Day 19
Cleanse Day 10
Today we take a look at including starchy vegetables in our healthy diet along with some great recipes.
Today’s Topic: Starchy Vegetables
"Starchy vegetables are high-quality carbs that contain valuable nutrients, but they're more calorie-dense than non-starchy, water-rich varieties, so be sure to eat them in moderation."
~ JOY BAUER
A lot of people are under the impression that starchy carbohydrates are "bad" for us. First of all, I am of the opinion that ALL real, whole food (the way nature made it!) is "good" for us. And, while there was a time when starchy vegetables were given a "bad rap" and thought to contribute to blood sugar issues and weight gain, research has shown that is absolutely not true...but quite the opposite. They are an important part of a healthy, balanced diet when chosen correctly and consumed in reasonable portions.
Starchy vegetables include corn, potatoes, acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, pumpkin, winter squash, sweet potatoes and yams, parsnips, and peas. These veggies contain concentrated carbohydrates, a variety of valuable nutrients, and lots of fiber that takes longer to digest - making them not only nutritious, but an important source of energy that keeps you satisfied.
And if you are having cravings for something sweet and/or comfort food, a serving of some good starch will often fill the bill. They help to raise serotonin levels ("feel good" brain chemicals) which helps to regulate our mood, behavior, and memory, and will often be the deciding factor is being able to stay on a healthy eating program.
However, ALL starches turn into "sugar" in the body. While these are good and necessary foods to fuel both the brain and the body, too much (which is what we tend to do with these foods) is NOT good. That’s why we limit them to only one small section on our imaginary picnic plate (or the size of the palm of your hand,) why we eat WHOLE forms of them, and BALANCE them with adequate protein and non-starchy veggies.
Recipes
(Click on the photos below to view recipes.)
Check-in: How are you doing?
Some people get disappointed that they are not losing weight faster. Remember that everyone doesn’t start from the same place. Someone who hasn’t eaten healthy in the past is going to see more radical results than a person who eats fairly healthy regularly. Also, the fiber in the cleanse kits absorb water and slows down the weight loss process. However, it is doing other GOOD work and, once it is out of your system, you will probably see things shift. Be sure that you are eating enough food so your body doesn’t go into “starvation mode,” and that you are eating BALANCED meals and snacks to keep your blood sugar levels happy so you remain in the fat losing mode rather than the fat storing mode.
Keep up drinking plenty of water and eating healthy balanced meals with adequate protein. Even though the major detox symptoms are behind us now, the body is still doing BIG work inside. If you are craving sugar, make sure you are getting enough protein, and then try a small amount of fruit. If you are craving dairy, avocado or nuts & seeds are a good substitute. And if you are craving “comfort” carbohydrates, try some of the food mentioned in today’s information as long as it’s part of a balanced meal.
Hope you can see how this program is both “cleansing” and “building health” at the same time - which is SUCH a great thing! We’re on the home stretch now...
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: MY BODY IS A TEMPLE. I CARE FOR MY BODY WITH LOVE AND ATTENTION!
Tomorrow we’ll look at including dark leafy greens in our healthy diet.
And feel free to email me to ask questions or share your thoughts and experiences ~ I’d love to hear from you!
Blessings, JoAnn