What To Eat In Our 40's And Beyond

Being in my 40's, I have noticed a big change in my metabolism. It's definitely slowing down with each passing decade. I remember being able to eat anything I wanted and not gain a pound. Now it seems as if one little fun night of splurging and I not only gain 2 or 3 pounds, but I feel sluggish, my face is puffy, and I usually have a headache.

When many people gain weight or develop health conditions, they often believe they inherited the problem from their parents. I bet you've heard, "my relatives have it too". Although there are some fixed genetic traits such as eye or hair color, up to 80% of our genes are influenced by our environment, including our lifestyle choices. Life doesn't end in our 40's, it's just beginning again! Follow these tips and you'll see a younger, healthier you!

• Avoid high sugar foods and added sugar. Sugar can cause artificial dips and highs in energy and can be so addictive.
• Cut back on alcohol, as it has a similar effect to sugar.
• Eat low GI foods such as: most fruits & veggies, oatmeal, whole wheat, and sweet potatoes. These will help keep your midriff slim and avoid those dips in energy levels.
• Eat good quality complex carbohydrates suchas whole grains and brown rice.
• Eat foods rich in vitamin B such as: lean meat, fish, eggs, and whole grain cereals to help energy conversion and calorie burning.
• Eat low-fat calcium rich dairy foods such as cheese and yogurt which have been shown to help burn calories.

Here's an example of a typical day's menu:

Breakfast- a medium bowl of low-fat natural yogurt, all-bran, and a chopped apple.

Lunch- 1 large bowl of vegetable & lentil soup, a slice of whole grain bread, and a handful of mixed almonds & sunflower seeds.

Dinner- 5 oz (150g) lean roast beef or steak, 1 medium baked sweet potato, and 8 oz. of steamed green veggies (e.g. cabbage, spinach, sprouts, broccoli).

Snacks- a small piece of cheddar cheese, carrot sticks, and a handful of fresh nuts.

When we hit our 40's, we begin to realize that poor health choices can develop or catch up to us as we hit our midlife/midstride. As soon as we establish an appropriate healthy eating regimen, we should not forget to start or be consistent with our exercise sessions. This will help elevate our metabolism rate and build muscle, making our core stronger-which in turn helps our back and posture hold our frame correctly.

Sleep is so crucial to health of body and mind. Not getting a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep each night can make us feel disturbed and stressed. Some of us also tend to overeat when we feel emotional tension. It's funny, isn't it, how what we do to our outside benefits or hinders our insides?! 

Be sure to consult with your physician before exercising or change of diet. This article has been my opinion and not medical advice.

Until next time....😊💜🌸