I thought this article in Better Homes and Gardens was very interesting. The great part is, we are coming into the peak of veggie season here in Macomb County. Now is the time to eat a little healthier and maybe drop a few pounds! :-)
Today: Summer picks such as juicy blueberries, crisp green beans, and sweet corn are delicious multitaskers. They're bursting with flavor and they're largely composed of water, which means they satisfy while they slenderize. In fact, sit down to a produce-packed lunch, and you'll eat about 10 percent fewer calories than usual at dinner, says registered dietitian Leslie Bonci author of The Active Calorie Diet.
In two weeks: As your body is nourished by the rich stores of nutrients and fiber in fruits and vegetables, you'll feel noticeably more energetic, say Andrew Well, M.D., founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Health Science Center. Many plant-based nutrients have anti-inflammatory properties, Bonci adds, so you might experience fewer aches and pains, too.
In ten years: A 2012 study found that people who ate the most serving of fruits and vegetables - about 3 1/2 per day - had a 21 percent lower likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes than people who avoided produce. Weight control is one reason researchers say, but specific nutrients also might play a role.
Get Started: People tend to over estimate the number of fruit and vegetable servings they eat in a given day, Bonci says. Her visual rule of thumb: At every meals, reserve half your plate for produce. If that seems too daunting, try adding at least one fruit or vegetable to every dish. Stack a lean burger with lettuce and tomato, enjoy scrambled eggs with salsa, and toss peas into rice pilaf.
It sounds like we all need to make sure we have a good healthy dose of veggies in our daily diet! Stay healthy and we'll see you at the farm market!
No comments:
Post a Comment