Eating for better body composition doesn’t have to mean bland boring foods that you quickly become sick of. I do always recommend to my clients that shop-bought sources are a big no when your trying to get lean simply because they often contain unwanted added butter, sweeteners, additives or have a creamy base. So, how do we add flavour to our food and keep us from going insane? By eating smart and adding spices, of course!!
Not only will you satisfy your taste buds, you will also be receiving cancer and heart disease-fighting capabilities while charging up your metabolism, thus helping you turn your body into a lean mean machine!
Fresh chillies are perfect for adding flavour and a bit of fire to most meals. They have a really positive effect on fighting fat. The University of Tasmania, whose research was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in July 2006 found that chilli helped to fight diabetes and increased metabolic rate by up to 23% for as long as 3 hours! The study also found that consuming chillies significantly helped to control insulin levels after eating meals. The amount of insulin needed to lower the body’s blood sugar level following a meal was reduced by a staggering 60%.
Turmeric is another great ingredient you should be using in your cooking as the health benefits are too good to miss out on. Unhealthy cholesterol levels are common among the modern western population. Turmeric can help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol and stop damage to the vessels. This helps to lower harmful cholesterol levels through interaction with the liver. The antioxidant properties (which are 5 times as strong as vitamin E and stronger then vitamin C) found in turmeric are beneficial against all types of cancer, but studies have primarily focused on colon cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and leukemia.
Ginger is yet another amazing natural ingredient which actively raises your body temperature and increases heart rate. In other words, it boosts your metabolism while making your food taste great! Using ginger to marinate your chicken or turkey breasts makes it taste great. It’s also awesome when used as flavouring in water or green tea. There are far too many spices with great health benefits, making your meal time something to look forward to. So, keep your kitchen stocked and eat yourself lean!