1 Raw Food
Even if you don’t want to go 100% raw and lots of people don’t in the winter, eating 75% – 100% raw – vegetables and fruit – will make a difference. Heating food above 118*F, causes chemical changes in the food so that your body becomes very acidic which can contribute to constipation, joint pains, arthritis, weight gain and many health problems.
2 The Joy of Juicing
Juicing is a fantastic way of getting lots of vegetables and fruits into your diet. Almost every health authority advises 6-8 portions/day. Juicing can easily meet this target and even exceed it! If you have high blood pressure, type 1/type 11 diabetes or high cholesterol, it’s best to just juice vegetables and not fruit, except for limes and lemons which don’t contain fructose.
3 Cut out Sugar!
Cutting out sugar will increase your energy significantly! Perhaps you’re someone who eats sugar because you feel it gives you energy? Usually you get a ‘sugar high’ of energy and then an hour or two later, your energy goes through the floor and you want more sugar to pick you up again. Replace sugar with nuts and seeds and if it’s really impossible to cut it out, a few raisins or chopped up dates will give the sweetness you crave. Sugar and hidden sugars are in most processed foods, cakes, biscuits, sweets, baby foods and practically everything that’s pre-prepared for you.
4 Cut out all processed foods!
Tough but worth it! And it’ll save you money. Nearly all pies, pizzas, pastries, convenience foods have some kind of sugar so check the labels on breakfast cereal, tinned foods, canned soup, salad dressings, everything that comes with a label!
5 Eat enough fibre to prevent constipation.
Your colon needs fibre to work properly. This means green leafy vegetables, whole grains, brown rice, nuts and seeds and an old fashioned favourite, prunes.
6. Drink enough water.
There are lots of different equations about how much water you should drink; the easiest way is to drink enough water so that your urine is clear and not yellow and cloudy.
7 Portion size
Watch your portion sizes! Putting on weight from over eating means we feel sluggish and lethargic.
8 Eat breakfast
Breakfast provides energy for your brain and your body, without it you can feel hungry mid morning and end up snacking on junk food, plus, you have less concentration and little energy.
9 Make sure you have enough omega 3 and omega 6 fats.
You need omega 3 for memory, healthy nerves, your vision and immune system and to keep your ‘good cholesterol’ at the right level. Supplement with fish oils or flax seed oil.
Linoleic acid is the Omega 6 essential fatty acid and is needed for nerves, PMS, skin disorders. Supplement with Borage, Black currant seed oil or Evening primrose oil.
10 Eat organic
Eat organic whenever possible so you’re not eating foods laden with pesticides and other toxic chemicals.
Author:
Marian Bourne BSc (Hons), CK, CST
The Bourne practice
www.thebournepractice.co.uk
020 8542 7907
07703 608607
