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.