What to eat to get that summer body

If the raging heat and unrelenting sunshine are any indication, summer has undeniably arrived, along with the scant dress code that is necessary to survive such sweltering temperatures.

 

Yes, it is definitely the perfect time for bikinis and tank tops and shorts and swim trunks. In this weather, lesser clothing is better. But not everyone is confident or comfortable with showing off their muffin tops and love handles.

 

Luckily, there are ways to get rid of them, or minimize them at the very least, just in time for the skin-baring season at hand.

 

In a report aired Friday on GMA News TV’s “News to Go,” Pearl Esguerra, Chief Dietitian of the Philippine Heart Center, shared some healthy diet tips, including the best things to eat when you’re looking to shed a few pounds for the summer.

 

 

 

No to crash diets

 

The first thing she shared was that crash dieting is a big no-no. “Mga fad diets ‘yan eh, actually. Hindi makakabuti ‘yan sa katawan ng tao…siyempre, magkakaroon siya ng pagbabago sa metabolism ng katawan natin, which is not good also. Better eat the healthy foods.” she said.

 

“We should always eat a good and healthy diet with foods na maraming vitamins, minerals, fruits and vegetables packed with fiber and all the necessary flavonoids and antioxidants because they can always give us that healthy look without really starving ourselves,” she added.

 

She also gave a bit of good news for the rice-lovers who think they need to eliminate the food staple because of all the carbohydrates they contain.

 

Esguerra said “Hindi naman necessarily sinabi na pag magtanggal ay totally. There should always be that point na kailangan mo lang talaga bawasan 'yung dami. Pero kailangan pa rin [may carbohydrates] kasi kailangan mo pa rin ng energy.”

 

However, there are some good substitutes for rice that are nearly as satisfying. Corn, for example, provides carbohydrates, but isn’t as easily absorbed by the body, so it doesn't make you fat.

 

“You can have your corn, carbs din but because of the fiber, it goes out again as a whole. Ilalabas mo din siya, hindi ka tataba,” the dietitian explained.

 

She also said that fruits, particularly saging na saba (raw, not as banana-cue or turon), watermelons, and mangoes, have enzymes that can help regulate one’s metabolism and activate acids that make one feel full.

 

“Because of their water content, feeling mo maha-hydrate ka na. At the same time you can feel full already so ang tendency mo, maiiwasan mo kumain pa ng ibang pagkain," she added.

 

For that necessary protein fix, Esguerra suggested fish: “It’s a lighter form of protein compared to meat. Atsaka marami siyang tinatawag na omega-3 fatty acid which can enhance weight loss because feeling mo full ka rin. It enhances satiety.”

 

Refreshing cool drinks

 

As for the cold treats that people love to have in this warm weather, the dietitian recommended yogurt and fruit shakes.

 

“[Yogurt] is very good also in promoting weight loss because of the calcium content…[melon shake] is refreshing with some milk, because of the protein and calcium content which enhance muscle regeneration.”

 

Of course, the most important summer drink is water, Esguerra shared.

 

“The best thirst-quencher would always be water, not soda. It has no calories, no fat, no sugar, so it’s good for the body. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, you have to drink. Once you feel thirsty, it means that your body is already being dehydrated,” she explained. — KG/TJD, GMA News