Hot Summer Body
Summer is coming, which means its time to start thinking about looking good in the sun but before you embark on any impossible diet plans check out Female First's food swaps.
There’s no need to start worrying about complicated diet plans or odd looking diet shakes because, according to leading nutritionist and author Fiona McDonald Joyce, losing those few extra pounds to fit into your swimwear doesn’t have to mean sacrifice, but rather simple and tasty swaps.
Fiona’s top ten swimwear swap tips.
1.) Swap rice cakes and crispbreads for oat cakes and whole grain breads - they may be higher in calories but they’re also digested more slowly, which means they’ll keep you feeling full for longer without upsetting blood sugar levels, thus helping you to lose weight.
2.) Swap intensively reared supermarket meat for free range, better quality sources. Not only will you be doing your bit for animal welfare, but the animals' increased exercise helps to keep their saturated fat levels down
3.) Swap sweetened fizzy drinks for water - It might sound boring, but water will not only reduce sugar intake and improve skin condition, it’ll also help detoxify your body leaving you energised and ready to hit the gym.
4.) Swap sugar for xylitol – xylitol is a natural sugar alternative. Whilst being lower in calories and carbohydrates than sugar it is xylitol’s low GI value that is important. It releases its energy very slowly when it is digested and studies have shown those that swap sugar for xylitol go on to eat less calories during the day. Plus it’s great for your teeth. Xylitol is available in shops under the brand name Perfect Sweet.
5.) Swap that mid-morning biscuit or cereal bar for a handful of nuts or seeds - the added protein will boost your energy and stabilise blood sugar levels without fattening you.
6.) Swap pudding for a slice of pineapple - the bromelain in pineapple is a digestive enzyme, which helps you breakdown your meal and absorb the nutrients more effectively.
7.) Swap tea and coffee for herbal teas or green tea to help keep you hydrated whilst avoiding caffeine to keep your energy levels stable.
8.) Swap white bread, rice and pasta for wholemeal versions which are more filling, easier to digest, and less fattening.
9.) Swap white fish such as cod, plaice and haddock for oily fish like trout, salmon and mackerel, to boost your level of skin, hormone, brain and heart-helping omega 3 essential fats
10.) Swap normal yoghurts for live probiotic ones – not only do probiotic products aid digestion and improve wellbeing, , recent research has suggested they may also have a positive impact on metabolism.
For other great tips and recipes from Fiona see “The Holford Low-GL Diet Cookbookâ€, co-authored with Patrick Holford and published by Piatkus.