According to a recent WebMD survey that looked at the things we lie to our doctors about, diet and exercise were second on the list.
So, today, for the last day of National Nutrition Month do something you don’t have to lie to your doctor about. Rather than going to the vending machine this afternoon or getting chips with lunch, take a walk outside on this beautiful day and get yourself a piece of fruit!
Try these tips:
1. Drink lots of water all day. Even though it seems like that would make it worse, it will actually help flush your body.
2. Avoid foods high in salt. Salt makes you retain water and feel more bloated.
3. Avoid chewing gum. This can actually lead to bloating.
4. Do 15 crunches. If you’re at work, get up and do 10 squats at your desk to tighten up your body.
5. Avoid all carbonated beverages.
Yes, carbonated water is just as good for you as flat water. And, it does count towards your 8 glasses of water each day. Carbonated water such as seltzer or perrier definitely count, so if you like that better, by all means, drink up! However, be ware tonic is soda, not water.
Although there is no definitive answer to this question, the answer is probably yes. Because there is a compound in soy that mimics estrogen, it is probably best not to eat endless amounts of soy. Soy can be a good alternative to animal protein because it is lower in fat, saturated fat and usually calories, but, that doesn’t mean you need to eat it all of the time. If you are going to eat soy, limit it to 1 - 2 products per day. If you are using soy milk, eating soy chips, edamame, protein bars and veggie burgers all in one day, you are probably consuming too much. And, recent research shows that soy actually does not improve cholesterol levels as previously thought.
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So, I got a sample in the mail yesterday for whole grain Fig Newton Bars. They are trying to promote the product to RDs so that we tell our clients to eat them. I was a little skeptical, but I have to say, they actually taste really good. If you’re looking for a sweet cookie-like snack, this is definitely a good option. There are only 130 calories and 2.5 grams of fat in the bar. It also has zero grams of trans fat and 3 grams of fiber.
Want to increase your metabolism right now? Studies have shown that drinking 8 glasses of water every day may increase your metabolism 3%. Definitely one more reason to make sure you are drinking plenty of water!
Many people believe that juice and fruit are one and the same. The two are not equal in nutritional value. Fruit has fiber which juice does not. Fruit fills you up where juice does not. Nutritionally, fruit is the better choice.
There are certain foods that deserve their bad reputation and others that get their reputation undeservingly. These three foods have some wonderful health benefits despite what people may say.
1. Popcorn - Although movie popcorn, loaded with butter and therefore calories and fat, doesn’t exactly qualify for a healthy food, that doesn’t mean all popcorn is bad. Popcorn is a great, healthy snack that’s high in fiber and relatively low in calories (if it’s fresh popped corn kernels). But, don’t worry. You don’t have to go buy a popcorn machine to have this healthy snack. You can find some great tasting, low calorie microwavable options in the store.
2. Pizza - If you’re eating 5 slices of pepperoni pizza or having it at 3 in the morning after a night out of drinking, it’s probably not at the top of the health food list. But, one thin-crust (round not square slice), with some fresh vegetables on top, can make a healthy, balanced meal. It’s a great source of calcium, protein, iron, lycopene (an antioxidant) and even more vitamins and minerals if you add broccoli, olives, green peppers or mushrooms on top.
3. Chocolate - Although a lot of candy is high in sugar and empty calories, dark chocolate is actually good for you. Dark chocolate is high in flavonoids, an antioxidant. (Antioxidants are also found in fruits, vegetables, green tea and red wine). This doesn’t mean that you should eat it by the pound, or in place of fruits and vegetables. But if you’re looking for something sweet for dessert, a small square of dark chocolate is a great option.
If you think eating a salad automatically means you ate a low calorie meal (and gives you license to eat whatever you want the rest of the day), read on. Although having a salad is a great, healthy option, you could be eating more calories than you think. If you have a salad made at one of those create your own salad places and they add one or two of those scoops of salad dressing, you could be consuming over 400 calories from salad dressing alone. Even if you opt for the low-fat dressing, you could still be consuming over 200 calories from salad dressing, and that doesn’t include anything else in the salad. Add some cheese, bacon bits, avocado, nuts, or chow mein noodles and you could have consumed as many calories and grams of fat as in a fast food burger and fries. So, if you have a salad, opt for lots of vegetables and pick one of those high fat foods (cheese, nuts etc). And, ask for the dressing on the side so you can control the amount yourself. This is not meant to discourage you from having a salad. Salads are a wonderful, healthy meal. This is just meant to make you aware that not all salads are low calorie.
