HEALTH NOTES
HOW YOU CAN GET MORE FIBRE INTO YOUR DIET
EVERYBODY knows fibre is good for us as it aids digestion and helps keep us regular.
However, most of us don’t have enough fibre in our diets.
Here are some tips for increasing your intake...
■ WHEN you buy bread look for the wholegrain ones. Try wild or brown rice, wholewheat pasta, bulgur and quinoa.
■ IN addition to a fresh salad, frozen veg is great too. Frozen peas, spinach, broccoli or sweetcorn are all good additions to your diet.
■ MAKE sure you add legumes too. There are so many different kinds of beans and lentils to choose from.
■ IF you eat breakfast choose porridge, right, or a high-fibre cereal with your favourite fruit and nuts.
■ AND finally, nuts and seeds. Have a variety of seeds every day. A handful of peanuts, hazelnuts, walnuts and cashews make a great snack.
COULD STRESS BE AFFECTING YOUR METABOLISM?
WE know stress can make you eat more but a US study has found stress impacts our metabolism as well.
Participants experiencing stress such as arguments or work-related pressure, burned 100 fewer calories than stress-free women in the seven hours after eating a high-fat meal.
Researchers concluded that having one or more stressful event the day before eating a high-fat meal (the kind we’re most likely to indulge in when we’re frazzled) can slow the body’s metabolism down so much that women could potentially see an 11 pound weight gain over a year.
It’s a good reason to make sure you learn to manage your stress levels through mindfulness and exercise.