Meghan Markle is well known for her glowing skin and amazing figure, and it all stems from her healthy diet. Now based in Hollywood, it’s no surprise that she’s boosted her health routine and now starts the day with lemon water alongside that famous Aussie export of avocado toast.
To keep her energy up, mid-afternoon, Markle relies on green juice. All of her food and drink choices are solid. Here’s why you might want to follow Meghan Markle’s example and include her faves in your diet.
Meghan Markle loves lemon water and you should too
Via Instagram @
sussexroyal
Lemon water has long been touted as one of the healthiest options. And drinking it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, as Markle does, seems to be a very good idea. Most studies on lemon water itself are anecdotal. However, there are widespread studies on the benefits of lemon and water separately.
Adding lemon water to your diet seems to have great health benefits and can even improve the health of your skin. Lemon water contains folic acid, which is beneficial for eliminating toxins from the body.
It’s excellent for hydration
Water is undeniably the best bet when it comes to hydrating your body. However, many people don’t like the taste. Adding some lemon to your water will enhance the flavor, and you’ll likely drink more.
All citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, and lemons are no exception. Vitamin C also helps to protect the cells from free radicals. It also reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and low blood pressure. The polyphenol antioxidants found in lemons seem to significantly reduce weight gain in mice that were purposefully overfed.
The same antioxidants also seem to offset negative effects on blood glucose and insulin resistance. These are major factors in the development of diabetes. Though this has yet to be proven in humans beyond simple anecdotal evidence.
It’ll get your digestion going
Whilst this may well not be Markle’s aim, many people who drink lemon water first thing in the morning do so for its laxative effects. And it can help to prevent constipation. This seems particularly true of warm or hot water with lemon. When you drink it first thing, it gets the digestive system moving.
It is worth noting that citric acid can erode tooth enamel. Healthline recommends drinking it through a straw and rinsing your mouth afterward. Citric acid seems to go either way when it comes to heartburn. In some people, it causes it, whilst in others, it offers relief. You can only really establish this through trial and error.
Markle’s fav, avocado toast, is a great choice for breakfast or lunch
What kind of brunch is complete without some kind of avocado-based dish? Whether it’s avo on toast, with poached egg, in a salad, or even in a wrap, it’s become a staple. And the truly great news is that it’s one of those rare fads that are healthy. Though many of us tend to think of avocado as a vegetable, we’d all be wrong as it’s a fruit.
In fact, Danielle Stadelman, RDN says that avocado is a single-seeded berry. One of the best things about avocado is that, unlike many other fruits, it has a very low carbohydrate content. Vitamins and mineral-wise, avocados are brilliant.
It’s full of great vitamins and minerals
Lori Zanini RD CDE explains that avo is high in “potassium, folate, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin C, magnesium, and vitamin A”. It’s also hugely popular because of the sheer number of things you can use it for. Avos are great for everything from guacamole and salad to chocolate mousse.
Avos contain an abundance of potassium. In fact, avocados contain more potassium than bananas do. They’re also brilliant for heart health because they contain 25 milligrams per ounce of a plant sterol called beta-sitosterol, which has been shown to be helpful for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
Avos also contain lutein and zeaxanthin; phytochemicals that are concentrated in eye tissue. These two phytochemicals provide antioxidant protection and aid in minimizing damage to the eyes.
Also rich in vitamin K, a nutrient that is often overlooked, avocado contains “25 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin K”. Vitamin K, like calcium and vitamin D, is vital for maintaining and supporting bone health. This means that avocados can also aid in preventing arthritis.
Other benefits of your Meghan Markle-inspired avocado on toast include improved digestion, natural detoxification, lowering your risk of depression, and even protecting against cancer. Although avo is high in calories, its healthy fat content is likely to keep you full for longer. This will likely result in less snacking, meaning that overall, you’ll probably reduce your calorie intake.
Green juice has some super benefits
When it comes to a love for green juice, Markle is in no way the only celeb who’s a fan of the stuff. Alongside avocado toast, its rise in popularity has been meteoric. Green juice can be really good for you, as long as it’s consumed in moderation and isn’t your only source of nutrients and calories.
Much like anything, if you drink too much of it, it won’t be good for you; everything in moderation as the saying goes. There’s no actual recipe for green juice, but in general, Healthline includes celery, kale, Swiss chard, spinach, wheatgrass, cucumber, parsley and mint as common ingredients.
Unfortunately, green juice can tend to taste bitter or bland and so, in general, some fruit is added in order to sweeten it and generally, improve the taste. Fruits used in green juice often include apples, berries, kiwi, lemons, oranges, and even grapefruit.
What is important is to avoid processed juices. As with most things, it’s best to simply make your own at home as you’ll know for sure what is going into the juice, which will allow you to avoid excess sugars being added to your ‘healthy’ drink.
Green veggies (even when juiced) are hugely beneficial for you. Swiss chard and kale are packed with vitamins A and K, and wheatgrass contains vitamin C and iron. Eating leafy green vegetables on a daily basis, according to Healthline may “help reduce inflammation, heart disease risk, and your risk of age-related mental decline”.
Drinking your veggies is also a much easier way of getting your daily dose of the good stuff without having to cook and eat them. Green juice is also easy to digest.
References
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/food/healthy-eating/g27164610/celebrity-health-habits/
https://www.lybrate.com/topic/avocado-benefits-and-side-effects
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-proven-benefits-of-avocado
https://betterme.world/articles/11-possible-negative-side-effects-from-avocado/
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/benefits-of-lemon-water#takeaway
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/7-reasons-to-start-your-day-with-lemon-water-infographic/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/green-juice-benefits#benefits
