How do we define processed foods?
Fab Female Nutrition
There is a classification called the NOVA scale that rates foods by the level of processing. The four levels are Unprocessed and minimally processed foods Processed culinary ingredients Processed foods Ultra-processed foods This week I explain how we came up with these levels and what foods are in each.
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Using Feng Shui to create a more balanced life
Fab Female Nutrition
Using Feng Shui principles along with decluttering can support your emotional well-being. Stephanie Hemstead-Williams shares her insights into ways that we can declutter and improve the energy flow of our home, which will improve our personal energy levels too. This episode is part of our 'Beyond the Plate' series where we explore what, besides food, is having an impact on our health and wellbeing. A huge thank you to the podcast sponsor, Revive Active, Ireland's leading Super Supplement Brand, their award-winning powder formulas are designed with everyday well-being in mind. To find out more...
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Community and Connection:
Fab Female Nutrition
The Blue Zones, are regions around the world known for their exceptional longevity and vitality, and they offer valuable insights into the role of community in health and longevity. In places like Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia, and Ikaria, strong social bonds and a sense of belonging are deeply ingrained in daily life. From shared meals to intergenerational interactions, community is woven into the fabric of these societies, contributing to the health and happiness of their residents. Don't underestimate the power of community and connection. Whether it's sharing a meal with loved ones,...
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Stress Less, Thrive More
Fab Female Nutrition
Stress triggers the body's "fight or flight" response, releasing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline to prepare us to deal with perceived threats. While this response is crucial for survival modern life means that we are exposed to chronic stress, and this has a negative impact on our health. Whilst we can't get away from stress there are some practical strategies we can employ to mitigate it's effects - listen to find out more. A huge thank you to the podcast sponsor, Revive Active, Ireland's leading Super Supplement Brand, their award-winning powder formulas are designed with everyday...
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Move More, Live Better
Fab Female Nutrition
When we hear the word "movement," we often envision sweating it out on a treadmill or lifting weights at the gym. Our ancestors got enough exercise daily and they would never have stepped onto a treadmill. If you enjoy the gym or classes then please don't stop, but it is still important to incorporate movement into our daily lives. Moving your body increases blood flow and oxygen delivery, boosting energy levels and reducing feelings of fatigue. Incorporating movement into your daily routine can leave you feeling more vibrant and alive. Choose the movement that works for you and find ways to...
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Rest and Revitalise - The power of sleep
Fab Female Nutrition
Sleep is often undervalued in today's fast-paced society, yet it plays a crucial role in overall health and well-being. Quality sleep is essential for physical health, cognitive function, emotional regulation, and immune system function. During sleep, the body repairs tissues, particularly those in the digestive system. It consolidates memories and learning, regulates hormones, and supports brain function. Without adequate sleep, these vital processes are disrupted, leading to a host of negative consequences. Discover the secrets of sleep and how quality rest can supercharge your health and...
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Sugar Sense: Navigating Daily Input
Fab Female Nutrition
Is sugar addictive? Scientists studied what happens when we eat sugar and found that it activates dopamine, which is the same chemical activated when taking drugs such as cocaine. This has led to the idea that sugar is addictive, but while you may crave it, it's a bit of a stretch to say it is truly addictive. The key is to first find the extra sugars hiding in your diet. Then retrain your tastebuds, which I recommend takes 28 days. You will be amazed at how different your food tastes, and some of the "treats" you used to enjoy will taste overly sweet and artificial.
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Navigating Sweet Surprises in Your Diet
Fab Female Nutrition
When you eat a chocolate bar or a dessert you know that you are going to be eating sugar. And for most of us, we enjoy the taste and it doesn't cause us a problem. However, sugar is hiding in many foods so many of us are consuming much higher levels than we realise. Green washing is the term we use when foods look healthy from the packaging but when you read the label you realise that they are not what they seem. You might be surprised to hear where sugar is hiding in your diet.
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Sweet Solutions: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Sweeteners
Fab Female Nutrition
The idea behind sweeteners was good but it's clearly not working, so what went wrong? Are our bodies meant to be digesting chemicals that taste sweet but have no nutrients or calories? What can we include in our diet that are naturally sweet instead? These are the topics discussed in this weeks podcast, part 2 of our 4 part series about sugar.
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Sugar Savvy: Unraveling its Effects on our Bodies and Health
Fab Female Nutrition
Our body quickly breaks down sugar in our diet into glucose, however, it also breaks down other food sources into glucose such as simple carbohydrates, vegetables and fruits and even protein. Glucose is our body's primary source of energy, and insulin is the hormone that helps is utilise glucose. If everything works fine, any excess glucose is stored in our muscles and liver. However, if we have too much glucose, we will store it as fat. And if we produce too much insulin we can become insulin insensitive. Both have a negative impact on our health and wellbeing
info_outlineWhat is a healthy diet?
We are all different and so a healthy diet means different things. For a coeliac gluten would not be included in a healthy diet. Yet we talk about a Mediterranean diet as being healthy and that often includes pasta.
If you are a non-meat eater then a healthy diet for you would look very different from someone who eats meat. And how many portions of vegetables do I really need to eat every day?
And what about other health conditions, how do they work in a healthy diet?
It is far too wide a term to use. It really doesn't mean anything, and could mean anything. It's not helpful.
What does food need to give us?
Food needs to contain essential ingredients for health. Essential means that we cannot make it and so we need to consume it in our diet.
We need essential vitamins, minerals, essential fats. Some of them we need to consume daily, and others we just need to make sure we top up regularly.
And then there are lots of health promoting ingredients such as antioxidants, phytonutrients such as lycopene, resveratrol, or beta carotene which promote health and wellbeing and form part of a healthy diet.
But unless you are a nutritionist, or you have a meal plan created specifically for you, how do you know that you are eating a healthy diet?
My four simple rules for a healthy plate of food
- Protein - it is the first ingredient of our cells and we need to include it in every meal
- Colour - colourful fruits and vegetables so that we get all the wonderful phytonutrients daily
- Fibre - feeds our good gut bacteria, and helps our body eliminate toxins via healthy stools
- Healthy fats - to help us make hormones. Hormones are responsible to send messages around the body.
My links
For the full episode notes please go to: hillstart.me.uk/166
To listen to the full episode head on over to your chosen podcast provider or follow this link here for itunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/are-you-really-going-to-eat-that/id1480678239