There can be confusion about what foods are good for us and how our eating and drinking habits affect our health.
At English Lakes two leisure clubs, Low Wood Club in Windermere and Sandpiper Club in Lancaster our members get free personal gym training programmes, we always recommend that a fitness plan should be balanced with a healthy, nutritious diet. Registered Dietician, Sofia Antonsson, answers some common nutritional questions and points us towards a healthier lifestyle.
1. Does Coffee increase fat metabolism?
NO. There is an increase in the quantity of fatty acids in the blood with intake of caffeine, but this is not necessarily linked to the body’s consumption of fat. However, a cup of coffee does tend to make you exercise harder and longer which can boost your total energy consumption, hence the increase in fat metabolism.
2. Are Blueberries really the super-food that everybody claims they are?
YES. Blueberries are a great healthy snack as they are extremely rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants is a term which describes a lots of substances found particularly in fruits and vegetables. They protect cells, and play an important role in protecting against diseases. Different colours indicate that the foods contain different antioxidants so a varied diet of fruits and vegetables in a wide range of colours is best.
3. Do eggs increase the cholesterol levels in the blood?
NO. As long as you don’t suffer from high cholesterol you can safely include eggs in your daily diet. It is the body’s own production of cholesterol that determines the cholesterol level in the blood. Egg is a valuable food for protein, minerals and vitamins including valuable vitamin D.
4. Are nuts good for you?
YES. Unless of course you have a nut allergy! Nuts are a wonderful natural food and are full of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial fats that the body needs. They are fairly calorific – 100 grams providing as many calories as a full meal – so you should adjust your consumption according to how much energy you are using. Eat a mix of brazil nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews and almonds and avoid salted nuts.
5. Will eating late at night cause me to gain weight?
NO. If you have a biorhythm or lifestyle that makes you eat one of your main meals later in the evening, this won’t necessarily affect your weight. Food eaten whether in the day or at night is metabolized in exactly the same way. Whether you gain or lose weight is determined by your total food consumption in 24 hours and how much you exercise and move around.