Changing my diet to healthy eating, looking for advice..

rainyrun

Hi

I am new to this forum and I am hoping I can get help and advice here.. I read a few highly inspirational books recently.. namely Jason Vale and a story about a lady called Bernadette Bohan and both of them emphasised so much about the importance of nutrition esp around raw veg, fruit etc and the dangers off junk food. Both books were complete eye openers for me!!

Both books ( and a book i fished out of my cupboard from Gillian mckeith) inspired me to start a healthy nutritionally focused way of eating..
I do tend to be overweight.. I did lose weight last year on one of those meal replacement plans and have started to put a bit of weight on again!! I just could not face the milkshakes again and though i still want to lose weight..I do not intend to focus on weight.
I want to focus on using Juices, smoothies and healthy eating to make me feel better and want to try diet to improve my health generally rather then using medication ( i have slight arthritis and severe endometresis, high cholesterol and generally feel tired and sluggish) I am hoping that with a good diet, I can reduce the symptoms and thatthe weight loss will occur!!

So after reading the books!! got very motivated and hit the healthfood shops and bought loads of healthy add ons.. fished out the juicer and blender I had hidden in the back of the cupboard.. bought loads of organic veg and fruit and I started my new regime last week .. I had a tough weekend and felt rough sat and sunday..but felt fab today!!..
I aim to reduce dairy signifcantly and replace wheat I wont offically go vegetarian, but will reduce meat from my diet..though dont plan to cut it out completely

I would like advice on some of the add on "superfoods" that i bought as i bought loads and not really sure how i should take them!!
I bought hemp, flaxseed, spirulina, udos oil, aloe vera and manuka honey and shots of wheatgrass!.. it seems a lot to take every day.. just would like advice on what i should focus on initally? or would taking a spoon of all them be ok to take every day?? not really sure and dont want to overdose on healthy stuff!!:)

all advice greatly appreciated..

EileenG

Focus on the food, not the supplements.

Base your diet on fresh whole food. Whole means you eat the whole fruit or veg, not just the juice. The fiber is not only filling, it has a lot of health benefits too.

Eggs, oily fish, fresh meat (not deli), chicken, lots and lots of green veg, olive oil, some dairy (not necessarily low fat), fruit, nuts, seeds, small amounts of wholegrains to fill the gaps.

Flaxseed is good, you can use it for baking. I'm less convinced by Udo's oil - most of us get more Omega 6 than we need, get Omega 9 from olive oil, and not nearly enough Omega 3. You'd be better with a good fish oil. It's cheaper too.

Personally, I would get the diet in order, then try a new supplement every week, and see if you can see any difference in how you feel.

rainyrun

thanks for that Eileeng really helpful, good advice

I am going to juice/ smoothie it in the morning..I am not great at eating veg..but have no problem in a smoothie.. ie this morning i had beetroot, cucumber, celery,carrots, apple slice of lime.. I juiced that and then i mixed it with avocado into a smoothie!! really really nice and there is no way i would have eaten those veg raw at that time of the morning

I will focus on salads at lunchtime.. and a healthly cooked meal in the evening with lots of veg. and i have spelt crackers with seeds on them and brazil and walnuts as snacks during the day

What wholegrains would be good? are they wheat based? sorry for the questions i just dont know .. my old diet would have been boil in the bag rice and chips!!..
really want to reduce the dairy and wheat due to my awful endometriosis pain as i think it inflames it.. and i sneeze terribly after having pasta!!so i know there is some kind of allergy, though I have not had it offically diagnosed.. just know i feel rough after certain meals..
thanks for the advice about the oils/ supplements.. may try a different one each week and see what works best

thanks again

EileenG

Juiced veg is certainly better than no veg. There's always the option of making your veg into soup when the weather cools down.

Oats or barley are generally good grains. I would try to break the bread habit, or you'll never manage to avoid wheat. There are several different types of rye crispbread which don't have wheat. I really the the Finn thin rye crispbreads. Lots of crunch for not too many calories.

CerebralCortex

I endorse EileenG's recommendations except, I don't eat grains at all. Lectin and gluten not so good.

itsyuranan

Hello,

I stuying to be a nutritionalist anyhow I can't recommend Celery Juice enough it great at combating high blood pressure have a read of this article
http://www.instituteofhealthsciences.com/celery-juice-prevents-high-blood-pressure/

Also as said above Omega 3 is great also is you have any pyschotic disorders LOL! http://www.instituteofhealthsciences.com/new-study-shows-omega-3-benefits-for-psychotic-disorders/Lastly Probiotics take them every day! Best of luck with your new lifestyle change!

Orla K

itsyuranan wrote: »

Hello,

Also as said above Omega 3 is great also is you have any pyschotic disorders LOL! http://www.instituteofhealthsciences.com/new-study-shows-omega-3-benefits-for-psychotic-disorders/Lastly Probiotics take them every day! Best of luck with your new lifestyle change!

Did you really just add a lol onto that!

It's not just pyschotic disorders it helps, it also helps with psychiatric disorders but I wouldn't call it great, it's only a small part of what the person has to do.

saa

rainyrun wrote: »

regime

And that is the word that worrys me, its motivation that gets you started but habit that keeps you going, are all these changes too much for you at once?

It sounds like a drastic change, which suits some people but don't be afraid to make one food group change a week you take your time and within a few months it will feel like such a natural progression rather than a flick of a switch and from my experience the switch approach is easily switched back if its too much at once

good luck