How to Slim Safely and Naturally
If you feel you’re being bombarded from all sides with new-fangled ideas on slimming, and you don’t know which to believe, read on! Head nutritionist Barbara Cox from healthy meal delivery company Nutrichef has compiled some safe, sound, practical tips on slimming that tackle the topic from the angles of diet, supplementation and exercise.
Diet: Calorie Cutting: Become more aware of the calorific value of foods. A general rule is to eat 500 calories less than the recommended daily allowance, which is 2500 for men and 2000 for women.
Water: Aim for 1.5 to 2 litres daily. A lot of people mistake thirst for hunger, so always have a glass of water before you resort to a snack. Water not only hydrates the body but flushes away toxins stored in fat cells.
Remove Foods that Bloat: The main culprits are beans, wheat and dairy. Bloating can also be the result of food intolerances and ingesting air when using a straw or sports bottle, or by eating when walking or talking.
Cut the Junk: Don’t be tempted by high fat, sugary foods. Chop up fruit and vegetables to make healthy crudités. Nuts, seeds and dried fruit are better alternatives to crisps and cakes. For foods in season go to www.bbc.co.uk/food/in_season.
Veggie Options: Studies show meat products are the leading source of fat in most people’s diet, so add more vegetarian meals into your plan. For some really good ideas, visit www.veggievision.co.uk
Reduce Alcohol: Second only to fat itself in the calorie league, alcohol is enjoyable and relaxing, but drinking too much can lead to serious health problems and weight gain. For some useful information on units, visit www.dh.gov.uk
Healthy Breakfast Ideas
Smoothie: Throw a handful of your favourite berries, a banana, and half a mango into a blender. Pour in a glass of water, then whiz and serve. For an additional flavour, add cherry juice concentrate (available from www.cherryactive.co.uk).
Nutrichef flapjack: Free from butter, sugar and hydrogenated vegetable oils, these are an amazing, slow release energy source (visit www.nutrichef.co.uk).
Healthy Lunch Ideas
Salad: use mineral-rich red char, rocket and radicchio. Add some cress and daikon – fantastic for breaking up fatty deposits in the skin.
Soup: Start with a base of onion, stock cube and vegetables of your choice. Why not add a handful of quinoa – a Peruvian grain that’s great for retaining all-important muscle tissue.
Healthy Dinner Ideas
Fish: Choose oily fish like mackerel, salmon and trout, as they’re high in omega-3, which facilitates loss fat loss.
Vegetarian: Try stir-fries and casseroles that include protein sources like nuts, seeds and pulses – especially kidney beans as they contain pancreatic amylase that helps to digest starch.
