactionary lifestyle, any person, and make them new.

Lasting Change, Strength, and Newness

God tells us He can make us a new creation. It’s in our weaknesses that He is strong. So every time you feel like you’re beating your head against a wall trying to make a healthy change only to fail time and time again, look to God’s strength rather than your weakness. Strength is magnified.

Goals, resolutions, and healthy habits are all great. But if you first build on the foundation of a new life in God, the other changes become much easier. I am incredibly thankful for how many times the Bible talks about newness. From the beginning of man until now, humans have needed it. Newness is an amazing gift and promise.

We are being made New. We get a new day each day. The New Year is a beautiful reminder that God gives us the gift of newness.

Here are 7 Bible verses to keep with you throughout the year; they are God promises that we can be made new.

God Can Give You Lasting Change & Make You New: 7 Verses and 7 Promises1. In Christ, You are a New Creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Are you haunted by your past, your families’ past, your past actions or habits, etc.? You too can be new. God promises us that anyone who’s in Christ is a new creation being made new; the old is gone. Christ’s life and death can make you new, and you can choose this new life with lasting change.

2. You Are a New Self, so Take Off Your Old Self

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. (Colossians 3:9-11)

What a promise! We have the power, through God, to be new. A new self. We can take off our sinful nature, our old habits, our old self. Christ is in us, and we can live as a new self.

3. A New Birth of HopePraise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… (1 Peter 1:3)Praise be to God! What more can we ask? He’s given us a new birth in hope through Christ’s resurrection. We have hope. We don’t need to live in fear.4. Mercies are New Every Morning

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Wake up! Each morning is a gift of new mercies. Each day a new opportunity to live in God’s faithfulness.

5. I am Doing a New Thing

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Ever feel like a wasteland? No more! We get to join God in a new thing. We do not have to be pulled down or dwell on the past. He makes streams (life) where there was none.

6. God Renews Us Day by Day

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthian 4:16-17)

God’s encouragement is all around us. Day by day we are renewed, we are being made new, despite our troubles. And best of all? Our future is glorious!

7. ALL Things Made New

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new ” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” (Revelation 21:5)

It’s not only you who will be made new. He sits on the throne, and is making ALL things new.

Live in God’s Truth of Lasting Change

He’s given you these promises. You can live in them, and move forward in your life. The newness God offers is the foundation. On it, you can build a healthy, hopeful, joyous, new life with new habits. Whether you make big or small changes, keep feeling renewed day after day. He starts the day with new mercies, and is with you, holding you up, every day, day after day.

Bottom Line

As we settle into this New Year, I am thankful for the promise of lasting change and newness. Look to God each day and lean on His promises. When you are weak, remember, He is strong (this is a gift!). Make the newness He promises your foundation, and believe you can experience lasting change and be a new creation this year.

 

 

 

The post Want Lasting Change and Newness in the New Year? Here’s the Answer. appeared first on Dr. Don Colbert.

Start Here: 21 Day Detox PLUS Top 12 Detox Habits for 2024

Ready for a clean start? A healthy start? Even more, a plan that builds off this great start and continues to work throughout the year? This year, start with Dr. Colbert’s 21-Day Detox and Cleanse, and continue with our top detox habits each day.

Rather than focusing on weight loss or obscure health goals, why not start with just making your body, from your cells on up, as healthy and “clean” as possible? Detox is simply a way to support the cells and tissues that make up the detoxifying organs in your body. These organs, which include your liver, digestive tract, lungs, and more, work extremely hard each day to keep your body healthy. When you support them, you encourage great immune function, brain function, heart health, healthy weight changes and more!

Best of all, it’s not hard! Begin with our 21-Day Detox and Cleanse Starter Kit, and then maintain everything you’ve gained with our top ongoing detox habits. What’s more, you can use the 21-Day plan every quarter to continue to build your habits and health.

This straight-forward “reset” is all you need to get going on your health goals this year!

First, Set 3-4 Aside 21 Days to Detox and Fast

Why set aside 21 days for a program like Dr. Colbert’s 21 Day Detox and Cleanse? When you’re focused on detoxing for a set period of time, you will incorporate great detoxing habits while fasting from many foods and drinks that add toxins to the body.

These foods include sugars, specific meats, dairy, processed foods, and more. Not everyone wants to omit all of these year round, but they can do it for a short time. This is the fasting portion. Think of it as a great jump start to begin, and a maintenance program a few times per year.

What’s more, during the 21 days, you can establish great detox habits. In fact, every one of the habits on this list are also part of Dr. Colbert’s 21 Day Detox and Cleanse. When you repeat a habit for 21 days or more, you can rewire your brain and make it stick throughout the year.

To get started, order one of Dr. Colbert’s 21-Day Detox and Cleanse Starter Systems. His Fasting Zone book, which is included, will guide you through your 21 Day Detox and Fast journey. In fact, you’ll find a complete Detox and Cleanse 21-Day Meal Plan and all needed recipes to do it! You can get 21% off now with code 21DETOX21 . Then, join our FREE program: Dr. Colbert’s 21 Day Detox and Fast today!

Top 12 Daily Detox Habits for 2024

During and after your 21 day detox and cleanse journey, continue to build your detox habits with the following strategies:

1. Daily Intermittent Fasting

Each day, consider fasting from all foods and most drinks for 16 hours of the 24. This means finishing eating for the day around 7 pm, and then abstaining from food until about 11 am.

Why?

Intermittent fasting has been shown to support reduced inflammation, healthy weights, healthy cardiovascular function, and normalized blood sugars (1, 2, 3). It also gives your digestive tract a break, and omits the consumption of foods that add to the toxic load in your body and oxidative stress during fasting hours.

Of note, you can still enjoy the benefits of intermittent fasting even if you consume no-carb drinks such as water, tea, and coffee.

2. Cold Awakening

Detox is not always about what you put in your mouth, but also how your environment affects your body. A cold shower blast promotes body detoxification by supporting immune health and invigorating the senses from the beginning of the day.

How?

Frigid cold water, even for just seconds at a time, is linked to healthy immune function. One study from the Netherlands found that 30 seconds of cold showers significantly reduced sick days in workers, up to 29% in the study (4). It’s believed that cold-water-stress induces the production of catecholamines, which may play a critical role in supporting the immune system. What’s more, immersion in icy cold water may activate high-metabolism beige and brown fat cells (5).

The cold water is also great for skin health (which supports detox), and a wake-up call to the senses!

3. Lemon Spring Water and Green Tea Throughout the Day

Drinking lemon spring water throughout the day is great for body detox. First, your body depends on water for all its functions, including energy production(6). Without adequate amounts, you may suffer headaches, fatigue, and sluggishness when dehydrated (7).

Next, water is necessary for healthy skin, detoxification, and healthy aging.

When you add green tea leaves or green tea through a fermented green powder, you add a whole bunch more detoxifying nutrition to your water. Green tea contains highly concentrated antioxidants that fight free radicals and inflammation (23). It’s energizing and contains a modest amount of caffeine. In addition, it contains a compound called L-theanine. L-theanine promotes steady energy (24).

In studies, green tea has been shown to boost physical performance, increase the breakdown of fat for energy, and release norepinephrine for a stress-free mood (25, 26, 27).

4. Daily Organic Greens including Chlorophyll

Fresh and fermented powdered greens are a cornerstone of detox. Make them a daily detox habit this year!

The easiest way to incorporate them daily is to utilize a fermented green powder, like Divine Health Fermented Green Supremefood® each day, and then fill your plate with organic greens and vegetables at dinner. Best of all, this product is included in your 21-Day Detox and Cleanse Starter System!

5. Choose Detoxifying Oils

When adding healthy fats to your diet via dressings or cooking oils, it’s vital to choose detoxifying ones. The best oils for daily detox habits include extra-virgin olive oil and organic avocado oil.

These oils contain healthy fats that support heart health, detox, and less inflammation (9). What’s more, having these 2 oils on hand provides the right ones for dressings, high heat cooking, and flavoring.

On the other hand, avoid soybean oil like the plague, which is found in the majority of processed foods.

6. Wash and Eat Organic High Antioxidant Produce

In addition to greens, add vibrantly colored low-sugar fruits each day! These include berries, apples, citrus fruits, peaches, and more. Their coloring exhibits their nutrients. The more vibrant, typically the more antioxidants and phytochemicals they contain.

But buyer beware. You will drastically cut down your pesticide and toxin intake if you buy as much organic produce as possible. If you’re not able to buy all organic, make sure to buy non-peeled organic fruits and vegetables in which you consume the entire piece. The produce with the highest levels of pesticides include grapes, lettuce, apples, pears, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, peaches, strawberries, or cherries.

One great low-carb way to include organic fruits is through Divine Health Red Supremefood®, it’s included in the 21-Day Detox and Cleanse Starter System!

Additionally, be diligent about washing your produce. The pesticides used on crops, specifically conventionally grown ones, have been linked to many issues including abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea. Amazingly, the average American is exposed to 10-13 different pesticides through the food and drink they consume each day. The majority of these are endocrine-disrupting, which may lead to weight gain. Endocrine-disrupting compounds mimic estrogen, which can disrupt hormone balance and even reduce our ability to lose fat and build lean muscle.

7. Smoothie Meals

When it comes to health, healthy weight changes and detox, few meals deliver as much power as smoothies. In fact, liquid meals can be great for concentrating detox nutrients, fasting from foods and ingredients that add toxins, and for achieving a healthy weight.

First, it’s easy to add organic fruit and vegetable powders like Divine Health Fermented Green Supremefood® and Divine Health Red Supremefood® to a smoothie. You can also add fresh fruits & vegetables. In addition, make sure to get a healthy fiber source like Keto Zone Fiber Zone. By using non-dairy milk, it’s easy to omit meats, dairy, and extra sugars. (All 3 of these products are included in the 21-Day Detox and Cleanse Starter System).

But, did you know that healthy smoothies are actually linked to achieving a healthy weight? High-energy smoothies can trick your body into feeling more full and energized because they reduce the energy demands of digestion while filling your belly with volume.

8. Get Your Sweat On

Few activities detox the body as well as a good sweat, so make it one of your daily detox habits this year! You can get your body sweating through a vigorous exercise session or steam room; or both!

Exercise is great for the immune system because it modulates antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the body. This supports neuroprotective action, increases the circulation of anti-inflammatory markers, and improves antioxidant defenses (10). It can also normalize blood glucose, which supports immune function, healthy weight, and whole-body health. High blood sugars are linked to worsened infections.

Sweating via a sauna or hot yoga class is also great. Sweat can help eliminate harmful compounds that build up in the body. After a good sweat, make sure to rehydrate with more lemon spring water!

9. Fiber at Every Meal

Fiber is crucial for health, and the right fibers support detox, digestive health, immune function, and energy.

You can consume fibers in fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and legumes. In addition, add a fiber powder that contains inulin and psyllium husk, such as Keto Zone Fiber Zone (included in the 21-Day Detox and Cleanse Starter System). It directly supports digestive health and stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut (11, 12). As described above, it’s easy to add this powder to your daily smoothie.

10. Milk Thistle

A daily dose of milk thistle is one of the most potent daily detox habits that support your liver. As one of the primary organs that deals with harmful compounds in toxins in the body, your liver needs all the help it can get.

Milk thistle specifically promotes healthy liver function after a liver is injured by acetaminophen, carbon tetrachloride, radiation, iron overload, phenylhydrazine, alcohol, cold ischaemia, and Amanita phalloides. (13). What’s more, it can provide proactive protection against liver toxins (14, 15), and support liver function in those with inflamed and/or damaged livers (16).

In addition, milk thistle may help protect neurons and support healthy brain function while aging (16, 17), stimulate bone mineralization (18, 19), encourage less skin inflammation and blemishes (20), promote insulin sensitivity (21), and more.

You can get a daily dose of milk thistle in Divine Health Fermented Green Supremefood® found in the 21-Day Detox and Cleanse Starter Kit.

11. Good Sleep

Your brain desperately needs good quality sleep every night. In fact, deep sleep is one of the only times your brain can detoxify and allow the lymph system to clean it. When this does not occur, the brain can malfunction. Good sleep is associated with (22):

Reduced daily cortisolHealthy immune functionBetter melatonin levelsLess depressed moodsLess inflammatory reactionsHealthy body weightHealthy heart functionLower mortality rate

It’s vital for life, health and detox.

12. Avoid the Most Potent Sources of Toxins

While it’s impossible to avoid all toxins, you can do your best to avoid cigarette smoke, alcohol, high levels of pesticides, extreme air pollution, a high-sugar diet, soybean oil, ultra-processed foods, sodas, deep fried foods, partially hydrogenated oils, high-fat meats, fast foods, and more.

There’s simply no place in your daily detox habits for these foods and environments.

Bottom Line

Support your body’s detoxification and revolutionize your health this year. Start today by getting a 21-Day Detox and Cleanse Starter System (use code 21DETOX21) and joining the FREE Dr. Colbert’s 21 Day Detox and Fast program. Consider repeating it once per quarter. Incorporate these top 12 daily habits (and more if you’d like) into each day throughout the year. You’ve got this, and we’re here to support you!

The post Start Here: 21 Day Detox PLUS Top 12 Detox Habits for 2024 appeared first on Dr. Don Colbert.

Top 10 Tools for your Beyond Keto Goals in 2024

It’s a New Year. For some, this means a time to reflect, and enjoy some peace and quiet after the Holidays. For others, it’s time to hit the ground running! If you are part of the latter and have set health and keto goals for the new year, we’ve got a list of Top 10 Tools for Your Beyond Keto Goals! It’s one thing to set keto goals, but it’s another to flush out a plan that will work.

Before you move forward with them, you may want to read this post – it will help you work through your goals systematically.

Next, it’s time to gather your tools. The best laid plans often fail when they are not thought through…we’ve been helping others achieve their keto goals for decades, and we hope we can help you too.

Top 10 Tools for your Beyond Keto Goals in 20241. A Fasting Detox Jump Start

While slow and steady wins the race, it can be extremely helpful and motivating to see results right away. One of the best ways to start a healthy Beyond Keto Eating plan is with the Fasting Starter Kit.

Intermittent fasting is amazing for promoting overall health and a healthy weight(1). In fact, it can be extremely motivating to jumpstart weight changes right away.

No matter what foods you’re choosing in the beginning, an easy way to start intermittent fasting is to stop eating at 7:00 every night, and resume at 11:00 am every morning. Between waking up and eating at 11:00, you can have non-carb drinks such as coffee, coffee with MCT Oil and Hydrolyzed Collagen Powder, tea, Divine Health Green or Red Supremefood or other low-carb drinks.

At 11:00 or so, eat a Keto lunch, and then eat your Keto dinner around 6:00. Between lunch and dinner add 1-2 Keto Zone snacks such as fat bombs or other healthy favorites.

In addition, when you add Fermented Green Supremefood, Red Supremefood, and Fiber to your fasting plan, you’ll encourage detox throughout your liver, organs, and entire body. In fact, the ingredients in Supremefood support cellular detox, healthy immune function, and healthy digestion. They include vegetables, grasses, herbs, beets and more in a low-sugar, easy-to-digest delicious powder. Want more reasons to start here? Here are 10 science-backed reasons to add Fermented Supremefoods to your diet today.

Get started with Dr. Colbert’s 21 Day Detox and Fast Starter Kit (includes both Supremefood, Fiber Zone, and the Fasting Zone Book) for a jump start today!

2. A Clear Plan

Remember that slow and steady wins the race? After your detox and fast jumpstart, it’s time for a healthy lifestyle that fits your keto goals.

You’re in luck. There’s one written specifically for a healthy Keto Zone lifestyle: Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto Book.

From the beginning, you’ll get clear instruction on how to start a Beyond Keto Zone lifestyle and reach a healthy weight. It’s not just philosophy or research (although it’s science-backed), but a complete plan that will guide you and make your new lifestyle easy to implement.

3. MCT OIL AND FAT BOMBS

When you’re eating Beyond Keto, Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) can be extremely healthy and helpful. MCTs are a special type of saturated fats that are digested easily and provide many health benefits in the body.

In fact, they aid in fat loss and energy production.

When MCT oil is obtained from foods like coconut oil, it is isolated and concentrated for maximum health benefits and a healthy weight.

MCT Oil is a must have product for your weight loss goals because it:

Supports Heart Health. Medium chain triglycerides have been shown to improve cholesterol profiles by decreasing LDL cholesterol, decreasing the number of LDL particles, and increasing HDL cholesterol (2).Helps the body burn fat. The most potent fatty acid in MCT oil is concentrated in MCT Oil Powder, and it helps your body burn fat as fuel rather than carbs (3,4).Increases ketone production and provides amazing fuel for your brain. In fact, when using the Keto Zone diet, MCT Oil will help the body produce ketones quicker. Ketones can also boost mood.Increases energy. Want more energy while losing fat? MCT Oil is easily digested and used by the energy-powerhouses of the cells as a sustained energy source (5).

Fortunately, there are 2 great ways to consume MCT Oil from the Keto Zone®. Try MCT Oil Softgels and MCT Oil Powder  today. Use MCT oil in fat bombs like these!

4. EASY STARTER TIPS

Want real-life tips from real-life Keto Zone users? Try these! We’ve gathered some of the most effective, inexpensive, easy tips to help you in your healthy weight journey.

These tips include daily habits, keto tips, and exercise.

They’ve done it, so learn from them!

5. A FOOD Diary

As you’ll see from the real-life tips, food diaries and carbohydrate apps can really help.

A food diary is an amazing tool for any weight loss journey. Simply write down your intake. Use an app or other resource to become familiar with carbohydrate amounts in foods. To learn more about carbs and reading food labels, check out this post.

While there’s nothing magic about food diaries, they do help by:

Allowing for self-accountabilityAdding up the grams of carbohydrates and seeing how that affects weight lossTroubleshooting issues with weight loss, hunger, etc.Keeping a record to repeat successes and avoiding challenges

It’s easy and free to keep an online food journal or simply a written one.

6. Good Sleep

Every health goal you set relies on one thing: good sleep. You can eat well, stay in the Keto Zone, exercise, etc., but your body will never be as healthy as it could be without sleep.

Sleep is not wasted time. It’s not a health-neutral time. In fact, your body, and specifically your brain, work overtime to heal, revitalize, and improve your health while you sleep.

Fortunately, Dr. Colbert has formulated an amazing, effective sleep aid supplement. In fact, he has combined vitamins, minerals, and botanicals to make up a wonderful all-natural sleep supplement. These nutrients compliment your body’s natural sleep systems, and work with it to promote improved sleep quality and duration. With more sleep, expect to feel more invigorated, healthier, and happier. Get Divine Health Sleep-Ease today to support all your other health and keto goals!

7. REPLACEMENT RECIPES FOR YOUR FAVORITE FOODS

Do you miss some of your favorite foods? Do you crave them?

Why not replace them?

Your Beyond Keto food choices should not be boring or bland. In fact, you’ll likely find you don’t miss foods at all once you learn a few new recipes.

There are many amazingly satisfying recipes on this site. To start, find them here (Keto Zone recipes) and here (Detox recipes).

In addition, the Quick and Healthy Keto Zone Cookbook is available and a great collection of delicious Keto recipes!

8. A COMBINATION OF HABIT-GOALS AND OVERALL-GOALS

Can you really change your weight and health in the next 6-8 weeks? You can. Set your goals now.

First, take time to set daily “habit goals.” These goals need to be action-based and in your control. For example:

I will fast from 7:00 pm to 11:00 am each day.I will not eat more than 25 grams of net carbs per day.

Then, set weekly habit-goals. These should also be in your control. They can include exercising 3 times per week, sticking to your daily eating goals each day, or journaling.

And lastly, set 1-2 overall goals for the next 6-8 weeks. Is your goal to lose 15 pounds? Set it and write it down. This last group of goals is not entirely in your control, but serves as the motivation for the habit-goals.

Write all of these goals down and put the paper in a place you can read it when the going gets tough. It will keep you motivated to stay on track.

You can do it!

9. Ongoing SUPPORT

Finding a supportive community is a big help on your weight and health journey.

First, you can find a lot of encouragement, tips, and Keto Zone recipes on this blog.

Next, look for both online groups and in-person groups:

Try an online group or forum. Look for the Keto Zone group on Facebook.Try to find a local group at a gym or church that supports healthy eating.

Or, if you can find one, form one! Even if it’s just you and a friend, a 2-person group can be an amazing tool for accountability and progress. Don’t be afraid to reach out…others are looking for support, too!

10. A COMPLETe HEALTH Plan

Over the years, Dr. Colbert has released book after book, and product after product, to help others live healthy lives in the Keto Zone. Now, he’s put together a book that covers important foundational aspects: Health Zone Essentials! This amazing book is a treasure trove of wisdom and practical advice. Dr. Colbert will lead you through strategies and lifestyle habits to restore the body’s health at its foundation and then rebuild a healthy life upon it. It covers hormones, fasting, digestive health, brain health, delicious Beyond Keto recipes, and more!

So, once you feel like you’re formed the habits you need to get to a healthy weight and body, take it to the next level with Health Zone Essentials. Each step you take on your health journey will bring new insight, motivation, and progress!

BOTTOM LINE

Start with a detox and fasting jump start. Continue with a real-life, long-term healthy lifestyle with Beyond Keto. Use the tools you need to reach your keto goals. Then, take it to the next level with Health Zone Essentials. Make 2024 the year for real change.

The post Top 10 Tools for your Beyond Keto Goals in 2024 appeared first on Dr. Don Colbert.

Read This Before Setting New Year’s Goals

Do you realize you are about to receive a huge gift? A huge opportunity? In just days, you are receiving the gift of a brand new year. If you’re still here to experience it, you are blessed. You have a clean slate ahead of you, and you can choose your New Year’s goals and attitude towards them if you’d like.

If you are one of the approximate 25% of Americans who will set New Year’s Resolutions for the new year, there’s one thing to consider first: Are you willing to persevere through the trials while you work to obtain them?

Not every year needs to inspire big changes. Some years are for healing. Some are for basking in peacefulness? And others are for pushing forward.

What is 2024 for you? If you’re ready to set goals, consider this key for success. You can always learn from going through the trials of setting goals and possibly failing, but it’s a better idea to plan for success.

Consider this and set yourself up to obtain your goals in 2024!

New Year’s Goals Success Rates

Just how successful are most people in obtaining their New Year’s Goals?

In studies, over 80% of people fail on New Year’s Resolutions and give up early. Just 8% or so accomplish them. In fact, by mid-January, the majority of those who’ve made New Year’s Resolutions have stopped trying altogether.

Why? What sets the 8% apart from the 80%? Do they have an iron-will and the others do not? Are they just lucky?

I think they know the key. Then, they’ve utilized some tools.

Here is the #1 Key to Accomplishing Goals and New Year’s Resolutions for 2024.

#1 Key to Accomplishing New Year’s Goals

This is no easy button or magic bullet. It’s more like a key you have to find within you, and then learn how to use.

The key to accomplishing goals and New Year’s Goals in 2024?

It’s PERSEVERANCE.

Perseverance is tough. You cannot just wish for it or receive it. It must be built. It’s a muscle that grows from discipline. And, like any muscle, the more you build it, the stronger it will become.

Perseverance can be built by:

Picking Your PassionDaring to set goals or try new things.Jumping into action.Giving yourself grace.Finding accountability.

And then repeating, whether on the same goal or another.

We’ve talked in-depth about setting goals and more in previous years. Here, I’ll summarize and point you to more posts as needed.

Let’s build perseverance in 2024!

5 Tools for Building Perseverance1. Pick Your Passion and Be Prayerful

For most goals to succeed, you must truly *want* them. If you only half-way want a goal or a change, you are much less likely to achieve it. Or, if it’s your friend’s or family member’s idea or passion, it may mean much less to you. If you’re picking a goal for the New Year, pick something in which you have a passion.

In fact, researchers have found that passion towards a goal has a strong link to your outcome. Most people who accomplish a life-changing goal must be in a stage of change in which they have thought about their goals, what it will take to accomplish them, and truly believe that the changes are necessary (1). The more you are willing to “do whatever it takes” the more you are likely to build up perseverance and accomplish your goal.

And what’s more, it’s easier to make your passions fun. If you are dreading a goal or habit, it won’t be fun and you’ll likely not accomplish it. Researchers find that the more fun and rewarding a goal-activity, the more likely participants will stick with it (2).

Lastly, true passions are often from God. When your goals line up with His will for you, whether for your health, your career, or your heart, you have all the power you’ll ever need. So pray about them. Ask God for guidance, and trust in Him.

2. Be Brave, Write Down Goals, and Make them Smart

Typically, you’ll start off with big goals – the end-product. And this is fine. But you can’t stop there. You must support big-picture goals with action-based habits. These habits are things you do…not things you wish for. They are actions in which you are in control.

For example, if your goal is to lose 20 pounds, your habit-action goals may be:

Buy the Health Zone Essentials and read it.Jump into Beyond Keto Eating and aim to eat just <30 grams net carbs per day with lots of healthy fats.Utilize intermittent fasting from 7 pm to 12 pm (noon) each day, and eat 2 Keto Zone meals and 2 Keto Zone snacks per day.

As you can see, the overall goal is something you hope for, but the habit-goals are what you do. The first will never be accomplished without the latter.

3. Dive Into Action

Here’s where this advice may be a bit different than what you’ve read before.

Don’t wait for motivation. Don’t wait for some crystal-clear perspective of what you should do next. Instead, dive into action. In fact, it’s time to rewire your brain for action.

Your brain does not likely like change. If it did, changes would be easy for everyone. But instead, it will resist.

To overcome the resistance, rewire it for action. This means that you override the “pause” and just act.

First, consider committing to “one big shift” that will allow room for all of your new habits to take hold.  Many times, we set goals for habits, but don’t allow a realistic amount of time or space in our lives to actually be successful in them. Be realistic. Do you need to wake up 30 minutes earlier? Give up 30 minutes of screen time each day? Do you need to make time and space for exercise or preparing healthy meals?

Then, work on action without a pause: If there’s something that’s difficult for you to change, try counting down 5-4-3-2-1 and then immediately springing into action. This may seem silly, but it works. If you’d like to know more about this method, look at Mel Robbins’ work and her “5 Second Rule” method.

4. Give Yourself Grace – Every Day

One common thing among the 80% who fail or give up? They felt they were either on a diet or off, on track to their goal or not, and likely saw it as black and white.

Here’s a secret: it’s almost all gray. There are moments when you’re right on track and when you fail. But that does not mean failure of a whole goal, but just a moment or meal or snack. Give yourself grace and get right back on track.

5. Accountability Will Truly Help

There are a few ways to find accountability. Some are lucky enough to have good friends who understand them, understand their goals, and can give stern accountability without judgment.

But not everyone has this. If you don’t here are a few ideas:Try an online group or forum. Look for the Keto Zone group on Facebook.Try a local group at a gym, public health, or hospital that is Keto friendly.Keep track of your eating with an online food site or app. Knowing your grams of carbs each day can help you keep yourself accountable.Make bets with your kids. For example, hate waking up early to exercise? Bet your kid $5 if you don’t wake up. But, no excuses, you must pay up. It will only take you a few times to pay up before you form this habit.

Together, these tools can help you work through your goals and build perseverance for your New Year’s Resolutions for 2024. As you build it, you will be able to accomplish so much more, year after year, than you’ve ever thought.

Bottom Line

If you’ve struggled to accomplish your goals in the past, perseverance can sometimes feel like something you simply don’t have. But, that’s a lie. You can build it like any muscle. First, identify this as something you recognize and want to do. Then, follow our strategies above to build it. After recognizing this, set goals around something you’re truly passionate about, and use effective tools, decide if you need “one big shift” in your life, and build perseverance with confidence. You can actually accomplish anything with this formula, even your New Year’s Goals for 2024.

The post Read This Before Setting New Year’s Goals appeared first on Dr. Don Colbert.

Beyond Keto Healthy Gift Guide 2023

Still looking for the perfect gift for a friend or loved one? Someone in the Keto Zone or who simply likes to live a healthy lifestyle? We’ve got you covered. Here are some of our top picks….it’s our 2023Keto Healthy Gift Guide!

Top Picks: Keto Healthy Gift Guide 20231.Divine Health – Health Zone Essentials Book

Over the years, Dr. Colbert has released book after book, and product after product, to help others live healthy lives in the Keto Zone. Now, he’s put together a book that covers every important aspect: Health Zone Essentials! This amazing books is a treasure trove of wisdom and practical advice. Dr. Colbert will lead you through strategies and lifestyle habits to restore the body’s health at its foundation and then rebuild a healthy life upon it. It covers hormones, fasting, digestive health, brain health, delicious Beyond Keto recipes, and more! Health Zone Essentials makes a wonderful healthy gift (on pre-order now)!

2. Keto Zone No-Bake Christmas Pecan Toffee

If you’d like a homemade gift, nothing says Christmas like delicious toffee! And best of all, this recipe is loaded with healthy ingredients, and is easy to make. Once you’ve made it, simply crack it, pile it on a festive plate or bowl, and give it to friends and loved ones. Toffee is one of our top picks in the Keto Healthy Gift Guide! Find the recipe here.

3. Avocado Saver

Maybe you didn’t know this was a thing…but it is! Avocados are one of the healthiest fats available (1), and they make almost any dish taste divine! But, it’s such as shame when they go to waste.

Instead of wasting them, save them in an avocado saver! There are a lot to choose from, such as the Clear Cover Avocado Pod. Simply search avocado saver online and find your new favorite healthy gift!

4. Keto Zone Elderberry Syrup

Keto Elderberry syrup is easy to make and is a gift that will keep on giving all winter long. The elderberries, apple cider vinegar, Keto Zone Hydrolyzed Collagen, turmeric and ginger are true flu and cold fighters (2). This syrup is low-carb and effective.

Find the recipe here.

5. Divine Health Sleep Ease

Who wouldn’t want the gift of better sleep? Especially, when it’s from a product you can trust, formulated by Dr. Colbert?

In fact, Dr. Colbert has combined vitamins, minerals, and botanicals to make up a wonderful all-natural sleep supplement. These nutrients compliment your body’s natural sleep systems, and work with it to promote improved sleep quality and duration. With more sleep, expect to feel more invigorated, healthier, and happier. Get Divine Health Sleep-Ease today!

6. Keto Zone Cinnamon Rolls

It may surprise you, but we even have cinnamon rolls on our healthy gift guide!

But first, fair warning: Like most cinnamon rolls, these rolls take some time and love to prepare. Another warning: they are so delicious you won’t able to resist.

The good news? You don’t need to. These keto cinnamon rolls not only have just 4 net grams of carbs so you can stay in the Keto Zone, but they also boost health-promoting ingredients like cinnamon. Cinnamon is a spice with potent antioxidants that fight free radicals and oxidative stress in the body.

Make these rolls and delight guests, friends, and loved ones.

Find the recipe here.

6. High Quality Olive Oil

Delicious, peppery, high-quality olive oil can feel like a luxury. It makes an absolutely exceptional healthy gift! Look for high-phenolic Greek extra-virgin olive oil when shopping. Not only will you give your loved one a delicious healthy fat, but a nutritious food that is great for their body from head to toe (3). Read this post to find all the ways high-phenolic olive oils encourages health, and decide if you should even drink it straight every day!

7. Stress Less Drops & Book

We all experience stress. Most of us experience too much chronic stress, and we don’t always handle it in a healthy way. With Stress Less, Dr. Colbert provides the tools you need to address the stress in your life from a mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual standpoint. Using scientific evidence, anecdotal stories, biblical principles, and practical, proven theories, Dr. Colbert, who “lived, walked through, and overcame extreme stress,” will challenge and convince you to make lifelong changes.

In addition, Dr. Colbert has designed a supplement that works with your body to reduce chronic high cortisol levels and restore healthy hormone balance. Stress Less Drops encourage optimal energy production, blood sugar balance, healthy bones, strong immune system, optimal sleep cycles, improved muscle strength, optimistic moods and relaxation, brain clarity and youthful memory, healthy brain function, and more! Help those you love, stress less today!

10. Divine Health Fermented Green Supremefood 

It can be tough to get all the greens you need when you’re living a busy modern lifestyle. But, you don’t have to go without. Divine Health Fermented Green Supremefood is packed with nutrients, which have hundreds of studies to support their amazing benefits. Fermented Green Supremefood supports cellular detox, healthy immune function, and healthy digestion. They include vegetables, grasses, herbs, and more in a low-sugar, easy-to digest delicious powder. Want more reasons to gift them? Here are 10 science-backed reasons to add Fermented Supremefoods to your diet today.

Bottom Line

It’s such a joy to give a gift. Joy is multiplied when it’s a gift that gives health. If you’re looking for a Beyond Keto healthy gift, we hope our gift guide helps. Have a wonderful, blessed, joyous and Merry Christmas with family, friends, church, and loved ones this year!

The post Beyond Keto Healthy Gift Guide 2023 appeared first on Dr. Don Colbert.

Decadent Keto Chocolate Cake for Christmas Dinner

The most wonderful time of the year calls for the most wonderful, decadent keto chocolate cake for Christmas dinner! You can finish both the year and your Christmas meal with a bang.

This rich, decadent, keto chocolate cake doesn’t disappoint. You won’t miss the sugar or the carbs, guaranteed.

And the best part? This nutrient packed delicious cake takes under an hour to make. It’s destined to be your favorite part of Christmas dinner! Here’s how and why to make it.

Delicious Keto Chocolate Cake for ChristmasIngredients

Cake:

2 1/2 cups almond flour1 cup raw cacao powder1 cup allulose (granulated)1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 cup organic butter, softened8 large organic eggs (room temperature)1 teaspoon real vanilla 2 cups keto-friendly frosting (recipe to follow)

Frosting:

3 cups sugar-free powdered sugar1/2 cup organic butter, softened1 teaspoon real vanilla1/2 cup raw cacao powder1-2 tablespoon almond milkInstructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Meanwhile, grease two 9-inch cake pans with butter. Cut and add a round piece of parchment paper to the bottom of each pan for easy removal.

2. Add eggs and softened butter to a large mixing bowl. Whisk until thoroughly combined and smooth. Add the vanilla and mix until combined.

3. Slowly add in the almond flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and allulose. Mix until just combined.

4. Pour the cake batter into the two prepared cake pans (1/2 in each). Bake the cake for 27-30 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.

5. Make Keto-Friendly frosting while the cakes bake: Mix 3 cups sugar free powdered sugar and 1/2 cup soft organic butter in a large mixing bowl. Once smooth, add 1 teaspoon real vanilla, 1/2 cup raw cacao powder, and 1-2 tablespoon almond milk for desired consistency.

5. Remove cakes from the oven and allow to cool completely. Place one cake on a cake serving plate. Frost the top of the cake with keto-friendly frosting. Add the next layer of cake. Frost the top of this piece. Use any extra frosting around the circumference of the cakes in a thin layer. Optionally, add berries (and a dollop of Keto Whipped Cream) to the top of the cake. Delight in this cake!

Nutrition info (per 16 servings): 184 calories, 17 grams fat, 3 grams net carbs (6 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber), 6 grams protein Keto Chocolate Cake & Raw Cacao – What Gifts!

What makes raw cacao such a gift? It just happens to be an amazing superfood that’s easy to buy, store, and use.

But first, let’s get through the spelling: cacao vs. cocoa. The names “cocoa” and “cacao” are often used interchangeably. However, cacao is processed differently, and this makes all the difference in health.

Raw cacao is made from fermented, dried, and unroasted cacao beans. Cocoa beans are roasted at high heat, damaging some of the living nutrient components and reducing the flavanols by up to 60%. (1).

Choose raw, and get these benefits of cacao:

1.  Cacao Improves Brain Function and Reduces Stress

Let’s start here.

Cacao contains health-benefiting compounds called flavanols. They cross the blood-brain barrier to affect brain health and mood (1).

One flavanol is phenethylamine (PEA). It has natural pain- and stress-reducing properties. It also increases endorphins to improve focus.

What’s more, cacao improves mood by raising serotonin levels and contains theobromine, a mild stimulant sometimes used in the treatment of depression.

Increased blood flow results in improved brain health. Cacao’s flavanols increase blood levels of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide dilates arteries and improves blood flow.

One study of older adults showed an increase of 10% brain blood flow with cacao. Other studies show improved blood flow and cognition in those with and without a deficit, indicating a potential use for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

There’s more.

2. Cacao Supports Heart Health and Reduces Inflammation

It starts with nitric oxide. When it increases artery dilation and blood flow, it reduces blood pressure especially in older adults and those with hypertension (2, 3).

What’s more, cacao may reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.  One review of over 157,000 people showed that higher chocolate consumption was associated with a significantly lower risk of heart disease, stroke and death (4).

Reducing inflammation is also important for heart health. Cacao’s flavanols reduce proinflammatory cytokines while increasing anti-inflammatory ones (5).

Lastly, cocoa may reduce bad LDL cholesterol and has a blood thinning effect similar to aspirin.

3. Cacao Reduces Fatigue and May Fight Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

In addition to a small amount of caffeine, cacao delivers anti-fatigue nutrients. These include:

Iron. Cacao is high in absorbable iron, which increases oxygen delivery to the cells.Magnesium. One serving of cacao provides 100 mg of magnesium, ~25% of daily needs. Magnesium is typically deficient in adults. Adequate magnesium is associated with better energy, better sleep, fewer muscle cramps (including night cramps), and better overall health.Nitric Oxide (NO). When cacao’s flavanols increase NO, they help the body deliver and use oxygen better in the cells, decreasing fatigue.

A small study from London showed a decrease in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome symptoms after 8 weeks of cacao treatment (6).

4. Cacao Improves Insulin Sensitivity

When cells are more sensitive to insulin, they are healthier. They deal with carbohydrates better, require less insulin to store them, and store less fat.

The flavanols improve insulin sensitivity, and they:

Slow down carbohydrate digestion and absorption in the gutImprove insulin secretionStimulate the uptake of sugar out of the blood into the muscle (7)Lower risk of type 2 diabetes (8)5. Cacao Potentially Fights Cellular Overgrowth

Individual components of cacao have been shown to induce cell death and prevent the spread of cellular overgrowth (9).

In animal studies, scientists have reduced breast, pancreatic, prostate, liver and colon cellular overgrowth with cacao components (10).

Human studies are promising but general. Flavanol-rich diets may be beneficial.

6. Cacao Reduces Free Radical Damage

Sure, free radical damage sounds bad. But what is it and what causes it?

Unfortunately, most everything around you can cause it.

In fact, sun exposure, cigarette smoke, toxic chemicals in the environment and foods, pollution, and even some of our own body’s biochemical reactions can cause free radical damage and its accumulated oxidative stress.

When we consume antioxidants, we consume compounds that neutralize free radicals and work to heal cells.

Cacao has more than 300 different antioxidant chemical compounds and more than 20 times the antioxidant power of blueberries. And while other foods’ antioxidants diminish with time, cacao has demonstrated stability in samples over 75 years old (11)!

Bottom Line

Let’s get a little fancy this Christmas and spoil ourselves and loved ones with a delicious Keto Chocolate Cake! Choose raw cacao this Holiday Season and all winter and enjoy all the benefits of cacao plus fun recipes and treats.

 

The post Decadent Keto Chocolate Cake for Christmas Dinner appeared first on Dr. Don Colbert.

4 Weeks of Health, Bliss & Peace

Do you want to know what’s overrated? Holiday stress. Rushing around. A month full of feeling too busy, stressed, unhealthy, and disconnected. If December feels like a whirlwind to you, it’s time to reset and replace it with 4 weeks of Health, Peace, and Bliss.

Sound impossible?

It can be a challenge. The world around us uses Christmas as a marketing scheme. It’s all about money, gifts, and more, more, more.

But, you can be the one to change it. You can feel healthy, peaceful, and blissful this month. Here’s how:

4 Weeks of Health, Bliss & Peace1. First, Focus on Health:

Keep a Health-Focused Mindset: Even during December, you can enjoy 4 weeks of health through a great diet and lifestyle. How? Realize that the “Holiday Season” is really only a few Holiday days. So, on those days, when getting together with friends and family, go ahead and live a little.

On the other days, keep practicing your healthy habits. You’ll feel so much better about any “cheat” days if your day-in day-out healthy habits are intact and consistent.

Healthy Holiday Eating: On non-Holiday days, eat according to the Beyond Keto plan. Eat plenty of vegetables, healthy fats, and lean proteins. Focus on seafood, extra virgin olive oil, greens, avocados, and other anti-inflammatory high-antioxidant foods. You can find the whole plan here.

Get Outside and Stay Active: Even in cold weather, it feels great to get outside! Make walking a habit. Or, find other outdoor activities you enjoy. Outdoor activity, even when brief, promotes improved moods and psychological well-being (1).

Don’t Quit on Health: It’s easy to think of December as a month to quit on your goals. To let yourself slide because New Year’s is just around the corner and you’ll refocus then. There are two major things about this mindset that really hurt you:

One, you can completely sabotage all the amazing work you’ve done all year to lose pounds or get healthy in just a few weeks of “letting go.”Two, people who go into the New Year with strong healthy habits in place are much more likely to meet New Year’s goals than those who “quit” during December and then try to re-engage in January.

Finish the year strong with a healthy December!

2. Next, Embody a Peaceful Spirit:

Practice Gratitude: To start, look back at the year and think about all you have for which to be grateful. Think about any loved ones, family and friends, experiences, lessons, love, and God. Meditate on the good gifts from God you’ve received.

Then, write them down. Maybe you’re keeping a gratitude journal. Or, maybe you just like to think of things for which you’re grateful. Either way, focusing on gratitude is one of the best ways to end a year, celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, and move forward. Not only does it improve mental health, decrease stress and cortisol(2), it can also reduce the risk of depression, chronic diseases like metabolic syndrome and more (3). Gratitude brings peace to our minds and bodies!

Get Extra Sleep:  Adequate sleep also promotes peace in our minds and bodies. In fact, many studies now show that sleep is crucial for immune function, fighting chronic disease, and brain health (4). Most experts agree that you need at least 6 hours of high-quality sleep per night, and preferably 8-9 hours. Make sleep a priority this month.

Stress Less: Next, there’s Divine Health Stress Less Drops. This amazing formulation from Divine Health uses your body’s natural “stress-reduction” parasympathetic system to encourage calm moods, clarity, healthy energy pathways, better sleep, and balance. In fact, it’s made of liquid ionic trace minerals in distilled water that include 85 trace minerals harvested with care from Utah’s Great Salt Lake.

In addition, Divine Health Stress Less Drops include a significant amount of magnesium. Magnesium is used by every cell and involved in over 300 daily reactions. It specifically impacts energy production, sleep, hormone balance, peace, and more (5, 6, 7, 8).

Lastly, Enjoy the Bliss:

Choose Optimism: Even if it’s not your natural tendency, choose to practice optimism and increase your bliss. Amazingly, God has given us a simple solution to longevity, health, and joy. It’s optimism. Believe it or not, studies show increased optimism practices actually equate to longer life, in both men and women. In addition, optimistic people tend to be healthier and happier during their lives with less depression and levels of stress.

If you are a naturally more pessimistic person, don’t worry….you can be optimistic that you can at least partly learn optimism. Studies have concluded that approximately  25% of optimism is genetic (9), leaving 75% to attitude and our choices. These same studies show we can create habits of optimism in just 2 weeks of intervention with prayer, meditation, journaling, and gratitude(10). Take joy in a positive outlook this month!

Focus on People: Despite the overwhelming focus on material things this time of year, you can choose to focus on relationships and people. Slow down long enough to find joy in the present moment. Don’t rush though. Don’t focus on materials. Instead, let those around you, rather than gifts, bring joy!

Remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season: The best way to experience joy in December? Focus on Jesus. His birth, His life, His sacrifice, His forgiveness, and His promises. There is nothing this world offers that compares to Him. No matter what’s happening in your life, you can find forgiveness, new life, and joy in Him.

Pray: Want more joy and bliss in your life? Pray. Connect with God. No matter what you are facing, the practice of daily prayer, and prayer throughout the day, can change everything. Prayer is a wonderful gift for spiritual health. Prayer is thought to increase the secretion of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine. These compounds decrease cortisol while promoting relaxation, joy, focus, and motivation.

Bottom Line

Let’s turn December from a whirlwind into a peaceful, joyous, and healthy month. Let’s start a trend of finishing the year in calm bliss rather than frantic stress. Use December to continue healthy habits and catapult you into next year. Don’t give up on health and peace this year. Instead, slow down and enjoy the most peaceful time of the year.

The post 4 Weeks of Health, Bliss & Peace appeared first on Dr. Don Colbert.

Keto Thanksgiving Favorites with Crustless Pumpkin Pie

If you’re looking for a knock-your-socks-off Beyond Keto Thanksgiving Menu, we’ve got it for you this week. To start, you’ll find our Beyond Keto Crustless Pie. Then, we have 5 more delicious sides that you’ll love. Each recipe is full of nourishing ingredients for which to be thankful, without any of the sugar or unnecessary refined carbs.These recipes are easy, delicious, and sure to please both keto eaters and non-keto eaters alike. Gather your ingredients, set aside some time, and get ready for a Beyond Keto Thanksgiving Feast!Beyond Keto Thanksgiving Crustless Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients

15 ounces organic pumpkin puree1/2 cup almond milk1/2 cup organic coconut milk (canned, use the thick portion)2 teaspoon real pure vanilla extract2 teaspoons Beyond Keto homemade pumpkin spice2 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt1/3 cup almond flourorganic stevia powder equivalent to 1/2 cup sugar (see packaging)1 egg2 Tablespoon organic butter (melted) (optional)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400 degree F. Grease a 9-inch round pie pan.Whisk all ingredients together in a large bowl until well-blended.Pour mixture into the prepared pan. Bake 35 minutes. Remove from oven.The pie will be gooey after baking. Allow it to cool completely before transferring uncovered to the fridge. Allow to “set” in fridge for at least 6 hours. Serve once firm.

Nutrition info (serves 8): 175 calories, 12 grams fat, 4 grams net carbohydrates (7 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber), 9 grams protein. Learn more about pumpkin’s amazing health here. 

5 More Beyond Keto Favorites

Pie might be the highlight of Thanksgiving dinner, but you don’t have to stop there. Of course, any main dish of turkey, salmon, or other meat can easily fit into the Keto Zone. It becomes a bit more difficult with sides. Here are 5 of our favorites!

1. Beyond Keto Cranberry Jam

Make sure to stock up on cranberries, because you’ll want this delicious cranberry jam year-round! It’s perfect, with turkey, yogurt, nuts, and more.

Get the Recipe: Keto Zone Cranberry Jam

Be Thankful for Cranberries: Cranberries are as healthy as they look. In fact, their deep, vibrant color is due to their high levels of anthocyanins as they are one of the most potent sources among berries (1). They are also anti-cancer, fight urinary tract infections, and support heart health.

2. Delicious Beyond Keto Brussel Sprouts

A Holiday dinner would simply not be complete without Brussel sprouts. This recipe, with cranberries and walnuts, is perfect for Thanksgiving dinner (or any dinner). Here’s why:

Get the Recipe: Keto Zone Cranberry Walnut Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Be Thankful For Brussel Sprouts: Brussel sprouts are one of those quintessential “healthy foods.” And for good reason. They are loaded with powerful antioxidants (2), vitamin C, vitamin K, anti-inflammatories, anti-cancer nutrition, and fiber.

3. Creamy Beyond Keto Cauliflower Potatoes

Cauliflower is one of the most versatile, low-carb foods available. Like magic, it can turn into rice, mashed potatoes, and more. Try this delicious “mashed potatoes” recipe and see for yourself.

Get the Recipe: Keto Zone Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes”

Be Thankful for Cauliflower: While cauliflower shares many of the same great benefits as other vegetables, it is special because it is powerfully detoxifying. At a cellular level, cauliflower’s nutrients work to support natural detoxification to help cells renew themselves and stay healthy. Cauliflower is also high in choline and known to support brain health (3).

4. Beyond Keto Green Bean Casserole

What would Thanksgiving dinner be without a green bean casserole? A bit lacking, that’s for sure! And this year, you can skip the preservative-loaded, high-carb, unhealthy canned casserole, and use delicious Keto Zone whole foods instead. Ready?

Get the Recipe: Keto Zone Green Bean Casserole

Be Thankful for Green Beans: Green beans contain many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals that support health and fight disease, just like many vegetables. But, there’s more to green beans. They are a natural of silicon. Silicon is important for bone health, especially in post-menopausal women. Amazingly, it may reduce fractures and improve bone density (4).

5. Amazing Beyond Keto Stuffing

Thanksgiving stuffing is another classic that’s gotten a Keto Zone makeover. And you won’t be disappointed. Our Thanksgiving stuffing uses a delicious secret ingredient that will keep you in the Keto Zone.

Get the Recipe: Keto Zone Thanksgiving Stuffing

Be Thankful for Stuffing: Our secret ingredient is plant-based, but still provides complete protein. In addition, it’s a great source of anti-inflammatory fats, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Add it to your stuffing this year!

Bottom Line

No need to feel over-stuffed with sugar this year. Instead, indulge in these Beyond Keto favorites. Take time to be thankful for amazing, nourishing foods. And, Happy Thanksgiving from Divine Health!

The post Keto Thanksgiving Favorites with Crustless Pumpkin Pie appeared first on Dr. Don Colbert.

7-Day Gratitude Challenge – 7 Ways It Can Promote Health

We all intend to focus on gratitude this time of year. But, do you ever feel like it’s just one more thing in your way-too-busy to-do list? Despite your best intentions, do you ever feel that you’re too overwhelmed to focus on gratitude? When you hear about a gratitude challenge, does it make you want to throw your hands in the air and say “I can’t do even more this time of year?”

I’ll admit, I sometimes feel overwhelmed in November. The Holiday Season can feel like a steamroller. But, you may still want to focus on gratitude. If so, we’ve got an abbreviated, 7-day gratitude challenge! This is not 1000 or 100 lines of gratitude…it’s just one week.

Ready to start? For the next week…

7-Day Gratitude Challenge1. Every Day Write Down 5 Things You Are Grateful For

Your daily gratitude notes don’t have to be big stuff. They can be tiny snowflakes, a sunrise or sunset, a smile, your favorite pair of slippers, or the stars this time of year. Anything. It’s helpful if you keep a gratitude list or journal nearby throughout the day, so when you feel grateful, you can write it down.

2. Everyday, Identify and Give Thanks for 1 Positive Quality You Possess

This is where it might get a little tougher for some. But, you are wonderfully and fearfully made by a Creator who loves you. You can be thankful to Him for how He made you. Whether you want to identify actions (like how easily you’re optimistic), physical traits, or even challenges you face, this is your opportunity to be content and even grateful through it all. Write it down.

3. Send a Gratitude Message to 3 Significant People During the Week

For most of us, this last is the toughest. During the week, write and send a gratitude message to someone in your life. Again, you don’t have to make this a big deal. Just a one-line text is okay. If you don’t know what to say, just tell them you’re thankful for them. If you’re brave enough, tell them why. This will get easier!

Bonus: Keep Going with the Gratitude Challenge

If after one week, this seems like a positive change in your life, keep going! Maybe you can keep it up through the end of the year. Maybe you can keep it up in 2024. If you miss a week, it’s okay. There’s no one grading you. This is just a way to see the world differently, spread gratitude, and even enjoy the health benefits discussed below.

7 Ways the Gratitude Challenge Affects Health1. Emotional and Mental Health

Practicing gratitude reduces cortisol, the stress hormone, by up to 23% (1). What’s more, health care practitioners have sustained lower perceived stress (decrease of 28%) and depression by keeping a gratitude journal (2).

This is important. High, chronic cortisol levels are associated with chronic diseases like diabetes, heart health, and metabolic syndrome (3). Most modern stress is mental rather than physical. It’s caused by relationships, traffic, computer malfunction, and busy schedules. It’s not typically a physical threat. When internalized, it wages war on our body systems.

Gratitude can also:

Reduce negative emotions such as envy, regret, and resentmentIncrease self-esteemLower the risk of depressionIncrease positive emotions such as empathy for others2. Immune System Health

Gratitude and optimism can actually improve your body’s response to disease. How?

Studies have found that our bodies produce more disease-fighting cells when we are grateful and optimistic (4).

What’s more, as we age our immune function declines, in part due to an imbalance in cortisol vs. dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). If we reduce chronic cortisol, we can maintain a healthier balance with DHEA levels and immune function (5).

3. Heart Health

Be thankful with a grateful heart. Amazingly, a grateful heart is a healthier heart.

In studies, gratitude is associated with better cholesterol levels, lower your blood pressure and decreased heart rate variability. This all works together to improve cardiovascular health and overall health (4, 5).

4. Healthy Aging and Better Sleep

A crucial factor in healthy aging is brain health. One crucial habit for brain health is sleep. As you practice gratitude, you improve sleep.

In fact, a study of 400 individuals, many of whom had sleep disorders, found that writing gratitude before sleep improves both the quality and duration of sleep (6).

In another study, gratitude was linked to a 10 percent improvement in sleep and a 19 percent decrease in depression levels in patients with chronic disease and insomnia (7).

5. Healthy Habits and Change

Studies show that those who practice gratitude also tend to make healthier choices. Specifically, there’s an association between those who are reportedly grateful and less use of tobacco, more exercise, and better food choices (8, 9).

As a therapy, gratitude intervention shows promise when helping patients increase healthy habits. In one study, 31% of participants quit smoking and maintained abstinence after 6 months, compared to meta-analysis averages of 23% with a nicotine patch alone (10).

6. It Can Prolong Your Life

Can gratitude really improve longevity? As crazy as it sounds, yes!

A grateful heart can promote optimism, despite life’s circumstances. A recent study appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, where researchers from Boston studied if different levels of optimism are linked to longer lives (11).

Amazingly, the researchers found higher optimism scores were strongly linked to longer survival. The women with the highest 25% of optimism scores lived 15% longer than those in the lowest. The men with the top 20% of optimism lived 11% longer than men in the lowest 20%. The scientists accounted for variables to show statistical significance, including demographics, health conditions, and depression.

7. Gratitude is Contagious Especially When You Share It

An amazing thing about gratitude? It’s the gift that keeps on giving. I believe if we spent a fraction of the time we spend on buying physical gifts on sharing gratitude with those around us, we’d be astounded at how it changes our lives. When you tell others you’re grateful for them, they will also feel a sense of gratitude. When you practice your own grateful attitude, it will spread. Not only can it change our own heart; it’s contagious.

Bottom Line

Just one week. No further commitment. See if our 7-Day Gratitude Challenge changes your attitude. You have nothing to lose. You have an opportunity to give a truly meaningful gift to yourself and those around you. Let us know how it goes in the comments below!

The post 7-Day Gratitude Challenge – 7 Ways It Can Promote Health appeared first on Dr. Don Colbert.