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Eat your way to a flatter stomach We all know that foods like white bread make us bloated and offer us little nutritional benefit. We also know that fad diets are a short term fix which are hard to maintain and leave us malnourished. So what's the answer to a tasty diet that doesn't pile on the pounds? Well first of all, despite the rumours about how bad carbs are for us, it's very important to have a healthy dose of both simple and complex carbs in our daily intake. Lets start with complex carbs, which are best consumed about 3 hours before a workout, depending on the size of the meal. These are things like potato and rice, which fill us up for long periods of time and provide us with a slow release of energy. So don't banish these from your cupboards, but try to switch to wholemeal alternatives which are not packed with sugar. When combined with a high protein food such as tuna or chicken, and green vegetables such as broccoli, brown rice proves a really filling yet low calorie and non-bloating meal. Don't believe me? Try it today! Simple carbs which give us a quick short burst of energy can be consumed closer to the workout to help give you more energy. Fruit is great for this. Food for thought Ever ask yourself what you're eating that's building up excess fat on the upper arms? Well the answer is just that...too much fat. A diet rich in lean meat, veg and the right carbs will start you well on your way to beautifully lean triceps. Fatty foods like chips and kebabs and also smoking and alcohol spell disaster for our arms. Not only do these things contribute to cellulite and excess fat tissue, but also poor skin which can often appear dry and patchy. Here are some simple hints and tips to help you lose fat from your upper arms and eat your way to slender perfection. *Cut out the salt; Not only does excess salt consumption contribute to high blood pressure and heart problems, you can normally guarantee a meal which is high in salt is also high in fat and sugar. Although calorie free in itself, piling on the salt often means piling on the pounds. *Oil yourself up; Although too much oil in our diet is bad for us, there is a place for essential oils, or Omega 3, predominantly found in fish such as salmon, sardines and tuna. The benefits of these fats are so huge that numerous studies have been carried out in recent years to raise awareness. One study carried out on eskimos who had a diet rich in Omega 3, showed they displayed virtually no cardiovascular disease. This tells us oily fish reduces heart rate and high blood pressure. So this is where we should be getting our fat from. Ditch the butter and sunflower oil and switch to olive oil when cooking, also proven to reduce the risk of high cholesterol and coronary heart disease. There is a place for fat in our diets, it's choosing the right fat that's important. Eat away at cellulite! We can do all the exercise in the world, but if we want to avoid orange peel thighs, an anti cellulite diet is the only real secret to success. Here is my top 5 list of foods which help to improve blood circulation, thus waging war on lumpy buts and thighs. 1) Berries - particularly good at minimising the appearance of cellulite, because they help combat free radicals. Free radicals attack cells, causing cellulite to appear worse. Try with a low fat, low sugar yoghurt for a tasty breakfast. 2) Asparagus - helps improve the blood circulation by increasing the strength of your veins. Better circulation means fewer lumps and bumps. 3) Bananas - great for circulation and getting rid of toxins which congregate between the fat cells. 4) Oily fish - Fish is rich in Omega 3 helps our bodies to metabolise fats more efficiently and quickly. 5) Nuts - last on my list of top 5 cellulite busting foods are nuts. They're a great source of essential fatty acids which improve general health so as your body can begin fighting the orange peel. I will be launching a set of e-books very soon ... if you *would like to know when they will be available please email me: e-books@dannilevy.com |