Diet: The Next Performance Enhancing Drug

We just got the latest newsletter from Takano Athletics. Bob Takano references an article from the Arizona republic. Here's a link to that article: Read Me!

Athletes being athletes; they are always looking for the next advantage over their competition. With the major crack down on performance enhancing drugs, it seems apparent that athletes are turning to the more important substance that they put into their bodies. Food. 

Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns is on the leading edge of this movement. He says that he tries to only eat things that have been around for the last 50,000 years. Sound familiar? The Paleo Diet is helping Steve get better and faster as he gets older. He shared his Paleo Diet secrets with team mate Grant Hill, who at 38 years old has only missed 3 games over the last 3 seasons. Coincidence? 

It would seem that from the article, that most professional athletes aren't as diligent with their food choices as Steve Nash and all of our faithful Paleoblocks Readers. There is now a slow transition by some athletes away from the large buffets of sugars, grains, and processed foods toward organic meats, veggies, fruits and nuts. It would seem that everyone is noticing the benefits as well. These athletes feel less fatigued, recover quicker, and miss less days due to illness and injury; all things that translate to big money in the world of professional sports. 

Do you think the trend will permeate all teams or will there always be people that stick to "business as usual?"

Sign up for the Takano Athletics newsletter and follow his blog. Bob Takano is a Hall of Fame Weightlifting Coach and has some of the most insightful articles around. 

Real Simple's: Pork chops and Peaches

Real Simple has this delicious recipe just in time for summer! (AND it's heart healthy!) I bet the leftovers would be a great breakfast too!

Ingredients:
1 T olive or coconut oil
4 bone in lean pork chops (3/4 inch thick - about 2 lbs total)
sea salt and black pepper
2 fresh peaches cut into wedges
1 small red onion cut into thin wedges
3 T white wine vinegar (can leave this out if you'd like)
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

Directions:
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Heat the oil in a large oven proof skillet (cast iron is ideal!). Season the pork with 1/2 t salt and 1/4 t pepper and cook until browned (roughly 3-5 minutes per side), set aside.
Add the peaches, onion, vinegar and 1/4 t of salt and pepper to the skillet and cook tossing for 1 minute.
Return the pork and juices to the skillet. Transfer to oven and roast until the pork is cooked thoroghly and the peaches are tender (about 8-10 minutes).
Sprinkle the pork and peaches with the basil and enjoy!

Tuna with Pepper, Artichokes and Lemon

If you don't subscribe to REAL SIMPLE magazine, or check out their recipe site occasionally you're missing out. They have very close to paleo recipes and paleo recipes and they're almost always easy, and made with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Check out this recipe below:

Tuna with Black Pepper, Artichokes and Lemon
from RealSimple.com

Ingredients:
2 T cooking oil (olive, coconut)
1/2 red onion thinly sliced
Artichoke hearts (canned or frozen and thawed) amount to your liking
1 Lemon cut into 8 slices
2 cloves of garlic thinly sliced
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 1/2 lbs fresh tuna cut in to 1 inch cubes
1 1/2 tsp kosher or sea salt
1 tsp black pepper

Directions:
Note : recipe calls for this dish to be served over rice. I think its great wtih out anything else, but you could always serve it over cauliflower rice, or steamed veggies.

Use 1 T of oil to cook onions until soft. (roughly 3 minutes), add artichoke hearts, lemon, garlic and thyme (if using it). Cook until all are heated properly (about another 3 minutes). Set aside on plate.
Season the tuna with salt and pepper and heat in the same skillet (adding the other T of oil). cook tuna turning to brown all sides to the doneness you prefer (about 2 minutes for 'medium'). Add artichoke mixture to the tuna and mix together. Serve and enjoy!

Photo and Recipe from RealSimple.com

Apple 'Cereal'

Looking for something to eat out of a bowl in the mornings?
Try this Apple 'Cereal' recipe. Be cautious of the amount of nuts you're putting in this if you eat nuts throughout the day as well. This is another recipe where you can get creative and put your own spin on things!


Apple Cereal
Ingredients:
1 apple of your choice grated
1 banana chopped
small handful coconut shredded
1/4 cup almonds chopped (soaked as an option)
Splash coconut water or coconut milk
1 tsp raw honey
dash of cinnamon or nutmeg


Directions:
Mix in a large bowl. Eat...This is great comfort food!!!
*you could add other things in here too, like maybe some grated carrots, almond butter or raisins - get creative!

Grilled Tandoori Lamb

I'm not much into lamb, but this recipe does look pretty amazing. Also, this spice mix can be used on salmon, chicken or shrimp. OR use the Tandoori spice blend from the previous post. This recipe comes from epicurious.com. Enjoy!

Grilled Tandoori Lamb
Ingredients:
In a dry skillet, toast until aromatic (or use previously made tandoori spice):
2 T cumin seeds
2 tsp fennel seeds
2 tsp cardamom seeds
1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns

Grind cooled spices in spice mill with:
1 1/2 tsp dried crushed red pepper

Transfer spice blend to small bowl and mix in:
6 T olive oil
2 T minced fresh ginger
4 garlic cloves, pressed

Rub mixture all over, then cover and refrigerate for 3 hours:
1 5.75 lb leg of lamb, boned and butterflied (about 4 lbs boned)

Directions:
Spray grill rack with nonstick spray; prepare barbecue (medium high heat). Grill lamb 25 minutes for medium -rare (internal temp at the thickets part will be about 125 degrees F) Let lamb rest 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Photo from epicurious.com