The two healthy foods that can ruin a diet

Every day I have the opportunity to assess eating regimens. I hear all kinds of stories, from the guy who wanted to do a Detox/Diet, but only if he could continue to eat lunch at McDonald’s every day to a 300 pound man who swore he ate only chicken and vegetables in tiny amounts but never lost a pound.

Is that possible? I don't know. I do know that you cannot do a Detox/Diet and eat lunch under the Golden Arches.

Many people are eating a pretty healthy diet of unprocessed foods, but are not losing weight. So, I have learned to ask how much they are eating two foods that are natural and healthy-in small quantities.

Number 1 is Nuts. Many people are trying to snack in a healthy way by eating nuts. How many of us can eat 6 nuts at a time, and no more?  People who munch nuts at their desk while they are working find that, before they know it, they have consumed half their daily calorie allowance, but could still eat more. 1 oz. of almonds is 164-169 calories. So ½ cup is 660 calories. Raw nuts are healthier, and roasted nuts lose many of their benefits. But all nuts are very high in concentrated calories and will sabotage a diet.

Nuts do have some nutritional benefits. Helping you to lose weight is not one of them.

The real problem here is the constant snacking that Americans have adopted as a national life-style. Europeans don’t eat much between meals, and they are far thinner. Constant snacking is just a habit and can be broken. The body starts to feel that it needs to eat all the time, and so you feel hungry all the time. This can also be a signal that there is something going awry with your digestion, so get it checked out. And you may need more nutrients. The answer is not to take a synthetic multi-vitamin horse pill. Instead, start eating  6-10 cups of vegetables a day-in any form, from raw to roasted. And see if your appetite calms down.

Try making it a firm policy that you do not eat at your desk or when you are doing anything else, like driving to working or watching TV. Keep yourself occupied with something else while you watch TV, especially in the evening when you are tired and your will power is weak. Do a mild workout, take up knitting or do a puzzle. Anything to keep your hands busy and out of the cookie jar. Remember the old saying “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop?” It may well be diabolical how difficult it is not to graze staring at a screen with moving pictures on it.

Keep extra veggies on hand, if you have to munch. Try having a protein shake dressed up like a milkshake, but made with Chocolate or other flavored Stevia. The extra protein, instead of a sugary dessert, may help you sleep, and keep the cravings at bay.

The second healthy food that is over-used is fruit. For people with blood sugar issues, Diabetic or hypoglycemic issues, too much fruit can affect their blood sugar and sabotage a diet. Cut back to only 2 servings a day. That is a medium apple or other round fruit, or ½ cup of berries. If you have been eating several servings of fruit a day, watch what happens as you cut back. If you have hit a plateau on a diet, cutting out fruit completely may break the plateau. Check your water intake, as you may be thirsty, and substituting the juice in the fruit for water. Add more vegetables, also. Try going without fruit for a day and see how you do. Fruit can be a good snack choice, if only a small amount is eaten at a time.

No matter how much the body protests, no one needs to eat all day long. And the burden on the digestive system not only causes weight gain, but also taxes every organ of digestion. People who eat less live longer and healthier lives. <a href="https://www.fightaging.org/archives/2002/11/calorie-restriction-explained.php">https://www.fightaging.org/archives/2002/11/calorie-restriction-explained.php</a>

If you want to burn fat, you have to give your body a reason to access it. Healthy fats like butter, olive oil and coconut oil provide vital nutrients and help you feel more satisfied so you are less likely to snack between meals, so use them every day to make your food delicious.

If you need to eat more frequently because you have blood sugar imbalance already, divide up a normal size meal and eat only half, and save the other half as a snack. Watch your portion sizes and watch your waistline diminish in proportion. It will take some readjustment because most portions of food in the U.S. far exceed what is needed or healthy. We know that no one needs muffins the size of cantaloupes or a ½ gallon of soda. But even the salads are super-sized and we don’t need that much food in one sitting.

If you want to be thinner, that means you must eat less, even of “healthy” foods.

Consider a Detoxification or Blood Sugar Balance program to give yourself the jumpstart on a diet/health improvement program to help get rid of cravings. Or try Garcinia Cambogia, a natural extract that will help curb your appetite and improve fat burning.  There is still time before the summer really hits. Come in for a free 15-minute consultation to learn more.