Hitting Happy Hour Healthily

Is happy hour at one of the local bars part of your weekly routine? Do you want to have a good time with your friends without being worried about all those extra calories from booze? Or maybe you want to prevent hangovers? You don't have to give up alcohol just to lead a healthy lifestyle. Just don’t overdo it. Drink only on your “cheat days”. Whether you're heading to happy hour, a birthday party, or an informal event, there are a few things you can do to enjoy your favorite drinks without sabotaging your diet or feeling sick the next day.

 

Avoid Mixed Drinks

 

A single cocktail can exceed 600 calories. In general, mixed drinks contain a lot of sugar, alcohol, and fruit juices. Instead drink your alcohol straight on ice or cut it with a little lemon to make it smoother. You’ll save money and calories this way!

 

Make a Spritzer

 

Do you love wine? Mix it with water or half club soda, and then add some ice! This is a great way to reduce your caloric intake and prevent hangovers. A glass of sprizter has only 50 calories. If you're trying to lose weight, choose red wine. It has fewer calories and keeps your heart healthy.

 

Drink More Water

 

Match each alcoholic drink with one glass of water. This helps prevent dehydration and hangovers. Alcohol has diuretic effects. When consumed in excess, it may cause dehydration. By drinking water, you can prevent thirst, headaches, dizziness, and migraines. This will also reduce the absorption of alcohol into your body.

 

Stick with One Type of Alcohol

 

Each alcoholic drink has a different composition and flavor. Mixing several drinks will lead to a hangover. Choose beer or wine or rum or cognac, but don't have them all in one night.

 

Take Dietary Supplements

 

Vitamin B12, B Complex, and Vitamin C help prevent hangovers and support liver health. The human body uses up a lot of vitamins and minerals when metabolizing alcohol. If you're planning to go to a party, take some dietary supplements before leaving home. www.shoptotalwellness.com offers a wide rang of vitamins and minerals that will boost your energy, combat hangovers, and keep you fit.

 

The Picky Eaters Guide to Healthy Eating

 

 

Got a picky eater in your house? While most people are happy to try new flavors, picky eaters stick to a limited number of foods. They often have a hard time eating healthy and getting enough nutrients from their diets. Adults who are picky eaters have trouble losing weight or switching to healthier foods. For this reason, they can become malnourished easily.

 

So how can you get the nutrients you need when you don't eat certain foods? Here are some tricks that picky eaters should know:

 

Mix What You Like with New Foods

 

Picky eaters usually have a number of favorite foods. If you hesitate to try new recipes, try to gradually change your existing meals. For example, you could hide veggies in sweet foods, combine broccoli with mustard, add new fruits to your favorite smoothies, and use avocado instead of melted cheese or butter. The trick is to include new, healthy foods with a neutral taste into your diet.

 

Make Healthy Substitutions

 

Meeting your daily nutrient requirements is not easy when you're a picky. However, you can make healthy substitutions in your diet to get the nutrients required for optimal health. Salmon is a great source of vitamin D. It's one of the few foods containing this nutrient. What if you hate salmon? Well, you can replace it with whole grains. Bran, oats, and fortified cereals are rich in vitamin D as well.

 

Want to increase your calcium intake? Swap your dairy milk for almond milk which has double the calcium.

 

Go Organic as much as possible! It makes a world of difference on your digestive system. There is a big difference between eating a McDonalds burger or eating a homemade Organic burger. The McDonalds burger has been pumped with so many additives, chemicals, & preservatives it can barely be called “food”. Your body is forced to store fat just to protect your from all of these toxins. BUT if you opt for an organic homemade burger you’ll get that great taste without all of the extras.

 

Take Dietary Supplements

 

Picky eaters can take dietary supplements to meet their nutrient requirements. Many online health stores, such as www.shoptotalwellness.com, offer high potency supplements for people of all ages. Coral calcium, chewable vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, COQ10 and other products are made with all natural ingredients and contain essential nutrients. Some improve cardiovascular health and boost your immune system, while others remove toxins from your body. You can take single-nutrient supplements or multi-vitamins and complex formulas such as Life's Essentials Plus, Active Women’s Multi, ActiveMen’s Multi, and Liquid Multivitamin 

 

Superfood supplements such as Ultragreens & VitaBarely are perfect for the picky eater who doesn’t consume enough fruits & vegetables in their diet. Just a teaspoon in your drink is equivalent to a serving of veggies!