Best Eating Tips

I have been doing a ton of reading
and researching!
Actually, I think I may just be trying to
hypnotize myself into practicing
what I KNOW to be a more healthy
way of life.
I am a slow learner,
you can read a little about
my personal food struggles here

So I found this quick little list of
healthy eating tips very useful.
I know a lot of this,
I actually think most of us KNOW
a lot of this,
but it is translating it into lifestyle
that sometimes is the clincher.

Vegetables: asparagus, cauliflower, celery, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, collard greens, cucumbers, garlic, kale, leafy greens, onions, peppers, scallions, sprouts, tomatoes, watercress, beets, eggplant, jicama, okra, yellow squash, zucchini

• Fruits: apples, berries, cherries, citrus fruits, peaches, pears, apricots, plums, tropical fruits
• Grains: barley, brown rice, buckwheat, corn, couscous, kasha, millet, oat, quinoa, rye, spelt
• Legumes/lentils: tempeh, tofu, beans, peas (all fresh, nothing dried)

Fats To best support your metabolism, you should be getting roughly 30 percent of your calories from natural oils and fats. Don't eat excessive amounts of fat, but don't specifically restrict your fat intake. You can choose from fats on both the fast and slow oxidizers' lists of permissible fats.

• Nuts/seeds: walnuts, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts, filberts, pecans, pistachios, coconut, macadamias
• Fats/oils: butter, cream, almond oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, flaxseed oil, sunflower oil, walnut oil

Things to Keep In Mind...
Eat the foods that are ideal for you, and remember the following guidelines of what to avoid.
1. Don't eat meals made up of just one macronutrient. Make sure you adhere to your ideal ratio of 40 percent carbs, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat.

2. Don't drink alcohol. It's often accompanied by empty calories, which can lead to a sugar crash as well as an increased appetite. If you choose to have a drink, avoid sugary cocktails, beer, and wine. Stick to clear alcohols like vodka and rum with calorie-free mixers like diet and club soda.

3. Don't eat foods that have a high Glycemic Load value. If you should happen to eat foods with a high GL value, make sure you accompany them with protein in order to slow the rate of oxidation and stabilize blood sugar and energy levels.
** Find a great chart to compare Glycemic Load here

4. Don't drink too much caffeine. In the forms of coffee, tea, and soda, caffeine gives you short-term energy by signaling your adrenal glands to release adrenaline into your blood. When the caffeine wears off, you feel tired and weak.

5. Don't overcook your meat. Avoid overcooked animal products because heat destroys essential amino acids and valuable enzymes.