Your Bag is Empty
The weather is heating up, layers of clothing are coming off and that sexy two piece from last summer is calling your name. This week we want to talk about some of our favorite foods to add into meals to help you feel strong and healthy this summer. The wonderful thing about adding these foods to your diet is they naturally help you feel satiated, promote detoxification and taste great. So, instead of focusing on foods that you should eliminate from your diet, put positive energy into adding these summer-bod foods in wherever you can.
1. Avocado: All calories are not created equal. So, although avocado is high in calories, those calories do a variety of things that help promote a healthy, toned physique. The mono-unsaturated fat in avocado is what makes it such a superstar. This healthy fat helps suppress hunger, lower cholesterol and can even reduce belly fat (1). Try adding avocado to your salad, toss it into your smoothie for that creamy texture or if you're feeling super adventurous, cook it into some brownies!
2. Lemons: Lemons are naturally detoxifying and are also great for that bikini body. The juice from a lemon has the same structure as the juices in your stomach so it tricks your liver into producing bile. Maybe not the cutest thing in the world, but this juice helps keep food moving easily through your body and also relieves indigestion. Lemon also contains pectin which is great for making you feel full (2). Try drinking warm water with lemon every morning to give your body a nice jumpstart.
3. Coconut Oil: This stuff is liquid gold. Coconut oil contains MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) which are sent directly to the liver and converted to energy rather than fat. These MCTs also help stimulate your metabolism to burn fat and are great for sustained energy. Try using coconut oil in your next veggie sauté or add a dollop of it to your coffee for an extra boost (3). Bonus tip: coconut oil is also an amazing moisturizer. Try rubbing it on your skin after a shower.
4. Hemp Seeds: These power packed seeds contain all 20 amino acids which means hemp is a complete protein, perfect for keeping hunger at bay and helping muscles repair after a tough workout. We also love hemp because it contains crucial vitamins and minerals like iron, vitamin B6, phosphorus and magnesium (4). Sprinkle hemp on your smoothie bowl or add them to salads for a nice crunch.
5. Beets: Beets are a very high-antioxidant food packed with nutrients that have been shown to be cleansing and detoxifying. The fiber pectin clears toxins from the body that may be reabsorbed and betaine helps the liver eliminate toxins. Beets are also high in iron which makes them great for women (5). Try sautéing beets in coconut oil with a sprinkling of salt for a power packed side dish.
6. Cacao: When you feel good, you eat healthier foods. This is why cacao is a powerful ingredient for a happy and healthy bod this summer. Cacao affects our mood-hormones like serotonin and phenylethylamine which make us feel happy, enthusiastic and powerful! Cacao is also high in antioxidants and vitamins like Vitamin Bs, D and E (6). Cacao tastes fantastic in smoothies and makes this vegan avocado mousse recipe taste insane!
It's our belief that beauty starts from the inside out. That's why we included some of these powerful foods in our formula (coconut oil, hemp seeds and cacao). When you feed your body replenishing foods like these, you'll feel fantastic and be well on your way to that confident summer strut!