Eat real food and lose weight? I know, it sounds too simple to be true.
If you’re like me, you’re used to having to work to be thin. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. All you really need to do is nourish your body with real food, get rid of the chemicals, and exercise a little every day. Here are my top food tips to get healthy and trim your waistline.
Throw away food in a box – Boxed food is processed food, with only a few exceptions. This category of food is “franken-food.” Normal, healthy food is broken down, the nutrients are removed, and chemicals and preservatives are added. Then it’s “enriched” with vitamins and minerals, but not in the ratio the food had in nature. You’re better off taking the time to make the food yourself. Yes, it’s a little more work. Your body will love you.
Throw away “diet” food – The problem here is that diet food is either high in sugar or it’s chock full of chemicals (you don’t think those artificial sweeteners are natural, do you?). Any item labeled “Fat-Free” probably had sugar or another sweetener added in to make it taste better. And “Sugar-Free” items are sweetened with Aspartame or Sucralose. Aspartame has been linked to neurological complaints and Sucralose has chlorine in it (that’s right, the same chemical you clean your pool with).
Eat smaller portions of regular treats – By treats I’m talking specifically about sweets, like cookies or cake or brownies. The higher fat content in these triggers your body’s natural “I’m full” settings. Eating a smaller portion of a regular treat helps you feel satisfied and not deprived.
Eat organic produce – It’s not just good for the planet, it’s good for you, too. Because fruits and vegetables have a high water content, the pesticides used get absorbed directly into the cells of the plant. When eaten, these toxins disrupt your normal hormone cycles and can make you store fat easily.
Foods high in water and fiber should make up the majority of your meal – Fiber and water are an unbeatable combination for losing weight. Fiber makes you feel full and water helps you keep satiated. Foods with this combination are naturally healthy and can be broken down easily into energy. Think fruits and vegetables, beans, and proteins like shellfish or light and flaky fish.
Throw away all white foods except white vegetables and fruits – White foods tend to be highly processed or high in sugar. For every white food, there’s a healthier option. Instead of white bread, eat whole grain bread with 5 grams of fiber or more. Instead of a baked potato, have a baked sweet potato and get an immune boosting serving of beta-carotene too. Instead of mashed potatoes have a cauliflower puree. These choices help your blood sugar stay balanced. High blood sugar causes you to store fat.
Avoid high fructose corn syrup – This sweetener is everywhere. It’s used in yogurt, jam, cookies, sodas, bread, ketchup, and more. READ LABELS. High fructose corn syrup causes you to store fat in your belly, the most dangerous place to keep it. There’s a direct correlation to belly fat and heart disease. If you look in your pantry right now, you’ll see high fructose corn syrup in something.
Eat 70% of your calories before 7 p.m. – By eating most of your calories before 7 p.m., you give your metabolism the chance to burn them before you go to bed and hibernate for 8 hours. During sleep, all your body’s processes slow way down, including digestion and calorie burning.
Drink ½ ounce of water for every pound you weigh – You are 70% water. Your cells need it to get nutrients in and waste products out. If you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Besides being incredibly good for you, water helps you eat less because it’s easy to mistake being thirsty for being hungry. Drink a big glass of water instead of reaching for a snack. Most of the time, that alone will do the trick!
Don’t be afraid of carbohydrates – Carbohydrates have gotten a bad rap. Technically, a carbohydrate is anything that originally grew in the ground. Stick with unprocessed, colorful carbs. All of your fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats like avocados and peanut butter fall into this category. These natural, unprocessed carbs are your body’s prime energy source and require very little work to be broken down.
Chew your food 20-30 times – Chewing is where digestion starts. Your teeth break your food down into tiny parts and the enzymes secreted in your saliva prepare the food to be absorbed into your system. By letting your teeth do much of the work, your stomach and intestines have an easier job. You also take more time to eat, and that gives your brain a chance to say “Stop! I’m happy!”
Follow these rules and you’ll have your body working for you. Add in some exercise every day and it’s an unbeatable combination!
Dr. Andrea Mills owns Serengeti Natural Healing and Chiropractic Center. To learn more about being healthy, naturally, visit her on the web at http://www.Natural-Arthritis-Relief.com/serengeti-chiropractic.html.
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