Archive for July, 2009

Health and Diet Challenge

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

HEALTH

I feel lacklustre and under the weather  Yes/No

I often feel tired and lethargic  Yes/No

I dont have much energy  Yes/No

I often find it difficult to get motivated  Yes/No

I feel run down  Yes/No

I often get the ‘blues’  Yes/No

I seem to get one cold or infection after another  Yes/No

My last cold lingered for more than seven days  Yes/No

I am prone to skin problems, e.g acne,dryness, eczema  Yes/No

I’ve noticed my hair falling out more than usual  Yes/No

My hair is dull or very dry  Yes/No

My nails are very brittle or flaky  Yes/No

I get headache at least once a week  Yes/No

I often feel bloated  Yes/No

I often feel constipated  Yes/No

I often suffer from indigestion or heartburn  Yes/No

I often get diarrhoea or symptoms or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)  Yes/No

I get recurrent thrush (candida)  Yes/No

I have cellulite  Yes/No

I suffer quite badly woth premenstrual syndrome (PMS) each month  Yes/No


Answer:

If you answered ‘Yes’ to ten or more statements in this section, you definitely need to improve your diet for the sake of your health. If you answered ‘Yes’ to between five and ten statements, now is the time to take stock of your health and brush up on your eating habits before your symptoms get any worse. Many health complaints, such as frequent colds, constipation, and lack of energy, are the result of a poor eating habits, coupled with an inactive or stressful lifestyle. By paying closer attention to what you eat, you will start to eliminate these health symptoms, feel more energetic and look more radiant.

DIET

I often eat when I’m not hungry  Yes/No

I often skip breakfast  Yes/No

I often snack instead of eating proper meals  Yes/No

I don’t eat five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables daily  Yes/No

I often crave certain foods  Yes/No

Sometimes I can’t stop eating  Yes/No

I eat the wrong foods when I’m bored, stressed or annoyed  Yes/No

If I see food, I have to eat it  Yes/No

I have a sweet tooth  Yes/No

I drink soft drinks or fizzy drinks every day  Yes/No

I eat sugary snacks (e.g. biscuits, chocolate, sweets, cakes) on most days  Yes/No

I eat salted snacks (e.g. crisps, tortillas) on most days  Yes/No

I drink alcohol on most days  Yes/No

I can’t get going without my morning fix of tea or coffee  Yes/No

I have takeaways at least once a week  Yes/No

I eat ready-meals or ready-made sauces at least twice a week  Yes/No

I eat fast or fried food at least once a week  Yes/No

I have dieted on and off for several years  Yes/No

I can’t seem to lose weight  Yes/No

I put weight on easily  Yes/No

Answer:

If you answered ‘Yes’ to ten or more statements in this section, you are almost certainly eating a poorly planned diet that isn’t providing your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly. If you answered ‘Yes’ to between five and ten statements, you diet is probably lacking in several importwnt nutrients and you could be overloading your body with too much saturated fat, refined sugar and salt. Carry on like this and your health will soon suffer. Eating erratically, skipping meals and snacking eventually tale a toll on your energy levels and your health. Too much of any nutrient - whether it’s sugar, fat, or alcohol - overburdens your digestive and elimation systems and increases the chances of fat storage. But dieting is not the answer. Instead you need to make simple but lasting changes to the way you eat, choose nutritious foods, and learn to eat in a way that suits your lifestyle.