WHOOPS sorry this newsletter is late I hold my hands up it was ME. I could blame the computer but I wrote the newsletter last night and simply forgot to schedule. Anyway better late than never.
Being
healthy often seems incredibly complicated. There are advertisements everywhere and various experts giving conflicting advice, however being healthy does not need to be complicated. People were much healthier in the past, before all the dieting and “health products” took hold of our society. The rules haven’t changed since then… our genetics are the same and what worked for us back in the day can also work for us now. To gain optimal health, lose weight and feel better every
day, then all you need to do is follow some simple rules.
Alcohol is fine in moderation for those who can tolerate it.
But what is MUCH more common today is eating unhealthy, disease
promoting foods. If you want to gain optimal health, then you need to minimize your consumption of these foods. Probably the single, most effective change you can make to improve your diet is to cut back on processed, packaged foods. This can be tough, because many of these foods have been altered by so-called food engineers to make them as addictive as possible. Regarding specific ingredients, added sugars are by far the worst. This includes sucrose and high fructose corn syrup. Both can
wreak havoc on your metabolism when consumed in excess, although some people can tolerate moderate amounts.
Avoiding wheat may also be of critical importance and this includes whole wheat which can lead to all sorts of problems.
It is a good idea to avoid all fats that require chemicals and factories to produce… this includes man-made trans-fats, as well as refined seed- and vegetable oils like soybean, corn and sunflower oils.
Lift things and move around - it is important for optimal health to use your muscles. Lifting weights and exercising goes way beyond just looking good. Exercise is also crucial for your body, brain and hormones to function optimally. Lifting weights lowers your blood sugar and insulin levels, improves cholesterol
and lowers triglycerides. It also raises your levels of testosterone and growth hormone, both associated with improved well-being. Lifting weights (and other forms of exercise) can help reduce depression and your risk of all sorts of chronic diseases, including obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and many
more.
Exercise can also help you lose fat especially if it’s combined with a healthy diet. Not just because it burns calories, but because it improves your hormonal status and overall function of your body.
There are
many ways to exercise. It doesn’t have to be in a gym. It’s also important to go outside and move around there, especially if you can get some sun while you’re at it (for a natural source of Vitamin D). Walking is a good choice and a highly underrated form of exercise. I have a Fitbit and I always make sure I hit 10,000 steps. The key is to choose something that you enjoy and can stick to in the long run. If you’re completely out of shape or you have any medical problems, then it
is a good idea to talk to a doctor or qualified health professional before starting a new training program.
Sleep is important for overall health and studies show that sleep deprivation correlates with many diseases, including obesity and heart disease. Make time for
good, quality sleep.
Avoid Excess Stress - Being healthy is about more than just diet, exercise and sleep. The way we feel and how we think is also very important… and being stressed all the time is a recipe for disaster.
Excess stress can raise cortisol levels and cause severe harmful effects on metabolism. It can increase junk food cravings, fat in the abdominal area and raise your risk of all sorts of diseases. There is also evidence that stress is a significant contributor to depression, which is a massive health problem today. In order to reduce stress, try to
simplify your life. Do some exercise, practice deep breathing techniques and maybe even meditation. Not only will overcoming your stress make you healthier, it will also improve your life in other ways.
Nourish Your Body With Real Foods - The simplest and most effective way to eat healthy is to just
focus on real foods. Choose unprocessed, whole foods that resemble what they looked like in nature. It is best to eat a combination of animals and plants… Meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, as well as healthy fats.
If you’re healthy, lean and active, then eating whole, unrefined carbs is absolutely fine. This
includes sweet potatoes, legumes and non-gluten grains like oats and rice.
Whatever you do, make an effort to choose whole, unprocessed foods instead of foods that look like they were made in a factory.
You need to stick with it for life - It’s important to keep in mind that the “dieting” mind-set is a bad idea, because it almost never works in the long term.
For this reason, it is critical to aim for a lifestyle change.
Being healthy is a marathon, not a race.
It takes time… and you need to
stick with it for life.
Have a great day love Paula x
