Feel Good Winter Foods to Flatten Your Stomach – Nutrition

Nutrition

It’s no secret that nutrition can flatten your abs, tighten your butt and thighs and keep you looking and feeling strong and healthy. Winter can be a trouble time for many, most of the country is covered in snow and battling ice cold temperatures, making an outdoor fitness routine difficult to maintain. This can cause a increase in the winter “blues” and comfort eating, making you pack on the pounds for months at a time.

The best way to keep the weight off this winter is to stock up on nutritious foods that give you the comfort feeling you’re craving AND can help you burn fat in your mid section, leaving you looking and feeling great all year long.

Add these Heart Smart Minute foods to your shopping list and keep the holiday weight off and energy in full gear.

Grapefruit

Nutrients: 1/2 a grapefruit has 52 calories, 2 g fiber, 64% DV vitamin C, 28% DV vitamin A

Nutrition benefits: Men who consume the most lycopene-rich foods are less likely to develop prostate cancer. Eating grapefruit daily can also lead to lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol by up to 15% and 20%, respectively.

Oranges

Nutrients: 1 medium orange has 62 calories, 3 g fiber, 116% DV vitamin C, 10% DV folate

Nutrition benefits: Oranges are potent protectors against cancer, inflammation, and many other health conditions. It helps combat arthritis, asthma, diabetes and gum disease. as well as boost immune function.

Radishes

Nutrients: 1 cup of sliced radishes has 19 calories, 2 g fiber, 8% DV potassium, 29% DV vitamin C, 7% DV folate

Nutrition benefits: Loaded with fiber and little calories, they can help fill you up and help lose the belly fat.

Lemons

Nutrients: The juice of 1 lemon has 12 calories, 0 g fiber, 36% DV vitamin C

Nutrition benefits: Lemons are rich in limonoids, phytonutrients, which have been found to fight cancer of the mouth, stomach, colon, and breast. There is also research showing that limonoids prevent bad cholesterol from being oxidized and lower cholesterol levels, protecting the heart.

Broccoli

Nutrients: 1 cup broccoli flowerets has 20 calories, 110% DV vitamin C, 43% DV vitamin A, 13% DV folate

Nutrition benefits: Broccoli may be protective against breast, prostate, colon, and other cancers. Scientists have also found that diets high in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage and cauliflower, are associated with a lower rate of various cancers.

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Heart Smart Minute – Avoid Winter Weight Gain!

Heart Smart Minute

October is here…bringing with it for most of the country, the start of frigid temperatures and comfort eating. If you manage to avoid weight gain during the holidays, you still are faced with the uphill battle of avoiding the warm comfort foods in the cold gray months ahead of you.

Outdoor fitness is difficult with temperatures forcing you to stay inside and boredom coupled with lack of activity is the perfect storm for binge eating. Before you know it, the winter months can put a 10lb weight gain on you! The average American, living in the winter climate gains anywhere between 3 and 8 pounds per winter season.

Now that winter season is here, use these Heart Smart Minute Nutrition and Fitness tips to make sure you’re not packing on the weight this holiday season.

FIght the Winter Weight Gain the Heart Smart Minute Way…

Stay Moving: Fitness is the #1 way to avoid the winter weight. Burning calories, speeds up your metabolism and reduces the sugar cravings. The more you’re active the less bored you become and therefore you’re not snacking as a “sport.” If it’s too cold to get outside, consider buying a seasonal gym membership, most gyms will sell winter passes at half the cost of a yearly membership.

Sunny but Cold: Get outside as much as possible in the summer, even if it’s freezing. If it’s sunny force yourself to go for a walk around the block. The sun recharges the mind, and combats the winter depression many people develop.

Eat Proper Nutrition: The holidays are NOT an excuse to gain weight and let a year’s worth of discipline and hard work go down the drain. Look for winter season fruits and veggies and find great recipes to make healthy, warm, comfort food.

Lay of the Alcohol: Nothing and I do mean nothing, puts weight on faster than alcohol. The holiday season can be a very stressful time for many of us but that doesn’t mean you should go crazy with eggnog, wine, and brandy. Empty calories lower your will power and make you likely to eat excessively. Limit your drinking to three per week, and plan in advance. If you know you have a holiday party coming up, lay off the booze a few days before!