Want to start to eat healthy but haven’t a clue where to begin?! Is dairy ‘good’ or ‘bad’ for you? Is gluten really the devil?!!!
Here are a few simple tips to get you up and running in the right direction!
So what are you waiting for, read on!
Eat Real Food.
If you can see the part of the plant, fruit or vegetable that the food originated from then it’s a safe bet it’s good to eat. Try to keep it organic, local and seasonal just like our Grandmothers cooked way back when!! Same for meat, chicken, fish and eggs too! This means less chemicals, fresher produce, perfectly balanced food as nature intended. It’s easy to digest, easy to convert to energy and easy to eliminate!
Eat Safe Carbohydrates.
I’m a big fan of low carb eating plans, as time and again research has proven that high carbohydrate intake, aka ‘sugar’, is responsible for the huge increase in chronic diseases. Ditch all the ‘white’ carbs, the bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and replace with ‘brown’ and ‘green’ SAFE carbs instead. This means eating brown rice and pasta, beans and pulses, try cauliflower rice or mash, or even courgetti. Get creative and have fun. Your gut and waist line will thank you!
Cereal Killers.
Most boxed and bagged breakfast cereals are not ‘food’. They are usually highly processed, sugar filled, wheat derived, fast foods commonly served with more sugar and a dairy liquid. You may not be celiac or lactose intolerant but did you know that 1 in 3 of us are actually gluten sensitive resulting in digestive and other issues. Want to get healthy? Choose your breakfast wisely and avoid the cereal ‘killers’!
Treat ‘treats’ as a ‘Treat’
There was a time when we had desert at the end of a ‘special’ meal, at the weekend or when dining out. Now we have sweet treats at breakfast, lunch, dinner and well, anytime! This doesn’t even begin to touch on the sugar content in alcohol. Here’s the rub: as adults we should not consume more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day! On average we Irish consume 24 teaspoons per day and get this, its sugar not fat, that makes and keeps us fat! Ouch!
It’s a gut feeling!
Did you know that we are more bacteria than we are human?! The gut contains 10 times more bacteria that all the human cells in the entire body. This good bacteria controls our mood, our digestion and metabolism, provides protection from infection and supports our immune system. To keep happy and healthy include some fermented foods in your daily diet like kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha or just plain old natural yogurt, organic of course!
Reducing ‘Diets’ don’t work in the long term. There is no ‘one size fits all’ but it is difficult to know what to do when there is so much conflicting information out there!
We know what we shouldn’t be eating or drinking but what’s going to work for you personally, what can you eat to enhance your health, boost your energy and alleviate your particular condition?
To find out, book a session with a Nutritional Therapist and start a personalised programme tailor made to suit just you. Stop wishing, start doing…
Stay Well,
Antoinette
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Antoinette Witter 086 7355442
antoinette@thehappygutclinic.ie
