If there’s one thing we know about women, it’s that we love our dresses and our accessories, and we hate being told what to do. Which is why we’re pretty sure that when it comes to our health, most of us will ignore any advice we don’t want to follow and will do whatever makes us feel good. As a result, research confirms what common sense already knows: When it comes to our looks, we need to look after our bodies a bit differently to men.
If you’re looking for a way to lose weight, you’ve probably considered the often-repeated conventional wisdom that states you need to cut out foods with sugar and starch in order to burn fat. While this information is certainly valid, there’s more to healthy eating than cutting out certain foods. It is well-established that what we eat affects how we look and feel, but it’s not always about what we don’t eat. There are ways to nourish our bodies while also losing weight, and it starts with a change in mindset.
Eating To Nourish
When we’re trying to lose weight, we often think only about the calories in the foods we consume. However, there are types of food that provide our bodies with nutrients that are necessary for healthy growth and functioning. In some cases, these foods provide essential protection against diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Eating to nourish is more effective than cutting out foods or relying on “fad diets” that don’t provide necessary nutrients.
Some of the foods that are good for you and your body but that you might not consider part of your everyday diet are as follows:
- Dark chocolate
- Eggs
- Walnuts
- Blueberries
- Flaxseeds
- Chamomile Flowers
- Grapes
- Raspberries
- Apples
- Watermelon
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Pears
- Figs
- Tomatoes
- Red Onions
- Radishes
- Chives
- Pecans
- Red Beans
- Adzuki Beans
- Green Beans
- Lentils
- Fava Beans
- Black-Eyed Peas
- Kale
The importance of avoiding diet fads that don’t nourish your body cannot be overstated. When we’re trying to lose weight, it’s easy for diets to become less than satisfying because we’re not getting the nutrients our bodies need. Instead, we’re often relying on low-calorie foods that provide nutrients only in chemically-altered form. This might sound like an exaggeration, but it isn’t. When you compare the nutritional content of a bowl of fresh fruit to that of a bottle of sweetened, canned fruit sauce, it’s easy to see how much more effective and nutritious eating to nourish is.
Eating To Promote Weight Loss
Eating to promote weight loss basically means eating to help your body maintain a healthy weight. A healthy weight can vary from person to person, but it usually signifies that your weight is within the normal range for your height and build. When we’re trying to lose weight, our bodies undergo hormone changes that affect our appetite, making us more likely to want to eat less. This can lead to weight loss, as long as we’re not depriving ourselves of necessary nutrients. If you follow a balanced diet that includes all of the foods mentioned above, as well as some additional healthy choices such as spinach, strawberries, and broccoli, you’ll be on your way to a healthier and more satisfying life. You may even see improvements in your sleep, too!
When we’re trying to lose weight, it’s important to not only eat to nourish our bodies but also to eat to promote weight loss. In some cases, this can be as simple as adding another piece of fruit to your morning bowl of oats, or it could mean scaling back on the sugar in your tea and coffee.
Whatever it may mean for you, it’s important to find what works best for you and your personal preferences and to continue eating healthy even when you don’t feel like it. Some people love to eat when they’re feeling stressed or anxious, and others find it more satisfying to eat when they’re feeling happy or inspired. Knowing the reason behind your eating habits can help you find the best way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet, as well as the perfect weight-loss recipe for you. When it comes to your body and your health, nothing is off-limits.