insideKENT Magazine Issue 65 - August 2017 | Page 123

HEALTH+WELLNESS
ready…steady…SLIM
TRUST ME, I’M ALL ABOUT LOVING WHO YOU ARE AND APPRECIATING THE SKIN YOU’RE
IN, BUT, IT IS AUGUST, WHICH DOES MEAN WE’RE ALL FLASHING A LITTLE MORE FLESH, SO
IF THERE ARE SIMPLE WAYS WE CAN TRIM A COUPLE OF INCHES OFF OUR ALREADY
BEAUTIFUL SELVES JUST BY MAKING BETTER FOOD CHOICES, I’M ALL FOR THAT TOO. YOU
CAN LOSE A FEW UNWANTED POUNDS JUST BY SWAPPING OUT HIGHER CALORIE FOODS
FOR THOSE THAT ARE MORE FILLING AND NUTRIENT DENSE AND THIS QUICK-FIRE ROUNDUP
SHOULD HELP POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BY POLLY HUMPHRIS
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.
AVOCADOS
Another food that’s probably higher in calories
than you might think – half a medium fruit
comes in at around 200 calories – 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.
WATERMELON
Low calorie (around 30 calories per 100g) and
packed with antioxidants, watermelon lives
up to its name and is loaded with water, which
helps to rid the body of excess fluids, and is
also twice as potassium rich than banana –
snack on a wedge of watermelon and wave
goodbye to bloating.
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.
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