Healthy Decisions to Your Life
October 22nd 2010 16:34
Follow Me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/KennaMcHugh
We have little over 30 days until the holidays begin. Why shouldn`t you want to feel healthier during the holidays? All you have to do is make a positive effort to add healthful items to your diet. Sure it may seem impossible between the pumpkin pie and chocolate fudge, but you start now, 30 days out from Turkey day, you can stay away from starting your diet during the holidays.
Keep it simple and try to gradually make dietary additions by starting now. You can plan ahead. Add new healthy items to your shopping list for things like meals and snacks. When you get the chance, make sure stock them in your purse, car, next to your computer or in other handy spots.
More poignantly, spend more time planning what you will eat than less time thinking about what you will not eat. Keep it on a positive note.
The following is a list of foods you may want to increase in your diet, along with details on their reported health benefits:
1) Water. Daniel Kosich, PhD, in his book Get Real: A Personal Guide to Real-Life Weight Management, confirmed that water is an tremendously important nutrient. Our bodies are not calculated to alert us when we need water, so we cannot depend on thirst alone. We need between six and eight glasses of water--at least eight ounces each--per day when we are less active; more when we are active.
2) Citrus fruits, berries, green leafy vegetables. All of these are good sources of vitamin C, an important antioxidant believed to boost up the immune system, aid in the absorption of iron, enhance cholesterol balance and help lower high blood pressure.
3) Nuts, seeds, wheat germ. These provide vitamin E, another essential antioxidant shown to advance heart health, prevent cancer and endow with numerous other benefits.
4) Beans, whole grain breads and cereals. These are a few of the food items that supply fiber. Most of us do not get enough fiber (20 to 35 grams each day) in our diets. Work at it by constantly planning high-fiber meal choices.
5) Garlic, onions, leeks, chives. These are good sources of allyl sulfides, which may lower the risk of cancer and heart disease, among other benefits.
6) Soy products. Isoflavones in soy foods may lower the blood cholesterol and lessen risk of cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.
7) Honey, bananas, tomatoes, barley, rye. Phytochemicals called "fructooligosaccharides" in these foods may build up digestion, help calcium absorption, drop blood cholesterol and reduce osteoporosis risk.
8) Purple grape juice, red wine, green and black tea. These are sources of flavonoids, which are believed to reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease.
9) Flaxseed, canola and soybean oil. The alpha-linolenic acid in these products may reduce hypertension and inflammation as well as improve the immune system, among other benefits.
10) Cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli. These foods contain indoles and isothiocyantes, which may lessen your risk of colon, stomach, lung and rectum cancer.
| 93 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog