Tips for a leaner you this summer

(NC)—Need to shed some winter pounds before squeezing into your summer wardrobe?

Why not make a lifetime change and take a whole new approach to weight management. An ever-growing body of research demonstrates the health benefits of a diet focused on controlling carbohydrate intake. Low-carb diets encourage consumption of a healthy balance of nutrient dense foods: lean protein, a full array of fibrous vegetables and fruits and good fats while limiting refined carbohydrates, refined sugar and trans fats.

Colette Heimowitz, vice president of education and nutrition, Atkins Nutritionals, shares her simple tips for a healthier you.

Scope out hidden sugar – Sugar is lurking in many unexpected places and not just in the form of sucrose. These include cane sugar, high fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, beet sugar, as well as syrups such as maple, corn or cane.

Get smart about grains - Grains, like fruits, vary considerably in their carbohydrate content. The five that are lowest in net carbohydrates are bulgur, hominy, oatmeal, wild rice, and wheat germ. 

Learn to read – Read nutrition facts panels and ingredient labels and be savvy when buying pre-packaged 'health' or 'energy' bars. Avoid: high sugar content, trans fats, bleached white flour, high levels of sugar alcohols and other nutrient-empty ingredients.

Fuel up on fibre - To stay satisfied, be sure to fill up on plenty of fibre. Fibre will help you get the most out of your busy day by regulating the release of essential vitamins and minerals into your blood stream

One of the more popular low-carb diets, the Atkins Diet, has been around for more than 40 years, during which time it has undergone a number of modifications reflecting emerging nutritional science. The company's new book, New York Times bestseller, The New Atkins for a New You, reflects the latest thinking on diet and nutrition and introduces several significant changes that make Atkins simpler to follow, all-new recipes, 24 weeks worth of meal plans for all four phases (including vegetarian and vegan options) and tips for eating out. You can visit www.atkins.com to learn more about the Atkins approach to weight loss, use interactive tools, read success stories and download recipes.

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About The Author
NewsCanada: www.newscanada.com with photo
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04-2010

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