Let’s be honest: Men love to eat and need to be satisfied with a full feeling in the stomach like a fat bellied pig, right?!!
 
Poor diet and bad food choices are counter productive to the benefits of your hard workout and exercise routine. We all need to go back to the body builders diet of boiled chicken and 1/2 baked potato.
 
For good muscle growth and a solid source of protein, eat nuts, chicken, and turkey. Try slow cooking in olive oil or slow boiled with spices of your choice, like onion, leeks, chives,or garlic for added antioxidants and anti-microbial properties (thiosulfinates). Remember to cut out that alcohol and eliminate the beer! Those add pounds easily and will create your pot belly in no time.
 
Add one to two dark green vegetables and a yellow vegetable for an intake of some serious nutrients and vitamins. Drink water throughout the day, not just when you become thirsty. Take in orange juice for energy, cranberry juice for antioxidants and antibacterial (improved bladder health), and grapefruit juice as a diuretic. Remember, do not add salt or sugar to any foods you eat.
 
Be determined in your food choices and set to eat your healthy food starting tomorrow. Eat your Irish Oatmeal in the morning adding almonds for protein and raisins and cranberry for flavor and vitamins. Try a dash of milk, and a sprinkle of flax seed, for lowering cholesterol and good GI benefits. Most importantly, add fish to your diet to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease; usually two to three servings per week is sufficient.
 
For improved mental health and stress reduction, spend five minutes per day meditating.  For those of you that are not into taking a yoga class, you can do this at home or at your office. Sit in a quiet space on a comfortable chair or a large pillow on the floor. Take a deep breath and relax your shoulders, arms, and legs. Close your eyes and turn your thoughts inward, calming the chatter, clearing your mind and relaxing your muscles. When you are done you will be surprised how well you are able to work and live after that.
 
In Good Health,
 
Dr. Maryann Sheps

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 2nd, 2011 at 1:06 amand is filed under News.