Is your current diet helping you achieve your goals?
During the colder winter months it's easy to fall into poor eating habits - it happens. But if you're looking to make a health change, NOW is the time to spring-clean your diet. This doesn't mean doing juice cleanses and detox diets for weeks, but mainly going going back to the basics with whole, minimally processed foods that will improve your health and kick-start your spring training - whatever that may be. Start off by doing a kitchen raid and getting rid of the junk foods in your fridge and pantry - you'll feel so much better!
Here are just a few tips to get started...
Eat/Drink MORE:
Water, Water, Water - Water helps you get hydrated and flushes out the body of toxins, lets you be more alert, have more energy, control your appetite and increase your metabolism.
Fruits and Vegetables - Fresh, brightly colored produce are the best! Choose spinach, strawberries, kale, broccoli, apples, etc.
Whole Grains - This is a great article on what exactly constitutes a "whole grain" versus a "refined grain."
Healthy Fats - Healthy fats include olive oil, nuts, and avocado and help us feel full so that we are not grabbing for that cookie an hour after eating.
Lean Proteins - Protein can help you shed those unwanted pounds and keep your belly full, but it's important to eat the right kind of protein to get its health benefits. Seafood, white-meat poultry, eggs, Greek yogurt, cheese and milk are just a few great options.
Eat/Drink LESS:
Processed Foods - These foods have been chemically processed and are full of artificial junk. If you look at the ingredients label for a processed, packaged food, chances are that you won't have a clue what some of the ingredients are.
Sugar - Read my post here about the dangers of sugar!
Salt - Read my post here about choosing the right kind of salt.
Bad Fats - There are two types of fat that should be eaten sparingly: saturated and trans fatty acids. Both can raise cholesterol levels, clog arteries, and increase the risk for heart disease.
Refined Grains - As also mentioned above, this is a great article on what exactly constitutes a "whole grain" versus a "refined grain."