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Live The Life You Love
There is a new trend now and more and more nutrition experts are actually trying to convey to people that it’s all about which foods you add to your diet and not always what you need to take out.
What really scares people when they think about healthy eating is that they’ll have to give up treats they love and replace every meal with “rabbit food”. The reality is that once you start eating healthier foods by adding better quality foods to your diet, you start being more open minded about trying other healthy foods you had not tried before.
It’s true that I eat two salads a day with my homemade salad dressing, but I still indulge in cookies, popcorn and chips once in a while. The only difference is that I buy healthy snacks foods (from the natural health store) and I make sure to integrate a lot of healthy food choices every day.
Before I get started, I know some of the foods will raise eyebrows, I think it’s important to understand that bad fats will make you gain weight, while healthier fats will really help your body!
Here are 8 foods that will keep you thinner and younger:
1) Avocado:
Avocados are one of my all time favourite foods. I’ve been eating them since I was a child and I’ve never stopped eating them. Yes, they contain fat, but they contain good fat. Not only are avocados incredible antioxidants, but they are a vegetable protein so you are able to get a high digestible form of protein in your body (in fact avocadoes contain more protein than cow’s milk). Remember adding protein to each meal will prevent hunger pain and reaching out for empty calories.
2) Yogurt:
I eat yogurt all the time because I really enjoy it. I equally like my sweet organic yogurt treats and I also eat plain yogurt with a bit of salt when I’m eating it with a Mediterranean dish. I know there are different brands of yogurt in North America, but that’s pale in comparison to what you would find in most European grocery markets. Since there is a lot of uncertainty around hormones and milk, I buy organic yogurt because it’s packed with good bacteria that help keep your digestive system happy and I don’t have to think or the hormone scare. A happy digestive system will be better able to break down food and yogurt DOES make your digestive system happy!
3) Olive Oil:
Can you imagine asking an Italian to go without olive oil? Nah, that would never happen, yet every time I visit Italy, I’m always amazed at how thin they are! Olive oil is considered to be one of those oils that is a “good fat”. This means that when consumed in normal quantities, olive oil keeps your body functioning at its peak. In fact, researchers from the Seven Countries Study found that rates of heart disease and cancer on the island of Crete (Greece) where quite low because of their consumption of olive oil.
4) Nuts:
So many people don’t eat enough nuts. Obviously if you are allergic to nuts, you should NOT eat them, but if you’re not, you should think of adding nuts to your diet. There are a number of studies that have shown that eating nuts (we’re talking about raw nuts here, not those roasted ones coated with hydrogenated oil) could potentially add a couple years to your life! Another advantage of eating nuts is that they are a form of protein. Just by eating a handful you can have a healthy snack that will hold you until your next meal.
5) Blueberries:
In the world of berries, blueberries are among one of the most powerful antioxidants. Blueberries are not only delicious, but they are such an important food to add to your diet. Here’s another thing you might need to know, you can eat blueberries year round: you want to take advantage of the peak season which happens at the end of July and in August and for the rest of the year, why not buy some frozen blueberries that you can easily add to your morning breakfast smoothies?
6) Dark Chocolate:
This is a long time European aging well secret that is becoming more popular in North America. The cacao is one of the most potent antioxidants out there. Dark chocolate is packed with flavanols that promote healthy function of your blood vessels. When choosing dark chocolate, you’ll want to choose 70% dark chocolate and you’ll want to keep it to one small square per day which is equivalent to one of those larger chocolate bar per week (since there are usually 8 squares)!
7) Fish:
I think people in North America don’t eat more fish because they don’t know how amazing well prepared fish can taste! Certain fish like wild salmon contain high levels of healthy Omega-3 fatty acids that help your body functional at optimal levels.
#8) Red wine:
Here’s another French secret (dark chocolate being another)! French women are able to eat full fat cheese, pastries, bread, butter and creamy sauces AND they manage to often drink a glass of wine at lunch and dinner AND they still remain super thin! For the past few years, everyone has been talking about how resveratrol (anti-aging ingredient found in red wine) is helping keep those French women thin and looking young as they age!
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