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Eagle Media

Have a clear mind and get fit… with a proper diet

It’s two-thirds of the way through summer and my junkie habits are at an all-time high. Chips, soda, juice, pizza, burgers, chips, cake, ribs, hotdogs, chicken — you name it I’ve had it. And if you’re anything like me, you have too, but it’s time to whip ourselves back into shape. August will be here in less than two weeks, and trailing behind it will be that too tight costume you want to wear for Halloween. You could put it off until then, but — let’s be honest — that didn’t work out for you last year. Never fear Super Smexy is here to save your bod the embarrassment of the summer jiggles. (Don’t worry, no heavy lifting required.)
Meet your new best friends: avocado, broccoli, lemon and yogurt NOT of the “FroYo” variety. Avocados cleanse your liver and block the absorption of certain fats in the intestines says Keri Glassman, M.S., R.D.
Normally used as toppings for your festive corn chips, avocados can also be used on tacos, sandwiches, salads and a bunch more.
To get you started try Tyler Florence’s Pan-Seared Tuna with Avocado, Soy, Ginger, and Lime. This and many other great Avocado recipes can be found on the Food Network. You and your second bestie, broccoli, may not hit it off at first, but with a bit of prep time it will help you into that itsy bitsy bikini with summertime to spare.
Kate from “The Natural Life” suggests a puree of broccoli soup. The dish includes a half a pound of chopped broccoli, 2 cups of vegetable broth, cayenne pepper for your spicy delight, and some sea salt. Boil, blend, sprinkle and enjoy. In the end this love/ hate relationship will help cleanse your liver and be a great source of Vitamin C, according to the India Times — and I mean they have great bodies, so we should listen to them.
Remember when mom use to tell you to put down the Caprisun and drink some water? Well it may be time to listen. Don’t forget to add lemon. According to the TimeToCleanse site, lemons can help cleanse your liver and aid in food digestion.
It’s abundant in vitamin C and B6, as well as calcium. You can even drizzle some on that avocado salad and let the good times roll.
Another fan favorite is yogurt, but not the one located in the frozen section.
Yogurts that contain probiotics allows for healthy bacteria to fortify the GI tract’s natural flora, which aids in digestion and increases your natural immune response according to Glassman, M.S., R.D. Sure it means you’ll actually have to read the label on the yogurt containers instead of just trusting the pretty packaging, but at least you’ll be nice and healthy come time for classes to start.
Finally, it’s time to trash all the fructose.
Fructose corn syrup is found in juice, sodas, and almost anything that satisfies your sweet tooth — therefore it is the enemy. Too much added sugar in one’s diet can contribute to unwanted weight gain, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes according to the Mayo Clinic. The best alternative is to substitute all those sugary drinks for a nice cold glass of water. After all, a glass of water during and before a meal can help fill you up and satisfies your thirst rather than your sweet tooth.
Since fats are kissing cousins of added sugar, they have to go too. (Sorry my beloved meat lovers pizza, but you contain at least 12.14 grams of fat that are just going straight to my thighs.) Your main target in the fat industry are saturated fats because they are high in calories, according to LiveStrong. Saturated fats can be found in many meat products, as well as butter, fried foods and baked goods. To battle the saturated blues it’s a good idea to replace one fat with another. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats — which can be found in fish, seeds, nuts and avocados — can be healthy alternatives to the normally saturated fat diet.
Like any other healthy alternative, cleansing your body of toxins does more than just help you look good. It can also help you ward off illnesses such as cancer and diabetes, as well as provide a boost in energy that most unhealthy foods take away.

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  • G

    Get MoreAug 20, 2014 at 4:55 am

    Is green tea good to drink on a diet?

    Reply
  • K

    Khudi.PkAug 10, 2014 at 3:31 am

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  • L

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