A Healthy Prep for Your Beach Body

Crash diets, weight-loss pills, cosmetic surgery—health experts say that you can skip all that and still look good in your summer outfits.
The secret?

Go back to basics: eat healthy foods and take in fewer calories than you burn.
“It's easier to make better food choices in summertime, when heavy, high-calorie dishes seem less appealing.,” says Prof. Luchie Callanta, Senior Lecturer of the University of the Philippines College of Home Economics. “The best food for weight loss in summer should be light, fibrous and refreshing.”

Also the resident nutritionist of the Doña Elena Cuisinera Club, a group of concerned mothers, health practitioners and food enthusiasts who are pushing for a healthy eating lifestyle for Filipinos, Prof. Callanta further explains that the single easiest way to trim calories is to load up on nature’s bounty. This means people should consume fruits and vegetables that are low in calories but full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.

But for people who cannot give up on their meat, Prof. Callanta suggests that they should just limit the meat intake and make sure that it’s been cooked healthy using olive oil instead of the ordinary cooking oil. Replacing the other low quality oils with olive oil is believed by health experts to be the first step towards healthy eating.

Only, the dilemma of most Filipino buyers lies on the high prices of olive oils, unlike the more affordable lesser quality oils. Luckily, consumers may find brands such as Doña Elena olive oil that can provide the same throng of health benefits—not to mention a rich and flavorful taste—without going over the budget.

Doña Elena olive oils makes health benefits like protection against coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes more accessible to the average Filipino’s table.
Olive oil increases HDL (good cholesterol) that helps clear clogged arteries and is rich in monounsaturated fat and antioxidants like chlorophyll, carotenoids, vitamin E., flavonoids, squalene and polyphenols which may help to protect against cancer. In fact, olive oil tops the list of healthy oils recommended by the American Heart Association for food preparation.

“So if you want to get that beautiful beach body, remember to exercise regularly and have a proper diet. After all, beauty isn’t skin deep—it starts from within,” ends Prof. Callanta.

If you have any suggestions or comments that will help advance our common cause of healthier eating, we would love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact our Doña Elena Cuisinera Club Secretariat at 713-8144 and email info@cuisineraclub.com

Photos of the event can be found here