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Making good food choices can increase your energy, beat the flu and make you feel fantastic about yourself. Check out the advice given by our nutritionist to fellow nzgirls...
HEALTH CONCERNS
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome I was recently told by my doctor that I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, that’s why I have acne and he said that taking the pill at the age of 16 was a bad idea so he told me to look after my face with creams. What he didn’t tell me is what to eat and since I am from a strong Pakistani background, we basically have Pakistani food at home (it’s just like Indian food). Maybe there is something I can eat that will control my testosterone hormone, so I stop getting acne.
I would suggest you find a dietitian who specialises in treating women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) for more in-depth support. Meanwhile however, you may want to try the following strategies – avoid white rice, eat only brown rice. White rice has a very high glycaemic index (the speed at which it digests). Carbohydrate foods such as this which digest too quickly and raise the blood sugar levels rapidly appear to accelerate PCOS. Brown rice digests a lot more slowly and also contains many high level nutrients which white rice lacks.
Avoid sugar where possible, also tea with sugar. Fried foods such as samosas etc etc will also need to be reduced or avoided. Where possible steam or boil foods and avoid frying. Fried and fatty foods seem to make acne problems worse. Make rotis and naan bread out of wholegrain, not white, flour. If you persevere with these changes you will notice some positive differences in your health. It may mean cooking separate meals from your family, but your health will benefit long term.
WEIGHT LOSS
A Boost Are there dietary pills that boost your metabolism?
Healtheries Naturally Slim Fat Burner helps to do this, but you will also need to alter your dietary habits. I find that tea, coffee, cola, energy drinks, and chocolate drinks all seem to lower the metabolic rate and make you tired. Avoid these drinks and have pure fruit juices and herbal and fruit teas instead. Go to the Healtheries website www.healtheries.co.nz and take the Health Questionnaire quiz. This will tell you the correct supplements that will help to support your health and weight.
Partner’s Pounds My partner is very overweight, when we met he was doing a lot of training (and was still quite big), but now his busy lifestyle means he doesn't train anymore. I cook healthy meals but over the last three years he seems to be getting bigger and bigger. I am really worried about his health, but he won't see a doctor. I was hoping if they could find something in a blood test we might know what we are dealing with, but he won't go. I usually cook stir fries (no oil, balsamic vinegar or tomato bases), he snacks on yoghurt (which I encourage) and doesn't eat sweet things (no Coke, biscuits or chips) what else can I do to help?
Join in! You will need to get going yourself and drag him out for some daily exercise with you. It could be a walk, or to play some soccer at a local footy field. Alternatively find an exercise class, or go to the swimming pool, or go to a dance class once a week and expect him to come too. Other strategies include no TV in the evenings until a video or DVD exercise programme has been done (by both of you). Hire or buy exercise machines – an exercycle and a treadmill, that you both can do together while watching TV or listening to music. As for the blood tests, you will have to go with him to the doctor and have the blood tests done on yourself as well.
If all else fails book him in with a personal trainer once a week – you pay – it could be a birthday or Christmas present, and do consider going to counselling with him. If he does not want to look at his problems this eventually will affect you and how you feel about him.
The Little Things I am a pretty healthy person, I have my off days as most people do, but every morning I have a trim moccachino from McCafe with my two pieces of wholemeal toast. Is this going to affect my attempts to try and drop weight? How bad are they for me? They are quite sweet, but I have no idea how much sugar is in them. Can you suggest any other drink or take out coffee? I need one every morning just to get going! In terms of working out, I usually go for a 20-30 minute run at about 5.30 in the morning, is this a good form of fitness? Is it better than running in the afternoon? I have been walking for an hour in the afternoons some days because I was told it was a good way to lose weight too.
Exercise in the morning is fine, as it is in the afternoon too. Your body will be happy with either or even better, both! Personally I prefer to get it all over before work. I suggest before you go running in the morning that you fix yourself a spirulina smoothie using one teaspoon of Healtheries Spirulina Smoothie powder mixed with fruit or vegetable juice. This will help to stabilise your blood sugar levels and give your body some nutrition to work with so that you have some energy.
You need to stop giving your hard earned cash to McDonald's. Coffee and chocolate with all the associated sweetening will actually make you tired. Initially it appears not to, but in fact it is just raising your blood sugar levels and then dumping them later in the day. This process accelerates weight gain. Try ginseng, ginkgo, or liquorice tea instead (Healtheries produces all these teas – they all have lovely flavours).
The wholegrain toast is good, but you need to add some protein such as eggs, cottage cheese, tuna, or salmon. Protein boosts your energy levels naturally and you will find this will help your weight loss programme.
Filling The Cup I lost about five kilograms last year as well as losing a couple of cup sizes on my breasts. I’ve got my breasts back and started putting on a bit of extra weight. I don’t want to start exercising again but I want to keep my breasts the same size they are now. What is the best way to do this?
A bit tricky as breasts are mostly fatty tissue. Some people find that a combination of vitamin E and Evening Primrose Oil (try Healtheries Vitamin E 500mg and Healtheries Evening Primrose Oil capsules), helps to keep the breast tissue in good shape and stops sagging and lumpiness.
Apart from this it’s time to get to the gym and ask the trainer there to give you weight exercises to build up your pectoral muscles (these lie underneath the breasts). When these muscles are in good condition they help to maintain the shape, size, and tone of your breasts. Sorry there is no escape from exercise it really is the best therapy to maintain your breast shape.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Soy Good I've just started drinking soy milk instead of normal milk and I was wondering if there are any differences between the products? Is the seemingly processed So Good worse than the natural, organic soy milks? Also I was wondering how the 'fresh' soy milk they keep refrigerated is different and is it any better for you?
All soy milks are processed in some way and have some additives. It depends on you and your budget as to which kinds of processing and additives you will be happy to put up with, or in turn want to avoid.
Organic soy milks are made from soy beans which have been grown and produced free from pesticides and unwanted chemicals, and of course are free from genetic engineering. Any added sweeteners or stabilisers in the product are also organic. Some companies (such as for So Good) produce a product which isn’t organic but the soy beans are free from genetic engineering (GE). Why should we be aware of GE? It is considered that GE foods have the potential to make intolerances to foods worse, or may affect the long term health of the body.
Fresh soy milk found in the chiller, as opposed to soy milk bought from the shelf, is free from UHT processing. UHT (ultra heat treatment), destroys certain nutrients with its effects. Finally check the ingredient list on your soy milk. Look for one which has the highest content of soy, as there are plenty with very low levels of soy, topped up with water and sweetener.
MEAL SOLUTIONS
A Good Start What’s the best thing you can eat for breakfast is? For breakfast I usually eat either homemade muesli, Vogel’s toast, porridge (I can't eat it without brown sugar) or Special K. Which would be the healthiest or most beneficial for trying to lose weight? What would be the best fruit to have with cereal; bananas, peaches, fruit salad? Also what are the best spreads to have on toast; marmite, honey, marmalade?
Oddly enough the best cereal is the one with the most calories – a good homemade muesli containing wholegrain oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, wheatgerm and linseed will give you the best blood sugar level start to the day and provide a wide range of essential nutrients which will boost your metabolic rate and help towards weight loss. You can use the same mix for porridge, just leave the brown sugar off and top with apple sauce or apple syrup or cook it with a little manuka honey – yummy!
I haven’t had any clients lose weight successfully and keep it off, or keep their energy levels up by having light cereals, or toast with marmite, honey or marmalade. If you are going to have wholemeal toast then you need to top it with protein – eggs, cottage cheese, tuna, or salmon.
Any fruit will do for breakfast – tinned or raw is fine, but the tinned fruit needs to be in clear juice, not syrup. If you find you are a banana freak (i.e. more than one a day) then cut back as these are really too rich to be taken often.
Beat The Binge I eat breakfast every morning and I always have dinner but in between them, I am always binge eating. I don't take lunch to school usually and after school I just eat whatever is in the cupboards. How do I beat the binge?
Take lunch to school. Wholegrain bread, plus protein such as lean meat, chicken, eggs, cottage cheese, or tuna, add some salad and fruit and you will notice a huge difference. In the nearly 20 years I have been helping people with their diet, I have not met one person who has successfully avoided lunch and not binged.
Vicki Martin RD, ND. Nutritionist, Naturopath
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Making good food choices can increase your energy, beat the flu and make you feel fantastic about yourself. Check out the advice given by our nutritionist to fellow nzgirls...
I would suggest you find a dietitian who specialises in treating women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) for more in-depth support. Meanwhile however, you may want to try the following strategies – avoid white rice, eat only brown rice. White rice has a very high glycaemic index (the speed at which it digests). Carbohydrate foods such as this which digest too quickly and raise the blood sugar levels rapidly appear to accelerate PCOS. Brown rice digests a lot more slowly and also contains many high level nutrients which white rice lacks.
Healtheries Naturally Slim Fat Burner helps to do this, but you will also need to alter your dietary habits. I find that tea, coffee, cola, energy drinks, and chocolate drinks all seem to lower the metabolic rate and make you tired. Avoid these drinks and have pure fruit juices and herbal and fruit teas instead. Go to the Healtheries website 
You need to stop giving your hard earned cash to McDonald's. Coffee and chocolate with all the associated sweetening will actually make you tired. Initially it appears not to, but in fact it is just raising your blood sugar levels and then dumping them later in the day. This process accelerates weight gain. Try ginseng, ginkgo, or liquorice tea instead (Healtheries produces all these teas – they all have lovely flavours).
A bit tricky as breasts are mostly fatty tissue. Some people find that a combination of vitamin E and Evening Primrose Oil (try Healtheries Vitamin E 500mg and Healtheries Evening Primrose Oil capsules), helps to keep the breast tissue in good shape and stops sagging and lumpiness.
Oddly enough the best cereal is the one with the most calories – a good homemade muesli containing wholegrain oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, wheatgerm and linseed will give you the best blood sugar level start to the day and provide a wide range of essential nutrients which will boost your metabolic rate and help towards weight loss. You can use the same mix for porridge, just leave the brown sugar off and top with apple sauce or apple syrup or cook it with a little manuka honey – yummy!