Our ultimate goal is to maintain a steady stream of healthy energy , balanced blood sugar level, ect throughout the day (equate “blood sugar level” to “energy level”)- that means averting from becoming hypoglycemic (“hypo” = low; “gylcemic” = sugar), low energy, cranky from snacking on junk food to get through the afternoon –  until we can pig out at dinner.

We don’t need a giant meal.  As we discussed over “Breakfast”, eating smaller, more frequent meals is optimal in regulating those blood sugar levels.  Plus, meals that are larger and calorie dense mean longer digestion time, which is code for “food coma”.  Eat a smaller lunch and then look forward to a healthy snack later in the day – yes!

Lunch is an ideal time for raw foods, now that your digestive system has had time to rev up.  Most of us don’t wake up thinking “mmm…salad”, as our spleen and digestive system are still warming up .  Vegetables get their structure from the cellulose fibers that keep them from being limp,  and this digests best when your digestion is running strong, middle of the day.

Also, raw foods are cooling for the body (minus ginger) ~ that’s why you may be craving more of these healthy raw foods as we are getting into the warmer season.

So we’ve made two points here:

1. Lunch can be smaller and shouldn’t be calorie dense, and

2. it’s a great time to give your body raw foods.

Two ‘easy to-do’ things in your diet that are high impact ~ especially when they’re organic foods.   Yo, just do it.

The question now is, What should you pack into that retro Super Mario Brothers lunch box that you’re getting excited about dusting off?

How ‘bout salad?  

One of the more popular options is a ‘quick’ salad that can be purchased while at work that includes chicken and iceberg lettuce – NO!  Not only would is be nearly devoid of nutrition, but animal protein (esp. chicken) makes you tired!   It’s important to save animal products if they are in your diet until the end of the day ~ I will explain why when we talk about dinner.  Mixing a salad at home can be  easy, raw, AND portable – a real salad can run the gamut on nutritional content. So, here are a few ideas of what to toss in your salad that won’t cost you 1,000′s of calories and will definitely keep you feeling energized and raring to go:

• Dark leafy greens: spinach, arugula, kale
• raw veggies – sliced cucumber, carrots, ect
• cherry tomatoes
• live sauerkraut
• a sprinkling of macadamia nuts and hemp seeds
• 1 tablespoon brewers yeast sprinkled on top
• sun-cured olives
• Toss with real dressing ~ juice of 1 lemon, 1-4 TBSP olive oil, a little sea salt, dash of cayenne pepper. Most dressing (even the ‘natural’ stuff) is junk food with soybean oil, sugar, ect.  I actually have a bunch of dressing recipes, so check em’ out!

Tip: Grains like quinoa or brown rice go great in a salad, and will satiate you longer.  Add lemon juice to prevent fermentation- especially if you aren’t able to refrigerate your lunch.

More Small Lunch/Snack Ideas

Fruit is a great way to lift your energy if that afternoon slump starts to hit- natural sugars and fiber will lift your blood sugar levels, rather than create a spike followed by a crash.  One thing to keep in mind ~ eat your fruit first, since fruit digests quickly…combining fruit or vegetables tends to cause fermentation (yup, gas). Just a few minutes after you eat your fruit is sufficient. Also pick the lower glycemic options like a pear, apple, berries – these are also high water content fruits that are especially good for you in the hotter season.   Simple to digest protein fats can go well with fruit if you wish to round out the snack into a small meal.  Examples are sprouted nuts and seeds.  And yo, the Infinity Greens bar is a brilliant choice for the small afternoon meal for lifting your energy with natural sugars, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, raw protein,  and loads of nutrients!

As we mentioned in the last newsletter, it’s important to remember that we satiate the appetite best with maitaining balance with nutrient dense foods.  Avoid those starchy, high calorie wheat flour products ~ bread, crackers, snacks, ect.  And fats ~ go for raw, healthy fats like cold-pressed oils, raw nuts and seeds, avocado, ect. ~ avoid fried foods and animal products – especially in the middle of the day.

Yo, please check out my recipes page ~ I have some great lunch recipes ~ all easy, healthy, delicious.  For real.

For later in the afternoon, here are some small meal/snack ideas for achieving this trifecta of satiation (and also satisfy that afternoon sweet tooth or salty craving):

• Infinity Green Bar and sprouted nuts (for the ultimate combo, try with my celtic sea-salt, sprouted almonds)
• Piece of fruit and sprouted nuts
• Organic yogurt and fruit
• Celery sticks and raw almond butter
• Raw almond butter and a couple of prunes (non-sorbate)
• Chopped veggies and hummus
• Flaxseed crackers and guacomole
• Billy’s Green Power Nuggets (recipe here!) *Keep these bad boys in cooler temps*
• A piece of toasted sprouted grain bread (spread a TB of organic, cold-pressed coconut oil on for extra deliciousness and satiation)

So, there you have it –  truly healthy lunch and snacks that are quick, easy to make, portable and, most important of all, give you smooth long-lasting energy …an easy way to live the healthier life!

Next up: dinner!  I’m super excited to share some new knowledge about end of the day foods – and I’ll make it easy for you!

Yo, I have a small favor to ask! Please click this link to my FB page and ‘like’ my green goodies!~ As a ‘Thanks’, there is a 10% coupon posted on my wall waiting for you!

http://www.facebook.com/InfinityGreens

Written by Trainer, Laura Bordeaux and Billy Merritt

Code for New Living Expo Friends for 15% off your first purchase of Infinity Greens and other superfoods ~ friend15%

Have a great day!~
Billy

(the coupon to celebrate my new website is at the bottom of the article!)

Hey, do ya remember hearing mom repeat the old adage, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”? Well, we all know mom was right – however, it needs to be fine tuned! Breakfast IS important, but when and what you fuel your body with is really what it boils down to.
Here’s the fine-tuned version of mom’s advice in 3 tips:

1. First, you gotta take in those essentials!~ at least 8 ounces of water, and oxygen!- Your body has been in a dormant state for hours and these are life force number one. My feet hit the ground and ‘boom’, 8 ounces of pure water and a couple of deep breaths to get that oxygenated blood flowing. Blood carries oxygen, and oxygen is life! Ahhh…

2. Shot of nutrients- This is the most important time of the day to have your superfoods! Start your day with nutrient dense food which provides vital nourishment for sustained energy. I know I’m bragging about my superfoods, but for real, this is the golden hour to add these nutrients which will be reflected in how you feel all day – not to mention curbing junk-food craving. Also liquid/drinkable nutrition in the morning is best since your digestion is just firing up.
Most of us start with caffeine, which gives you a quick boost of energy with an equally fast crash – not to mention it increases your body’s acidity. Trying to lose weight? Starting your day with coffee means empty calories and a lot of stimulation that leads to undulating energy levels, and ultimately, a lower metabolism if proper nutrition isn’t provided. Starting with Greens reduces the need for as much caffeine- so rather than 2 cups of coffee, perhaps just a cup of your beloved chai will suffice.
So, toss a heaping spoonful of Infinity Greens into water, juice or a make it a full-fledged breakfast smoothie (see my favorite recipe below). If you plan on making a your smoothie a full breakfast, be sure it’s a balanced meal that also contains some protein and healthy fats (explained below). Fruit is great, providing natural sugars that are easily digested, but with healthy fats and protein, it’s a winning trifecta of sustained energy and health. Stir it up, drink it down and feel your body’s engine start. Then?

3. Balanced meal of protein, fat and carbohydrates ~ In order to get the best “bang for your buck”, you gotta to have balance! This balancing act isn’t a diet tip, it’s how our bodies synthesize foods into long-lasting energy. Crucial info ~ best to have low to moderate amounts of protein in the morning because protein is harder for the body to digest, and remember, your digestive system is just warming up. I consider eggs or protein in your smoothie to be the exception. Stay away from too much dairy and all meats in the morning. Complex carbs and healthy fats are both fuel, so have as much as you need.
Simple equations to remember:
• Foods high in fiber, good fats and low/moderate protein = balanced energy and stabilized blood sugar levels.
Versus
• Starchy foods that are highly processed and are low fat and protein free = quick release of energy/spike in blood sugar levels. Yo!…this is almost any cereal!…even the ‘natural’ ones. Read those ingredients! Wheat flour, corn, sugar(disguised as ‘evaporated cane juice’) – boooo! stay away from those if you wanna feel great all day. Cereal with sprouted grains are OK! Just add some protein/fats like sprouted nuts/seeds and a touch of healthy sweetness like raw honey.
Some Breakfast ideas :
• “The clean, mean, green machine” Smoothie- turn your green drink into a full-fledged breakfast by adding some carbs (try a banana or pear), healthy fats (flax oil and hemp seeds) and protein (Infinity Protein powder or duck livers- ok, maybe pass on that one) ~ recipe below.
• “The mover and shaker”- Rolled oats (oatmeal!)- especially if you are planning a workout, more complex carbs are good because it’s a faster burning fuel. You can’t go wrong with adding some melted coconut oil, cinnamon, sprouted almonds, blueberries and a touch of honey. YUM.
• “The Classic”- Eggs with a piece of sprouted grain toast. Yup, I know it may surprise you that I recommend eggs, but I feel they are a perfect food. Myth: Cholesterol is bad, therefore eggs are bad. Fact: The body needs some cholesterol in order to function properly(ie balance hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help to digest fat). Eating foods high in saturated fat CAN lead to higher levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol, but eggs only have 1 gram of saturated fat. So, go ahead- crack an egg or two or three and fry it up in a bit of coconut oil(yes, coconut is a saturated fat and I’ll talk about it in my May newsletter). Just make sure they are organic eggs- who wants to eat something that’s been living off a poor diet themselves?

Timing, Combinations and Sequencing:
The concept of breakfast hasn’t changed much- go to any diner and you’ll see the “eggs, bacon, toast” combo. As with all things, when we educate ourselves, we have to flip the script on some of these die-hard outdated conventions! Eating dense proteins (bacon, sausage, dairy) combined with starchy foods (that heaping pile of hashbrowns) lead to that, oh so sleepy, feeling that should NOT be happening at the start of your day! Save the food coma for Thanksgiving dinner and jump start your day with foods that will optimize your performance.
Law of Nature ~ Whole grains/complex carbs combine well with good fats. Proteins and healthy fats combine well too. Carbs and Protein? ~ not so good. Reason is, the body produces 2 different kinds of enzymes to digest each one, and this makes us tired.
Equally important is the timing! We all know mornings can be hectic- trying to make a smoothie, cook your eggs, feed the dog, get the kids out the door….sheesh, be realistic about what your schedule will allow for. Spreading your breakfast out over the course of a few hours is fine! Breaking your meals down into smaller, more frequent feedings is what the body would prefer for most us anyway. So, down your glass of greens and take your oatmeal to work.

Here is the quick nut-shell version of what I do ~
I shake up my greens and protein in a jar of water. Then I have my one cup o’ chai – one cup! ~ used to have 4 until I began having my nutrients first! Then an hour later I have 3 eggs fried in coconut oil with a piece of 100% rye bread. Note ~ most ‘rye bread’ is total junk because it’s wheat bread with a hint of rye. It all boils down to what the ingredients are, so take a look! Sometimes I’ll pass on the eggs and simply have a big smoothie with blended fruit and healthy fats. Recipe ~ Blend 1 sliced pear, half banana, handful ice cubes, 1 cup water, round tablespoon protein, 3 round teaspoons greens, round tablespoon hemp seeds, and tablespoon flax seed oil ~ puts the spring in my step, spark in my eye.

Stay tuned: we will delve into optimizing your lunch in the next newsletter.

Aaaaand!…. to celebrate another new website! ~
receive $10 off your order over $60 with this code ~ 10offsuperfoods
Yippeeee!~
As always, wishing you awesome health!~
Billy Merritt

Three Keys to healthy sleep

Good sleep is just as important for your health as diet and exercise!   Studies show insomnia (poor sleep) to be a problem for 48% of our population…wow!  Healthy sleep has direct impact on every organ, action and function of the body, including your happiness, love-life, averting stress, ect.

Here is what I have found to be 3 essential keys for a good night’s rest ~  so read on!

DIET

  •  Fats and carbs are fuel and energy for the day -  filling up on fuel before sleep will be stored as fat to be burned later – not good for most of us.    Choose healthy protein for dinner, which are used restore the body during the night.   Also proteins  tend to make us sleepier – not all bad at the end of the day.

 •   Go for easy to digest foods like steamed vegetables and soups. Have dinner at least a few hours before  going to bed.

 •    Cut down on sugar, which causes our energy levels to roller coaster through the day and interferes with sleep.  What do you do when you have a case of the “late night sweet tooth”  – Stir Infinity~C into yogurt and sprinkle some blueberries on top! – that’s simple protein and low sugar! – plus vitamin c produces collagen which is just important as protein for restoring the body during sleep.

•  Hydrate more during the day and less at night – better for staying in bed all night long!

•   Supplements/herbs, if you need em ~

- Camomile tea — herb that relaxes the mind and body – this is the most mild option.  Start with one tea bag, but you can make it strong if you wish.

- Valerian Root -  a little stronger than chamomile – will likely make you drowsy – start with the recommended dose.  Take the capsule form cuz the tea tastes disgusting.

- Melatonin – naturally produced in the brain when living the super healthy lifestyle.  Start with 1 – 3 mg.

It is possible to combine these supplements if using them individually is not effective for you.  First, take each one separately to see which one works best.  *note – take for a few days to just help get into the rhythm of better sleep.  Taking it for a long period is not necessarily bad, but when you stop using it, it may take a week or so to  re-adjust.

SLEEPING ENVIRONMENT

Consideration must be given to the bed you are sleeping on and maintaining a good bedroom environment.

 •  Bedding – we spend approximately 30% of life in bed! -  so what we sleep on is important!   Spring beds are fair, but over time they go from fair to poor.  The empty space inside  the mattress collects mites and dust over time.   These mattresses also contain flame retardants which produce off-gassing.  Beds made from natural materials are better!  I prefer a natural latex mattress with a wool cover.  A bit more expensive but worth it!  I bought my latex mattress from http://www.greenmattressfactory.com.

 •  Bedroom environment – cool temperatures encourage us to snuggle under the covers, but go with whatever makes you comfortable. Good to crack a window for fresh air.  If noise (snoring bed mate) is an issue, use comfortable ear plugs.  Play a CD of natural sounds like ocean waves or rain.  The body produces melatonin in dark environments so put curtains over the windows.

LIFESTYLE

 •   Exercise!!! -  This is the MOST important factor!…it’s simply the fact that your body needs sleep for recovery after mild to extreme physical exhaustion  — running, yoga, weights, dance, skipping around the hills with glee like a dork,  etc.  Yes, this is a huge part of better sleep – as well as every other part of you health.

 •    Naps.  Cut back on long naps unless you were out dancing until the wee hours.  But try this revitalizing technique (and good for health!) – rest 10 – 20 minutes lying flat on your back – bring a yoga mat with you to work,  hide under your desk and plug in some earphones with ocean waves.  Laying flat decompresses every bone, joint and muscle.  And best of all, the heart on the same level as the rest of body recirculates oxygen rich blood to everything – O2 is the ultimate life force!  You’ll see -  this is the ultimate pick me up and doesn’t  interfere with sleep later – even if you snooze a bit.

•  What are you doing in the evening?   No working before bedtime – for real y’all.  I say, throw in the towel at least 3 hours before bed, giving yourself  time to unwind.  Keep your activity before bedtime relaxing— pet the cat,  take a shower, sit outside and count the stars, meditate, listen to your favorite Bob Marley album,  talk to a friend about something that makes you happy, watch a funny movie (no drama), read something boring, etc.  Save pillow fights for the morning.

 •  Keep a regular sleep schedule, and synchronize a little better with the sun – go to bed earlier and get up earlier!   The brain produces more melatonin during the evening when it’s dark in order to make us sleepy.    Keep light low at night and reduce staring at back-lit screens (that would be your computer) – this light suppresses melatonin production.

•   And finally, when you crawl into bed, reflect for a few minutes on how good we have it!  Are we LUCKY to live this life or what?!  – you know what l.u.c.k is right?  – Living Under Cosmic Knowledge! -  Aw yeah! – I had to slip that one in somewhere.  If you don’t fall asleep after counting your blessings (which inevitably happens  once in a while), you can always count sheep – bah, night-night.

 

Wishing You Well, Billy Merritt www.infinitygreens.com 877-291-1990

PS~ And my gift for you ~ Free 3oz bottle Infinity~C…why? … cuz it’s 1411% daily C from real superfoods, not ascorbic acid!…ain’t nothin’ like it….just wanna help you ‘kick butt’ the rest of the chilly season.     Enter ‘freeC’ in comment box on shipping/payment info page.     *for orders over $69

PSS~ This is my Aunt Penny’s new Superfood smoothie recipe.  AMAZING! Gotta try it ~
In Vita-Mix or blender, mix:

1 banana (peel b4 freezing)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 c. greek yogurt
3 heaping teaspoons Infinity Greens
2 heaping teaspoons infinity~C
4 heaping teaspoons Infinity Protein
2 round  teaspoons hemp seeds
5 frozen strawberries
1.5 cups water

Serves 2.
Enjoy!

*Upcoming Newsletter –  3 part series – ‘optimum meal sequencing throughout the day – breakfast’

Benefits Of A Proper Nutrition

Your health depends on giving your body the nutrients it needs to remain fully functional. That means that you should make sure you get all the recommended vitamins and minerals so that you can boost your immune system and keep everything in check. You will fight disease and have energy to get through your day if you do follow nutrition guidelines; This energy will also get you going if you are in an exercise regimen; think of it as the fuel that keeps you going every day. The proper nutrition in addition to daily exercise is the perfect combination to live a long and healthy life.

Raw Ingredients Improve General Nutrition

It is a widly known fact that raw foods and raw ingredients preserve their nutritional value a lot better than processed foods; in fact some processed foods will be nutritionally altered when put through the process. Because of that you may not be getting the nutrients that you think you are getting every time that you are getting processed foods. You may also find that you have a nutritional deficiency in your diet even when you are having all the “right” foods and that is why it is a good idea to get nutritional supplements with a raw ingredients base to them. The use of raw ingredients is the best way to get those nutrients in your body and working to promote better health quickly.

All The Ingredients For Your Fuel

If you are going for a change in your lifestyle you should do so with a plan. It takes more than a change in your diet to make sure that you are as healthy as you can be. You should also consider exercising every day; it may be difficult at first, but once you get in the groove of things you will find that not only are you healthier, but you also have a lot more energy and you look better. Diet and exercise combined are the ingredients that you need for a long and healthier life. In addition to this you should consider high grade, raw organic supplements. This change can mean that you reverse conditions that may be affecting you now, or prevent you from getting diseases and infections in the future.

Building Muscle With Protein

Since you are forcing your body into getting nutrients the preferred way, from foods full of nutrition instead of empty carbs, you should do one extra thing. You will need to keep your muscles from shrinking as you lose that weight. To do that is to begin exercising but also give yourself the protein that you will need to keep building those muscles up. There are excellent smoothie recipes which are made from natural food sources, available from the internet. Some websites will give you good advice as well as free recipes to keep up your strength. Before you start your exercise routine, find out what kind of smoothie you would like. A little research will go a long way.

A Favored Smoothie Recipe

You can add this smoothie to your exercise regimen. In other words, if you exercise, you can allow yourself a little treat in the form of this delicious smoothie, which tastes so good you may think you are cheating, instead of providing your body all important protein. So, begin your morning with a happy kick start of goodies.

Into the blender, throw:

½ banana*

1/2 pear, sliced up

3 strawberries

1 Tbsp. Infinity Protein

2 -3 tsps. Infinity Greens

½ cup pure spring water

1 Tbsp. flax seed oil

4-5 ice cubes

*Instead a half of a banana, you could use 1 teaspoon of honey for sweetness.

Blend it up and have at it!

If you look at the ingredients, you will see only items of high nutritional value. You could add a tsp. of Vitamin C as well. It’s a vital nutrient and not just during the cold and flu season. This should get you ready to generate all the energy you need for any exercise.

When You Are Finished With The Exercises

Make sure you drink plenty of pure spring water during and after the exercise. Your muscles need it to avoid cramping up. Many health advocates recommend a protein smoothie in the morning and one following exercise. You just burned up a good number of calories and you need to replenish the vitamins, protein, fat and carbs you just used up. Don’t think you are replacing the calories you have just lost. You are replacing the body’s need for vitamins and fuel to conduct nerve impulses and cellular work without adding the calories that you have just burned up.

Fallacies About The Food We Eat

Much has been said about cholesterol. It is responsible for clogging your arteries and you may become the victim of a heart attack as a result. You may also suffer a stroke. Neither is desirable. Because of these dire predictions, many people have decided to cut out all fat from their diet. This is so wrong. The body needs a certain amount of fat. A thin layer of fat under the skin cushions the body a little from injury. Fat is also important in the transmission of information through our nervous system. Lastly, it provides a minimal energy reserve in the case of illness when stomachs are irritated and won’t accept nourishment. To deprive the body of all fat means the body has to take it from somewhere else where it is also needed, like the brain.

The Body Needs Fat

When the body needs fat for certain functions, it takes it from wherever it finds it. Under the skin is a layer that may be used first. Nerves that are surrounded by a layer of fat may be second. The way fat can be used to maintain a good balance in the body and yet not add to the cholesterol plaques lining the arteries, is only possible when getting the right kind of fat. The worst fats to eat are the animal fats which grow solid in room temperature. Oils are better but even with oils there are grades of good and not so good. Flax seed oil is great for adding to salads and shakes. Fish oil and omega3 oils, are healthy oils and not detrimental to cholesterol and plaques.

Exercise Is A Must

Exercise and healthy foods together are a dynamite duo. They rid the body of all poisons that have accumulated over the years and they turn back the clock a few years regarding your joints and overall health. Your first stop should be the health food store. You will find all kinds of great organic produce there. Begin with that as a first step. If you can’t do that or you don’t want the work of cleaning and working with vegetables, you can also buy protein and carbohydrates in powdered form. Infinity Green has an entire line of supplements that will help you get to the state of health you want. Once you have that established, begin slowly with your exercises, even if it’s only a walk every day. The whole point is to begin to get healthier.

Which Exercises Will Help The Most?

Look at exercises you can do. If you are under a doctor’s care and you are not supposed to do certain exercises, ask him which ones you can do. If you are not under a doctor’s care, get a check-up to see which exercises are safe for you. Otherwise, just use common sense. If a specific exercise causes you considerable pain, don’t do it until you are in better physical shape. Begin slowly if your body has been sedentary for a long time. Your muscles are not used to being challenged. Always begin warming up by stretching your muscle groups. Then slowly increase your activity as you become more fit. Exercises that challenge your biggest muscle groups are usually the most effective ones. Those would be the exercises that involve your gluteus maximus.

Consider The Best Foods To Combine With Your Exercise Plan

Any of the foods that are on the super food list will be great for you. Basically, you want your food to give your body all the nutrients without the superfluous additives. You can get the protein from beans. Dark green and deeply red vegetables will add important antioxidants. Nuts and sees will give you the fatty acids you need. You can also get essential fatty acids from fish and avocados. Yogurt and fruit is also good to eat while you are on your exercising regimen. Never forget the value of water. You must keep hydrated while you are exercising. After a workout enjoy a smoothie or if you want something on the go, grab a quick Infinity Green Bar. This is a powerful and nutritious bar made of antioxidants, omega 3 acids and super foods.

You Need Both Exercise And Healthy Eating

One or the other alone may work if you are twenty years old, healthy and full of energy. The best course for your health regardless of age is a combination of the two. Your body does not want to give up what it has stored. Nature wired the human body to preserve what it has for such time as it is needed, like when the food supply is low. This was an old survival mechanism from the cave days. Today, the grocery store will supply all that is needed and much more. Your battle, therefore, is really with your survival mechanism. Nutritional food will tell the body that there is no need to conserve and exercise will push you into a state of using more than you take in.

The Yo-Yo Diet Game

Anyone who has ever even thought of losing weight has thought of dieting. For years, that was the only advice people received. Starve yourself, eat less, eat only fruit for three days a week; eat only rice for three days a week and so on. Failure was certain in probably ninety per cent. The ten percent that actually did lose weight may have paid a price in the damage this may have caused their health. In addition, very few people kept the weight off for any appreciable time. When a new diet came along, the cycle started all over again. This type of dieting results in disappointment and needless suffering. In the end, most people just give up. These crash diets also left many people’s bodies starving for proper nutrition.

Today We Think Differently

After the obesity rate has climbed to the highest ever and diets showed no positive results more research was put forth. The overall premise is still the same: Too many calories in and not enough calories out = obesity. What is different today is how reducing weight can be combined with being healthy and gain an overall feeling of well-being. The emphasis has shifted more from pure numbers to the overall health of a person.  In general, it works itself out in a way that by eating healthy a person will automatically lose weight. In this sense, the effort of weight loss has become obsolete in favor of eating food that contributes to your overall health.

What Does The Body Need?

While it is true that every human being is an individual different from the next, human beings have certain communal needs. Vitamins E, C, E and beta-carotene, for instance are all antioxidants without which certain diseases would run rampant. Everyone needs Vitamins B, D and K. Minerals, such as iron, copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium and even lead are vital for the functions of blood building, clotting, taste buds, bones, teeth and internal chemical reactions. Trace elements, such as chromium and selenium, manganese and molybdenum also fulfill functions on cellular levels. Omega fatty acids are critical to overall health as well as lean protein. Because of these specific needs it is often wise to seek an organic health supplement.

Eat More Vegetables

Even when supplementing, eat fresh and reach for the dark green, leafy vegetables rather than the starchy ones. Starchy vegetables, like potatoes, convert their carbohydrates into calories you don’t need or want. Some fruits will also help you to get the nutrition you need. The rest of the minerals and trace elements you will get from vegetables, nuts and fruits as well.

General Nutrition

We need to have protein, carbohydrates and fat in our diets. The choices we make from within those three things, is what makes the difference between foods that are good for us and those that are not. Protein, for instance, need not come only from meat. Protein can be obtained from several sources. The most common vegetarian source for protein is beans. Fat can be obtained from nuts, coconut oil and coconut milk, as well as fresh fish especially salmon and tuna. Carbohydrates come from everything else, such as fruits, vegetables and grains.

The List Of Proteins

For your protein needs, if you don’t want to buy organically raised meat, buy mung beans or legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, black-eyed peas, lima beans, kidney beans, fava beans or soybeans. They are stock full of protein and can be cooked into delicious meals all by themselves. A fantastic protein bar, especially one that is organic and devoid of refined sugar is an excellent way of insuring you’re getting your protein needs met.

Carbohydrates On The List

Carbohydrates can be anything from berries to broccoli sprouts. Cranberries and blueberries are also excellent choices. Pomegranates are great fruits to promote good health with their vitamin supply. Berries, like acai berries or the goji fruit are very high in antioxidants and vitamins. These antioxidants promote cellular regrowth, energy, and boost immunity among a long list of benefits. Deep green vegetables like kale, broccoli and spinach are especially good for pregnant women because they deliver iron and folic acid. There are also many very rich greens that promote digestion, decrease inflammation and increase mental clarity. Many times they come in the form of ocean greens such as seaweed and kelp. Using these items in the kitchen can be difficult unless you’ve had experience with them already.

The Fat List

For your daily fat requirements, you should look to nuts. Almonds and flax seed oil are great sources. Avocados have a high fat content that can be used instead animal fats.  For cooking with fats, consider using coconut oil. Salmon and tuna are full of omega fats which will not drive your bad cholesterol levels up.  They are will keep you healthy and control your weight at the same time so long as you stop eating when you feel satisfied and full. These essentials can be balanced out with Infinity supplements and nutrition bars.