The Best and Worse Summer Fare
By Sara Butler
Summer is seen as a healthy time of year. After all, it means being outside more and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables – right? Well, maybe not! The National Institutes of Health reported that children gain weight three times faster in the summer months when they’re out of school, presumably due to eating junk food and playing video games for so many hours per day. There are no comparable statistics for adults out there but summer is a time of barbecues and state fairs where unhealthy food abounds, so it’s best to be prepared! Here are some of the best and worst summer foods.
Fried Dough
Before you scoff at this, just remember last time you went to the amusement park and got a funnel cake. That is fried dough and it is nutritional napalm! Fried and battered foods are some of the worst out there since it’s a source of unhealthy trans fats, potentially raising bad cholesterol levels and increasing inflammation in the whole body. Just say no to any type of fried dough, even if it's just once a year!
Corn Dogs
Summer just isn’t summer without this tasty treat on a stick, right? Well, you might want to cancel it from your summer plans. You can probably guess that anything deep fried should not be on your healthy eating list but corn dogs aren’t just unhealthy because they’re fried. They also have hot dogs in them, which adds fat, sodium, nitrates and unhealthy fillers you should stay away from.
Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is a summer cookout essential. It’s a great low-calorie food that packs so many flavors you don’t need to add salt or butter to it! You can grill it up or boil it, then throw it in your favorite salad or eat it right off the cob. The yellow variety is also packed with Vitamin A, so you can’t go wrong!
Watermelon
One of the things that makes watermelon such a great choice is its water content. Watermelon is comprisedof more than 90 percent water, so it’s a great way to cool down on a hot day. Plus, it’s full of lycopene, an antioxidant that helps to fight against certain kinds of cancers. A whole cup of watermelon has just 44 calories too, so you can indulge and feel good about it!
Make good choices for your health this summer!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Roswell, Ga.