HEALTH + WELLNESS
Ditch the Diet CONT .
The message ? Become more mindful about your food choices . Swap out quick-fix sugary , fatty foods for those that are more nutrient dense and higher quality ( without obsessing over the calories count on the label ) and it ’ s likely you ’ ll feel more energised and trimmer , and hopefully eliminate any desire for calorie counting altogether . This quick-fire roundup of our favourite nutritional powerhouses should help point you in the right direction .
Almonds Not only are they high in fibre to stop you feeling hungry quicker , they ’ re also packed full of good fats , which , yes , may make them pretty high in calories ( so just eat a handful not an entire bag ), but does mean they won ’ t contribute to unsightly tummy fat . They ’ re also packed full of vitamin E , so do wonders for your skin too .
Avocados Over 75 % of the fat in an avocado is unsaturated ( good fat ), which means not only are they hearthealthy , they ’ re filling too . Add them to salads and you ’ ll feel fuller for longer and you ’ ll also reap the rewards of their high potassium content , which helps regulate your body ’ s fluid levels and keeps your nervous system functioning properly too .
Quinoa For years now there ’ s been countless whole grains who have tried to steal quinoa ’ s crown , but it ’ s still the undisputed queen of all superfoods . High in protein , it can easily be swapped into salads in place of high-fat meats and cheeses , and if you pair it with exercise , it ’ ll help you build more lean muscle , which in turn burns calories .
Bananas A surprising entry on the list because many feel that bananas – regarded widely as a carb-heavy , calorieheavy fruit – actually contribute to weight gain , when in fact they don ’ t ; not only will eating a banana fill you with slow-release , fibre-rich energy , they also help to relieve water retention thanks to their high potassium levels .
Garlic If you ’ re prepared for the bad breath that may come with it , start adding garlic to everything and not only will you benefit from all of its wonderful antioxidant properties , but you ’ ll also reap the rewards of all of the allicin contained in it . A naturally occurring chemical , allicin reacts with our blood cells to kill off any harmful bacteria in the gut and also regulates the formation of fat cells , so less fat is likely to be stored .
Potatoes Bashed by the carb police from every angle , potatoes have been given a bad rap for decades , but they ’ re a great source of resistant starch , which can gee up a sluggish digestion , and they ’ re really filing too – a medium-sized spud will only set you back about 170 calories , so if you go easy on the butter and skip the cheese , piling your potato high with salad and low-fat fillings instead , you ’ ll be full up ( guilt-free ) in no time .
Red wine While we ’ re not suggesting you guzzle a bottle with every meal , research has shown that resveratrol , a substance found in grapes , berries and red wine turns our excess flabby bits into calorie-burning ‘ brown ’ or ‘ beige ’ fat , which reduces weight gain by burning up calories . Cheers to that .
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