Wednesday, May 26, 2010Healthy Food Choices That Make You Feel Great

If you’re searching for ways to help you maintain a healthy weight, increase your energy, sustain good moods and have radiant looking skin, here are some recommendations for healthy food choices with an emphasis on veggies, fruits, grains and beans. Knowing the right nutrition facts can make eating healthy foods simple.

When Your Focus Is Weight Loss

A good source of pectin (bulky fiber that makes you feel full) is in apples.  Two large apples can keep you feeling full for up to four hours.

Barley is a complex carbohydrate that increases the burn you’re looking for.  Barley for breakfast is a great way to begin the burn.  Enjoy the Barley Recipes here.

Want to Elevate Your Mood?

Avocados seem decadent, they’re so good.  Well, they’re also good for you. They’re high in vitamin B, which helps kick your mood up a notch. Squeeze an avocado to find a soft one that is ripe.  Place hard avocados in a brown bag to ripen them quickly. Here are their nutrition facts.

If you’re fighting muscle-tension, tenseness, or depression, eat a banana.  They contain magnesium, a mineral that activates your enzyme systems and control your metabolism.

Does Your Skin Glow?

The strong, nutty, sweet flavor of adzuki beans can help your skin, strengthen your immune skin and reduce inflammation.  They’re found in Asian markets and health food stores. They’re a big source of zinc used by your skin for repairing damage.  They’re great cooked in coconut milk.

Almonds are also a great source of zinc, vitamin E, and some calcium – all just wonderful for keeping your skin healthy. And don’t forget they contain Omega-3 as well. Almond butter and almond milk are a great way to keep your skin glowing.

Additional Weight-Loss Tips

You be well served to spread your meals over many hours versus eating one meal, say breakfast.  Studies show you’ll consume fewer calories this way.

When you’re walking, insert short burst of speed walking or running. Nathan Pritikin calls this “roving.” This is a safe way to improve stamina and aerobics.

You’ll hold yourself more accountable if you have a group to support you – a few friends to rove with; the friends you’d meet in a weight loss group.  You don’t have to go it alone. Soon you’ll be eating healthy foods together and enjoying the process of getting healthy.

If you learn the nutrition facts about the foods you eat, you’ll learn how to make the healthy food choices to help you feel great all day long.