Eat to look good and feel good

Eat to look good and feel good
Most of us lead a very busy lifestyle with little time to
prepare meals. We eat highly processed convenience foods
that make us feel full but often leave us feeling lethargic
shortly after.

It doesn’t need to be this way! You can eat not only
to feel full but also to look good, feel good and possibly
prevent diseases and increase longevity.

Healthy options don’t need to be time consuming or
difficult to prepare; they come down to smart choices.
Here are 5 in season super foods to get you started.

1. Apples. Packed with antioxidants including vitamin C,
needed for healthy skin and gums. Contain pectin (a soluble
fibre) that can help to lower cholesterol and keep a
healthy digestive system

The best way to have an apple is just as it is, but for a
change try having them roasted and sprinkled with a little
cinnamon

2. Blackberries. Help to protect against infections and
cancers, as they are rich in vitamin C. A good source of
potassium which may protect against hypertension

Try mixing them with bio-live organic yoghurt or add to
your favourite smoothie.

3. Pumpkin and Squash. They are packed full of the cancer
inhibitors beta carotene and alpha carotene and a good
source of protein. Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source
of zinc, important in maintaining a healthy immune system.

A simple way to prepare pumpkin and squash as part of a
meal is to have it roasted. Simply peel and dice into large
pieces adding a little olive oil and seasoning and then
roasting for approximately 40minutes.

The seeds also make a quick snack. To prepare, simply boil
for 5 minutes and then bake for about an hour.

4. Mushrooms. They are richer in selenium than most other
vegetables making them potentially very important in
fighting cancers in particular prostate cancer.

Add them to a sandwich for a nice texture or make a simple
mushroom omelette.

5. Kale. The super food of super foods! Kale ontains one of
the highest levels of antioxidants of any vegetable and is
also rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, which can prevent
vision loss in old age.

Chop finely and sautee with a little garlic or be
adventurous and have a go at making the traditional
Portuguese soup ‘caldo verde’; A potato-based
soup with finely chopped kale. Most recipes add chorizo
but caldo verde can also be enjoyed as a vegetarian dish.

There are many more super foods out there, this list is to
inspire and get you started. Choosing to eat in season
super foods will not only help you to look good and feel
good, being in season will also ensure they are fresher,
taste better and cost less. Enjoy!

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Rosa Coelho is a Performance Coach and Personal Trainer at
Dax Moy Personal Training Studios In London. Rosa
specialises in applying a holistic approach to health and
fitness through The POWER Principles. For more information
about Rosa visit http://www.rocofit.com