One of the biggest lessons I learned in pharmacy school is that there are many major chronic conditions that are killing us today. Top among them are high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. All these can easily be prevented by two things, proper eating and exercise. Along my weight loss journey I have picked up a few pointers on substitutions that I chose to implement in my eating habits. I am for one eating healthy, but also having great flavor in my foods. Here are a few tips you can use as you adopt a healthier lifestyle:
- Cooking with less oil. While on the HCG diet I was not allowed to use oil. Not in my lotions, my soap, and definitely not in my foods. I went online for recipes that either involved roasting, broiling, or baking my foods. In the process I discovered that a lot of the foods I ate had their oils within them, especially lean meats.
- Stop drinking sugary drinks. We are bombarded with advertisements for sugar packed drinks. Be it soda, energy drinks, and even my favorite, frappuccinos. Instead I drink more water. I have bottled water available in my fridge for when I’m on the go, I order water with my entrée at a restaurant, I drink a lot more tea and sweeten it with 1 or 2 packs of stevia instead. I also make my own fresh fruit smoothies at home. Once a month I allow myself a treat of a frappuccino.
- Quinoa is an awesome super food that has replaced the rice on my plate. Now wait, this is HUGEEEE!!! I come from a Haitian background; rice is a STAPLE of all our meals. Quinoa however is a much healthier alternative that can be cooked the same way as rice, but packs whole lot less carbs and more protein per spoonful.
Yours In Health,
Dr. Cynthia Jean, Pharm.D.