In cold weather, the human body secretes more thyroid hormones and adrenaline, accelerating the breakdown of the three major nutrient sources of heat: protein, fat, and carbohydrates, leading to excessive heat loss. Therefore, the diet in winter should focus on increasing energy intake, and one can appropriately eat more foods rich in carbohydrates and fats. But how can you eat meat and stay slim and healthy?
First, pay attention to the "Three Do's"
1. "Diet for Cold Resistance"
Medical research has proven that a person's sensitivity to cold is related to a lack of minerals in the body. Therefore, in winter, attention should be paid to supplementing minerals and consuming more root and stem vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, lotus root, and Chinese cabbage. This improves the body's cold resistance and excitability, naturally reducing the craving for meat and thus indirectly reducing fat intake.
2. "Be Choosy About Meat"
Always remember that you have a mission to transform yourself into a beautiful and slim person. You can eat meat, but you must be selective. Generally, duck fat is the healthiest. Duck meat is rich in B vitamins and vitamin E, and its fatty acids are mainly unsaturated and low-carbon saturated fatty acids, making it easy to digest. However, those with a cold constitution or those who are catching a cold should eat less of it.
In addition, research shows that foods rich in high-quality protein, such as meat, eggs, fish, dairy products, and soy products, are not only highly nutritious but also easy to digest and absorb. Among meats, beef, lamb, and rabbit are the best as they contain less animal fat. Chicken breast is the part of the chicken with the lowest calories and fat content.
3. "Pair Foods Appropriately"
In winter, it's not okay to eat only meat and few vegetables. It's especially wrong for many people to think that they shouldn't eat cold salads in winter because it's cold. In fact, you should eat more vegetables in winter. There are many choices available now, and almost all green vegetables can be bought. Vegetables not only help us reduce fat intake but also combat winter dryness. Moreover, the dietary fiber in vegetables can lower blood lipid concentration, help remove waste and oils from the body, and balance the body's pH, making them the best food for weight loss, beauty, and fitness.
In addition, drink more hot soups or water to accelerate the body's metabolic function and promote intestinal peristalsis, allowing you to stay hydrated and boost your immunity while losing weight. If you want to "remedy" after eating meat, you can supplement with fruits in moderation to aid digestion.
Second, pay attention to the "Three Don'ts"
1. Don't Overeat
Winter is a good time for nourishment, so it's easy to overeat. Relying solely on food to keep warm and consuming too many high-energy, high-fat foods and alcohol can cause and worsen cardiovascular diseases. Excessive protein intake can also lead to calcium loss. The scientific approach is "better to have food left in the pot than to have an overfull stomach." It's okay to have leftovers, but it's not worth it to ruin your health.
2. Don't Eat Fried Foods
As is well known, high-fat foods like egg yolks and fried foods should not be eaten in excess. Because excessive intake of starch, sugar, fat, and cholesterol takes a long time to digest and can easily cause blood to remain in the digestive system for too long. This is not conducive to weight loss, beauty, and hydration, and even more so to health.
3. Don't Indulge in Processed Foods
Don't think that just because you can eat meat, you can eat any kind. Be selective, as mentioned above, especially when it comes to processed foods. A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health shows that potato chips are the food most likely to cause weight gain, followed by potato products, sugary drinks, unprocessed meat, and processed meat. Study participants who lost weight or maintained a stable weight for years consumed fewer processed foods. Therefore, don't eat too many processed foods.