Come summer break and we are off holidaying, leaving behind routines. Picture a vacation to the relatives or a holiday destination and we can imagine ourselves with a tall glass of something cold and sweet. This is usually accompanied by careless eating through some meals of the day - which means stepping up on fried foods and ice cream while out in the sun. Agreed, we need to relax and let go during vacations, but a little smart eating could see us through the holidays without sacrificing too much on the plate.
1. Slow down as you eat: It is believed that the body could take as much as 20 minutes to give accurate hunger satiation signals in healthy people. Stretch receptors of the stomach are activated and in turn, pass the ‘filling’ message to the brain through the vagus nerve which connects the gut to the brainstem. Apart from this, hormonal signals, too, are released when partially digested food enters our small intestine. (Source: Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School; Article Title: Why Eating Slow May Help You Feel Full Faster; Author: Ann MacDonald, Editor, Harvard Mental Health Letter; Date: 19th October, 2010; URL: http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-eating-slowly-may-help-you-feel-full-faster-20101019605 ). So, if you keep your eating pace slow or moderate, it is likely that you receive satiation signals from your brain at the time you begin to fill. Fast pace could result in eating when you are full without being aware of it.
2. Fiber Can Be Refreshing: Dietary fiber (both soluble and insoluble) may be found in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts etc. You might want to serve yourself fiber foods first in your meal. Once you are past these fiber foods you could be less likely to pick on sweet treats later. This would make chicken salads or feta cheese-based Greek salad a great beginning for lunch. If you are still craving something sweet, you could go for an apple, watermelon, or a banana, all of which also contain healthy fiber. You can refer to the fiber content covering half-a-serving of different foods by visiting the pages of USDA’s website containing National Nutrient Database.
3. Stay well hydrated: In general, the amount of fluids (water included) you take in each day may depend upon your level of physical exertion, temperature, your health condition and whether you are pregnant. The bottom line is that as long as you are passing colorless or near-colorless urine, you may be safe from dehydration. As per the Institute of Medicine, women can drink approximately 9 cups of beverages (total, water included) a day to remain safely hydrated given normal levels of activity, a healthy body and normal levels of temperature. (Source: MayoCinic.com; Article Title: Nutrition and Healthy Living - Water: How much should you drink every day?; Author(s): Mayo Clinic Staff; URL: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283). If you plan to spend most of your vacations outdoors or playing a sport, you may want to check with your doctor or a licensed dietician on how much fluids will keep you from getting dehydrated.
INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. ALL INFORMATION GIVEN IS TO BE CHECKED WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE IMPLEMENTING OR TAKING THEM AS STANDARD OR VERIFIED.
Mamta Singh is a published author of the books Migraines for the Informed Woman (Publisher: Rupa & Co. URL: http://www.amazon.com/Migraines-Informed-Woman-Tips-Sufferer/dp/8129115174/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298990756&sr=1-2), the upcoming Mentor Your Mind (Publisher: Sterling Publishers) and The Urban Woman’s Integrated Fitness Guide (Publisher: Hay House India). She is also a seasoned business, creative and academic writer. She is a certified fitness instructor, personal trainer & sports nutritionist through IFA, Florida USA. Mamta is an NCFE-certified Holistic Health Therapist SAC Dip U.K. She is the lead writer and holds Expert Author status in many well-received health, fitness and nutrition sites. She runs her own popular blogs on migraines in women and holistic health. Mamta holds a double Master's Degree in Commerce and Business. She is a registered practitioner with the UN recognised Art of Living Foundation. Please visit www.mamtasingh.com
Edited by Shannon Koehle