How to Get in Shape after the Holidays

As the end of 2020 is behind us, we have no choice but to wave ‘goodbye’ to the holiday season as well. And while it was filled with much happiness, excitement and hope for the New Year, it’s time to face the consequences.

Many of us get swept up in the festive mood and find ourselves eating a bit more than we would have liked. The result? Feeling bloated, moody and uncomfortable for months to come after New Year’s. It’s no wonder then that one of the most common New Year Resolutions is to ‘get back in shape’.

But if you’re just like us and don’t believe in scathing diets and rigorous routines that leave you exhausted and aching all over – then let’s explore another healthy option to regulate your food intake and get you back to feeling energized, happy and full.

Eating Your Way Back to Health

There are more studies linking healthy eating to better physical health than there are calories in a can of cola. But a strong body of work also ties improved diet to reduced risk of depression… and even happiness. Importantly, the research is not about fad diets. It simply shows how good nutrition can boost mood.

“Adopting a healthier diet can boost peoples’ mood,” said study leader Joseph Firth of the University of Manchester.

Some of the most convincing evidence for how a good diet affects mental and physical health comes from several studies of the so-called Mediterranean diet, which is not a diet in the popular sense but rather a way of eating that goes back centuries. It favors plant-based food, including fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, as well as fish. We also have pasta and couscous, of course And lots of olive oil. And very little meat.

Now, while you may want to ease off on pasta for a fit following the festivities, you have to reason to not make couscous a regular on your table. Couscous meals have many nutritional benefits that you don’t want to miss out on.

Couscous calories and nutrients

If you consume a cup of cooked couscous, you will get 36g of carbs, 176 calories, 6g of protein, and 2g of fiber. What makes it beneficial for your health is the fact that it is fat-free and contains no sugar as well. At the same time, it provides you with about 66% of your recommended daily intake of selenium.

Whole-wheat couscous is even more beneficial for your health because it is made from whole-wheat durum flour and has about 6g of fiber per serving, which is enough to meet your recommended daily intake of fiber. It has a mild flavors, so it goes well with most recipes and different flavors, both sweet and savory.

Read more about all the benefits of whole-wheat couscous in this article.

Is Couscous Good for you?

Yes, it is! And the presence of potassium is one of the reasons why you should include it in your diet. Potassium is important for reducing the contract of blood vessels – it has vasodilating effect on your blood vessels and makes circulation easier. It reduces your risk for different cardiovascular diseases. Potassium also plays a role in regulating your blood pressure and prevents hypertension, heart arrhythmias, and other irregularities in the cycle of the heart.

Couscous is also a good source of trace minerals. You get about 61% of your recommended daily intake of selenium from a serving of the pasta. Selenium is vital for your reproductive health, protein synthesis, metabolism of thyroid hormones, and preventing damage from free radicals. Selenium works as a powerful antioxidant and helps reduce build-up of LDL cholesterol and plague in the blood vessels. A cup of couscous also provides you with about 7% off your daily value of manganese, which helps maintain the health of blood, bones, nerves, hormones, and brain. It also helps regulate blood sugar and metabolism.

Last but not least, couscous is a great source of lean, vegetarian protein. You get about 6g of protein from a cup of cooked couscous. Dietary protein promotes healthy skin, organs, muscles, and other body tissues. Protein is also an integral part of wound healing process. It plays a role in the metabolism of enzymes that aid in wound healing, internally and externally.