Hip Hop Hard Body

Feliz Navidad! It’s Christmas, and while we dabble in some seasonal indulgences, our Resident Chef Alexis Aquino is going to tell how to preserve your HARD BODY through the Holidays!

How to Survive Holiday Excess and Unhealthy Eating

Eat foods that assist in digestion:

* Whole grains help increase metabolism as well as process complex carbohydrates (things like bread, pasta, etc.). They can also assist in maintaining sugar at low levels. Oats and Brown Rice are typical whole grains, but try to mix it up by making savory stews with Farro in it or a nice Quinoa salad.

Show your liver some extra love, it will probably be working overtime:

* The liver is a key organ in detoxifying your system. Its always a good idea to keep your liver healthy year-round, but its especially important during the season of office holiday parties and open bars. Some foods that promote liver function are garlic, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, bok choy, etc.), cold water fish (salmon, mackerel, trout, etc.) and high-antioxidant fruits (blueberries, oranges, pink grapefruit, apples, etc.) to name a few.

Keep your guard up, make protein a priority:

* Protein is essential for the human diet in many ways, one of its functions is to help build a strong immune system which is vital during the cold months as our bodies are more susceptible to environmental illnesses. Popular holiday foods like eggnog and glazed ham have the potential to weaken the immune system so its a good idea to fortify it. Meats and seafood are not the only source of protein, chickpeas and almonds are amongst a whole host of foods not able to swim, run or fly that are high in protein.

Don’t eat till your sick.. satiate yourself!:

* Being able to turn down seconds (and thirds in some cases) can be a liberating experience. During the holidays, cold weather can sometimes keep us stationary for extended periods of time and tempted to make many unnecessary visits to the fridge. Foods with high fiber content are notorious for their ability to make you feel full without needing to eat a large portion- some foods high in fiber are; lentils, black beans, bananas and sweet potatoes (yams). If you can stand the heat, hot peppers are also a great food to use in managing your appetite.

…to check out the ‘Jerk Salmon Steak with Coconut Rice & Beans and Braised Red Cabbage’ and other recipes from Chef Lex, join the ‘Project: Feed the World’ group on Facebook.