10 Low-Carb Dishes for the Holidays

Low-carb meals may be trickier over the holiday season as people yearn for their traditional favorites.

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Low-carb Turkey

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Turkey is a traditional holiday crowd pleaser. Fortunately for the low-carber, turkey also fits nicely into our food requirements. Its protein and healthy fats are basted with love ... and butter.

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Low-carb Ham

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Ham is great because you can throw it in the oven and forget about it while you're trying to do a million other things for your holiday get-together.

But beware of packets of sugary glazes, and leave off the pineapple slices, pretty though they are.

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Low-carb Squash

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Do you have a hard time staying away from the mashed potatoes at a holiday table?

Nobody is going to mistake a winter squash for a potato, but a nicely prepared baked squash with butter, salt, pepper and parsley can create a warm glow within.

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Low-carb Green Beans

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Green beans are a favorite at the holiday season, maybe in part because they are so versatile.

You can eat them plain, or just add a little butter. Steam them, bake them or grill them.

Toss green beans with sliced almonds, or mix them with other cooked vegetables.

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Low-carb Cauliflower

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Believe it or not, cauliflower is a low-carb food. Which is fortunate since holiday meals for many people can be a carbohydrate-laden heaven ... or torture.

But steamed or baked cauliflower can help you steer clear of foods that aren't good for you.

If you think white cauliflower is boring, check out the purple, green and orange varieties and dress up your table in color, compliments of the cauliflower.

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Low-carb Pumpkin

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Pumpkin pie is not out of the question for a low-carb diet, if you go for specialty pie crusts and if you use artificial sweeteners.

But that's not the only dessert you can make with pumpkin. A low-carb pudding with dollops of real whipped cream is pretty tasty, too.

And for the first course, you can make a creamy, delicious pumpkin soup. Top it with some crushed red chili pepper and cream for a real treat.

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Low-carb Berries and Cream

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Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, they all make the low-carb life a little sweeter. Combine some berries with some whipped cream in a parfait cup and you've really got something.

If you have frozen berries, you can put them in cream, whipped or otherwise, before they're fully thawed and enjoy something that resembles ice cream.

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Low-carb Salads

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Let's bust the myth that eating low-carb means never eating vegetables, ever. Starchy vegetables may need to be barred from the table, but feel free to enjoy the rest of the veggie world.

And you can add sliced meat, full-fat cheese and sour cream along with generous splashes of assorted vinegars and oils to make vegetable dishes that much more interesting and filling.

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Low-carb Veggie Trays

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Slices of broccoli, celery, carrots, peppers and cucumber taste great when you drench them in a low-carb dip.

Cottage cheese, sour cream and cream cheese can stand alone, or you can add your favorite seasonings. Full-fat versions only, if you please.

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Low-carb Mixed Nuts

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Mixed nuts are a classic low-carb snack. Put out bowls of them along with some nutcrackers, and help yourself to a healthy snack.

You won't miss the chips and pretzels, and you won't have to go hungry either.

Tags: low-carb, holidays, holiday season, turkey, ham, squash, veggies, berries, nuts

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Your Brain on Cheeseburgers: High-Fat Diet and Cognitive Decline

You may have felt it after a rare indulgence in fast food — a slowing down, not just physically, but mentally.

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Gluten-Free Vegan Gingerbread Cake

This cake is a favorite when I bring it to potlucks. It has a nice, moist texture and the spices give it an almost chocolatey richness. It goes well with a vegan cream topping, such as the walnut cream recipe included here. For those with a nut allergy, coconut cream also makes a great topping. […]

Source: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/gluten-free-vegan-gingerbread-cake.html

7 Memory-Boosting Superfoods that Fight Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is all over the news.

Baby boomers, with typical determination and optimism, are determined to find ways of avoiding the crippling effects that come with its mental decline.

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<strong>Can We Eat Our Way to Healthy Brains?</strong>

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Research supports the idea that healthy foods can have a positive effect on our brains.

A generation of baby boomers is counting on it. And so are the younger generation in line to be their caregivers.

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<strong>Eat Berries for Antioxidants</strong>

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Antioxidants are good for your brain function. They are found in berries such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries.

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<strong>Eat Fruit with Dark Skins</strong>

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Snacking on dark-skinned fruit like cherries, oranges, plums and red grapes is a tasty way to get your antioxidants.

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<strong>Eat Healthy Fats</strong>

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Butter is a saturated fat that is important for brain health.

Cold-pressed coconut oil is good for the heart, containing no cholesterol or trans fats. It functions as an antioxidant and natural antibiotic.

Extra virgin olive oil's oleocanthal helps manufacture important proteins and enzymes which aid in break down of Alzheimer's amyloid plaques.

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<strong>Eat Leafy Greens and Crucifers</strong>

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Less cognitive decline is linked with leafy greens. This includes cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower and kale, as well as collards, mustard greens and turnip greens.

Research indicates a link between these veggies' vitamin K and reduced cognitive decline.

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<strong>Eat Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids in Fish</strong>

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Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in coldwater fish like halibut, mackeral, salmon, sardines and tuna.

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<strong>Eat Plant-based Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids</strong>

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Plant-based sources include beans, flax seeds, healthy oils like olive oil, and some types of nuts.

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<strong>Eat Vegetables with Colorful Skins</strong>

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Vegetables with colorful skins such as bell peppers and squash provide plenty of antioxidants as well.

Sources:

Memory Boosting Superfoods That Fight Alzheimer’s
http://www.alzheimers.net/2013-10-15/superfoods-that-fight-alzheimers

Alzheimer disease
https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/alzheimers-disease

Will Eating Carbs Lead to Alzheimer’s?
http://www.alzheimers.net/2013-11-04/do-carbs-and-gluten-cause-alzheimers

Eating green leafy vegetables keeps mental abilities sharp.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150330112227.htm

Tags: Alzheimer's disease, antioxidants, healthy fats, omega-3 essential fatty acids, fruit, vegetables

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