Sue Hardman

Nourish + Rejuvenate

Balanced diet

Stress is Not Good For Your Immune System

By

We Live in an age of anxiety caused by stress

 

Our modern, rushed lifestyles have allowed stress to filter into almost every area of our lives. When you feel stressed your body reacts by releasing chemicals giving you more energy and strength.  A good thing if you’re facing physical danger and a bad thing, if it’s due to emotional stress and there is no outlet for this extra energy and strength.

There are many different causes — could be physical (such as fear of something dangerous) or emotional (such as worry over your family or job.) Identifying what may be causing you stress is often the first step in learning how to better deal with it.

So stress is best described as a state of mental and emotional strain resulting from adverse or demanding events in your life.  Of course, it’s impossible to avoid all the stressors that come your way.

The solution however, lies in the way you react to it.

How stress weakens the immune system

Scientists have long been aware of the connection between your stress and your immune system, and how it compromises your immunity.

The immune system is your body’s form of defence, which is made up a myriad of cells, tissues and organs, which work together to fight toxins and other foreign substances which threaten to do harm to your body.  When you’re stressed the immune system’s ability to defend the body is reduced, and we become susceptible to infections etc.

This is how your immune system is compromised by stress:

  • Studies have shown that the immune system of highly stressed people have sluggish responses to health challenges.
  • The raised levels of the stress hormone cortisol, over-produced by chronic stress, can suppress the effectiveness of the immune system, making you more vulnerable to reduce stress responseinfections.
  • While cortisol does its job, the immune system receives signals to slow down, and if the stressor is not eased and cortisol stays high, the immune system may remain in low gear.
  • The under-performing immune system can then result in serious inflammatory conditions, which is the cause of many ailments.
  •  The immunity of those who would normally have a healthy immune system, is subsequently lowered.
  • Chronic levels leads to a lower amount of a certain protein being produced, which is instrumental in the signalling for “reinforcements” between immune cells. Without this communication the body is in danger of contracting acute illnesses, and may have to endure extended recovery times.
  • Can have an indirect effect on the immune system if a person uses unhealthy coping strategies like binge-eating of unhealthy foods, and smoking or drinking much more than usual.

The bottom line is that if you have constant, chronic stress which is not effectively handled, you lay yourself open to various illnesses which can have a devastating effect on your health. Learning to cope in a healthy way will minimise the negative impact it may have on how your immune system functions.

Steps you can take to help reduce stress
reduce stress

  • Follow a healthy diet, be sure to eat a good nourishing breakfast. Stress reduces levels of magnesium and vitamin C – be sure to boost your intake of these. For MORE detail on this read Boost Your Immunity and Keep Healthy All Year Round
  • Stay away from sugars and bad fats (trans/processed). These put unnecessary stress on you, spiking blood insulin and your digestive system.
  • Avoid excessive caffeine, which may give you a short boost, but could leave you feeling jittery and anxious as you wind down.
  • It’s very important to get enough sleep. Sleep pattern disturbances, or even mild insomnia, will be perceived by the body as major stress. The cortisol will rise to new heights, and immunity will fall to new lows.
  • Interact socially often, and talk to family and friends if you feel the need to unburden or get some advice. Boost the love hormone to reduce your stress.

The efficiency of your stress-coping skills will be the key to a vital, fully-functioning immune system.

Some good news

The good news is that a little stress is not a bad thing, as it keeps you alert to react to sudden, unexpected dangers. Short-term suppression of the immune system will not put you into danger, it is only when it’s chronic that you will be prone to infection and disease.

Brief, and short bouts of stress due to unforeseen events or circumstances in your life, will simply keep you on your toes to respond quickly to the situation, and will have no negative effect whatsoever on your immune system.

In conclusion

Stress is no laughing matter, as it plays a part in many diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, AIDS, obesity, and chronic digestive problems (IBS), to name but a few.

Many women don’t realise the knock on effect that it has on their hormonal system – think Adrenal fatigue, PMS, hot flushes, skin problems. After all everything is connected, cortisol – the stress hormone causes all the other hormones to go out of balance.

Surveys conducted worldwide have revealed some disturbing facts.

  • In the US results showed 75% of adults reported experiencing high to moderate stress in the past month, and more than half felt it had increased over the past year
  • 91% of Australians presently feel stress in at least one part of their lives. Australian employers report absenteeism due to stress costs the economy about $14.2 billion annually.
  • 3.7 million working days are lost annually in the UK, thanks to stress related issues, at a cost of about 28.3 billion British pounds.

A serious situation indeed!

You do not have to be a statistic of poor health because of stress. If you cannot handle it on your own, get assistance from someone who has the expertise to help you. Do what is best for your health.

My clients have seen the benefits of using herbs called adaptogens which have an amazing ability to help you’re body deal with stress,  Adaptogens Might Be Your Answer To Fatigue, Stress or Anxiety

 

 

 

If you want to get all the latest news, blogs and programs be sure to sign up to Sue’s newsletter. You” also get your copy of the FREE e-book: 5 Foods that will help boost Your Energy Levels and Lose Weight Naturally. Sign up here

When you sign up you’ll also receive ‘The Good Health Guide’ newsletter with inspiration, practical, easy to follow tips and articles on healthy eating, recipes, exercise and natural medicines to help you live a healthier life.

These newsletter are all delivered straight to your inbox.

This is what readers of the ‘The Good Health Guide’ newsletter are saying about it:

  • Just to say that I do really like your newsletters and many thanks! I always read them all the way through and there’s not many newsletters I can say that about. Sue Saker – London UK www.thecouplescoach.co.uk,

  • Thanks for this – I love receiving your emails ! So interesting.
    Emma – London UK     The Decor Cafe.

  • Fabulous, Excellent Sue!!
    Julie Cleverdon – South Africa. Director of The MTN Science Centre mtnsciencentre.org.za

  • I love your updates Sue -find them really informative and useful. Thank you for sharing important information so freely, what a gift to the health of humanity.
    Pippa Dowding, Leadership Coach and Facilitator – Cape Town, South Africa

  • This is a great newsletter Sue! (caroline@carolinecain.com)

  • Great artical, keep them coming. Doug – Frankfurt, Germany

 

 

Get your copy of the FREE e-book:
5 Foods that will help boost Your Energy Levels and Lose Weight Naturally.

HERE

 

 

References.
www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in/stress/art-2004603
www.livestrong.com/article/22689-stress-affect-immune-system/
www.gostress.com/stress-facts/

Hummus so much more than a dip

By

Do you plan or consider what you’re going to eat for the day?  Do you ever consider the role of functional foods? These are foods that have a beneficial nutritional role – whether it be to provide your body with essential nutrients, balance hormones or to help your liver with the detoxification process.  Of course, if food doesn’t look or taste good then you’ll struggle to find me eating it – it’s best when all 3 are delivered.

Hummus is a creamy Middle Eastern dip that I’d class as a superfood with all it’s health benefits and I hope it will be a staple in your home after reading this.

Why eat hummus?

The classic hummus recipes contains 6 ingredients: chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, sea salt, and tahini.Hummus contains the following nutrients: Protein, Fiber, Healthy Fat, Carbs, Vitamins – A, C, Vitamin B6, Folate and Minerals – Iron, Zinc, Calcium, Phosphorus and Manganese

The benefits of each ingredient:

  • Chickpeas are protein, fibre-rich legumes, a natural source of phytoestrogen, (which isn’t actually estrogen but does a good job of standing in for it) and a great choice if you’re looking to reduce your meat consumption. They’ll keep you feeling fuller for longer because of that combination of fiber and protein.

    Many Mediterranean nations experience great health, low heart disease and greater longevity. This may be due to the high fibre content – like chickpeas. Studies show that having just one daily serving (about 3/4 cup cooked) of beans of any kind can help to decrease chances of a heart attack and to help balance “bad” LDL cholesterol.

    Chickpeas have also been shown to have protective properties against cancer, while the fiber helps to keep waste moving out of the body quickly.

    It helps to balance blood sugar levels and decreases the chance of developing diabetes or insulin resistance.

    Diets rich in beans have been shown to help protect heart health partially due to their low score on the glycemic index. A high-fibre diet that includes legumes can help lower blood cholesterol levels, among other benefits, such as lowering heart disease risk, type 2 diabetes risk, and aiding in weight loss.

  • Tahini or sesame seeds contain lignin’s another natural source of phytoestrogens, loaded with fibre, and they’re also a great source of minerals.Sesame seeds are considered one of the ultimate reproductive foods in Ayurveda.as they enhance egg and sperm quality and quantity.
  • Olive oil is not cooked, and will therefore not be oxidised and hydrogenated.  Olive oil has been found to reduce inflammation in your body. Regularly consuming olive oil has been correlated with improving blood pressure levels, glucose metabolism, and reducing harmful cholesterol.
  • Raw garlic has a whole host of benefits including flavonoids, oligosaccharides, selenium, high levels of sulfur, and more. Garlic has been proven to help reduce your risk factors associated with heart disease, cancers and it acts as an anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral.
  • Lemon juice is alkalising and helps reduce acidity common in most modern diets, it also helps to increase your immunity, boost digestion, and to help keep blood sugar levels stable.
  • Sea salt best from a good quality source i.e. Himalayan sea salt which contains 60 trace minerals that have numerous health benefits:

Hummus is an anti-inflammatory food:

  • Extracts from garlic have been shown to reduce inflammation and help fight wrinkles and aging.
  • Chick Peas reduce inflammation, blood clots and inflammation markers.
  • Olive oil and sesame seeds reduce inflammation and provide important antioxidants, both which play a part in maintaining heart health by keeping the structure of arteries and cell walls healthy. The role of inflamm-ageing in a previous post you can read it here.

    Classic Hummus Recipe


1 cup chickpeas (rinse and drain well)
+ 1/3 cup Tahini
+ 2 tablespoons olive oil
+ 2 tablespoons lemon juice
+ 1 clove garlic
+salt to tastePlace all ingredients in a food processor or blender and mix until smooth.

I’ve found to get the best consistency that you need to add more liquid – you can either add a tablespoon of water at a time, I prefer to add more olive oil.

Be sure to make your Hummus with good quality extra virgin olive oil.

The great thing about hummus is that you can make a number of different varieties depending on what you like – add roasted red pepper
or cooked beetroot, pesto, avocado or cooked zucchini.

It can then be used in sandwiches, smoothing over chicken or fish, and even baked potatoes but I think its best for eating raw vegetables like carrot, cucumber or celery.

If you don’t want to miss any future newsletters or blogs please sign up here and you’ll also get a free guide  

5 Foods that will boost Your Energy Levels and Help You Lose Weight Naturally.

GO HERE TO GRAB YOUR COPY

Prevent osteoporosis and increase bone density

By

Stop osteoporosis and strengthen your bones as you age – the 6 Do’s and Don’ts

This blog was inspired by my grandmother.

After my grandfather died my granny lived for many years on her own with her dog for company, doing everything for herself, well into her late 80’s. She really cherished her independence until the day she slipped and broke her hip, her life was never the same again. She had osteoporosis.

She was moved to an old age home so she could be taken care of. Her hip never really fully recovered and she struggled to walk properly again. She was kind of happy and cared for, but she’d lost her independence and she had to stay in the home for the rest of her life. Not an uncommon story, but I wanted to dedicate my article to her and to you, so you have essential knowledge about keeping your bones strong and healthy as you age.

When it comes to the health of your bones from the age of 35 your bone mass declines. Adopting the right strategies to prevent low bone density or osteoporosis needs to start before you get a diagnosis. In the article I’ve given you a few essentials to consider, that will help keep you strong and stable as you age.

Strong Bones – 6 Do’s and Don’ts!



The health of your bones is instrumental to your health and longevity. Bone formation peaks between the ages of 20 and 30. After the age of 35 you begin to lose bone mass unless you take action to prevent it!

We all seem to have it in our heads that we only need calcium to build healthy, strong bones. However there’s far more to the story to giving you fracture free strong bones, both now and down the road. There are other essentials components for better calcium absorption and stronger bones.

1. Physical activity – your bone is a dynamic living tissue that gets stronger when stressed and weaker when not used. So the best way to improve your bone mass is with weight-bearing exercise, strength training and improving your coordination and balance (with yoga or Tai Chi).

Weight-bearing exercise includes walking, running, dancing and stair climbing. Strength trainer-718x581ctraining (lights weights or using your own body weight) has been found to prevent falls—the most common cause of hip and wrist fractures— when you get older. Swimming and cycling are less effective for maintaining strong bones because they are not weight-bearing.

Try to get 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity daily, including weight-bearing exercise, strength training (at least twice a week), and activities that improve balance to help prevent falls.

2. Calcium – You need 1,000 mg under the age of 50 and 1,200 mg over the age of 50.

700mg a day = eat a handful of almonds, an orange or a serving of broccoli. Other good sources include sardines and sesame seeds.

3. Key nutrients or co-factors are necessary to support the absorption of Calcium into your bones.

a) Vitamin D – is essential.  If you’ve not had much sunlight exposure you might be deficient. You can also get it from foods such as oily fish and egg yolks. About 400IU/day

b) The support of probiotics. A recent research study found women 48 and older who took a probiotic supplement for at least eight weeks improved their bone density by 36%, compared to those who didn’t take a probiotic.

c) Omega 3 – found in flax, oily fish and chia seeds increases the absorption of calcium plus omega 3 is anti-inflammatory. To much inflammation stimulates the bone dissolving cells (osteoclasts).

d) Vitamin K – is a fat-soluble vitamin found in broccoli, cauliflower and green leafy veg. It’s needed to make a protein that’s essential for your bone formation. A study found that those who consumed moderate or high amounts of vitamin K from vegetables had a 30% lower risk of hip fractures than women consuming little or none. Only 100-150mg per day is needed, 500mg of kale gives you your daily portion.

e) Magnesium intake regulates calcium absorption into the bones and approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in your bone. Calcium and magnesium work together like 2 sides of a coin. If you consume a 1,000 mg of calcium per day, then you need at least 500-800 mg of magnesium.

4. Mediterranean diet – latest research shows your skeleton needs a wide range of nutrients to stay young, several studies have found that higher intakes of fruits and vegetables, particularly those rich in potassium, are associated with lower risk of fractures.

Eat a minimum of 7 servings of a variety of different coloured fruits or vegetables daily. Olive oil can raise your blood levels of osteocalcin a marker of strong bones. The antioxidant Lycopene found in tomato can help reduce fractures.

5. Another reason to eat your vegetables – is your diet acidic or alkaline? Calcium is stored in your skeleton and is used to neutralise acids in the body. 

Dr Susan Lanham-558985_570293236324447_1832435506_nNew, professor at the University of Surrey, completed an analysis of clinical trials of the alkaline diet and its potential benefits. ‘An alkaline diet would be beneficial to all women as it appears to help conserve calcium and benefits muscle, heart and bone function.’ 

Acid forming diets are rich in grains, proteins and diary will leach calcium from your bones, fruit & vegetables are classed as alkaline and reverse this process in your body.

6. What to drink? Try to reduce caffeine as it’s diuretic effects increases the amount of calcium you excrete for several hours after we drink it. 

Research also shows that caffeine may interfere with the absorption of Vitamin D. Since Vitamin D is necessary for the body’s absorption and use of calcium. 

Avoid fizzy drinks, they contain phosphoric acid which interferes with calcium absorption.

The good news for wine lovers – Oregon state University suggest a small glass of wine with dinner may be good for bones, but that’s in moderation of course go – overboard and it has the reverse effect.

If you don’t want to miss any future newsletters or blogs please sign up here  in the sign-up box. 

 

If you’re struggling with any kind of  imbalance, tiredness, low energy, hormonal or wanting to lose your excess weight. I’ve  put together a FREE guide for you, so you can start to learn how and why specific foods, and drinks, can help you have more energy and lose weight naturally. 

You’ll find it is easy to add these ingredients into your diet on a daily basis – get your downloadable guide here

In fact, at the end, I’m going to share one simple recipe you can make in under five minutes that incorporates all of these foods.

5foods-loss-weight

Get your copy of the FREE guide:
5 Foods that will help boost Your Energy Levels and Lose Weight Naturally.

 

HERE

 

Eat Healthily Spend Less Time Cooking

By

Eat Healthily – Try these meal prepping shortcuts

Are you eating real, whole food as much as you’d like? I have found that if you’re busy, stressed and have little spare time then the best possible way to live a healthy lifestyle and have healthy and delicious meals all week long is by meal prepping once for the whole week.

It saves you time, money, and stress, all the while allowing you to stay on track with eating healthily.

STEP 1: PLAN & SHOP 

You can begin meal planning by making a list of recipes and meals for the upcoming week. Create a list based on what you will have for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners. Use this as your weekly shopping guide.

STEP 2: PREPARE THE FOOD

When you get home from the store keep out the items you plan to use for your meal prep. Pull up your meal plans and get to washing and cooking!

Many of my breakfast recipes are great for mid-morning snacks, and/or if I am in need of a breakfast on-the-go. I also recommend having a smoothie for your breakfast.

You can prepare big batches of veggies.  Start with washing the greens, then set aside to dry and move onto slicing, dicing, and dividing veggies into containers for use in cooking and salads.

When a recipe calls for sautéed chicken or lean protein, cook it in big batches in your biggest pan or crock pot! That way, you’re only prepping chicken and/or lean meat once for all the recipes!  I store the extra chicken in the freezer for use later.

STEP 3: PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER TO MAKE THE RECIPES

To keep it simple, you can make a large salad in advance and then add the extras when your ready to eat it.  If you’re on the go, divide it into containers.

For dinners, I typically make two favourite main dishes, which allows me to prepare and freeze in advance making it easy for during the week.

 STEP 4: PUT IT ALL AWAY! 

After all the food is prepped and the recipes are made, put everything in containers and place it in the fridge! That way, you’l have delicious, fresh, whole foods for all meals during the week in minutes.

If you are still scratching your head, don’t let it discourage you!!! It can take time to learn and get in the swing of things.

 

If you’re struggling with any kind of hormone imbalance, tiredness, low energy or wanting to lose your excess weight. I’ve  put together a FREE guide for you, so you can start to learn how and why specific foods, and drinks, can help you have more energy and lose weight naturally. 

You’ll find it is easy to add these ingredients into your diet on a daily basis – get your downloadable guide here

In fact, at the end, I’m going to share one simple recipe you can make in under five minutes that incorporates all of these foods.

5foods-loss-weight

Get your copy of the FREE guide:
5 Foods that will help boost Your Energy Levels and Lose Weight Naturally.

 

HERE

Stress, Cortisol & Weight Gain

By

Do You Need To Flip Off The Cortisol – Stress Switch?

Over the last 40 years rates of depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia have soared and the World Health Organisation is saying that these problems are the biggest threat to our health.

Stress releases cortisol in your body, and of course cortisol has both a positive and negative effect on your body.  We wouldn’t survive if it wasn’t for the positive effect of cortisol.Reduce stress

Cortisol is the main stress hormone that is made in your adrenal glands and it’s designed to get you out of danger, you feel the positive vibe of cortisol and adrenalin– releasing extra energy, getting you focused, it raises blood sugar (to feed muscles fight or flight), raises blood pressure, and modulates your immune function.

Unfortunately many of us live with chronic daily stresses and so live with constantly high cortisol levels and your body ceases to experience the positive aspects of cortisol and if these high levels are sustained this is when the problems start occurring.

Stress is triggered by a huge range of psychological factors and external events. We can become stressed by relationships, by work, by finances, and by our thoughts of what we think may or may not have happened.

Daily stress of any sort sends your bodies into the “fight or flight” mode, releasing adrenaline and cortisol.

Cortisol releases extra energy for us to deal efficiently with the physical effort involved in fighting or fleeing, but when that effort doesn’t come, the extra energy (in the form of glucose and fat) just gets re-deposited as fat – around the middle.

Why there?  It’s close to the liver where it can quickly be converted back into energy when needed.

A lean man or woman of normal weight can even have to much fat around the centre of their bodies as a result of the stress hormone – cortisol.

Fat cells in the belly have four times more cortisol receptors compared to fat cells elsewhere.

A study done by Nuffield Health found that women with thicker waists are at higher risk of various cancers as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

If you have a high level of stress then you will be particularly at risk of the dreaded muffin top and stress keeps feeding the muffin top as your cortisol stays high.How-To-Get-Rid-Of-Muffin-Top-In-2-Weeks

Increased abdominal fat, is associated with more health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body.

There’s another hormone that is released due to stress. High levels of blood sugar released by cortisol, trigger the pancreas to release the hormone insulin.

This tells your body to store fat and triggers a craving for something sweet and fatty like chocolate.  So rest assured that it is
not just weakness that draws you towards the fridge – it’s physical urge.

Abdominal fat cells have many receptors for cortisol, if you’re very stressed and have high levels of cortisol, your abdominal fat cells will be calling out for it, encouraging your body to store more fat there, which explains why fat accumulates so readily in that part of the body.

For a start you can control your blood sugar roller coaster and this will help reduce the amount of stress hormones that are being released and helping you feel calmer in yourself.

High or Excessive cortisol levels can create a broad range of undesirable side effects:

Physical Signs

Emotional 
Signs

Additional

Signs

-Muscle weakness

-Chronic fatigue

-Obesity

–Digestive problems

-Excess belly fat

 – Nervousness
– Anxiety
– Depression
– Irritability
– Craving carbs
– Insomnia
– Difficulty falling asleep

= Emotional over-eaters

– Illness after completing a project
– Sick on vacation
– Mental preoccupation with a  stressful event

6 things you can do straight away to support yourself and balance your cortisol levels

Stress relieving food
1) Eat fresh, healthy food as close as possible to the original source. Loads of veggies. Avoid refined carbs and sugar.

2) Find out which supplements can support you –

Certain nutrients such as the B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium and essential fatty acids can be extremely helpful if stress is a problem as they will help boost the functioning of your adrenal glands.

You should be getting these nutrients from your healthy diet but if you are under stress you might want to add in more B vitamins, found in nuts and whole grains, essential fats found in oily fish, nuts and seeds, and plenty of vitamin C found in vimages-15eggies & fruit.

When you’re stressed you use more vitamin C and magnesium than at any other time, and it is vital for keeping your immune system strong.  Women who are deficient in the antioxidant mineral selenium, also experience feelings of depression and anxiety.  Selenium if found in fish and shellfish, whole grains, avocados.

3) Use natures’ own plant medicine –  nervine and adaptogen herbs like Scuttelaria, Passiflora, Ginseng or Rhodiola.

4) Get your cortisol levels tested. Know your levels and measure – where are they to high or to low? These can easily be addressed with the proper support.

5) Exercise –  is good and changes the levels of hormones in the blood and it can elevate the mood, affecting brain chemicals. Find time to do simple exercise daily.

6) Deep, long  and restful sleep is essential for recharging your energy levels. A proper sleep relaxes both your body and the mind. It will improve your mood and give you the ability to deal with daily stress.

7) Spending time in fun, positive environments to boost your ‘feel good’ hormones – with your family and friends, spend some time close to nature.

8) You need to get out of the sympathetic mode (fight or flight and stress) and as often as you can into the parasympathetic mode (rest and digest i.e. calm, relaxed). Try breathing exercises, meditation, pilates, walking in nature, yoga and prayer. There are several scientific studies that provide solid information about the physical and psychological health benefits of meditation and prayer.

Stress and relaxation

Dr. Herbert Benson, a cardiovascular specialist at Harvard Medical School and a pioneer in the field of mind/ body medicine discovered what he calls “the relaxation response,” which occurs during periods of prayer and meditation. At such times, the body’s metabolism decreases, the heart rate slows, blood pressure goes down, and our breath becomes calmer and more regular.

The body responds with slower brain waves, and feelings of control, tranquil alertness and peace of mind. This is significant because Benson estimates that over half of all doctor visits in the U.S. are prompted by illnesses, like depression, high blood pressure, ulcers and migraine headaches, that are caused at least in part by elevated levels of stress and anxiety.

If you are still scratching your head, don’t let it discourage you!!! It can take time to learn and get in the swing of things.

 

If you’re struggling with any kind of hormone imbalance, tiredness, low energy or wanting to lose your excess weight. I’ve  put together a FREE guide for you, so you can start to learn how and why specific foods, and drinks, can help you have more energy and lose weight naturally. 

You’ll find it is easy to add these ingredients into your diet on a daily basis – get your downloadable guide here

In fact, at the end, I’m going to share one simple recipe you can make in under five minutes that incorporates all of these foods.

5foods-loss-weight

Get your copy of the FREE guide:
5 Foods that will help boost Your Energy Levels and Lose Weight Naturally.

HERE

Do you know the difference between Good Fat & Bad Fat?

By

THE WHAT  and THE WHY – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FAT

good fat for heart healthFor so many years, health experts have preached that a low fat diet was the way for you to lose weight and be healthier. They proclaimed fats as your enemy, linking them to heart disease and other illnesses.

The food industry jumped on this “theory” and bombarded us with fat-free and low-fat “food” options. A walk down the supermarket aisle will confirm our obsession with fat-free foods.

To ensure that the flavour of foods was not compromised, they added sugar in increasing amounts. So, while our low-fat options exploded, so did obesity rates, as well as other related health issues.

Clearly, low-fat did not deliver the promised results. We now know that healthy fats DO NOT make you fat. In fact, they are one of the three macronutrients, along with carbohydrates and protein, that your body NEEDS to function at optimal levels.

And, truth be told, fats help us stay slim!! The right fats can help you become lean, healthy and vibrant.

THE WHY

So, why do we need fats in our diets, how much is enough, and what kind of fats should we incorporate into a balance eating plan?

Fats provide essential fatty acids (EFA’s) – essential for your body to function and to prevent disease. EFA’s help to build and protect cell membranes from inflammation, produce hormones, absorb vitamins effectively, protect your nerves, and support basic brain function, protect your heart, keep your essential fatty acidskin and hair soft and subtle, lubricate your joints.

Fats deliver vitamins A, D, E, and K to your cells and are also are a great source of energising fuel.

So, you can see that your body really can’t function without them!

THE WHAT

How do you know if you’re getting enough ‘good’ fat?Your body will send you warning signs that you’re potentially deficient these signals could include the following:

  • Dry, itchy, flaky skin
  • Brittle nails
  • Tiny bumps on the back of your arms or on your torso
  • Achy and stiff joints
  • Memory issues
  • Diabetes
  • Weight gain
  • Painful periods or PMT

THE BAD FATS:

Let’s take a closer look at the different types of fats. The standard diet consists mainly of artery-clogging saturated and trans fats.

Why? Because they taste so good and are widely available in our food supply.

Fats (saturated and trans fats), together with salt and sugars, enhance the flavors of foods and keep you coming back for more.

Most of us have heard about the bad saturated fats. Usually solid at room temperature, found in animal products such as meat and diary.

Most processed foods on supermarket shelves are made with poor-quality omega-6 fats from refined, processed vegetable oils. They’re abundant, very cheap, taste good and improve texture.

Trans fats are unsaturated fats that have been altered though the process of hydrogenation to extend their shelf life. These should be avoided at all costs, as they are associated with heart disease, insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes (think: packaged cookies, pastries, muffins, and cakes).

THE GOOD FATS

Healthy unsaturated fats play a huge role in your overall health and well-being.

They are either polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats and are considered good fats because they help lower your cholesterol levels, which can reduce the risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Polyunsaturated fats:
Provide you with essential fatty acids (EFA’s), essential meaning we must get them from our diet as our body does not manufacture them. These fatty acids keep your brain functioning well and aid in the healthy growth and development of your body.These “good” fats also help your body produce prostaglandins otherwise known as the hormones that cool off inflammation.

Omega-3 EFA’s, found in oily fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines, as well as flaxseeds, chia seeds, avocado and walnuts, are central to reducing inflammation and heart disease.

It’s always best to get your omega-3s from food, but supplement if you need to.

Most people get too many omega-6 fatty acids from vegetable oils and margarine.

Monounsaturated fats:
Found in peanut butter, nuts, olive oil, sesame oil, and avocado. olive is a good fat

Exception to the rule – coconut oil, can be metabolised by the body faster than others, hence they are rarely stored as fat. Read more about that here.

For good health and a balanced diet

It is important to get fats from both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated sources.

The more omega-3 fats you eat, the easier your body can cool off, which means less inflammation- the root of nearly every chronic disease, especially those impacting the brain and the heart.

Your brain is completely dependent on these high-quality fats. In fact, it is made up of 60 percent fat. High-quality fat boosts cognition, happiness, learning and memory.

In contrast, studies link a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids to depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and even violence.
Your heart will also thank you for eating more omega-3s, which help lower levels of bad fats (triglycerides) and raise levels of good fats (HDL). Omega-3 fats make blood more slippery, reducing the likelihood of artery disease.

And remember, the next time you are in the supermarket and spot a fat-free or low-fat label on a food item, take that as a red flag and your cue to run as fast as you can to the fresh produce section!   

A few things you should consider when selecting your fat sources:

  • Buy small amounts of fats in non-plastic containers. Oil that sits in large bottles shelves for months begins to degrade over time due to the constant exposure to heat, light, and oxygen.Additionally, avoid oils and fats in plastic containers at all costs, since the plastic leaches into oil or fat – a toxic mix!
  • Change it up: it’s important not to get stuck in a fat rut! To ensure you’re reaping all the health benefits that different kinds of fats provide.In my kitchen, I have several oils to choose from: coconut oil, ghee, sesame oil, walnut oil, extra-virgin olive oil, and flaxseed oil, to name a few. I try to vary my use throughout the week.I also like to get fat-rich sources from foods like avocados, nuts, wild trout or salmon, flaxseed meal, walnuts, or chia seeds, some of which are rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3s.

 

If you’re struggling with tiredness, low energy or wanting to lose your excess weight, and any kind of hormone imbalance. I’ve  put together a FREE guide for you, so you can start to learn how and why specific foods, and drinks, can help you have more energy and lose weight naturally. 

You’ll find it is easy to add these ingredients into your diet on a daily basis – get your downloadable guide here

In fact, at the end, I’m going to share one simple recipe you can make in under five minutes that incorporates all of these foods.

5foods-loss-weight

Get your copy of the FREE guide:
5 Foods that will help boost Your Energy Levels and Lose Weight Naturally.

 

HERE