1. Cut out any processed/convenience/takeaway foods
These are high in fats, salt and sugars and have almost no nutritional benefits to them whatsoever. They will do little to help your body recover and give it the vitamins, minerals and nutrients it needs, so avoid them at whenever possible.
2. Cut down on sugar and sugary snacks
Sugar can be classed as a toxin; the body does not like it although the taste buds might! Eating large amounts of it on a regular basis may create an addictive dependency that is difficult to break, especially if you are already prone to addictive tendencies. Therefore, try not to replace your primary addiction with sugar and aim to lower your daily intake gradually so your body can get things back on an even keel. This means that biscuits, cakes, sweets, chocolate and fizzy drinks are not the best choices you can be making to improve your health, your brain chemistry or your waistline.
3. Drink more water!
The body is made up of almost three quarters water. The body and mind do not function properly without proper hydration, yet up to 40% of us don’t drink enough. We need to aim for a minimum of a litre and a half a day, more in hot weather or when we exercise. Water is especially beneficial because it flushes out toxins in the system (and we may have collected a fair few of them along the way!) So aim to drink more and you will start to see and feel the benefits and you will be able to perform at your optimum level both mentally and physically.
3. Switch from white to brown foods
White bread, rice and pasta do not contain nearly as much goodness as their brown counterparts because they have been refined. Wholegrain and wholemeal versions contain more fibre and nutrients.
4. Eat at regular intervals, and don’t skip breakfast
Think of your body as a fire that should be constantly glowing. You need to stoke the fire intermittently and make sure you don’t leave it without fuel for hours, or it will burn out. We need fuel little and often to keep our metabolism functioning. If we give our body little or no sustenance our metabolic rate drops and the body believes it may be going into famine, so it slows right down and starts to store some fat to see it through. Not what most people want more of!
It helps to think of everything we put into our bodies as either moving us towards health and vitality or taking us away from it. We have the choice, so pay attention to what your body is communicating to you. If you feel better after eating a certain food it’s likely it’s doing you good!
