With summer finally here, I have adopted a “no excuses” mantra in my quest to shed some weight and get healthy. I’ve been munching carrots instead of chips, drinking more water and resuming my regular walking routine. And when my son uses the “D” word, as in “diet,” I tell him it’s not about diet and deprivation but, rather, it’s about adopting a healthier overall lifestyle.
Two books that recently crossed my desk have further piqued my interest in this topic. The first, “The Juice Lady’s Sugar Knockout,” is written by best-selling author Cherie Calbom, who shares her expertise and knowledge in a 30-day guided transition into a low-sugar-impact diet.
The book discusses various sweetener topics and provides recipes for healthy juices and smoothies. “Cutting down on your sugar intake, or cutting it out completely may sound scary, but don’t worry,” Calbom said in the book. “You’ll still have plenty of options for sweets that are healthier.”
Another book about healthy lifestyle is “The Chimp Diet.” Authored by Scott Joseph, the book notes that chimps, who are 99 percent like humans, don’t rely on animal protein. Rather, a chimp’s natural diet consists of about 75 percent healthy carbohydrates, 20 percent healthy fats and 5-10 percent healthy proteins, it says. Additionally, it notes that three-quarters of consumers’ plates should be mostly fruits with some veggies — or 25 percent each of fruits, berries and veggies. And for greatest nutritional benefit, they should be eaten raw, the book states.
Joseph, also the founder of the beverage company Chimp Food, created a 16-ounce food drink that closely mimics the super healthy diet of chimpanzees. Each bottle contains 25 nutrient-rich foods, including five different fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
As more of us chart a healthier lifestyle, paying attention to what we put into our bodies will continue to be important.
