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Vegetables Are Your Friend
Vegetables and fruit provide the materials needed to keep your body running smoothly. They provide numerous vitamins and minerals and are also a good source of carbohydrate, high in fibre but low in sugar. A high percentage of the carbohydrates that you eat should come from these 2 sources. No excuses!
You need to eat vegetables at every meal and snack, except breakfast, when you can choose fruit instead. Vegetables are alkaline and are needed to reduce the acidic qualities of meat, fish, grains and dairy in your diet. They will restore balance to your body.
Combine proteins (such as meat, fish, dairy or eggs) with vegetables and you have the ultimate metabolism booster (= more fat burning!) Every time you eat Protein, include a serving of vegetables too. High in fibre, vegetables take longer to digest, keeping you feeling fuller for longer and helping to stabilise the level of sugar in your bloodstream. Eat veggies and you won't crave sugar.
Vegetables higher in sugar are known as starchy vegetables. When cooked, these vegetables tend to be digested too quickly, as they release their sugars much sooner. Such starchy options should only be eaten occasionally. Luckily, there are only a small variety of starchy vegetables.
Most vegetables are non-starchy, meaning that they are broken down slowly into sugar. With the added bonus of high fibre that all vegetables possess, these vegetables become a very useful tool in controlling your weight. Fibre slows down the digestion of food, keeping you feeling fuller for longer and helps form your stools, making elimination that little bit more comfortable. Eat more veggies and kiss goodbye to constipation!
DON'T WANNA CHEW 'EM? JUICE 'EM INSTEAD!
If you are having a hard time squeezing 5 portions of vegetables into your daily diet why not try juicing some of your vegetables instead? This is an excellent way of getting a high level of vitamins and minerals into your daily diet, if pushed for time. Try a variety of options and add a little fruit into the mix to give your juice a little sweetness. Always drink your juice soon after making it, to reduce separation of the individual ingredients. Try these:
Carrot, celery and ginger
Apple, ginger and watercress
Celery, spinach and apple
Carrot, mint and ginger
Lettuce, cucumber and watercress
Carrot, orange and fresh mintSIMON'S TIPS: VEGETABLES
When shopping for vegetables try to choose organic if your budget will allow. They contain more goodness, taste better, last longer and contain less chemicals and pesticides.
Scrub standard quality vegetables before eating or cooking, to strip them of chemicals.
Use colour as your guide. Go for as wide a variety of colour as possible.
EAT PLENTIFULLY: Asparagus, Broccoli, Brussels Sprout, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Cucumber, Fresh Beans, Garlic, Leafy Greens, Mange Tout, Mushroom, Onion, Parsley, Peppers, Spinach, Sprouts, Tomato, Watercress
EAT IN MODERATION: Artichoke, Aubergine, Butternut Squash, Carrot, Courgette, Lentils, Parsnip, Pea, Radish, Turnip
EAT OCCASIONALLY: Beetroot, Okra, Parsnip, Potato, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Yam
All vegetables can be eaten, but ensure that most of your intake comes from the above lists.
Simon Dainton is a Certified Personal Trainer and fat loss expert. Founder of Fitstreet Personal Training in the UK, his Programs of Lifestyle change guarantee clients results, combining effective exercise, nutrition and lifestyle adjustments. For more information and to receive your FREE fat loss guide, go to http://www.fitstreet.co.uk/. For the latest fat loss news and tips, check out http://fitstreet.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Dainton
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