For one, you should get over the gluten-free fiasco if you're not allergic. There are individuals out there who cannot consume gluten, but chances are you can. Eat that pasta - you'll live. (Now, I'd definitely recommend whole wheat pasta as an alternative to white - Trader Joe's' organic one is AMAZING). But you don't have to make sure to stay away from the stuff all together, unless you legitimately have celiac disease or have a sensitivity (like yours truly). Of course, everything should be consumed in moderation.
Anyway, there are some trending health habits you should consider adopting. And yes, this is 100% my opinion, but I have done this and I personally recommend them. (Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a science student - I am just a 22-year old who loves health and whose mom studies nutrition).
1) Coconut Sugar
Okay, I have to talk about the best one first. Really, it's coconut anything in my life, but let's discuss one that has become a frequent conversation around my office. I whip my coconut sugar out in the kitchen grabbing my morning coffee and always seem to be preaching to someone new about it. I am here to share the good news with you too! (If you didn't already know this.)
What are the benefits? I already eat brown sugar, what makes coconut sugar better?
For one, coconut sugar is a superfood. It not only has a lower glycemic index because it has a fiber called inulin, which slows the absorption of glucose, it also contains trace amounts of vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, along with numerous other vitamins and minerals. You can get the entire list here.
You can find coconut sugar at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or order it on Amazon (where it's cheaper and you can order it in bulk like my family does.)
You don't have to cut sugar from your life because there are better options out there that aren't Stevia or Splenda.
2) Raw Until 4
This is something I only recently learned about myself. My mom and I tried it this summer and it was GREAT. Today, I only adopt this eating style until about 12-12:30 when I have my lunch at work, but I know my sister (who also works) eats raw until she gets home at 7.
Is this another one of those crazy diet things?
The first thing that should be said is that this would be a lifestyle change. It's not a fad diet that will help you lose "7 pounds in 7 days" or something of that sort. Also, there is no communist law that says it has to be until 4. You can do it like me and just do raw until lunch time or you can be like food blogger, Fully Raw Kristina, who is (like her name suggests) completely raw all day, every day. It's definitely something to try and consider.
*Kristina has a website, YouTube channel and an Instagram and she is definitely someone to follow if you're really interested. She has recipes, tips and motivations to help you stay focused and inspired.
Why eat only raw foods until 4?
Eating raw is beneficial because of the many nutrients and vitamins you can get from greens, fruits, vegetables, etc. These foods are digested much faster, so they should not be eaten after consuming meats and wheat foods. This is why it is advised to eat them first and not at all after. Basically, a fruit is digested in about 30 minutes, meanwhile meats can take up to 4 hours. Imagine what happens inside your stomach if you consume a fruit after eating a steak. It won't make a nice mixture. If you need energy fast, grab a fruit, drink a vegetable smoothie, etc.
*The issue is mainly fruits and meats. The best thing to pair with a steak is a salad. It is easily digestible and not heavy for the digestive system.
3) Vegetarianism/Veganism
Think it's impossible to cut meat from your life? I definitely thought it was. I am a Latina - a meal without meat was always considered incomplete. Well, it's not. On the contrary, meat is not good for us.
But the PROTEIN...
Did you know that there is more protein in a bowl of quinoa than a juicy steak? Imagine pairing that quinoa with some red or black beans. Yeah, it's pretty much a protein explosion. You know what else quinoa and beans have in common? They are vegetarian and delicious.
Eating meat is definitely more cultural than it is crucial. We don't actually need it. We not only avoid being a part of the mistreatment of animals, we are taking a conscious effort to lead healthier lives.
Do I have to be vegan?
No, you don't. I mostly am, but can't call myself that because I eat my omelet on Saturday mornings with my mom and my Gouda cheese with my arepa on Sunday. I love me some occasional animal products, but that doesn't mean I HAVE to eat meat for every meal or really any meal.
*Animal products have vitamin B-12 that should be taken as a supplement if you do decide to go full-vegan.
It's not for PETA, it's for health. (But I mean - it can totally be for PETA, if that's your prerogative.)
4) Organic food
I cannot stress this one enough. This is not a fad, this is SUPER important. Friends, you really need to eat organic. (science geeks - sorry, it's what it's called. Ok? Ok.)
Fruits, vegetables, meats and all other foods that are not organic are going to have unnecessary chemicals, hormones, additives, etc. in them. The reason people in the US are so sick is because of this.
It's not that hard to see the correlation. More and more people are getting cancer at younger and younger ages because our foods are genetically modified, filled with toxic chemicals and unnatural hormones. Can you believe that even baby formula has a fungicide in its ingredients? Now it makes more sense that children are more often getting sick - something I just could not fathom before.
Keep in mind that a "natural" label is not enough, it has to say organic. Also, some labels can be tricky and say "no added hormones" - yeah, none were added after the fact, but the animals were either given these hormones while alive or were fed non-organic, pesticide-rich foods - OR WORSE: the pesticides/fungicides/poisons were genetically modified into the food's genes.
*Also, just because something is organic, it doesn't mean it's "healthy" or not going to make you gain weight. Simply switching to organic is not going to help keep off or lose the unwanted weight. It's really just about not adding toxins into your body.
Okay, I have to talk about the best one first. Really, it's coconut anything in my life, but let's discuss one that has become a frequent conversation around my office. I whip my coconut sugar out in the kitchen grabbing my morning coffee and always seem to be preaching to someone new about it. I am here to share the good news with you too! (If you didn't already know this.)
What are the benefits? I already eat brown sugar, what makes coconut sugar better?
For one, coconut sugar is a superfood. It not only has a lower glycemic index because it has a fiber called inulin, which slows the absorption of glucose, it also contains trace amounts of vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, along with numerous other vitamins and minerals. You can get the entire list here.
You can find coconut sugar at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or order it on Amazon (where it's cheaper and you can order it in bulk like my family does.)
You don't have to cut sugar from your life because there are better options out there that aren't Stevia or Splenda.
2) Raw Until 4
This is something I only recently learned about myself. My mom and I tried it this summer and it was GREAT. Today, I only adopt this eating style until about 12-12:30 when I have my lunch at work, but I know my sister (who also works) eats raw until she gets home at 7.
Is this another one of those crazy diet things?
The first thing that should be said is that this would be a lifestyle change. It's not a fad diet that will help you lose "7 pounds in 7 days" or something of that sort. Also, there is no communist law that says it has to be until 4. You can do it like me and just do raw until lunch time or you can be like food blogger, Fully Raw Kristina, who is (like her name suggests) completely raw all day, every day. It's definitely something to try and consider.
*Kristina has a website, YouTube channel and an Instagram and she is definitely someone to follow if you're really interested. She has recipes, tips and motivations to help you stay focused and inspired.
Why eat only raw foods until 4?
Eating raw is beneficial because of the many nutrients and vitamins you can get from greens, fruits, vegetables, etc. These foods are digested much faster, so they should not be eaten after consuming meats and wheat foods. This is why it is advised to eat them first and not at all after. Basically, a fruit is digested in about 30 minutes, meanwhile meats can take up to 4 hours. Imagine what happens inside your stomach if you consume a fruit after eating a steak. It won't make a nice mixture. If you need energy fast, grab a fruit, drink a vegetable smoothie, etc.
*The issue is mainly fruits and meats. The best thing to pair with a steak is a salad. It is easily digestible and not heavy for the digestive system.
3) Vegetarianism/Veganism
Think it's impossible to cut meat from your life? I definitely thought it was. I am a Latina - a meal without meat was always considered incomplete. Well, it's not. On the contrary, meat is not good for us.
But the PROTEIN...
Did you know that there is more protein in a bowl of quinoa than a juicy steak? Imagine pairing that quinoa with some red or black beans. Yeah, it's pretty much a protein explosion. You know what else quinoa and beans have in common? They are vegetarian and delicious.
Eating meat is definitely more cultural than it is crucial. We don't actually need it. We not only avoid being a part of the mistreatment of animals, we are taking a conscious effort to lead healthier lives.
Do I have to be vegan?
No, you don't. I mostly am, but can't call myself that because I eat my omelet on Saturday mornings with my mom and my Gouda cheese with my arepa on Sunday. I love me some occasional animal products, but that doesn't mean I HAVE to eat meat for every meal or really any meal.
*Animal products have vitamin B-12 that should be taken as a supplement if you do decide to go full-vegan.
It's not for PETA, it's for health. (But I mean - it can totally be for PETA, if that's your prerogative.)
4) Organic food
I cannot stress this one enough. This is not a fad, this is SUPER important. Friends, you really need to eat organic. (science geeks - sorry, it's what it's called. Ok? Ok.)
Fruits, vegetables, meats and all other foods that are not organic are going to have unnecessary chemicals, hormones, additives, etc. in them. The reason people in the US are so sick is because of this.
It's not that hard to see the correlation. More and more people are getting cancer at younger and younger ages because our foods are genetically modified, filled with toxic chemicals and unnatural hormones. Can you believe that even baby formula has a fungicide in its ingredients? Now it makes more sense that children are more often getting sick - something I just could not fathom before.
Keep in mind that a "natural" label is not enough, it has to say organic. Also, some labels can be tricky and say "no added hormones" - yeah, none were added after the fact, but the animals were either given these hormones while alive or were fed non-organic, pesticide-rich foods - OR WORSE: the pesticides/fungicides/poisons were genetically modified into the food's genes.
*Also, just because something is organic, it doesn't mean it's "healthy" or not going to make you gain weight. Simply switching to organic is not going to help keep off or lose the unwanted weight. It's really just about not adding toxins into your body.
5) Staying AWAY from processed foods
Be it organic or not, we need to stay away from processed foods. If they have a label, they are not good for us. In a perfect world, we would cook every day and eat mostly raw. I get that it's almost impossible to do that and sometimes you crave that organic cookie or pasta. But we need to try to minimize the amount of processed foods we eat. Added sugars are what are keeping our bodies sluggish and unhealthily overweight. The best thing for our liver is to stay away from these snacks and foods.
*Leading healthier lives should not be for the sake of shedding pounds, it should be for the betterment of the quality of our lives. The shedding of pounds is just an added bonus ;)
I understand that each point is brief and you may have more questions. If you do, I have plenty of documentaries to recommend. Seriously watch them, they changed our (me + my family) lives. You can also leave a comment below and I can give you some more sources!
Documentaries:
Food Matters
Fed Up!
Forks Over Knives
Food, Inc.
Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
American Addict
*Most can be streamed on Netflix.
<3
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