Sep 4, 2013

Have You Been Unknowingly Undermining Your Diet?

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By Vanessa Summer


Everybody knows that the most effective foods we can eat are whole grains, lean meats and healthy fats. These foods fill us with protein and also energy. They help our bodies remain balanced without infusing lots of calories that we will need to work extra hard to burn off at the gym. Are you aware, however, that a number of the foods you've been thinking are very good for your diet program could actually be making you retain weight? They can also be making you gain additional fat! Here are a number of the foods that might be undermining your diet efforts.



Sports Drinks do not truly help you. You have most likely been told that a sports drink is the best way to replenish your body's electrolyte levels after a workout. Many medical professionals agree, though, that if your exercise routine is less than ninety minutes, water is a fine way to do this. Sports drinks could absolutely weaken your diet because they are filled to the brim with sugar, empty calories and artificial colors and flavors. Try sipping some chocolate milk as a substitute. The sugars in the chocolate can help your muscles start to mend and the calcium in milk keeps your bones strong.

You do not need protein shakes. So many people assume that drinking a protein shake is a good way to stop cravings when it isn't meal time. The truth of the matter is that when you are already eating a balanced diet all the protein shake does is clog your system with protein. Contrary to popular thinking, protein does not get stored as muscle, it gets stored as fat. If you've already eaten your daily allotment of protein that day, your body will just keep the extra in your fat cells for later and that won't allow you to drop pounds or inches.

Pre-packaged deli meat isn't nearly as good for you as you might believe it is. It's typically believed that a sandwich constructed of whole grain bread and lean pre-packaged deli meat is a pretty good lunch time item. Actually, pre-packaged deli meat has way too many preservatives as well as sodium (one serving contains about a third of the amount of sodium you should eat in a day). This is going to be specifically harmful if you are at risk of contracting heart disease. Instead of choosing deli meat, choose home cooked chicken or other poultry or fresh deli meat that you can get sliced at the deli counter. Yes you will spend more money for these choices but you will be healthier if you choose them.

There are a wide range of things that we assume will help us shed weight like eating a whole wheat bagel each morning but the truth is that eating a bowl of oatmeal sprinkled with cinnamon is a lot better for our health and waist lines. Ask your doctor what the best means for you to eat healthfully are and then follow those directions. If you are careful about what you eat and are good to your entire body, losing weight probably won't be all that big an issue.




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