According to my favorite health expert, Tosca Reno, 80% of what we look like is what we eat. I could write a whole book about what to eat. I’m going to keep things short and sweet! The number one food ingredient to get out of your diet is refined white sugar. Refined white sugar makes people fat! White sugar has the same effect as heroine on our brain chemistry. We are hard wired to get rewards, our brain registers sugar as an award. The more we have sugar, the more we want it. Refined sugar is lurking in most processed foods like ketchup, BBQ sauce, baked goods, crackers, etc. I, myself, struggle with my sugar addiction. The best bet for me is to just abstain from sugar all together.
You must eat vegetables! Vegetables provide you with minerals and nutrients your body needs. Vegetables also help with digestion and provide the fiber you need for a healthy digestive tract. Try to avoid pesticides and genetically modified foods where you can. Pesticides are chemicals sprayed on growing plants to kill insects; preventing loss of crops. Genetically modified foods are not wholesome natural foods, they are foods that have been genetically changed to yield a certain type of crop. Buy foods in season, local and organic whenever possible. Eat a variety of colors of vegetables and try your best to eat at least 5-10 fruits and veggies daily; fresh or frozen are ideal. Frozen fruits and vegetables are picked and frozen when they ripe and ready to eat. Avoid canned veggies as they are loaded with unnecessary salts and preservatives.
Add protein to your diet. Vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters all need to up their daily protein intake. Remember I had made mention of how lifting weights adds more muscle to your frame, well if you’re moving your body more then you will especially need more protein. The more muscle you have on your body, the higher your metabolism will be. Carbs are quick calories our bodies need and require; however, unneeded carbs turn into fat. If you eat protein as your ingest carbohydrates you will lower your blood sugar level and help your body burn more calories.
You have to eat; you just need to eat more of the right foods. Fresh fruits, vegetables, unsalted nuts, eggs, lentils, kale, sweet potatoes, flax, coconut oil, cinnamon, garlic, oatmeal are all foods that are going to keep your body revved up. Reducing the amount of boxed, deep fried, sugary and processed foods you eat is going to add years to your life and reduce your waistline.