Dear Jess, I’ve tried everything to lose weight, but I just don’t have enough willpower…help!

Sometimes it does seem as if people struggle to achieve change by sheer willpower. This is most uncomfortable and, in the long-run, very difficult to keep up.

Difficulty making desired changes often lies in counterproductive thought and emotional patterns that block the way. Making a positive change becomes a more effortless and rewarding process with a few tips about how to use your thoughts and emotions to work for you, rather than against you. Read more

Jess, I read that sugar is actually addictive. Is it really that bad for you in even in moderation? Thanks, T.G

Interesting question. We could have quite a long discussion about what “addictive” is or isn’t, but let’s look at a recent study that came to my attention yesterday while perusing Dr. Mercola’s site: “Intense Sweetness Surpasses Cocaine Reward”.

“An astonishing 94 percent of rats, who were allowed to choose mutually-exclusively between sugar water and cocaine, chose sugar. Even rats who were addicted to cocaine quickly switched their preference to sugar, once it was offered as a choice. The rats were also more willing to work for sugar than for cocaine.” Read more

Dear Jess, I heard that almonds are now required to be pasteurized. Can that possibly be true? -AS

Yes. It is true. Starting September 1, 2007, it will no longer be legal to manufacture and sell 100% raw almonds in the United States. Due to a mandate passed by the USDA, FDA and the California Almond Board ALL almonds, organic and conventional, grown in the US will be required to be pasteurized. Note that these almonds will still be labeled as raw!

The mandatory pasteurization program requires that almond handlers achieve a dramatic reduction in the amount of Salmonella (technically, a 4-log reduction is the standard) by one of these methods:
1) Expose almonds to high heat or steam pasteurization sufficient to raise the temperature of the almond kernel to 200 degrees F.
2) Fumigate the almonds with propylene oxide gas. Read more

Yes, indeed, I have been gone from the blogosphere for awhile. I have taken a nice hiatus to thoroughly enjoying summertime in Seattle. Heaven on earth. I return refreshed, alive, alert, and enthusiastic about life and our ability to create health and happiness!

I am back in full force and look forward to answering your thought-provoking nutrition and wellness-related questions as well as providing you with information and advice on living a healthy life.

Email me your questions: jessadlin[at]gmail.com

Also, I encourage you to subscribe to email updates so that you don’t miss one exciting thing. It’s easy to do…see the Google search at the top of the right column? Right under that there is an enticing instruction to enter your email address to receive updates. Type in your address and hit the submit button. You will receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription…a spam-protecting measure.

Salud-
Jess