Monica Cullinane is on a mission.
She cites statistics that say more than half of Americans are overweight or obese, and she says that by making a few simple changes in lifestyle and diet, many people could drop their extra weight and live healthier lives.
“Most of the time, (poor health) is the result of diet and sedentary lifestyle,” says Cullinane, a Grand Junction health and nutrition coach who presented a recent program on healthy living to interested clients of May-Investments/Retirement Outfitters. Making small changes in behavior – such as scheduling regular exercise and removing unhealthy foods from your diet – tend to last a long time because small changes are easier to incorporate into your lifestyle.
“Think about your life and how important it is to make little changes,” says Cullinane.
She offers several ways of increasing your energy level. Among those suggestions are reducing or eliminating caffeine, which can cause dehydration and can contribute to fluctuations in blood sugar. Changes in blood sugar lead to fatigue and mood swings.
Cullinane also suggests that adding more dark leafy green vegetables to your diet can increase energy. Green, leafy veggies are rich in nutrients and can help improve circulation and strengthen the immune system, she says.
Cullinane saves special criticism for sugar. Added sugar in foods can go by several names, including high fructose corn syrup, fructose, sucrose, “natural sweeeteners,” and “juice sweetened.” Just check the ingredient list of most foods in the supermarket, and you’ll find at least one of those terms.
“The marketing is very tricky,” she says.
Regardless of its name, added sugar in foods is harmful to human health. It can contribute to diabetes and obesity, increase cholesterol, and cause cardiovascular disease, Cullinane says. Buying sugar-free products isn’t any healthier, since many of them contain chemical sweeteners – such as aspartame – whose effects on health have been questioned.
Cullinane suggests adding more whole grains to your diet. Whole grains do not spike blood-sugar levels, and they can make some great-tasting foods.
“Your life depends on your choices,” she says.
For more information about Cullinane’s nutrition and health coaching services, visit http://http//www.integrativewellnesstoday.com.
She cites statistics that say more than half of Americans are overweight or obese, and she says that by making a few simple changes in lifestyle and diet, many people could drop their extra weight and live healthier lives.
“Most of the time, (poor health) is the result of diet and sedentary lifestyle,” says Cullinane, a Grand Junction health and nutrition coach who presented a recent program on healthy living to interested clients of May-Investments/Retirement Outfitters. Making small changes in behavior – such as scheduling regular exercise and removing unhealthy foods from your diet – tend to last a long time because small changes are easier to incorporate into your lifestyle.
“Think about your life and how important it is to make little changes,” says Cullinane.
She offers several ways of increasing your energy level. Among those suggestions are reducing or eliminating caffeine, which can cause dehydration and can contribute to fluctuations in blood sugar. Changes in blood sugar lead to fatigue and mood swings.
Cullinane also suggests that adding more dark leafy green vegetables to your diet can increase energy. Green, leafy veggies are rich in nutrients and can help improve circulation and strengthen the immune system, she says.
Cullinane saves special criticism for sugar. Added sugar in foods can go by several names, including high fructose corn syrup, fructose, sucrose, “natural sweeeteners,” and “juice sweetened.” Just check the ingredient list of most foods in the supermarket, and you’ll find at least one of those terms.
“The marketing is very tricky,” she says.
Regardless of its name, added sugar in foods is harmful to human health. It can contribute to diabetes and obesity, increase cholesterol, and cause cardiovascular disease, Cullinane says. Buying sugar-free products isn’t any healthier, since many of them contain chemical sweeteners – such as aspartame – whose effects on health have been questioned.
Cullinane suggests adding more whole grains to your diet. Whole grains do not spike blood-sugar levels, and they can make some great-tasting foods.
“Your life depends on your choices,” she says.
For more information about Cullinane’s nutrition and health coaching services, visit http://http//www.integrativewellnesstoday.com.
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