Swimsuit Season Nutrition: 10 Foods That Make You Look And Feel Great (Part 2)

10 Nutritious Foods You Should Be Eating To Prepare For Summer

1. Tomatoes
Did you know that eating tomatoes can help protect your skin against harmful UV rays? As the sun becomes stronger in the summer, it is essential to take measures to protect your skin against UV rays that can cause cancer. Consuming foods high in antioxidants like tomatoes will help ward off skin damage from the inside out. For a snack, pack some cherry tomatoes, or for even more antioxidant power, cook your tomatoes. Cooking tomatoes increases the concentration of the skin boosting antioxidant lycopene, so add some tomato paste to your sauces or add some tomato sauce to your omelette or to anything you feel would be delicious with a bit of a tomato addition. 

2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is composed mostly of acetic acid, which has been shown to delay gastric emptying and slow the release of sugar into the bloodstream. It helps increase the rate at which your body burns fat by maintaining blood sugar levels and producing proteins inside the body that burn fat. 

3. Ginger Tea
If you have a habit of eating processed foods, or chemical-laden, additive foods that cause bloating, inflammation, and a sluggish digestive system, you might want to consider switching up your coffee or regular tea for some ginger tea. Ginger has been traditionally used to ease stomach pain, however, it can be used to block the enzymes in your digestive system that cause bloating.  Ginger tea will help reduce stomach inflammation and increase your digestive systems ability to quickly digest food. 

4. Protein Powder
If you want to get into bathing suit-body shape before summer, make sure you are eating enough protein in the day to help you grow your muscles. Sticking with cardio workouts will help you lose weight, however, it will not give you a toned, lean appearance. Weight lifting and eating protein will help you burn fat while also building muscle to give you a toned figure. For a snack or post-workout snack, indulge in a protein shake to help your muscles grow and become stronger. 

5. Cherries
Sleep is a huge factor in the success of any diet or exercise program. Without enough sleep, your body is unable to fully recover and build muscle after a workout. Cherries act as a natural sleep aid since they contain melatonin content, a hormone that helps control your sleep cycle. If you are having trouble getting enough sleep every night, try eating a bowl of cherries before bed to help you go to sleep and stay asleep. 

6. Turmeric
Cutting out excess sodium in your diet is a must when it comes to obtaining your best bathing suit body. Turmeric decreases both inflammation and reliance on bloat-inducing salt. Turmeric is a magical nutrient that has been shown to work directly on fat genes, turning off the specific genetic mechanism that is responsible for obesity and inflammation.

7. Walnuts
A healthy snack can keep you satisfied long enough until your next full meal. One of the best things you can reach for when you are feeling snacky is nutrient-packed walnuts. Healthy fats like the polyunsaturated fats found in walnuts activate genes that reduce fat storage and improve insulin metabolism. This is why walnuts are one of the best dietary sources if you are looking to shed some weight. 

8. Red Peppers
If you exercise and eat right but can’t seem to get rid of that stubborn bit of flab on your belly, it may be caused by stress. If your job is demanding and you are constantly stressed, your cortisol levels are likely sky-high which encourages the body to store fat around the midsection. Adding Vitamin C rich foods to your diet will help reduce the physical and psychological effects of stress. And red peppers serve up nearly two days' worth of the nutrient in every cup!

9. Dark Chocolate
Finally something yummy on this list! If your diet and workout regime has you missing out on the indulgences in life, look no further than dark chocolate. Gut microbes in our stomach ferment chocolate and boost our body's production of gut-healthy polyphenolic compounds, including butyrate, a fatty acid that encourages the body to burn fat as fuel and turns off genes linked to inflammation. Make sure you opt for chocolate that has a cacao content of 70% or above as these have the highest concentrations of antioxidant polyphenols. 

10. Quinoa
As you work towards your summer body, it is important to limit your intake of refined carbs and opt for more wholesome options instead. Quinoa is high in fibre and is also a complete protein so it contains essential amino acids like lysine—the branched amino acid (BCAA) that burns fat, builds muscle, and maintains healthy bones and skin. Also, quinoa has the highest level of betaine, a chemical that revs your metabolism and actually shuts down the genes that encourage fat to hang around.

Get Your Summer Body Ready With The Help Of A Jensen Fitness Personal Trainer

Eating a healthy diet is only half the battle when it comes to obtaining your summer body. A nutritious diet must also be paired with a regular exercise program to help you see results. A personal trainer can guide you through workouts and set you on the right path to success when it comes to meeting your fitness and weight loss goals. They will be able to design a personalized workout regime that aligns with your goals and your body type to allow you optimal success. 

At Jensen Fitness, our personal training, fitness coaching, and weight loss programs will provide you with all of the support you need to achieve your personal goals while helping you sustain your new healthy habits for the long term and improve your overall health. To start your weight loss or fitness journey, contact our team of personal trainers in SE Calgary by calling 1-403-200-0199 or by filling out our online contact form.

FAQ

Q: Is it too late to start training to get my summer body?
A: It is never too late to embark on your fitness journey. By starting today, you will be one step closer to achieving your weight loss and fitness goals. A personal trainer will be able to get you on the right path to success right away so you do not have to go through trial and error figuring out what workouts to do as well. Working with a personal trainer will make you feel confident knowing you are on the path to success.

Q: Can a personal trainer help me with my nutrition?
A: Yes, a personal trainer will be able to give you some tips and tricks when it comes to food habits to help you see better results in the gym. Unless your personal trainer has a nutritional certification, they will not be able to come up with meal plans for you and can only recommend certain foods you should be eating. 

Q: How many times should I exercise per week?
A: It is recommended that everyone gets at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, however, if you are embarking on your fitness or weight loss journey, you should be going into the gym at least three times per week.