insideKENT Magazine Issue 70 - January 2018 | Page 94

HEALTH+WELLNESS Ditch the diet cont. The message? Become more mindful about your food choices. Swap out quick-fix sugary, fatty foods for those that are more nutrient dense and higher quality (without obsessing over the calorie count on the label) and it’s likely you’ll feel more energised and trimmer as well as eliminating the need for calorie counting altogether. This quick-fire roundup of our favourite nutritional powerhouses should help point you in the right direction. Potatoes Bashed by the carb police from every angle, potatoes have been given a bad rap for decades, but they’re a great source of resistant starch, which can gee up a sluggish digestion, and they’re really filing too – a medium-sized spud will only set you back about 170 calories, so if you go easy on the butter and skip the cheese, piling your potato high with salad and low-fat fillings instead, you’ll be full up (guilt free) in no time. Almonds Not only are they high in fibre to stop you feeling hungry quicker, they’re also packed full of good fats, which, yes, may make them pretty high in calories (so just eat a handful not an entire bag), but does mean they won’t contribute to unsightly tummy fat. They’re also packed full of vitamin E, so do wonders for your skin too. Red wine While we’re not suggesting you guzzle a bottle with every meal, research has shown that resveratrol, a substance found in grapes, berries and red wine turns our excess flabby bits into calorie-burning ‘brown’ or ‘beige’ fat, which reduces weight gain by burning up calories. Cheers to that. Avocados Over 75 per cent of the fat in an avocado is unsaturated (good fat), which means not only are they heart healthy, but they’re filling too. Add them to salads and you’ll feel fuller for longer and you’ll also reap the rewards of their high potassium content, which helps regulate your body’s fluid levels and keeps your nervous system functioning properly too. WE LOVE… Bounce Protein Energy Bites Quinoa For years now there’s been countless whole grains who have tried to steal quinoa’s crown, but it’s still the undisputed Queen of all superfoods. High in protein, it can easily be swapped into salads in place of high- fat meats and cheeses, and if you pair it with exercise, it’ll help you build more lean muscle, which in turn burns calories. Bananas A surprising entry on the list because many feel that bananas – regarded widely as a carb- heavy, calorie-heavy fruit – actually contribute to weight gain, when in fact they don’t; not only will eating a banana fill you with slow-release, fibre-rich energy, they also help to relieve water retention thanks to their high potassium levels. Garlic If you’re prepared for the bad breath that may come with it, start adding garlic to everything and not only will you benefit from all of its wonderful antioxidant properties, but you’ll also reap the rewards of all of the allicin contained in it. A naturally occurring chemical, allicin reacts with our blood cells to kill of any harmful bacteria in the gut and also regulates the formation of fat cells, so less fat is likely to be stored. 94 Made up of three irresistible flavours – Blueberry Banana, Cacao Orange and Sweet & Salty Almond – these delicious, chewy snacks are made from a mix of protein, good fats and carbohydrates, all bundled into a nutritious, convenient snack that’s a fabulous source of fibre and protein. They’re vegetarian and gluten-free too, so they’re a guilt-free, healthy treat at any time of day and they’re really tasty.