| Nutrition accounts for approximately 80% of weight loss while exercise is only 20%. That’s why some people who are always in the gym and don’t diet are not losing weight and wonder what they’re doing wrong. It’s all about the dietary intake. Clean Eating has grown in popularity over the last decade, because of the reduced risk of heart disease and increase in energy and mood. The diet has clear rules: try not to eat products from a box or with a barcode on it. Shop for fresh organic produce and lean grass-fed beef or free range organic chicken. Think about how our ancestors ate. They consumed unprocessed and natural foods with simple ingredients. The Eat Clean Diet, a book by Tosca Reno, explains the concept of clean eating and how to implement it into your daily life. The formula to eat clean at every meal or snack is simple: lean protein + complex carbohydrates. Complex carbs include vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains. Try to avoid simple carbohydrates such as, bread and pasta, if you’re watching your weight. Lean proteins include, but are not limited to, lean grass-fed beef, chicken breast, fish, and pork loin. Reno suggests to eat six times a day. Breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, and a sensible dinner. Every meal and snack should consist of the lean protein and complex carb combo. If you don’t think clean eating is for you, another nutritional lifestyle to try is the Fab Four Diet, which is the cornerstone of Kelly LeVeque’s book, Body Love. LeVeque is a nutritionist for celebrities such as, Jessica Alba (who wrote the foreword to the book), Molly Sims, and Jennifer Garner. The components of the Fab Four are Protein, Fat, Fiber, and Greens, which should all be implemented into three meals per day. An example is the Fab Four Smoothie for breakfast: a serving of collagen protein powder, a handful of spinach, 2 tbsp. of coconut oil, almond milk, 1/4 cup berries, and 2 tbsp. chia seeds. These four components together balance out insulin and blood glucose levels to keep you satiated and hormonally balanced throughout the day. Either diet is a great way to improve nutrition and overall well-being. Both encourage eating a variety of foods and exotic produce. See which one works best for your lifestyle. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before starting any kind of nutritional plan. Bon appétit! |
Kimberly H. Korn is a Registered Nurse and is passionate about teaching people about wellness, mental health, and self-care. She currently has a weekly podcast called Beauty and the Nurse, which can be found on various platforms. Kimberly is now enrolled in a MSN program at Adelphi University to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She is also planning her wedding with her fiancee, James, who is also a nurse. Follow Kimberly on Instagram @beautyandthenurse for more. |
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