Tips for Healthy Living: Pillar 2

I’m a bit of a health nut…it’s probably obvious by now! In addition to to eating healthily, I try to get to the gym every day and keep up on health & fitness news. Following is a tip inspired by Pillar 2 of “The Nine Pillars of Successful Weight Loss” from Life Extension magazine (June 2009). – Carmelo Sigona

Pillar 2: Pick up your metabolic rate and shedding pounds will be a breeze!

Eating foods that maintain a healthy speed of metabolism (metabolic rate) is important for those trying to lose weight or are fighting the battle to maintain a healthy body when life gets busy.

Part of taking your metabolic rate up a notch is relative to maintaining a healthy thyroid, which produces hormones to keep the metabolic rate healthy.  A large number of aging women (and men) have less-than-optimal thyroid levels.

Vegetable members of the brassica family, such as brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, kale, turnips and cauliflower (go for colored cauliflower if available, especially green), are all foods which help in natural regulation of thyroid activity. Roasting veggies at 475F with a little olive oil adds fantastic flavor by bringing out the natural sugars. They’re great alone, added to soups, pureed or sautéed with caramelized onions. Eat up!