What Cholesterol Numbers Actually Mean | What's the Best Way to Measure Ketones?

The Definitive Guide to Cholesterol

Contrary to what we’ve been told, cholesterol didn’t evolve to give us heart disease. It’s not here to kill us. The actual roles of cholesterol in the body include insulating neurons, building and maintaining cellular membranes, participating in the immune response, metabolizing fat-soluble vitamins, synthesizing vitamin D, producing bile, and kick-starting the body’s synthesis of many hormones, including the sex hormones. Without cholesterol, we wouldn’t be alive. Given all the work cholesterol has to do, the liver is careful to ensure the body always has enough, producing some 1000-1400 milligrams of it each day.

Dietary cholesterol is a relative drop in the bucket. And besides, the liver has sensitive feedback mechanisms that regulate cholesterol production in response to how much you get from your diet. Eat more cholesterol, make less in the liver. Eat less, make more in liver. Now, if cholesterol is so important, why do we worry about it at all? How has it garnered such a bad reputation for giving us heart attacks?

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Measuring Ketones: the What, Why, and How

Regular readers probably know I’m not a big data tracker. My energy, sleep, workout performance, stamina, and enjoyment of life tell me almost everything I need to know about how well I’m doing. Nevertheless, I get that some people love to play the self-quantification game. In some medical situations, measuring ketones is advisable, even necessary, as well. I’m not a total curmudgeon about it. Heck, I’ve been known to check in on my blood glucose and ketones from time to time.

If you’re thinking about testing, you should become familiar with the three different methods. Each has its own pros and cons. You’ll want to pick the option that’s right for you.

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Matcha Ice Cream (No Dairy)

Commercially made matcha ice creams can contain dairy, additives, and a lot of sugar or sweeteners that can mask the unique, delicate flavor of matcha. We make our no-dairy ice cream recipe with a creamy base that comes from unsweetened coconut milk combined with raw, freshly ground macadamia nuts, then flavor it with a touch of vanilla and our Matcha Collagen Keto Latte Drink Mix.

Ingredients

1 can full-fat unsweetened coconut milk

1/4 cup macadamia nut butter

3 scoops Primal Kitchen® Matcha Collagen Keto Latte Drink Mix

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Instructions

Process 1 cup raw, unsalted macadamia nuts on high speed until the nuts turn into the consistency of smooth nut butter. Turn off the food processor and set the nut butter aside. In a large mixing bowl or pourable glass container, add coconut milk, macadamia nut butter, Matcha Collagen Keto Latte, vanilla, and salt. Whisk well to combine. Pour mixture into an ice cream maker. Turn the ice cream maker on and churn for about 5–6 minutes. Serve immediately or freeze for later.

Watch the Recipe Video Here

An Episode for the Heart-Centered Entrepreneur | Jen James

Jen has a thriving online yoga business where she helps caregivers manage chronic pain and stress through a holistic approach with gentle yoga exercises, mindfulness, and self-care techniques. Jen also teaches holistic living on a budget. Jen defines holistic living as an all-encompassing life that incorporates the whole person, including self, family, relationships, work, interests, spirituality, and health. She focuses her practice on helping her clients manage the stress that comes along with caring for other people. In this episode we talk about the 5 foundations for living a holistic life and working on a budget, taking yoga practices off the mat and incorporating them into your everyday life, what it means to live simply, and her tips for running a successful online coaching practice. We hope you enjoy!

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