Some eating habits taken during the summer are good for your health, others a little less so. We take stock with Alexandra Murcier, dietitian-nutritionist.
Good summer habits to keep
Consume lots of fruits and vegetables
In the summer, our consumption of fruits and vegetables increases because we are naturally attracted to these foods when it is hot. It must also be said that we have more choice on the stalls. “It’s a good habit to keep throughout the year because fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals. In winter, we do not do it enough but it is also important to eat raw fruits and vegetables because cooking reduces their content of good nutrients.”, explains the dietitian.
To drink a lot of water
This is advice that we have heard a lot this summer, especially during heat waves. But it is a gesture that should not be forgotten the rest of the year even when the temperatures are not high. L’Considered recommends drinking a minimum of 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day (for adults) and even before feeling thirsty.
Plancha cooking
Grilling has several nutritional benefits. “It is a cooking method that requires little fat, thus limiting our fat intake. The plancha also allows food to be cooked quickly, which preserves its nutritional quality”says Alexandre Murcier.
Exposure to outdoor light
In summer, the good weather motivates us more to put our noses outside. We then fill up with vitamin D (it is produced by the skin under the action of ultraviolet rays). “With the arrival of autumn, even if the weather is less clement, we must get into the habit of exposing ourselves to natural light in the morning, to stimulate our production of vitamin D, a vitamin essential for the proper functioning of our body”insists the nutritionist.
To be active
If for some, the summer break comes down to lounging on a deckchair all day, for many it allows you to move more than during the rest of the year. The good weather makes you want to practice new outdoor activities but also to favor walking for short trips. “In summer, we are less sedentary than in winter. This allows you to burn more calories and therefore limit weight gain”recalls Alexandra Murcier.
Listen to each other
During the summer holidays, the fact of slowing down the pace and not being polluted by the annoyances of daily life encourages us to be more attentive to our bodies. “In summer, we are less likely to take refuge in food at the slightest hassle, we change our minds by moving. It is important to keep this dynamic the rest of the year as much as possible”, advises Alexandra Murcier.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
Good resolutions? Fewer aperitifs, barbecues and ice cream!
The end of summer is also an opportunity to abandon certain bad eating habits that have taken hold over the weeks. We think in particular of frequent alcohol intake, daily ice cream or even repeated barbecues. As a reminder, alcohol, in addition to being dangerous for health when consumed in excess, is very caloric.
Ice cream is a product to be consumed occasionally because it is rich in sugars.
Finally, the cooking of food at high temperatures, in particular in direct contact with the flame, leads to the formation of chemical compounds on the surface, some of which, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and in particular benzo(a)pyrene (B( a)P) have carcinogenic properties.
