Healthy Foods & Your Metabolism

Diet plays just as much of a role in your health and fitness as a good workout plan. And some foods are definitely better than others.

Today, I’m reviewing 7 of the healthiest foods to boost your metabolism, keep you toned and fit, and support an all-around healthy lifestyle. If these aren’t already in your kitchen, then make sure they make it on to your next grocery list!

Here’s the list…

7 Super Healthy Foods to Keep on Hand

Avocados  Avocados definitely top my list of super healthy foods. A single avocado can have up to 8 grams of protein, enough to give your lean muscle mass a little extra support. Avocados are also high in healthy polyunsaturated fats that have been shown in research to enhance your metabolism, much like the fats found in salmon.

Plus, avocados taste creamy and almost buttery, making them a great alternative for butter or margarine on your next sandwich. And the vitamin B6 content won’t go unnoticed, especially when it comes to your energy!

Almonds – Almonds are my favorite snack, and they should be yours! Of all the nuts, they’re one of the lowest in fat, and they offer some serious kick in the protein and healthy fat department. Snack on them during your mid-afternoon low, and you’ll avoid that daily post-lunch energy drain!

For an even more effective metabolism enhancing snack, check out these Cajun Lemon Pepper Almonds. The Cajun and lemon pepper seasoning will give your fat burning potential an added boost!

Quinoa – I’m sure you’ve heard of it, but if you still haven’t given it a try, today’s the day! Quinoa is one of the healthiest carbs to have on hand for lunch or dinner. Packed full of protein and fiber, this stuff can be used as a side dish in place of rice, or as part of a fresh summer salad. Either way you go, your metabolism will get a serious boost!

Spirulina – If you’re running low on your vegetable intake, spirulina is a great go-to replacement. It’s a blue-green algae that’s typically available in powder form. This stuff is one of the most nutritionally dense foods you can find. It’s high in protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support a healthy and active lifestyle.

Try this NOW Spirulina Powder in a protein shake or sprinkle it on top of a salad. Trust me, this is one of the healthiest foods you can find!

Hemp Seeds – Hemp seeds also make a great snack, or they can be used as a salad topping for an extra health kick. They’re extremely high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, they’re high in plant-based protein, and they contain a number of essential amino acids.

Green Tea – Green tea is probably one of the oldest super foods out there, but it remains a contender when it comes to burning fat, boosting metabolism, and supporting your overall health. It’s high in antioxidants and the caffeine is a great source of energy (without the jitters).

If you’re not a big fan of green tea’s taste, or if you’re looking for more regular support, try Mega-T Green Tea with South African Hoodia. It’s a green tea extract that’s been combined with a natural appetite suppressant, South African hoodia.

Lentils – If you’re looking for a healthy plant-based source of protein, lentils are your go-to food. They cook relatively quickly, and they’re packed full of fiber and protein to keep you feeling full and satisfied. Red lentils cook the fastest, so are often considered the most convenient. Mix them with some garlic, onions, veggies, and olive oil, and you’ve got a super healthy meal.

These are just a few healthy foods to keep in your kitchen. Other top picks include berries (especially blueberries and rasperries), salmon, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, pistachios. pistachios, and coconut oil.
Banana Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

Even with a solid diet plan in place, eating healthy all comes down to the right set of healthy recipes.

Over the years, I’ve learned that the most difficult recipes to get right are the ones for snacking. After all, snacks often pose a challenge to your dieting goals. You can eat all the healthy meals you want, but it’s the hours in between that can totally ruin all that hard work.

So it’s important to have some healthy snack recipes on hand, especially when it comes to satisfying your sweet tooth. Today I’m offering up a delicious and healthy protein rich recipe for banana oatmeal cookies.

Banana Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

This banana oatmeal cookies recipe is healthy for a number of reasons. First off, it uses whole wheat flour & oats, which is an easy way to turn any baked snack into a healthy one. Whole wheat flour better stabilizes your blood glucose levels and boosts your metabolism. This recipe also uses organic ingredients where they matter most, to ensure you’re packing the best nutritional punch.

The oats are high in protein and will help prevent cravings through the day, while the addition of walnuts is an easy way to get in some extra protein and healthy fats to boost your metabolism. Add in the potassium of the bananas, and these cookies are a great snack for any diet plan!

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Bake time: 15 minutes
  • Servings: 24

Ingredients:
  • 1 and ½ cups of whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup of Vanilla whey protein (Gaspari Nutrition Myofusion is the best tasting and ok to be in the oven)
  • 1/2 cup of organic sugar (evaporated cane juice)
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • ½ teaspoon of baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • ¾ cups of softened organic butter
  • 1 large organic egg
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 1 cup of mashed ripe bananas (about 2 bananas)
  • 1 and ¾ cups of quick oats
  • ½ cup of chopped walnuts

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, combine; flour, protein powder, sugar, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon until mixed well. In a separate mixing bowl, combine butter, egg, and vanilla extract until incorporated. Mix together wet and dry mixtures, then stir in mashed bananas, quick oats, and walnuts until just combined.

Grease a large baking sheet or line it with parchment paper. Drop the batter onto the baking sheet by the spoonful (approximately a tablespoonful), leaving about an inch of space between drops. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 13 to 15 minutes or until the edges of the cookies turn golden brown. Remove from baking sheet and allow them to cool on a cold surface or on a wire rack.

Finally remember that portions are key here with snacks.  Stick to one cookie with a cup of your favorite tea (green tea to help boost metabolism) and you will be on track to keeping your calorie intake in check (each cookie will be about 100-140 calories depending on how big you make them).
Body Weight Exercises Are They Enough?

If they’re not already, body weight exercises should be an integral part of your workout and fitness routine. Here’s why…

Most body weight exercises typically mimic more natural and organic movements, which means they’ll have a bigger impact on all your movements at a daily level. Sit-ups for example can help strengthen that core and protect your back when you have to lean down and pick up those heavy grocery bags.

What I believe you will especially like is that body weight exercises allow you to challenge your body and increase your strength while reducing the likelihood of injury. That’s why they are especially appropriate when you’re getting back into the swing of things or you’re just not yet comfortable being at the gym using dumbbells or free weights.

As a side bonus have this following list of body exercises at your arsenal when you want to do a home workout or you’re traveling and exercise equipment may not be available.

Whatever the reason, you really can’t go wrong by including body weight exercises into your fitness routine. At the very least, they’re a great way to add some variety to your workout program and challenge your muscles in new ways.

7 Body Weight Exercises to Get You Ripped

To help you get started, I’ve designed 7 basic but totally effective body weight exercises to get you in amazing shape. Add them to your current workout routine, or run through each exercise back to back without resting for a total body workout program to accelerate your metabolism and help you get ripped.  Once you’ve gone through all the exercises, rest for 30 seconds and then do them again 2 more times. Now we’re talking! Get ready to sweat…

1. Ab Crunch :  A quintessential exercise to strengthen your core, the ab crunch is where you want to start and to make it challenging slow it down and really clench those ab muscles when you contract and bring your chest to your knees. Just make sure you don’t pull on your neck. Aim for 20-30 reps per set.

For another variation of a great abdominal exercise that relies on body weight, try the Bicycle Crunch.

2. Squat : The squat remains one of the most effective lower body exercises, and you don’t need any added weight to reap the benefits. With knees shoulder width apart and your eyes looking straight ahead lower down your body slowly. Keep your back as straight as possible throughout. Want to make it even harder?  Try doing squats on just one foot and have your other leg straight out in front of you.  Aim for a minimum of 12-15 reps per set.

3. Lunge : The lunge is another great lower body body weight exercise that really targets your hamstrings and glutes (aka butt!). If you want to challenge yourself even more, try the Lateral Lunge. Aim for 10-12 reps per side.

4. Push-Ups : Push-ups are probably the best body weight exercise you can do, engaging your chest, triceps, and core muscles all at once. An easy way to change up the push-up while still relying on your body weight is to use a workout bench, a chair or anything else that will allow your feet to be at a higher level then your chest. Try it with your hands on a bench, or with your feet on a bench.

5. Pull-Ups : Pull-ups target the upper body muscles that don’t get worked in the standard push-up, namely your back muscles and biceps. You can vary the width of your grip in order to target your muscles in different ways. Try a narrow grip pull-up or a wide grip pull-up to get started.

6. Step-Ups : Another great lower body exercise, step-ups on a bench or set of stairs can be done with dumbbells in hand or with your body weight alone.

7. Superman : If you’re looking for a fantastic core exercise, you’ve got to include the superman. It hits your lower back and abdominal muscles for an intense core workout.


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What could be better than cold soup on a hot summer day? Sweet corn. Topped with avocado, lime, cilantro and jalapeño salad. You get a lovely meal with nourishing fiber, fats and phytonutrients in one bowl.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 7 ears fresh corn (6 + 1, divided)
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ avocado, diced
  • ½ jalapeño, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Instructions

  1. In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat.
  2. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until tender and golden, for 6 to 7 minutes.
  3. Over a large bowl, use a serrated knife to shave the corn kernels from 6 of the ears of corn (approx. 4 cups).
  4. Stir the corn into the pot.
  5. Add the milk, 2 cups of water and salt, and bring to a boil.
  6. Add the corncobs (for added flavor) and simmer until the corn is tender, about 15 minutes.
  7. Let cool, remove and discard the corncobs.
  8. Puree the soup in a blender until smooth.
  9. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 3 hours.
  10. Shave the corn from the remaining ear of corn and add to a medium bowl.
  11. Add the avocado, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice. Stir to combine.
  12. Divide the soup among bowls and top with the corn salad.
Nutrition information

  • Calories 246
  • Total fat 11g
  • Saturated fat 3g
  • Protein 8g
  • Carbohydrate 6g
  • Dietary fiber 5g
  • Sugar 14g
  • Cholesterol 6mg
  • Sodium 638mg
Just the other day, a patient told me she had eaten a full meal: a burger, french fries, and a soda. Then, not even two hours later, she was hungry again. She craved something sweet.

After all of those calories, how could she still be hungry, she asked? And she’s not alone.

In overweight and obese patients especially, it turns out the brain’s reward processing system for food is similar to the brain’s mechanisms related to substance abuse. If unchecked cravings affect you, you might need to make a conscious effort to control them.

Below are four of the most “addictive” foods - and tips on how to curb your cravings.

French fries

Why you crave them: Potatoes have a high glycemic index. That’s a technical way of saying the carbs in potatoes really raise your blood sugar levels — quickly. They also stimulate the reward centers in your brain. You eat a big plate of French fries, and then you want more. Or you crave other high-glycemic foods such as candy bars.

The sudden increase in blood sugar makes your pancreas work in overdrive to secrete enough insulin. This insulin picks up and transports the sugar in your blood to various cells throughout the body. Within an hour of eating a high-glycemic meal, the insulin has done its job, and you’re left with low blood sugar. You feel hungry even though you just ate an hour ago.

French fries come with a double whammy, because they’re usually loaded with salt. Like sugar, salt stimulates receptors in your brain that basically say, “Mmm, this food is tasty.”

How to break the cycle: Eat potatoes with the skin on. The extra fiber in the potato skin will help slow digestion and keep your blood sugar in balance. Even better, swap out white potatoes for sweet potatoes, which are lower on the glycemic index and higher in micronutrients. And get your flavor with herbs and spices instead of added salt.

Soda

Why you crave it: The sugar in soda stimulates the reward system in your brain, too. And over time, you need larger and sweeter amounts to trigger the same level of reward. One can might do the trick today, but before you know it, you’re drinking several.

Consider this: An average 12-ounce soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar. On its own, that exceeds the American Heart Association’s recommendation for daily added sugar.

Think diet soda is better? Artificial sweeteners are much sweeter than sugar. They actually may encourage your craving for sweets.

How to break the cycle: Next time you want a carbonated drink, opt for sparkling water without sugar or artificial sweeteners. And don’t just substitute sugary snacks or sugar in your coffee and tea. To really kick the sugar habit, sometimes you need a clean break.

Pizza

Why you crave it: Highly processed foods - most pizza included - have been associated with addiction-like eating behaviors. The heavily processed grains in many crusts are pretty high on the glycemic index. The way they’re processed removes the bran and germ from the grain. That makes the crust easier to digest, which causes your blood sugar to rapidly rise. You end up with that same, familiar blood sugar roller coaster.

How to break the cycle: Try pizza with 100 percent whole grain crust, either made from scratch or at restaurants that offer it. You can also make specialty crusts - made from ingredients such as cauliflower. And don’t skimp on the veggies!

Ice Cream

Why you crave it: The creamy satisfaction ice cream provides was hardwired into our brains years ago when our ancestors had few calorie-dense food options. They adapted to find fat-rich food rewarding as a means of survival.

Now, all we have to do is go to our nearest drive-thru to find calorie-dense food. But the reward system in our brain still tells us we enjoy certain types of fat. Ice cream has it — along with plenty of stimulating sugar, too.

How to break the cycle: Try to limit the fats found in animal products and opt for plant-based, unsaturated fats instead. Avocados and olive oil are great sources, for example. And be wary of “low-fat” ice cream options. A lot of manufacturers simply add more sugar and additives to replace the fat.

Ultimately the best way to curb your cravings is to avoid processed foods. Choose low-glycemic whole foods, which will help you control the added fat, sugar and salt.
Many times when you are searching for weight loss information online, you come across a bunch of fad diets. These are the diets which tell you how much weight you can lose by eating only cabbage soup, or maple syrup and lemonade or some other noxious kind of food that nobody who really likes themselves would ever eat.

As a matter of act these diets are among the most highly searched for topics on the entire internet. They are very popular for one particular reason – they bring you almost instant results in dropping a couple of pounds. They do work to get some weight off right away, within a week for many of them. 

But then, guess what happens? The weight all comes back with a vengeance and sometimes those pounds you lost bring their friends back to stay with you and you wind up weighing even more than you did before you started the crash diet.

This kind of weight loss program does not keep you healthy and does not result in keeping the weigh off permanently. You wind up bouncing up and down in weight and your entire metabolism suffers. And when your metabolism suffers it always does so in the same way – it slows down and stops burning calories.

This is why you gain the weight back.

Here are a couple of things you can do to help achieve a more permanent weight loss.

Stop eating so much – but don’t stop all at once

People love to punish themselves for dietary transgressions. But punishing does not help much. If you simply stop feeding your body, it will no know what to do and simply slows your metabolism to a crawl. Much better if you cut your calorie intake gradually. Start eating less a little bit at a time, so that your body gets used to running on the calories it already has stored away.

Gradual weight loss with a diet change that is not a crash kind of diet is much more successful for many more people than any of those fad diets. Do you really want to be eating cabbage soup three times a day for the rest of your life?

Another important tip is very simple, and works very effectively.

Give yourself a reward for losing weight.

Now this does not mean that when you lose a pound that you hop in the car and run right over to Cheesecake Factory and gorge yourself. A reward is supposed to be a nice thing you do for yourself, not something that is virtually guaranteed to make you feel bad all over again. That’s not what you need.

Instead you can give yourself a nice treat like a spa day, or a trip to the mall without the kids or anything else you enjoy. And if you like, you can give yourself a food treat. In a normal sized portion. A square of chocolate – not a 5 pound box. Split a piece of cheesecake with your friend – don’t order two for yourself.

Rewards are excellent things to do for yourself. Just don’t overdo the reward system or you will wind up punishing yourself all over again.

Losing weight does not have to be hard or painful. But you do have to make a couple of adjustments in how you think and act. No more punishing yourself, that didn’t work before and it won’t work now. Instead cut your calories slowly and give yourself a small reward when you succeed and you will be well on your way to lasting weight loss.

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