Sunday, November 30, 2014

Foods That Make You Feel Better One Hour Later

I found this on Today's Health and decided that with the holidays upon us it was information we all needed to know.

Here are a few super foods that you can enjoy while eating and — bonus! —make you feel great afterwards.


1. Eggs (I Love Eggs)

Suggested serving size: one whole egg.“Eggs provide high quality protein. They’re filling, delicious, and studies have shown that eggs can help you feel full when you include them in your meals versus carbohydrate-rich —like starchy, or sweet — meals," said nutritionist Elisa Zied, R.D., New York.

2.  Berries (Strawberries are my favorite, haven't acquired the taste for blueberries)
Fresh blueberries and strawberries
Suggested serving size: ½ cup to 1 cup. “Fruit is nature’s candy, like fresh apples and fresh berries,” said Fernstrom. “These are two things that people love, because they have a lot of water, stimulate taste buds, and are easily digestible.”

3. Canned tuna (white or light) (I'm a fish eater so I'm glad this is good for me)
Suggested serving size: 3 ounces, about one small can or half of a larger can.
“Canned tuna is a source of high quality protein that can fill you up and help keep blood sugar levels steady with omega-3-fatty acids,” said Zied. “Regular fish intake helps preserve body proteins—and that keeps you feeling strong and energized. Regular fish intake is also linked with lower risk of depression.”

4. Chicken soup (Can't get enough of this!)
Suggested serving size: 8-12 ounces. “People always feel good after eating chicken soup,” said Fernstrom. She said people associate ‘feel-good’ foods with the way their mouths feel while eating something creamy or warm, and chicken soup is a perfect example. “It’s the universal warm, healthy food.”

5. Beans and peas, lentils, chickpeas  (Beans and peas I can eat every day, especially good ol' blackeyed peas)
Suggested serving size: ¼ to ½ cup. “These are rich sources of protein and also pack in complex carbohydrates, mainly in the form of resistant starch,” said Zied. “A study in Public Health Nutrition in 2010 found that moderate intake of legumes, one or two servings weekly, protected menopausal women against severely depressed moods.”

6. Oats and oatmeal (My favorite breakfast dish)
Suggested serving size: ½ cup to 1 cup cooked, or 1-2 packets instant oatmeal with no sodium added.
“Oats provide complex carbohydrates that are slowly digested and provide the brain and entire central nervous system with their key source of fuel,” said Zied. “Carbohydrates also play a key role in creating serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain that helps regulate mood, appetite and sleep.”

7. Avocados (Have to pass on this one.  Never have liked avacados)
Avocado is high in omega-3 fatty acids and other essential vitamins and minerals. They're also higher in protein than other fruits.
Suggested serving size: ¼ of an avocado.
“Avocados are really creamy, and the texture is so inviting. A lot of people don’t realize how healthy they are,” said Taub-Dix. “You can even swap it for butter in some recipes. Or, you can puree avocado and add to salad dressing.”

8. Hummus (My favorite snack!)
Suggested serving size: four tablespoons. “Hummus is a great source of protein and fiber, but what are you eating it with?” said Taub-Dix. “If you’re eating hummus with tons of pita bread, that’s a problem. But try dipping jicama, carrots, zucchini strips; it’s a great carrier for veggies.”

9.  Yogurt (I eat Greek yogurt daily)
Raspberry and yogurt.
Suggested serving size: about 5 ounces. “Some yogurts like Greek yogurt are great sources of calcium, and people— especially kids — love to dip,” said Taub-Dix. “Something like a flavored or Greek yogurt is great for dipping, too.”

10. Nuts and seeds (Give me a handful of nuts or a scoop of peanut butter and I'm happy)
Suggested serving size: 1 ounce. “Nuts, like almonds, give you that great overall feeling for your taste buds —sweet, crunchy, creamy,” said Taub-Dix. She also recommends adding almond butter in her oatmeal for a creamy boost of protein.

11.  Tea (I can do the iced tea but not the hot tea)
Suggested serving size: 1 cup. “A cup of tea is low-calorie, gives you that comfort, and sometimes, it’s a speed bump to high-calorie foods,” said Taub-Dix. “You could wind up having a lot more calories if you hadn’t had that cup of tea.”

Now that you've found some of the foods that make you feel better, check out the site to see the ---

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