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Health & Fitness

Stay Slim For Summer the Healthy Way

Healthy eating improves your vitality and your figure.

Summer Slim Down by Bonnie Marshall Contributing Writer to Colleen's Blog

 What a great time of year to shed unwanted weight with a cleanse or detoxification program. The fresh fruits and vegetables that are abundant during the summer months can make a cleanse easier than ever. Start by finding a local farmers market, Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. In my neck of the woods, Publix and Kroger have been ramping up their Health Food sections. Check your area for the markets with the best selection. Buy organic, fresh or frozen when possible. If your budget doesn’t allow for organic, then buy the least processed food available. Why is this so important?

Many fruits and vegetables are ladened with pesticides designed to kill insects during the growing process. Undeniably this is a benefit, however, we end up consuming and ingesting these toxins. Research indicates that toxins can adversely affect our health.

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While detoxing we want to eliminate the number of toxins we ingest. A good program will cleanse toxins from your major elimination organs such as your liver, kidneys, intestines and skin. So start by examining the fruits and vegetables you are buying.

Fruits

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Choose fruits with a low to moderate glycemic index. Your blood sugar will stay more balanced and your hunger cravings will be reduced. Choose berries or sour green apples that are from the low-glycemic category or choose from the moderate category: cherries, peaches, oranges, kiwi to name a few. Try to avoid fruits from the high glycemic category: bananas, pineapples, grapes and watermelon.

Vegetables

Choose non-starchy vegetables. The more brilliant the color, the better! Don’t be afraid to experiment with green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale or Swiss chard. You will be pleasantly surprised at how great these nutrient dense vegetables taste. Throw some spinach in your morning protein shake and you will not even taste it. Check my website for recipes.

Other tips for consideration:

  • Cut out sugar, the average American consumes 2-3 lbs. of sugar every week.  The consumption 100 years ago was only 5 lbs. per person per year!
  • Eat breakfast (protein & fiber)
  • Drink 6-8 glasses of water per day
  • Don’t eat after 7:00pm

 

Georgia residents, please note that our state has the 2nd highest childhood obesity rate in the U.S. per CHOA.org.

There are other components to an overall detox program. If you are looking for a “Serious” Summer Slim Down” visit my website. There you can view the list of foods and beverages to eliminate and those to include for 30 days, as well as a sample plan. Make a conscious decision to choose a healthy lifestyle change for yourself and your family. Here’s a good way to start: Why not eliminate the “drive thru” for 30 days and seek out healthier choices?

In addition to my website, others you may find helpful are:

www.wholefoodsmarket.com

www.traderjoes.com

www.foodforlife.com

www.publix.com/wellness/greenwise

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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