Are you tired all of the time? Well eating the right food can give you more energy.
First, increase your intake of Vitamin B. Have cereal for breakfast — porridge oats or Muesli will make a real difference. Include a brightly colored fruit salad with some live yoghurt in your diet every day.
Bananas are wonderful high-energy snacks, which is why tennis players munch on them mid-match. A good breakfast sets you up for the day. People who eat breakfast have more energy and real power for the day ahead. They are also less likely to snack and put on weight. Peaches are so good for you and great for energy. Avoid caffeine and sugary snacks.
It is an amazing fact, but it is true that if you exercise you will have more energy. Exercise for 10 minutes every morning before your shower for a bright, confident and energetic start to your day. Just e-mail to [email protected] for a free copy of my Mini-Morning Workout.
If you are suffering from bloating and flatulence, the first thing to check is whether you are drinking sufficient water, especially in hot weather. Insufficient water can also cause constipation. Vegetarians who are lacking protein in their diets can also suffer from fluid retention and flatulence. So make sure you have some protein every day. Eating plain yoghurt is very good for the gut and helps prevent wind. Fresh pineapple contains wonderful enzymes that also help relieve wind and soothe the stomach. Aniseed and fennel can also decrease flatulence and aid digestion. Some people get wind after eating dairy produce — if so you may be sensitive to dairy food or lactose intolerant.
Herbal teas like peppermint or fennel can help and also have a calming effect on the stomach. If you are overweight, don’t immediately think of dieting. If you lose weight quickly on a diet you will almost certainly put it back on later. Take the intelligent approach.
Think about eating positively and healthily. Making gradual changes to your routine your body does not like sudden changes. Enjoy a healthy breakfast; mid-morning fruit snacks; lunch to include a portion of carbohydrates; mid-afternoon treat; supper before 9 p.m. with low fat dessert. It is sensible, healthy eating by routine that gradually drops the kilos permanently. It is gradual lifestyle changes that last long term; serial dieting just leads to misery!
Recipe of the Week
Mexican Beans and Rice
Serves 6
Ingredients
1 cup long-grain white rice — uncooked
1/2 tsp olive oil
1 cup onions — chopped
1 cup celery — sliced
1 clove garlic — minced
425 g pinto beans, canned — drained and washed
225 g no-salt-added tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp ketchup
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp hot pepper sauce
Method: Cook rice according to package directions. In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat add onions, celery, and garlic. Cook and stir until crisp-tender. Add pinto beans, tomato sauce, water, ketchup, chili powder, and hot pepper sauce. Heat thoroughly, stirring occasionally. Serve over rice.
Ask Alva
How many calories do we need to burn before we lose 1 kilo weight? I know from your column that jogging can consume 4 calories per pound of the body weight per hour. This means, If I jog 30 minutes a day and my weight is 165 pounds, I loss about (165 x 4) x 30/60 = 330 calories per day or 9900 calories per month. Considering that my food intake per month is 5000 calories, my net loss per month is 9900 — 5000 = 4000 calories. Is it right? I want to know approximately how many kg is 4000 calories. — Norodin
Of course my guideline is only a guideline — I wish it was so simple! I doubt very much that your food intake per month is only 5,000 calories. That would be the equivalent of just 167 calories a day! In my experience, the average person in the Middle East consumes more than 1,300 calories a day (or around 40,000 calories a month), which is why they are overweight. So, if for example your daily calorie intake is 1,700 you would need to burn off 400 calories a day just to ensure that you did not put on any weight. — Alva
