Flatten your Tummy in Two Weeks!

Is it possible to get a flatter tummy
through changing eating habits in just two weeks?

Absolutely Yes!

Loosing weight around your middle is not only aesthetically pleasing but extremely healthy too. The fat that gathers around your middle is actually unhealthy fat and can ndicate other underlying health issues. If water retention, bloating or inflammation is causing you to have extrainches, getting rid of this is also extremely healthy.
But enough of healthy – what about that beach body?

Rule 1

AVOID Foods & Substances that are hard to digest,
detoxify and cause bloating:

Red Meat
Cheese /Milk
Wheat Breads and pastas
Undercooked pulses
Alcohol
Caffeine

Rule 2

Don’t eat raw or cold foods in the evening past 7pm.

Raw vegetables take a lot of energy to digest, and as we have less digestive energy at night these foods can stay in the stomach for a long time. Fruits tend to ferment when eaten at night or on top of other foods, which causes bloating. Eat fruit on empty stomach and best eaten earlier in the day.

Rule 3

Eat foods that aid digestion

Bitter dark green, red, white leaves – Rocket, watercress, endive, chicory – eat before and after, these support liver function and work their way down through the digestive system – the enzymes in the leaves help digestion.

Ginger – (raw and cooked) don’t be sparing

– use a lot to give a kick to your digestive fire.

Fennel – raw and cooked or in a tea. Antispasmolytic –stops spasms

Artichoke – (not the ones in oil) preferably fresh – this stimulates bile production & feeds gut flora.

 

 

Rule 4

Change your combination of foods –

Carbohydrates without protein – Carbohydrates + fats + vegetables

Proteins without carbohydrates – Protein+ fats+ non starchy vegetables

Why?

Digestion:

• An acid environment is needed for protein breakdown in the stomach
• An alkaline environment is needed for carbohydrate breakdown

Normally it is healthy to do this kind of combining – but can lead to such quick emptying of the stomach that a person may be left feeling hungry. Use healthy snacking to keep blood sugar levels balanced – fruit, seeds, oat cakes, spelt crackers, seeds.

Rule 5

Chew your food 15 – 30 times

Try to chew your foods as much as possible.By chewing your are doing a lot of the hard work that the stomach and intestines need to do if you wolf down your food. Chewing adds salivary amylase to the carbohydrates and starts to break down in the mouth, and grinds protein into small particles enabling the gastric juices to coat much more area of that food. Allowing for quicker breakdown.

Rule 6

Use high doses of pro-biotics and digestive enzymes

Probiotics – high Billion dose capsules x 2-3 per day. Very quickly helps establish a better balance of gut flora, this is vital for getting bowels moving or settled down if moving too much. By increasing good gut flora you reduce inflammation all over the body especially in the gut – which can really help reduce bloating.

Digestive enzymes

Helping out your digestion every now and again with some enzymes can really help with bloating and getting things moving through the system. There are different types – but a good quality broad spectrum one is best for general digestion. It helps if it contains Lactase (Breaks down Milk and Dairy) and Gluten, Protease ( Breaks down Wheat Proteins).

Rule 7

Reduce (cut out) Salt and bread intake

This will help reduce water retention. The body retains water to dilute sodium in the blood and tissues. Wheat can also increase water retention. In most breads the salt content is crazily high – some can have 6 grams in two slices! In some cases – weight around the middle (or on arms and legs) can be 30-50% Water retention!.

Rule 8

Take Vitamin C – the buffered non-Acidic kind. Not just important for the health of all tissues – it is vital for proper metabolism of carbohydrates, and can protect against insulin resistance and dibetes. Take a buffered form – I like BioCare Vitamin C with Flavonoids 500mg x 4-5 capsules. Taken 1 at a time spread throughout the day. Eat foods high in Vitamin C

Rule 9

Eat something acidic before a meal (unless you have a serious digestive problem like an ulcer) To increase acidity in a protein meal eat some pickles (preferably that don’t contain sugar – pickled ginger, vegetables, unsweetened gherkins etc. Take apple cider vinegar as a tonic before a meal – or use with dressing or sauce with the food.

Rule 10

Reduce Fluid intake with meal

Drink water around 30 minutes before a meal
Avoid drinking water with a heavy protein meal
Apple Cider Vinegar tonic just before a meal (1 capsule in glass of water).

Drinking too much fluid with foods dilutes enzymes – if the food is mainly carbs then small amounts of fluid is fine. Too much fluid can slow the release of foods from the stomach. No fruit juice or fizzy drinks increase bloating and poor digestion.

Our primitive digestions were not used to drinking as much as we do with our foods.

The 10 Rules for a flatter tummy in summary

1. AVOID Foods that are hard to digest and ones that can cause bloating.

2. Don’t eat raw or cold foods in the evening.

3. Eat foods that aid digestion.

4. Change your combination of proteins and carbohydrates.

5. Chew your food more – aiming for 30 times.

6. Use high doses of pro-biotics.

7. Use Digestive enzymes.

8. Reduce (cut out) Salt and bread intake.

9. Eat something acidic before a meal.

10. Reduce fluids with a meals.

Food supplements that can help:

Psyllium husk fiber/powder – binds to toxins, creates easy to pass stools.

Probiotics – aids digestion

Digestive Enzymes – Aids digestion

HCL – Hydrochloric acid tablets – Aids digestion

Soaked Linseeds / Flax seeds – mucilaginous – aids in bowel movement. (don’t use if have colitis or any other bowel conditions)

Lecithin crystals – helps emulsify fats making them easier for liver to digest.

Magnesium aids constipation or slow moving bowels and is vital for proper metabolism of carbohydrates.

Peppermint tea – anti carminative – gets rid of gas/bloating.

 

 

Please note that if you are experiencing any digestive problems you should get this checked by your doctor. The information in this blog is not meant as a substitute for proper medical care.

 

 

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How to consume carbohydrates to keep you healthy and to aid weight-loss

The other day I overheard someone explaining to a lady who wished to get fit and lose weight that she should eat a diet that is 60% carbohydrates. If these carbohydrates include all root vegetables, fresh fruits and things like honey, dried fruits, preserves and sweetened foods like yoghurt, ready meals, processed meat etc., then maybe for someone working out regularly this could be nearer the truth. However, I know, because I have been talking to people for years about their eating habits, that this simply isn’t how people perceive carbohydrates.

My daughter informs me about what she is told at school:

Carbohydrates are bread, pasta, sugar, rice etc. Proteins and fats are: Meat, fish, eggs, dairy and nuts and seeds. Fruit and vegetables are: All fruits, vegetables, pulses. Fluids are water and other drinks.

Everything that schools teach and doctors tell you has some truth but is very misleading:

• Nearly all fruits and vegetable contain carbohydrates in the form of starches and sugars.
• Some fruits and vegetable contain fats
• Many vegetables contain protein.
• Some fruits contain protein.
• Dairy contains sugars, proteins and fats
• Whole grains have a high content of protein – some even have complete protein, meaning all essential amino acids.
• White refined products like pasta, rice or bread are basically sugar.
• Nearly all processed proteins (ready meals and cooked meats) contain sugar.
• Meats like sausages, burgers, pies etc can contain a lot of carbohydrates and sugars as well as fats.

Today’s Western diet can be complex due to the way it is made and presented, but ironically there is little variety. It is true that the Western diet is made up of around 17 foods (as opposed to the thousands of foods available in the world) and even then we choose just 3 foods to be our staple diet.

In all the years I have been studying, researching, practicing and eating, I am totally convinced that the way carbohydrates are consumed is one of the biggest health issues and even now a time bomb waiting to explode.

Everyone’s carbohydrate needs are different. Two friends or even siblings may have completely different needs: For example friend A has a higher metabolism because she was born that way or she is very active, or she may have less nutrient deficiencies (which can have an impact on metabolism) Friend B is smaller frame, less active, and maybe less muscle mass but more fat tissue. Friend B will have different carbohydrate needs than Friend A. She may also have different protein needs.

• If weight loss is required – Your carbohydrate intake has to be addressed.
• If blood sugar balancing is needed – Carbohydrates need to be addressed
• If your hormones need balancing – Carbohydrates need to be addressed

In fact all health issues need carbohydrate intake to be considered.

The ratio’s of Carbohydrates to other foods for a normal diet. If training you may need to amend this – but in general it is relative.

If you think of your plates/dish as a pie chart this would be a healthy guide to follow:

Breakfast

Carbohydrates 50% (Includes fruits, grains and sugars)

Proteins: 35% (Includes milk, grains, eggs, meats, nuts and seeds)

Fats: 15% (Includes fish oil, flax oil, butter, coconut butter, nuts, seeds, yoghurt, fats from meats)

Lunch

Carbohydrates 25% (Grains, sugars)

Vegetables: 30% (Root veg are high in carbs so can be treated as carbohydrates – greens and other veg apply)

Proteins: 35% (Meat, fish, pulses, nuts, seeds, eggs)

Fats: 10%: Olive oil, oily fish, butter and other fats

Dinner

Carbohydrates 5-10% (Grains, sugars)

Vegetables:40%

Proteins: 45%

Fats: 10%

Importance of slow release carbohydrates: Foods which release glucose slowly into our bloodstream avoids sudden blood sugar highs then lows therefore keeps energy levels, moods, and hunger in balance. There is a lot of information on the internet about low GI foods and plenty of books which can be very helpful. A lot of the time it is common sense, if a grain is refined (white) or a food is sweet (even healthy carrot juice) it will be released into the blood quickly causing a blood sugar spike.

The rate at which carbohydrates affect our blood glucose levels are determined by the following factors:

Refined carbohydrates

These have been processed so that they produce a fine texture. The starch grains are partially broken down, increasing their surface area and the fibrous layer has been removed. This reduces the work of the digestive enzymes and gives them a greater area to act on in order to obtain the simple glucose molecules. Therefore refined carbohydrates release glucose quickly into the blood stream giving a sharp rise in blood glucose.

Wholegrain unrefined carbohydrates have not been processed, therefore their starch grains are still intact. It takes longer for our digestive enzymes to break it down, as there has been no help with the digestive process, therefore glucose is released into the blood stream at a slower rate.

When Can Fast Release Carbohydrates can be consumed?

After Exercise and sometimes during prolonged exercise: After training the glycogen levels in the muscles must be quickly replenished to avoid the break down of protein from the muscles for energy. Foods, which cause a rapid increase of blood glucose levels, should be consumed as soon as training ends. There are healthier fast release carbohydrates compared to energy drinks and sports bars, which are full of refined sugar. Carrot juice, white potatoes, ripe bananas and rice cakes all provide fast release sugar.

Slow Release Carbohydrates: Oats, basmati brown rice, brown rice, wild rice, whole grain spelt and other whole grains, apples (especially eaten with a few nuts or seeds), pears, blueberries, strawberries and other whole fruits, nuts, beans and pulses.

Cooked carbohydrates

Reducing cooking time for vegetables and grains means they will release their sugars more slowly, so rice should be slightly hard and pasta should not be too soft.

Natural Fast Release Carbohydrates: Sweet potato, pumpkin, parsnips, carrots, dried fruit, sugar, honey, watermelon, fruit juices.

Fibre –Whole grains are high in fibre as well as beans and pulses; this slows the rate at which the food is digested slowing the release of glucose into the bloodstream. The fibre pectin found in apples slows the release of glucose into the bloodstream, however when this is removed through juicing, the apple juice releases glucose quickly into the blood stream.

Presence of Fats, Protein or Acid

The combination of fat, protein or acid with carbohydrates can slow release of glucose into the bloodstream as it increases the transit time of food in the stomach.

Stimulants: such as coffee, tea, cola drinks and cigarettes affect blood sugar, as they stimulate a ‘fight or flight’ response, causing a sudden surge of glucose to be released from stores into the blood, ready for use by the muscles and brain. When the blood glucose is unused, insulin must be released to stabilise the blood glucose, this causes a blood sugar low.

 

Reduce your carbohydrate intake and look after your blood sugar – you will automatically have more energy and less health risk now and in the future. 

 

 

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