Optimal Health Through Diet

Maintaining a healthy diet during any holiday or any stressful season isn’t very easy to do; then, following the crisis, many people go on strict diets drinking diet soda and skiping meals. Not eating healthy meals can cause illness, fatigue and general malaise.

The rest of the year it is easier to stay focused on eating healthier, unless you have the loss of a loved one, a major accident or some other crisis.

If you make healthy eating a habit, along with a least a walk a few times weekly, you will reap the rewards.

Good health, on the other hand, from eating healthy meals may help with many physical problems, such as, fatigue, migraines, poor skin and hair. In the Anitaging 101.

The Course Manual it states, “there are eight tangible health goals which seek to achieve: optimizing cell function and metabolism, while controlling insulin, glucose, cortisol, free radicals, hormones, and inflammation.”

Avoid fatigue by avoiding processed carbohydrates and sugary foods. If you can control your blood sugar, your body will go into the fat-burning mode, which produces more energy. There are some vegetables that provide a slower release of carbohydrates and could stabilize the blood sugar and provide an immediate perk. These include spinach, green beans and broccoli.

Women who experience chronic stress tend to indulge in high calorie, high-sugar snacks, which only cause them more stress. Eating the unhealthy snacks cause nutritional deficiencies. which also increases stress.

We tend to think of reducing stress by getting our life more organized, or getting some help for another person, however, healthy snacks can help you cope with stress are berries and foods rich in B vitamins, such as yogurt, low-fat milk and salmon.

Headaches, including migraines, are caused by dietary factors 50 percent of the time. Try keeping a food diary for several days to trace the cause of your migraines. Some typical foods that cause a restricted blood flow, include caffeine, nitrates found in cured meats and aged cheeses.

A low magnesium level can also trigger headaches. Some foods containing magnesium are fish, beans and spinach.

Many women struggle with hot flashes, and phyto-estrogen food helps combat this problem. The most effective food that might help is soy milk, soy beans and tofu. Other sources of phyto-estrogens are beans, apples and potatoes.

Eating healthy fats or omega 3 can reduce cell inflammation in your body that is caused by consuming a high sugar and carbohydrate intake. This cell inflammation can lead to psoriasis and eczema, plus limp hair and weak nails. Some foods high in omega 3 are salmon, walnuts, almonds, and flax seed. Iron rich proteins are found in lean, beef, lamb, turkey and chicken. These will make your hair and nails stronger.

In the U.S., 35.5 of women are obese, as compared to 32.2% according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

In a Brookhaven National Laboratory study using brain scans proved that women are less able to control food cravings despite their efforts at self control. Women’s brains showed a much greater response to their favorite food than men, which may be one reason women have more difficulty dieting than men.

Of course, eating healthy meals with fruit, vegetables, whole grains and nuts can help women control a healthy body weight

List of some specific food and their benefits:

• Eggs – belly fat, migraines, PMS
• Sunflower seeds – hot flashes, cramps, memory
• Cherries - arthritis, memory loss, cataracts
• Powdered milk – high blood pressure, stronger bones and teeth
• Blueberries – memory, aging, belly fat
• Parsley –bad breath, digestion, fatigue
• Almonds –hair and nails, memory, heart health
• Raspberries –hair and nails, memory, weight loss
• Lemons –weight loss, nausea, arthritis
• Brown rice –weight loss, cellulite, improves mood
• Cranberries –prevents UTI’s, plague on teeth, ulcers
• Flax seed –nails, hair, mood, constipation
• Pumpkin seeds – depression, bladder problems, concentration
• Dark chocolate –blood pressure, depression, stress
• Red onions –reduces cholesterol, arthritis, osteoporosis
• Salmon –heart benefits, eyesight, fatigue
• Tomatoes –stress, weight loss, skin health

If you want to maintain optimal health it is imperative to eat a healthy diet. Research continues to show the connection between disease and poor eating habits. While it is not always easy to eat only healthy recipes.

If you do eat a sugary snack then you simply return to your diet. Look at the big picture of your whole diet knowing you are doing your best most of the time will increase your self esteem and your health in general.

I love the fact that dark chocolate is on the healthy list, so you can indulge occasionally in small amounts and be guilt free!