Spring Means Cleaning…So, Spring-Clean Your Diet!

The rich stews, soups, pastas and other comfort foods of winter definitely helped chase away the winter-blahs. But spring is a time of renewal…of cleaning out…of organizing…of re-committing to keeping your body healthy and eating “clean.”

To that end, here are six ways to spring-clean your diet:

1. Introduce probiotics: Probiotics are a boon to your digestive health. Add plain yogurt or a yogurt drink to your daily diet. If you had the flu or colds this winter, and treated them with antibiotics, you need to boost your probiotics to rebalance the bacteria in your gut.
2. Limit salt and sugar: White sugar is an instant hit to your body and is linked to inflammation, diabetes, decreased immune response and even some cancers. Cutting back on salt lowers the risk of heart disease.
3. Consider portion size: Controlling portions may help you lose the extra winter weight you may have acquired. A portion size for most foods is about the size of your fist.
4. Clean out your cupboards and refrigerator: Throw out any expired and processed foods and remember the “rule of five.” Check the labels on any crackers, chips and cookies or other processed foods. If there are more than five grams of fat on the label, give those foods a toss. Replace heavy sauces and dips with pre-cut veggies, plain yogurt for dips and bowls of fruit.
5. Limit dehydrating drinks: Winter means hot chocolate, lattes and red wine. Spring is the time to re-think your beverage choices. Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics and dehydrate your body. Cutting back will help keep your liver healthy – as it is the natural detoxification system for your body.
6. Replace diet and sugar-sweetened beverages with good, old Water hydrates your body, flushes toxins, keeps you alert, increases your metabolism and controls your appetite. Add lemon, orange, lime or cucumber slices for a refreshing twist.

Stop and think about your body and the summer months ahead…consider the healthy choices available to you. Call to schedule a consultation appointment, today, to learn more about keeping your body healthy: 281-698-7435.