The holidays are over and it’s back to work and back to reality. Another realisation is owning up to how out of routine we are following a fortnight of indulging in food and alcohol, and also a lack of exercise and sports. So when the party of Christmas and the revelling that was New Years has subsided, it’s time to put the champagne flute down and replace it with a freshly squeezed juice, or herbal tea.
Diet, and dieting, comes from the Greek work diatia, and the word itself “described a whole way of life” says Louise Foxcroft, a historian and author of Calories and Corsets: A History of Dieting Over 2,000 Years.
“Dieting back then was about all-round mental and physical health. People really got a taste for fad dieting in the 19th Century. It is during this time that things tip over into dieting more for aesthetic reasons and the diet industry explodes.”
In Ancient Greece, diets were about how to live well in society and not just as an individual. In the ancient times, they really lived by the motto ‘you are what you eat’. So dieting, eating certain foods, had roots in the ancient times. According to Ms Foxcroft’s research, she believes that Ancient Greeks also had other weight loss methods such as wrestling, avoiding sex and walking around naked.
But as we look forward to 2013 with our pants a little tighter, our walk a little slower and our metabolism a little sluggish, we know that we – like the Ancient Greeks – have to look towards that dreaded ‘d’ word and begin our own diet.
A great way to get healthy is not be limiting what you eat but by taking a good look at what you eat. Steer clear of all ‘diet’ and ‘low fat’ foots for a start. By taking out all the original nutrients of the food and replacing them with fake sugar is definitely not good for you and your body misses out on the natural nutrients. There’s nothing wrong with natural sugar, just in moderation. Or you could always replace sugar with natural sweeteners like honey. The Greek diet is rich with honey, so why not take advantage of this healthy sweet option? Or for breakfast, there’s nothing like a bowl of Greek yoghurt covered in gorgeous honey. Sweet, nutritious and a great way to start the day.
A mini-detox is probably a good way to kick start things. All you need to do is make some healthy lifestyle changes and you will notice the difference. To start the detox process you need to rehydrate yourself so get ready to drink bottles and bottles of water. Steer clear of all caffeinated drinks, yes that means frappe, Coke zero, and alcohol. Drink peppermint tea to calm the stomach. Try green tea as it’s full of antioxidants and can help absorb cholesterol. A squeeze of lemon in lukewarm water each morning as soon as you wake up does wonders for your insides. It’s a great way to detox your liver but also keep things healthy and happy and boost immunity.
Mediterranean’s have one of the healthiest diets in the world, so why not exploit our heritage and get healthy in the meantime? Legumes are a great low GI food group and with so many recipes in the Greek diet featuring fasolia and fakes, now is a great time to take advantage of them. Tucking into a big bowl of fasoulada for lunch will not only fill you up but give you the energy you need to go right through without wanting to snack on sweets. Greek salads are perfect. Tomatoes are a rich antioxidant, as are capsicums and onions. Olive oil is your saviour when detoxing as you can dress anything in it.
After a festive season that was meat heavy, it’s probably a good idea to steer clear of lamb and beef for a month and try and enjoy a diet rich in seafood. Get to know your fishmonger and if you don’t have one, find one. Experiment with different fish and different cooking methods too. Try steaming your fish or baking it with Greek olive oil, capsicums and olives. When backing, replace the humble potato with sweet potato which are the low GI alternative to the spud.
Snack on nuts and fresh fruit. They are a great way to stay full and won’t make you feel sluggish.
And remember, the more colourful the fruit, the healthier it is. Berries are a great source of antioxidants, so snack on blueberries when you want to curb the hunger pangs.