Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Healthy Habits: Spring Foods for Summer Shape

Spring is in the air. Soon it will be summer. For many people, April and early May are the months to get fit before the start of summer. Many people go on crash diets to lose the weight gained during the winter. It is often a mad rush to lose weight. Yet it doesn’t need to be that way. Just a few changes in the diet are all that is required. So what are the changes needed? What are the best foods a person can eat? What foods should be avoided?
I had a chance to email Dr. Keith Kantor, a leading nutritionist and CEO of the Nutritional Addiction Mitigation Eating and Drinking (NAMED) program. Dr. Kantor has a list of a few dietary changes that are needed and the best foods to eat without going on a crash diet.

Why does spring bring a renewed interest in eating healthy?
For most people the fact that swim/beach and lake season is around the corner and they are not able to hide in winter clothes is the reason. They want to trim up and lean out a little to feel more confident in their swim suits.  The warm weather and sunshine is also a motivation factor for being more active and healthy outdoors. 

Why is it better to make small changes than a complete overhaul?
It has been scientifically proven that our brains can only handle so much change at once, when we become overloaded by making multiple changes our will power “tank” runs out fairly fast.  It is best to analyze your lifestyle and make a conclusion as to where you need the most help.  If you regularly exercise but eat poorly then start by focusing on your nutrition and set small goals like drinking half of your body weight in ounce of water per day or aiming to consume at least 5 servings of vegetables per day.

What are some good dietary changes to make if people want to get more fit for the summer?
The above nutrition strategies are a great start, drinking more plain water, consuming at a minimum of 5 servings of vegetables per day (non starchy vegetables), eat out less, cut back on alcohol consumption and limit sugar intake to 10 or less grams per day.  

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