Numbers released by the Journal of the American Medical Association suggest that 65 percent of North Americans are overweight.
Weight gain brings with it more than just a need for larger sized clothing.
Increased weight contributes to many diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and arthritis.
If you find yourself constantly on the yo-yo diet rollercoaster, read on for simple ways to change your lifestyle, shrink your waistline and increase your energy, all the while improving your overall health.
"Eating clean" is a relatively new buzz word.
But what, exactly, does it mean? Eating clean is a lifestyle-not a diet-that consists of eating more food, more often.
Because you'll be making healthier choices in the kinds of food you eat, you'll soon see weight loss and a renewed energy, as well as an overall sense of feeling better.
"Clean" foods are those that are minimally processed or foods that you consume in their present state.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best example of clean foods.
Refined foods such as white flour and sugar are those to avoid.
Processed foods generally have additives to preserve their shelf-life in the grocery stores and in your pantry.
While many of these additives make our foods taste and look more appealing, they also add to our waistlines.
Foods that are "clean" can be consumed right out of the ground or off the tree, with little or nothing added to their natural state.
Meat is another example of a clean food.
Obviously, daily lunches of Big Macs aren't going to do much to shrink your waistline-or your arteries, for that matter-but learning to choose leaner cuts of meat will give you the benefits of protein and keep you feeling full longer.
Chicken, trimmed of the skin and fat, is an excellent source of lean protein.
Fish is, as well and it's also loaded with minerals that you can't find in other foods.
Combining a lean protein with a complex carbohydrate at every meal will keep you satisfied and keep your metabolism running to burn more calories and increase your energy.
Other lean proteins include low-fat cottage cheese, low-fat yogurt, eggs and natural nut butters such as peanut, almond or cashew butters.
Avoiding sugar-loaded sodas and juices is another principle of eating clean.
Substitute these for at least 2 liters (or 8 cups) of water every day.
You'll feel less bloated and you may even see an improvement to your complexion.
Alcohol is another sneaky foe in this arena.
It consists mostly of sugar so consume it sparingly.
Eating clean means choosing foods that are in (or close to) their natural state, combining lean proteins with complex carbohydrates at every meal, and eating five or six small meals every day.
Also incorporate drinking plenty of water (2 liters per day) and avoiding all saturated fats, trans fats and refined foods like white flour and sugar to round out a clean-eating lifestyle for increased health, energy and overall wellness.
Weight gain brings with it more than just a need for larger sized clothing.
Increased weight contributes to many diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and arthritis.
If you find yourself constantly on the yo-yo diet rollercoaster, read on for simple ways to change your lifestyle, shrink your waistline and increase your energy, all the while improving your overall health.
"Eating clean" is a relatively new buzz word.
But what, exactly, does it mean? Eating clean is a lifestyle-not a diet-that consists of eating more food, more often.
Because you'll be making healthier choices in the kinds of food you eat, you'll soon see weight loss and a renewed energy, as well as an overall sense of feeling better.
"Clean" foods are those that are minimally processed or foods that you consume in their present state.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best example of clean foods.
Refined foods such as white flour and sugar are those to avoid.
Processed foods generally have additives to preserve their shelf-life in the grocery stores and in your pantry.
While many of these additives make our foods taste and look more appealing, they also add to our waistlines.
Foods that are "clean" can be consumed right out of the ground or off the tree, with little or nothing added to their natural state.
Meat is another example of a clean food.
Obviously, daily lunches of Big Macs aren't going to do much to shrink your waistline-or your arteries, for that matter-but learning to choose leaner cuts of meat will give you the benefits of protein and keep you feeling full longer.
Chicken, trimmed of the skin and fat, is an excellent source of lean protein.
Fish is, as well and it's also loaded with minerals that you can't find in other foods.
Combining a lean protein with a complex carbohydrate at every meal will keep you satisfied and keep your metabolism running to burn more calories and increase your energy.
Other lean proteins include low-fat cottage cheese, low-fat yogurt, eggs and natural nut butters such as peanut, almond or cashew butters.
Avoiding sugar-loaded sodas and juices is another principle of eating clean.
Substitute these for at least 2 liters (or 8 cups) of water every day.
You'll feel less bloated and you may even see an improvement to your complexion.
Alcohol is another sneaky foe in this arena.
It consists mostly of sugar so consume it sparingly.
Eating clean means choosing foods that are in (or close to) their natural state, combining lean proteins with complex carbohydrates at every meal, and eating five or six small meals every day.
Also incorporate drinking plenty of water (2 liters per day) and avoiding all saturated fats, trans fats and refined foods like white flour and sugar to round out a clean-eating lifestyle for increased health, energy and overall wellness.
Source...