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Making a few simple tweaks to your diet [3] can save you a few hundred calories without sacrificing flavour. But ditching simple, refined carbs for more nutritious food won't just help you lose weight; it can have a major impact on your overall health, too.
As author of New York Times best-seller Genius Foods Max Lugavere posted on Instagram, there are four seemingly healthy foods that people eat every day that actually have healthier alternatives. Instead of eating a (grass-fed) burger with a bread bun, he suggests swapping it for portabello mushroom caps. "Mushrooms are loaded with health-promoting compounds," he wrote in the caption. "This may be why frequent mushroom consumption is related to 20% reduced risk of developing dementia."
Instead of a flour tortilla, which is empty calories from refined white flour and corn, opt for a large piece of sturdy lettuce, such as romaine or butter lettuce. And while dried fruit seems like a health, all-natural option, it's calorie- and sugar-dense, so it's easy to over consume and ingest hundreds of calories and dozens of grams of sugar. Instead, reach for fresh fruit [5], which is mostly water and will keep you fuller, longer.
If you think frozen yoghurt is a healthy dessert option, think again — as an alternative, Max suggests full-fat Greek yoghurt. "Steer clear of frozen yoghurt, which masquerade as healthy, and stick instead to full fat grass-fed Greek or Islandic yoghurt, which can be dressed up to be just as satisfying (you can even throw a little stevia or monkfruit in yourself if you want it sweet!)" he wrote in his caption.
With these pointers in mind, rethink your meals and snacks — not only will you save calories, but you can protect your overall health, too.