Eat for a Healthier YOU
Key 1: Eat Some Fat
Okay, not a popular conversation but I have to do some myth-busting here. Eat some fat. Remember, fat is good for you as long as it’s not trans-fat AND it comes from things like fish, nuts, some oils, some dairy, red meat, whole eggs and avocados. It helps your joints, gives you energy and is necessary in maintaining healthy skin, proper brain function and much more.
It should also come from both plant and animal products. The man-made fats or chemically altered “Franken-fats” are the ones to avoid whenever possible.
Key 2: Shop Local
Try to shop locally at multiple grocery stores and health food locations like Fresh Market, Whole Foods and Trader Joes to name a few. Visit the local farmer’s market for some of the best “seasonal” produce at super low prices.
This allows for variety and freshness. Colorful foods are rich in vital nutrients, antioxidants and best of all, they aren’t processed!
Key 3: Eat REAL Food
Thirdly, spend most of your time eating REAL food and not “space” food. I like to entertain myself with funny names for things but if it sounds like an astronaut should be eating it in outer-space, how healthy is it on a daily basis?
On occasion,it’s hard to avoid but if you can’t read the word because it has nine syllables, it probably isn’t fantastic for you.
Key 4: The Less the Ingredients the Better
Lastly, try to go with food items that have fewer ingredients on the label. The less processed and chemically treated the better and that’s always reflected in the ingredients. Get good at reading the labels and understanding what you’re fueling your body with.
If it will last for months and years, how detrimental to your health is that food item? Actually, the quicker the food spoils, the better it is for your body and your overall health!
It all comes down to educating yourself and reprogramming yourself to “enjoy” healthy, fresh, unaltered foods that provide the necessary macro and micro nutrients our bodies require to live long productive lives.
Eating should be easy and not stressful. Make intelligent decisions and do some research to be sure you’re consuming quality foods that aren’t harmful. Treat the body like the temple that it is and in return it will carry you to new heights.
The Mighty Egg!
In the past, eggs have gotten bad press because of their cholesterol and fat content. Fact: Eating cholesterol does not elevate cholesterol levels and the fats found in eggs are healthy fats that help turn on the fat burning engine in our metabolism. . Few things match nature’s great engineering at packing such nutritional power in such a small, but deliciously satisfying package, particularly for those looking to build muscle or burn fat. The amino acid profile found in eggs is second to none! So stop throwing that nutrient dense yolk down the drain and take advantage of the healthy fats and added benefits of the protein and healthy fats found in that yolk!
Just one egg can supply over 12 percent of the daily recommended intake of protein. The quality of egg protein is so high that the World Health Organization (WHO) uses it as a reference standard against which the protein quality of all other food is judged. Egg protein is a complete protein and thus includes a number of amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, valine, methionine, cysteine, lysine, tryptophan, and other essential amino acids that contribute to the repair and regeneration of muscle.
Fact: The more muscle you carry, the more calories you burn at rest, making it easier for you to lean out or lose weight or both.
Fact: Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, is derived from animal sources. Chickens fed their natural diet and raised organically produce eggs with higher levels of CLA. CLA has been found to have antitumor activity at levels achievable through your diet. In other animal studies, CLA has been shown to help with regulation of glucose and to decrease the percentage of bodyfat. CLA is found in the yolk of the egg. CLA also lowers cholesterol in the body! So why are you not eating the yolk again?
Fact: Some studies, where the cholesterol did increase, found it was the HDL or “good” cholesterol that was on the rise. The data has been so compelling that the American Heart Association was forced to retract its recommended ban on the consumption of eggs and, in fact, today considers their inclusion part of a healthful, balanced diet.
Fact: Omega-3 fatty acids include the essential fatty acid ALA, or alpha linolenic acid, and the conditionally essential fatty acid DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid. These polyunsaturated fatty acids are critical in helping the body reduce levels of inflammation. They are also critical in the maintenance of heart and brain health.
Fact: Additionally, DHA has been shown to turn on genes that increase fat burning while deactivating genes that increase fat storage.
Fact: Eggs contain a plethora of other important nutrients including a number of minerals, vitamins, carotenoids and choline. The majority of these are found in the yolk, with the exception of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin). They contain heart- and brain-healthy fats, support muscle growth, and fat loss.
The next time you’re looking for a truly tasty treat that is nutritionally dense (the average egg clocks in at about 80 calories) and metabolically friendly (a glycemic index rating of low) it's time revisit the humble, but still incredible egg.
We recommend frying your eggs in coconut oil, this will add additional omega 3 fats into your diet and kick start your metabolism to burn fat all day long!
