James Martin lost an impressive 5 stone by ditching three foods – and no gym


James Martin lost a huge five stone and managed to keep the weight off by making a few simple changes to his diet. He started by ditching the three unhealthy foods and drinks that were part of his daily diet: takeaways, unhealthy snacks like “Mars Bars”, and fizzy juice.

The celebrity chef opted for home-cooked meals, and healthy snacks instead, such as fruit and vegetables.

James explained he likes to have a simple and delicious home-cooked meal made of salmon and vegetables, which he claimed also helped him shed the pounds.

He said: “To say that good food is elitist is just tosh. Good food is simply cooked food – it’s not rocket science. What could be simpler than pan-frying a little bit of salmon and serving it with some great new potatoes and seasonal veg?”

But why are takeaways, unhealthy snacks and fizzy drinks bad for you? And what are the best alternatives to help you lose weight?

Takeaways

Takeaways tend to be high in salt, saturated fats, and sugar. Heart Research UK explained that “regularly consuming takeaways can have a negative impact on your heart health as well as your waistline”.

The best option when trying to slim down is swapping the takeaway for a healthier option, such as a home-cooked meal.

It is recommended to limit takeaways to no more than once per week. But what are the healthiest takeaway options?

  • Japanese
  • Stir-fries
  • Crumbed/grilled fish
  • Filled pita, wrap or Turkish kebab
  • Vegetable or yogurt-based Indian dishes
  • Salads

Snacks

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health explained that snacking can lead to “unwanted weight gain if portions or frequency of snacking is too much, adding excess calories”.

Healthline recommended 10 healthy snacks that can help you lose weight:

  1. Mixed nuts
  2. Red bell pepper with guacamole
  3. Greek yogurt and mixed berries
  4. Apple slices with peanut butter
  5. Cottage cheese and fruit
  6. Celery sticks with cream cheese
  7. Dark chocolate and almonds
  8. Kale chips
  9. Cucumber slices with hummus
  10. A piece of fruit

Fizzy drinks

Holland & Barrett explains that fizzy drinks often “have high levels of unwanted sugar and calories with no vitamins or minerals”.

Drinking high-sugar drinks in excess “can lead to weight gain, poor dental health, difficulties sleeping, and resistance to certain hormones,” so it’s best to ditch these completely if you want to lose weight.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health explained that the best alternatives when following a healthy diet are water, which “is the best choice for quenching your thirst”, and coffee and tea, without added sweeteners, “are healthy choices, too”.

Some other drinks “should be limited or consumed in moderation, including fruit juice, milk, and those made with low-calorie sweeteners, like diet drinks”.

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