What is a livit ?
Did you just read up on the term "livit" and you are unsure what it means or you were recommended by your nutritionist to get on a livit type of nutrition. As Deborah, A. Klein puts it, "a livit is a way of life that you can follow for life. You do not need to deprive yourself calorically or be self-denying in your food choices to begin eating more life-sustaining foods". Deborah has been the top local dietitian/nutritionist and media nutrition consultant in Los Angeles for 15 years. She stresses in her book, 200 superfoods that will save your life, that a livid way of eating is different from a diet.
A livit nutrition balances carbohydrates, proteins, and fat sources. Balancing these three vital classes of nutrients sustains your energy throughout the day and helps stabilize glucose (sugar) levels, which contributes to preventing and controlling heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
How does a Livit differ from a diet?
According to Deborah, A. Klein, "a diet includes a long list of what not to eat (often excluding whole categories of foods, as in the no-fat and no-carbohydrate fads of the past 20 years) and restricts your daily caloric intake to below your resting metabolic rate". Your resting metabolic rate is the total amount of calories your body burns when you are at rest. When you eat less than your body needs for survival, your metabolism goes into a hibernation mode that increases fat storage, causes water loss, and breaks down muscle and organ tissue. It is not a good long-term strategy for health or even for achieving or maintaining a healthy weight!
Here are some staple livit foods to add to your grocery list:
Carbohydrates Foods:
- Brown rice
- Corn tortillas
- Fresh or frozen organic fruit
- High-fiber cereals (such as oatmeals, Puffins, and Shredded Wheat)
- Organic low-fat milk
- Quinoa
- Sprouted grain bread
Protein Foods:
- Bean-based soups
- Cottage cheese
- Edamame
- Fresh organic chicken breast
- Fresh or frozen wild fish
- Low-fat cheese
- Low-fat kefir drink
Fat Foods:
- Extra-virgin. olive oil, expeller-pressed
- Flaxseeds, ground or milled
- Guacamole
- Nuts
- Organic avocado
- Safflower oil, expeller-pressed
Seasoning and Condiments (Non-GMO):
- Chili powder
- Cinnamon
- Dijon mustard
- Fresh garlic
- Ginger
- Lemon-pepper
- Nutmeg
- Salsa
- Tumeric
- Paprika
- Onions
Keep these items as staples on your grocery list so that you can always have them available. This will help you avoid getting trapped into eating high-fat, high-sugar, high-sodium foods or feeling starved because "there is nothing in the house to eat", setting yourself up for overeating at your next meal.
Bring your snacks to work and when you travel so that you are not dependent on vending machines or whatever is provided.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - be prepared!