Caribbean Fit

Hey Guys! Welcome to another edition of Caribbean Fit and this week we will be discussing dieting. Over recent years within the Caribbean and the world over new diet trends have been emerging rapidly. I am sure this has been very confusing for persons all over the world not knowing which diet is right for them. So, with all that in mind we will discuss different diets that are trending and how to choose the right one for your needs. Firstly, we need to define what a diet really is. A diet is what a person eats or consumes on a daily basis, in other words it is the eating habits of an individual. Therefore, we can say that everyone who eats is on a diet. However, when we talk about the different diets that are emerging such as the gluten free or paleo diet, they are referred to as specialized diets. Persons often adopt a specialized diet to gain some kind of benefit like weight management or to combat a particular health issue. We will discuss the Paleo, Macrobiotic, Gluten Free and K...

Hey guys! Welcome to another edition of Caribbean Fit. I was recently asked by one of my followers to do a post on peppers and the nutritional value that they possess within our diets. So today we're going to bring that spice of the Caribbean, because its all about peppers!!!!! 🔥 In most Caribbean islands many kinds of peppers are incorporated into our dishes. From the mild flavour of the sweet pepper to the intense heat of the Moruga Scorpion Pepper, we love the spice that peppers bring into our stews, sauces and cook ups, but do peppers bring any value besides heat and flavour? Pepper Sauce Moruga Scorpion Pepper Guyana Pepper Pot *Photos courtesy google images Peppers are fruits which bear from the Capsicum species of plants and contain a oily chemical called Capsaicin embedded in its veins and seeds that causes that sensation of heat which you either love or love to hate. By the way, in case you were wondering, I'm in the love category 😊😊. Peppers are lo...

Hey Guys! So we're back at it again and as I said in my last post think balance. This is because This week's post is about a balanced diet. Within the Caribbean and the world over, persons face a problem striking a balance among the three macro-nutrients, namely: carbohydrates, proteins and fats which we discussed individually in previous post. Check out my previous posts if you have not already done so to get a greater understanding of what we are discussing now. In the Caribbean persons have a problem balancing there diets as plates I have often see are packed with mostly carbohydrates and a tiny bit of protein and good fats (which I would have been guilty of at times 😉). However, not only the Caribbean region is guilty of having a lopsided diet but in other parts of the world too, with diets full of carbohydrates and saturated fats, but don't worry, we are in this together and today's post is geared towards helping us all achieve a balanced diet. Below are example...

Hey Guys, last week I gave you a hint on the topic for this week and that hint was water. If you guessed the topic was hydration, then you were absolutely on the button. 😄 So we are going to talk not just about water but fluids in general. Let's begin!  As Caribbean people, when it comes to fluids we have a variety of beverages that are special to us with drinks like sorrel, mauby and fruit juices just to name a few. However, whether you are from the Caribbean region or from another territory, I'm sure when you hear hydration you automatically think of water. Though this is not a bad association, it is important to note that other factors come into play when it comes to keeping the body hydrated. Beverages synonymous with the Caribbean are seen in the images below. Lime Juice Mauby sorrel Keeping our bodies hydrated is very important as three quarters of the human body is made up of water (fluid). As mentioned before hydration does not hinge upon water only, bu...

Greetings everyone! So as mentioned in my previous posts the topic for discussion is Fats. This macro-nutrient is one of the most criticized by health care professionals and persons are fearful of fat consumption. Today I want to give you a better understanding of fats and how important they are for the human body and conquer that fear persons may have when it comes to consuming fat. In the Caribbean, and even the wider world, we may have a skewed perception of what foods contain fat such as butter, pork, fried foods and cooking oil. However, I want to expand your knowledge on fat to assist in how they are viewed and consumed. Below are the foods typically associated with with fat in the Caribbean and even wider regions.     Pictures Courtesy Google Images Fats, like Proteins are also a secondary fuel source within the body, so when carbohydrates or proteins are depleted the body dips into its fat reserves to fuel its work. Fats also functions as structures of the body's ...

Hey guys! So today it's all about PROTEINS! I love me some protein in all its forms. In my previous post on carbs, I mentioned that they are the primary fuel source of the body. However, proteins are a secondary fuel source for the body, in other words they are used for fuel when the body runs out of carbs or not enough carbs are present to fuel work. In the Caribbean we eat a wide range of protein, from plant based to animal based, from your regular chicken to your exotic Iguana we almost eat it all.😂😂 Below are images of the various proteins consumed in the Caribbean.         Photos courtesy google images. Proteins are very important within the human body as they not only act as a secondary fuel source, but they are necessary for growth, repair and recovery, immunity and of course promotes muscle building. Each gram of protein contains 4 calories and it is recommended that persons consume at least 0.8g per kg of body weight to meet dai...

Hi Guys, last time I posted I said the first topic will be Carbs and the Caribbean. However, before we move forward I'll give you all a little insight on why I am qualified to talk about nutrition and health. I have been passionate about this area ever since I was able to dream about what I wanted to do or become in life. I always kept myself active and always wanted to help others do the same. I went to the University, pursued and completed a degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and now I am ready to share my knowledge with others. Now that you know me let's jump right in to the topic. Due to the history of the Caribbean which involves slavery, colonialism, indenture-ship, etc. We have become a melting pot of cultures, and as such our diets include many different carbohydrates from all across the globe. Most of our diets involve a healthy serving of carbohydrates and a tad of protein and "good fats" here and there. With lifestyle diseases on the rise and lo...