You are on page 1of 13

IN MEMORIUM

Gustaf E. Wolf
1930—2005
THE PERFORMANCE MENU
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
PUBLISHER
NorCal Strength & Conditioning
PO Box 5501
Chico, CA 95927 FEATURES
www.crossfitnorcal.com
4 Intermittent Fasting
COVER
Robb Wolf
A nutritional strategy for optimal health, longev-
ity, and performance
BACKISSUES
Backissues are available at 10 Cryotherapy
www.crossfitnorcal.com Where, why and when? Icing and soft tissue
THE PERFORMANCE MENU
injuries
is published monthly and distrib-
uted exclusively to subscribers
by NorCal Strength & Condition- REGULARS
ing. Yearly subscriptions can be
purchased for $25.00. Visit www.
crossfitnorcal.com for more in- 12 Recipes for Health & Performance
formation. New ways to feed yourself for optimum health
All content copyright NorCal Strength &
Conditioning and its respective authors.
Unauthorized reproduction or distribution
is strictly prohibited by law.
THE PERFORMANCE MENU
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
INTERMITTENT FASTING
Health, Longevity & Performance efficacy of this or that approach… but always
Robb Wolf with an eye on self improvement within the
framework of one’s OWN goals. This may
I wrote a paper on Intermittent Fasting almost equate to elite performance in a relative
two years ago but I have sat on it because… sense, but then again it may not; that is up
well, I am not entirely sure why, but I think to you.
some of it had to do with the unknown. Not
like the meaning of life, what happens when In chemistry and physics there is something
you die, or something heavy like that… just, called a triple point that describes a set of
What is going to happen if I release this thing conditions under which a substance, like
and it does not work? I have ruminated for water, transitions between solid, liquid,
a while on how best to implement this thing and gas. A graphical representation of this
(sorry… I am slow), but I realized a few weeks triple point shows pressure on one axis,
ago that it does not matter. I say this because temperature on another and a phase line.
every other nutritional plan from the Zone Altering the temperature or pressure can shift
to NHE is only a starting point. The Zone the relative position of the phase diagram to
has all the trappings of high science and some degree and thus emphasize one phase
sophistication, but the base Zone is simply a over another. Thinking about the triple point
point to deviate from. This is obvious when is what inspired me to write this paper: I see
you consider the marked difference between Performance, Health and Longevity as similar
the basic Zone and Athlete’s version. In Issue to the phases of the triple point and I suspect
2 we looked at this topic and there is simply that IF may bring about an optimization of
no comparison between 40-30-30 and 20-17- these parameters.
63! Beyond this there seem to be as many
exceptions to the Zone as consistencies. I Consider this example: If your one and only
know smallish hard-gainers who should be purpose is to live as long as possible, there will
on 16 blocks that make little or no progress. be implications from the IF information that
These people get bumped up to 19-20 blocks will make for some compelling arguments.
and take off like monsters. Why? It just Optimizing lifespan (in the IF scheme this
seems to work and clinical implementation seems to be feast one day, fast one day) will
has shown this result. No theory, no proof, likely by extension bring Health (an acute
just inputs and outputs. The Zone is a good measure of longevity) near optimization, but
starting point, and if one is meticulous it can Performance may suffer. Eating one day and
be adapted to get a good air/fuel ratio. But it fasting one day may not yield elite athleticism.
is an art, not a science. One may be able to be quite good, but perhaps
not elite and this is the similarity of altering
Similarly, Intermittent Fasting (IF), as the pressure/temperature conditions to shift
presented herein, is a starting point. It is not the triple point to a different emphasis of
meant to be an exhaustive final word on the solid, liquid or gas. I think it is obvious that
topic, but rather an introduction that will some may desire to optimize performance and
enable you to tailor it to YOUR goals. I love the pursuit of performance may necessitate
the Straight Blast Gym philosophy of avoiding levels of activity (wrestler Dan Gable does not
the Cult mindset, remaining grounded, and get around so well on his very worn knees)
using one’s own experiences to evaluate the and food consumption that are not conducive

ISSUE 6 JULY 2005 4


to longevity. Some degree of IF should still be surprising that a protocol of intermittent

THE PERFORMANCE MENU


JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
aid performance, but it may be different fasting (IF) bestows maximum Longevity,
in duration and frequency than the person Health and perhaps, if properly tinkered,
looking for maximum longevity. Performance. Recent research has shown that
animals on an IF protocol in which they fast
Please just keep in mind that we try to one day and eat all they want the following
present material that is germane to as broad day receive all of the benefits of CRAN with
an audience as possible and in such a way noted improvements.
that people can make decisions about how
best to implement a given technology to their Many of the metabolic alterations found in
betterment. It is not for me or anyone else to CRAN are encountered in IF, but there are
put forth dictates as to how (or why) to live or some notable differences. In both protocols
what the goals of the individual should be. there is a marked increase in beta-hydroxy
butyrate (BHB), which is a ketone derivative
As Governor AHHHnuuuld might say: of fat metabolism. The BHB appears to have a
Enough Talk. plethora of functions that are only now being
explored4., but it appears ketosis is not the
monster it has been portrayed as.5. Ketosis
Program Optimization: Intermittent has been shown to prevent muscle wasting
Fasting even in hypocaloric conditions and appears
to be a preferred state for muscle accretion as
For some time there appeared to be only well. In a specific study, IF conferred a greater
one way to extend the average and total neuroprotective effect than CRAN against a
lifespan of organisms (anything from yeast chemical irritant which mimics the oxidative
to fruit flies to mice to monkeys): caloric stressors thought to induce Alzheimer’s
restriction with adequate nutrition (CRAN). and Parkinson’s. The IF protocol produced
This involved feeding organisms about 60% markedly higher levels of BHB that in other
of what they would normally eat. The results studies has proven to be a powerful agent in
included: increased lifespan and ability to preventing lesions under toxic stressors.6.
learn throughout life, significantly reduced
body weight, reduced body temperature, It is important to note that these protocols
modulated immune function, decreased induce markedly increased levels of ketone
blood glucose and insulin levels and an acute bodies despite the fact the experimental
adrenal cortical response (short duration of animals are fed a very low quality, high
elevated cortisol levels). It appears that the carbohydrate diet. According to most
caloric restriction reduces non-enzymatic nutritionists, this is impossible, much like
glycosolation of proteins (sugar sticking gaining muscle while on a hypocaloric diet.
to proteins) and increases the organism’s Those familiar with CrossFit, Evolutionary
ability to withstand stress via an increase in Fitness and the Zone know the latter to be
heat shock proteins and other cellular stress untrue if the conditions are correct. This
mechanisms. This is great stuff, but CRAN is the case with CRAN and IF in which
guaranteed that one was to be skinny—really ketosis is achieved despite adequate liver
skinny. Recently a protocol has emerged glycogen levels. The why behind this has to
which appears to do everything desirable do with the redundant systems devoted to fat
from CRAN, only better and seemingly accretion and sparing glucose for the brain.
without the downsides. Sorry if that is vague, but that is a whole
other paper. It is also interesting to note that
Intermittency represents life and natural one of the main indicators of a heightened
processes far better than any type of steady level of conditioning is the utilization of fat
state model. This considered, it should not as a preferred fuel source. The acts of CRAN

ISSUE 6 JULY 2005 5


and IF dramatically increase the utilization by an adrenal cortical response (cortisol,

THE PERFORMANCE MENU


JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
of fat and so in effect increase one’s level of epinephrine) and low androgen levels. This
fitness independent of any other factors. This stress response increases cellular protection
is what Arthur DeVany refers to as Metabolic mechanisms such as heat shock proteins and
Fitness. apoptosis.

The next action of IF I want to look at is These 2 states have obvious survival
particularly interesting in light of the action implications and in normal circumstances
of growth factors and the well fed vs. fasted there is a seasonal balance and interplay
states. In this study several parameters were between them. It is interesting to note that in
measured including blood levels of various general these two states are highly distinctive
biomarkers such as growth hormone (hGH) and show no metabolic overlap… except for
and insulin like growth factor (IGF). IGF and one situation: Intermittent Fasting. In the IF
hGH are crucial in actions such as tissue state we have elements of both the well fed
repair, hypertrophy, DNA repair, lypolysis, state and the acute stress state. As we will see
and, to some degree, strength. It is important below this is in stark contrast to CRAN.
to note that in recent years IGF has been
linked to various forms of cancer due to It was found that the CRAN animals
its mitogenic (cell growth) effects.7. This showed decreased levels of IGF. They also
appears to be due to excessive caloric and showed decreased rates of all cancers, as
or carbohydrate consumption. well as cardiovascular disease and neuro-
degeneration. The IF animals showed even
A brief digression into reproductive biology greater reductions in disease states but with an
may be helpful here… especially for those of increase in IGF. It appears that IF and CRAN
you who suffer from insomnia. All organisms act via different mechanisms. Professor Art
express different characteristics under DeVany made the point recently that there
varying conditions. During times of relative are a surprising number of redundant systems
plenty (lots of food), resources are directed in place for fat accretion. This metabolically
to reproduction. This state is typified by costly venture shows how important fat gain
high androgen levels and mitogens like was to our ancestors and allows for quite a
insulin, IGF, epidermal growth factors, number of mechanisms to be underway with
endothelial growth factors… it’s like spring interventions such as CRAN and IF.
for your body: everything is in bloom. During
times of scarcity, resources are directed It is worth mentioning a few other important
towards survival, and this state is typified results found in the CRAN/IF protocols.

Parameters Caloric Restriction Intermittent Fasting


Blood [Glucose] - ---
Blood [Insulin] - ---
Betahydroxybutyrate + +++
[IGF] -- +++
Body Weight --- No Change
Neuroprotection + +++

Neuroendocrine Response ++ +++

ISSUE 6 JULY 2005 6


Both reduce blood glucose levels and insulin Eat one day, don’t eat the next day… repeat.

THE PERFORMANCE MENU


JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
levels.6. An inevitable consequence of blood If one is following the Zone and eating say 16
glucose is Advanced Glycation End products blocks per day, this may mean a 32-block day.
(AGE). This is a non-enzymatic addition of That is a lot of food! I suspect one’s protein
glucose to various body proteins. The faster needs are diminished due to the elevated
this process is, the faster you are aging. This hGH levels that induce improved nitrogen
is why diabetics age faster than other people. retention, so you may be able to swap out
For its part, insulin acts as a growth agent and some protein for increased fat intake. One
is a factor in accelerated aging. Both protocols may also need to increase fruit intake in place
dramatically drop insulin and glucose levels, of some of the vegetables. This will mean
but IF is actually much more effective on both larger and more frequent meals on your
both counts. “eat” days. Have fun with that, Zoners!

We are getting close to the practical application If you are “just eating,” then I guess just eat!
of all this information, but there are a few Keep protein in most meals; make sure to add
more theoretical items I want to consider. fat in the form of nuts, avocados and olive oil
I mentioned previously that my goal is to (remember, IF combined with high fat intake
find an optimized nutritional protocol for produces the best results). If you are feeling
Performance, Health and Longevity. A key flat and not recovering from training, you
feature of both optimum performance and may need to increase your fruit intake. For
“effective” aging is a reserve of muscle mass. those seeking long life this may be the way to
The IF protocol, as mentioned previously, go. There may be other approaches, but the
does not leave the organism in an emaciated data has shown this to be effective.
state. Simple energy balance seems to
account for most of this, as the IF animals
consume on average the same amount as 15 Hour-ish Plan
the ad-libitum controls and consequently
do not lose weight. Add to this the finding This is what I do most days and it seems
that IF improves body composition and that pretty easy. Eat your last meal at 5 P.M. and
IF with a low carbohydrate diet improves it fast until the following day. The duration is
even further. We also have an increase in IGF up to you, but if you can fit in some training
and neuroendocrine response to exercise.8. while on an empty stomach, that is preferable.
All of this bodes well for muscle mass and Once you break the fast it is time to get down
performance. and eat! Zoners, fit in all those blocks some
way. Eaters… well, eat! Are you going to win
the Arnold Classic doing this? Likely not, but
Implementation if your results are similar to mine, you will
be lean, feel very good and, depending upon
Lots of theory thus far, but how does one your total caloric intake, possibly add some
do this? Whatever one’s approach, it is muscle mass. I am unsure if this abbreviated
important to on average eat as much as one fast still produces high levels of BHB and
would have done with regular day-to-day IGF/hGH. If this is in fact the case, this may
feedings. This is an important distinction be the best way to optimize performance
between CRAN, which usually peels off up to assuming one can take in adequate nutrition
40% of the individual’s body weight, and IF, to support activity level. In essence this
which maintains bodyweight, muscle mass plan may increase anabolic hormone status,
and overall body composition. With that in improve fat utilization, improve insulin
mind, here are a few ideas. sensitivity, produce an acute adrenal cortical
Feast/Fast response, allow for adequate nutrition and
perhaps even offer the life extension benefits

ISSUE 6 JULY 2005 7


of the feast/fast plan. This is all the information you need to get

THE PERFORMANCE MENU


JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
started, but IF may not be the best way to
An additional tweak could be to combine the go for you. I love it and I have been getting
two approaches and this is essentially what a lot of positive feedback. Tinker with it if
Art DeVany suggested on the July 11 post at you like, ask questions, and keep track of
his site. Scott Hagnas of CrossFit Portland has the results. Send us your experiences, good
a good account of a mixed approach here. and bad, and we will follow up on this in a
few months.

Notes

1. Cordain L. The nutritional characteristics of a contemporary diet based upon Paleolithic food groups. J Am Nutraceut
Assoc 2002; 5:15-24.

2. Evolutionary health promotion. Prev Med 2002; 34:109-118.


Eaton SB, Strassman BI, Nesse RM, Neel JV, Ewald PW, Williams GC, Weder AB, Eaton SB 3rd, Lindeberg S, Konner MJ,
Mysterud I, Cordain L.

3. The human metabolic response to chronic ketosis without caloric restriction: preservation of sub maximal exercise capability
with reduced carbohydrate oxidation. Metabolism. 1983 Aug;32(8):769-76 Phinney SD, Bistrian BR, Evans WJ, Gervino E,
Blackburn GL.

4. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2004 Mar; 70(3):309-19

5. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 2003; 114:149-61; discussion 162-3

6. Intermittent fasting dissociates beneficial effects of dietary restriction on glucose metabolism and neuronal resistance to
injury from calorie intake. Proc Nat’l Acad Sci U S A. 2003 May 13;100(10):6216-20. Epub 2003 Apr 30

7. Glycemic index, glycemic load and risk of gastric cancer. Ann Oncol. 2004 Apr; 15(4):581-4

8. Wan, R., S. Camandola, and M.P. Mattson. 2003. Intermittent food deprivation improves cardiovascular and neuroendocrine
responses to stress in rats. Journal of Nutrition 133(June):1921-1929.

9. Exercise and insulin sensitivity: a review. Int J Sports Med. 2000 Jan;21(1):1-12

ISSUE 6 JULY 2005 8


THE PERFORMANCE MENU
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
CRYOTHERAPY
When, Where, and Why? Icing and Soft the gravity of the earth. These physical
Tissue Injuries stresses, though normal as they may seem,
Mark Smith physiologically have incredible impact on
your body. In participating in these activities,
Mark Smith (yes, that is his real name) has been a small strains and tears occur throughout the
Registered Physical Therapist for nearly 10 years. tissue of the body. These tears are injuries.
He has a long history of athletics and was once a Balancing activity and its physical strain,
competitive Bodybuilder (yes, we still make fun of wear and tear, is a serious issue for an active
him about that; we recommend you do as well). person. Understand that taking an active
Mark is available for private consultation regarding role in maintaining your body also includes
acute and chronic injuries as well as performance healing it. And, regardless of how idealized
enhancement. Mark will be a regular contributor to your life is, the breakdown of tissue, and
the Performance Menu and will be investigating topics your body’s inability to repair it optimally,
central to Performance, Health and Longevity. Mark is can and usually is a constant reality. Icing
the CEO of In Home Rehabilitation and Wellness is the simplest and one of the least invasive
and may be contacted at marksfuno@yahoo.com or means to aid your body in healing.
(530) 370-2917
Icing seems simple, but appearances can
be deceiving. There are some key factors in
What is an injury? A simple question? Really, regards to icing to produce great results. It
let’s see. An injury occurs when? Pain, is crucial to understand the area of injury
instantly, upon completion, the next day and adequately covering it. Once you have
or the second day? Is the pain sharp, dull, located the injured area, place a finger
achy, burning? Possibly electrical—pulsing tip on it. A radius of six inches should be
or a zap? calculated from the fingertip. This six inch
circle is the minimal area of cold coverage.
Or maybe it’s just sore? However, how long If you want optimal, then make that radius
has it been sore? Does it come and go? I eight inches. Now when I say coverage,
understand. You will take some ibuprophen I mean the entire surface area of the skin
or a few aspirin and it will be fine. Or you’ll is in contact with cold. Specifically, I am
take a muscle relaxer, or some vicodin. emphasizing the conductivity of the area.
Maybe it will just go away. No worries. If the area is a digit, an elbow, knee, rear of
the shoulder, or heal, then wrap the whole
Does this sound familiar? The reality of area six to eight inches from it in ice pack.
ice therapy—no, fundamentally the most If need be, an Ace or Velcro wrap should be
important factor in icing is: when it is applied to the bandages to ensure full surface
appropriate, and how. Or more accurately, coverage of the skin. Now that the area is
when is it not important. sufficiently covered, we must be concerned
with adequate temperature change.
If you are reading this article, it is safe to
assume that fitness is an important part The majority of athletes know that they
of your life. Fitness would mean, some should ice their little injuries, the nagging
activity, probably CrossFit, that incorporates ones, the achy ones, and the new ones. But
you physically moving your body against they don’t for a very good reason: They

ISSUE 6 JULY 2005 9


have tried and it didn’t really help. So they daily ritual to sink off into a deep space,

THE PERFORMANCE MENU


JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
disregarded it. They may have covered the and let time flow by. For most, the idea of
area well, but they got poor or inconsistent sitting still with a cold achy thing lying on
results. Why? The temperature difference a throbbing body part after completing an
between the cold object and the limb or body activity, or sitting down to eat or sleep, maybe
area was not significant enough. a fantastic idea. However, what usually
happens bears a resemblance to a Freudian
Your cold pack must be adequate. It is physics. flight of fancy in which the feelings of anxiety,
The rate of heat transfer of conduction is paranoia, frustration, idleness, bleakness, and
determined by the difference in temperatures, behaviors of annoyance, rocking, chatter, and
and the tissue thickness. So, if you do not boredom combine to make the experience
own a medical grade cold-gel pack, you have a one time only endeavor. Planning ahead
one hope. If you said, “Use a bag of peas,” or using a regular schedule for icing is a
you get to go to the back of the line. Frozen primary step to conditioning oneself for
food products are not cold enough. Actually, success. Those that plan ahead typically
in my practice, the only thing that has gotten develop an activity to pass the time. Thus,
equal results to the cold packs is a mixture they are able to complete the optimal time
of rubbing alcohol to water, (2:1, sometimes line of 25 minutes, every time. This allows
3:1) combined in a double lined, gallon sized, them to achieve maximum performance
Ziploc bag. The rubbing alcohol allows the results. By increasing the rate of healing, they
freezing point of water to decrease, thus improve recovery time, decrease pain, and
achieving an adequately cold temperature. build confidence. Developing the belief in
(If you make these, be sure to wrap them in the ability of the body to heal allows one to
a pillowcase, or towel, before applying to remove an underlying doubt in the psychosis
the skin.) of the human animal, thus freeing up the
mind to exist in the moment and push levels
1. Adequate coverage; 2. Adequately cold of performance, success, and satisfaction.
temperature; 3. Now you need the third
element: Time of exposure. So what is the point for the coverage and the
duration of the ice over the injured area? The
Time is a critical component to the effects of cold are two fold: Initially it creates
physiological process you are attempting to vasoconstriction, thus decreasing edema by
induce. A minimum of twenty minutes will decreasing blood flow and constricting cells,
achieve good results. For optimum results, removing excess fluid or exudates. The cold
a 25 minute threshold must be achieved. also decreases the metabolism of the cell.
(These are purely my subjective parameters At first this may not seem appropriate, but
developed over 10 yrs of rehabilitative when a healthy person damages cellular
practice.) If one can tolerate 30 minutes it tissue, which is what occurs with an
would be ideal; however, the limitation is injury, the immune system can and does
simply that the ice packs are not cold enough, overreact. A rapid chemical shift occurs
thus the inability to maintain the temperature when cellular material and other proteins
shift long enough to be beneficial. Most become disrupted, and the immune-bodies
packs have a tendency to transfer a majority begin breaking down the material. This
of energy after 20 minutes, leaving the pack situation can rapidly get out of control,
insufficiently cold to continue the desired especially when arteriole or venule tissue is
physiological effect after 25 minutes. also disrupted. The cold slows things down
and with the vasoconstriction decreases the
The time span is more challenging than most amount of excess fluid that accumulates.
realize and is the biggest factor to consistent
performance results. Some of you find it a The cold also decreases pain. Specifically,

ISSUE 6 JULY 2005 10


it descreases the sensitivity of the nerves biochemical balance. Heat also decreases the

THE PERFORMANCE MENU


JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
by decreasing the conduction of the nerve. viscosity of synovial fluids, thus improving
Nerves are also very sensitive to the chemical movement and decreasing anxiety.
balance of the system. So by slowing the
metabolism of injured area, the nerves are There are contraindications for icing. Though
also least affected by the injury. A second I may have made icing sound like a cure-all,
fold mechanism that can be utilized is please do not apply cryotherapy methodology
vasodilatation of the area. After prolonged if you suffer from any of the following:
exposure to cold (20-25 minutes), histamines
are released that dilate the arterioles and 1. Decreased sensation in the affected
venules (arteries and veins in a major area). area.
This allows the area to be flooded with 2. Decreased circulation due to
nutrients and immune cells to aid in healing, peripheral vascular disease, venous
as well as clear away toxins and degraded insufficiency, or vasculitis
proteins. 3. Cardiopulmonary problems. (Consult
your doctor.)
These effects are very similar to interval, 4. Open wounds
or pulsed, training, and fall in line with 5. Hypersensitivity to cold, i.e. local
the theories of human dynamics and the histamine reaction, evidenced by
physics of our human body. By inducing a decreased blood pressure, increased
pulsed cold stress, you are stimulating the heart rate, and faintness.
body to react and heal itself. Icing is one of 6. Active bleeding.
the most important modalities for healing
a chronic injury. Chronic injuries are most Injuries are a fact of life. We are a three
inhibited by altered cellular biochemistry. dimensional form, with moving limbs, a
A chronically injured tissue area has altered rotating trunk and a shifting center of gravity,
cellular metabolic rates and blood flow. Cold that moves over three dimensional surfaces,
returns the tissue chemistry to baseline. or displaces masses from one surface to
Decreased nerve sensitivity is also crucial in another. The occurrence of random strains
re-establishing the cellular baseline through and failures is commonplace. Ice can be a
normalizing sensitivity. great healer. Its physiological qualities are
consistent and performance enhancing. The
It is true that heat also aids with chronic decreased pain improves quality of life. And
injuries, but it is best applied prior to usage realizing the power and amazing abilities
and attempted range of motion (stretching). of the human body through the simple
The heat aids in increasing blood flow to the application of a cold pack onto an injured
area, which, when chronically injured, is area is extraordinary.
usually decreased secondary to the disrupted

ISSUE 6 JULY 2005 11


THE PERFORMANCE MENU
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
RECIPES FOR PERFORMANCE
Shira’s Power Wrap Dessert Onion

This month we have the great fortune of a visit I love onions, but when a friend of ours told us
from Shira Yaziv from Haifa, Israel. Shira is a about this one, I was a bit incredulous. Onion
student of Ido Portal, whom you might recall as dessert? Battered and deep fried onions
wrote the QDR article in our premiere issue. are not tough to appreciate, but the idea they
Shira is enjoying the 106* weather in Chico, could compete with the likes of Ben ‘n Jerry’s
CA while learning CrossFit and the Olympic seemed far fetched, and well… perhaps it is,
lifts (we will all be attending the Mike but they are surprisingly good!
Burgener USAW certification in August) and,
of course, eating Paleo! Shira has a fantastic Time
contribution to the Performance Menu this 35-55 minutes
month that is fairly portable, super nutritious
and darn yummy. Ingredients

Time . Walla Walla onion


5 minutes . Balsamic vinegar
. Olive oil
Ingredients . Honey
. Thinly sliced smoked salmon The Walla Walla is the preferred onion for
. Romaine lettuce, washed this dish, but any mild yellow or white onion
. Olive oil will work. Cut the ends off the onion, cut it
. Lemon juice in half, and peel it. Drizzle balsamic vinegar,
a bit of olive oil and honey into the open
Take one firm romaine lettuce section and faced end of the onion. The balsamic vinegar
add 1-2 oz. of salmon. Add olive oil and imparts a tangy flavor while increasing the
lemon juice to taste. These will store well as a sweetness by hydrolyzing the sucrose of the
snack if you roll them tightly and place them onion to glucose and fructose. The honey
in an airtight container. Sprinkle the lettuce seals the deal.
with lemon juice to prevent browning.
Place the onion(s) in an oven at 350* for
Zone Blocks 30-40 minutes or until a fork can be easily
pressed into the onion. The onion may be
Every 1 oz of salmon provides 1 protein served hot or chilled.
block and Olive oil weighs in at 1 fat block
per 1/3 tsp. Zone Blocks

A medium onion is usually 1 block of carbs.


The honey provides 2 blocks of carbs per 1
tsp.

ISSUE 6 JULY 2005 12


THE PERFORMANCE MENU
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE PERFORMANCE MENU

Subscribe to The Performance Menu for a year (12 is-


sues) for only $25.00.

Visit www.performancemenu.com for more information


and to subscribe online.

ISSUE 6 JULY 2005 13

You might also like