A Word About Snacking
Posted by Louise Hudson
It's a hectic world. Stress, diet and
the fast pace of modern life all have an impact on your health. You may have
the anxiety of a strenuous career, a demanding family, and the hope of having
some real quality time to yourself. This all leads to challenges in having a
healthy balance with your food intake.
If you are like millions of Americans,
you've also tried time and again to lose weight and you're still at it. While
there are a number of reasons for the lack of success, one of the most common
causes is HUNGER! In a world of empty calories and endless temptations, it's
all too easy to give in to cravings.
The National Institute of Health
estimates that 25% - 30% of the calories we eat every day come from SNACKS.
Many of these calories are empty and unfulfilling -- leaving you wanting more.
Snacking itself isn't the problem. In fact, frequent snacks can keep our
metabolism revving at top speed, but you need your snacks to be healthy, not
hollow. So the next time you get the munchies, at least reach for foods made
from whole grains and seeds. Some refining processes strip away parts of the
grain along with about 25% of the grain's protein and at least 17 key
nutrients. "Whole grain" means that all three parts of the grain (and all its
nutritional value) are left intact. Raw nuts, especially almonds, macadamians
and walnuts, are very nutritious. Walnuts may reduce the risk for breast
cancer, according to research recently presented at the Annual Meeting of the
American Association for Cancer Research. They are also rich in Omega-3 fats,
which we all know are the good ones that we should strive to get.
Other good snack choices with
ingredients that really satisfy you are fresh fruits and veggies. Try to choose
organic foods, if possible. Organic products use ingredients grown without the
use of conventional pesticides or artificial fertilizers. They are also
minimally processed and free of artificial food additives. Here is a tip to
help you select the healthiest produce. The numbers used on the produce tells
how it was grown. If the first of the numbers is a 4, it is conventionally
grown with pesticides, etc. If the first number is a 9, it is organically
grown. If the first number is an 8, it is a genetically engineered
product.....do you really want to eat that?