Category Archives: Health Tips

You Are What You Eat Guidance for those who seriously desire weight loss and wellness

A diet is not something you ‘go on’, a temporary selection of food and drink. Your diet is what you consume every day of every week, every month, all year long. Look at your body. Look at the condition of your skin and your hair. Do you eat canned, boxed, fried or fast food every day – drink sodas every day – pop diet pills? Do you eat when you are NOT hungry? Do you eat for pleasure or comfort, or to escape pain? Are your parents obese? Do you get little to no exercise? Do you eat late at night on a regular basis? If you answered yes on most questions then this handout is directed to you.

The advice that follows is not only COMMON SENSE but also based on medical and nutritional FACT. Read it if you are a) In pain b) You’ve had enough c) You refuse to lie to yourself anymore d) You are sick e) You seriously want help. If you follow what is written below, you will look better, feel better and PERMANENTLY lose weight. Your skin and eyes will glow. Your hair will be soft and grow faster. Your energy will rise dramatically.

  1. Eat for nutrition, strength and energy, NOT for comfort and to dull emotional pain such as depression, anger, sadness, stress and loneliness.
  2. The best meal is breakfast- try not to skip it, the big meal should be in the middle of the day and never LATE AT NIGHT.
  3. Sit down to eat, take your time and really TASTE and chew your food. Stop eating in the car or ‘on the run’. Give at least 30-45 minutes for each main meal and 15 minutes for snacks.
  4. Consume “SUPER FOODS” often unless you are advised otherwise for special health concerns: Whole grain products, Brown rice, Wheat germ, Oats, Bran cereals, Apples, Cherries, Peaches, Strawberries, Pears , Bananas, Purple grapes ,  Prunes, Prune juice, Plums, Raspberries, Blueberries, Pomegranate, Broccoli, Carrots, Corn, Green beans, Potato, Turnip, Cauliflower, Sprouts, Spinach, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Mackerel, Sardines, Wild salmon, Oysters, Yogurt with acidophilus, Kefir (a fermented, probiotic milk drink), Tofu, Soya products, Beans and legumes, Aloe vera juice, Garlic, Wheatgrass, Nuts, Avocados, Extra virgin olive oil, Flax seed, Primrose Oil,  Bee pollen, and spirulina.
  5. Try to get your requirement from OMEGA-3 FATTY Acids. It Reduces inflammation throughout the body, keeps the blood from clotting excessively, Lowers the amount of blood lipids, aids in the prevention of excessive blood clotting, Inhibits thickening of the arteries, and helps to prevent cancer cell growth. OMEGA-3 FATTY Acids are available in Salmon, flax seeds, walnuts and pumpkin seeds.
  6. Drink water. Water flushes out residual toxins, including fat. Add mint leaves or lemon juice for flavor. How much water you need? The answer is: half your body weight in ounces, that is your ideal personal daily water intake.
  7. Green tea is excellent. Rich in flavonoids and antioxidants which are crucial for blood vessels integrity.
  8. Consuming too much of artificial, preserved, canned and processed foods will increase the burden on your body organs, especially your liver and kidneys, and will disturb your normal metabolism causing less efficient intake of nutrients, and more storage of hazardous food constituents. Try to eat as mush raw, whole, organic, and natural foods as possible.
  9. IF IT’S WHITE IT’S BAD FOR YOU!  I.e. Bread, sugar, fat, butter, ice cream, mayonnaise, salt- you can use sea salt, in moderation. For a sweet taste use honey, maple or rice syrup, or STEVIA.
  10. Replace animal (saturated) fat such as; whole fat dairy products, fatty animal flesh, butter, ghee, and cream with plant (unsaturated) fat such as vegetable and plant oils, seeds and nuts. Be aware that palm and coconut oils are saturated and fish oils are unsaturated.
  11. Avoid SODA drinks. A steady diet of Coke promotes tooth decay, weight gain, serious kidney problems, blood pressure elevation and decalcification of bone tissue, accelerating osteoporosis.
  12. Avoid anything labeled “DIET…” There are more cancer causing chemicals and poisons in diet products than the regular product.

Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on February 10, 2016

Tip No. 20: Get help from family and friends

Getting support can help you reach your weight loss goals. So tell family and friends about your efforts to lead a healthy lifestyle. Maybe they’ll join you in exercising, eating right, and losing weight. When you feel like giving up, they’ll help you, keep you honest, and cheer you on — making the whole experience a lot easier.


Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on February 10, 2016

Tip No. 19: Celebrate success (but not with food)

You lost five pounds this month and walked every other day? Time to celebrate! Rewarding weight loss success really can encourage more success, so revel in your achievements. Buy a CD, take in a movie, and set a prize for the next milestone. Just don’t celebrate with a sundae or deep dish pizza.


Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on February 10, 2016

Tip No. 18: Keep a food diary

A simple pen and paper can dramatically boost your weight loss. Studies show the act of writing down what you eat and drink tends to make you more aware of what, when, and how much you’re consuming — leading you to ultimately take in fewer calories. One study found that people who kept a food diary six days a week lost about twice as much as those who only kept a diary one day a week or less.


Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on February 10, 2016

Tip No. 17: Chew sugarless gum

The next time you want to grab a fattening snack, reach for some sugar-free gum instead. Chewing some types of gum gives you fresh breath and can also help manage hunger, control snack cravings, and aid in weight loss. Although gum might make you eat less, it doesn’t mean you can stop eating right. A good diet and exercise are still important


Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on February 10, 2016

Tip No. 16: Eat more fruits and vegetables

The best “diet” is one where you get to eat more food, not less. If you eat more fruits and vegetables, you shouldn’t feel as hungry because these nutrient-rich foods are also high in fiber and water, which can give you a feeling of fullness. Snacking can be a good thing as long as you choose smart snacks.


Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on February 10, 2016

Tip No. 15: Understand portion sizes

We’re so used to super-sizing when we eat out that it’s easy to carry that mind-set home. To right-size your diet, use a kitchen scale and measuring cups to measure your meals for a week or two. Use smaller plates and glasses to downsize your portions. Split restaurant servings in half — making two meals out of one big one. Portion out snack servings instead of eating them directly from the container.


Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on February 10, 2016

Tip No. 14: Get enough sleep

When you’re sleep deprived, your body overproduces the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin but under-produces the hormone leptin, which tells you when you’re full. Getting enough sleep may make you feel rested and full and keep you from doing unnecessary snacking.


Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on February 10, 2016

Tip No. 13: Weigh yourself once a week

People who weigh themselves regularly tend to have more weight loss success. But most experts suggest weighing yourself only once a week, so you’re not derailed by daily fluctuations. When you weigh yourself, follow these tips: Weigh yourself at the same time of day, on the same day of the week, on the same scale, and in the same clothes.


Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on February 10, 2016

Tip No. 12: Lose weight slowly

If you’re losing weight but not as fast as you’d like, don’t get discouraged. Dropping pounds takes time, just like gaining them did. Experts suggest setting a realistic weight loss goal of about half to one kg a week. If you set your expectations too high, you may give up when you don’t lose weight fast enough. Remember, you start seeing health benefits when you’ve lost just 5%-10% of your body weight.

 


Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on February 10, 2016