MANILA, Philippines—You cannot possibly contain your hunger if you’re on a diet. So here’s how it should be managed.

1. Eat as often as you can. Studies have proven the effectiveness of several small meals as against feasting over large quantities all day long. But consume food that is kind to your body—vegetables, fruits, salads, lean meats/fish, nuts.

2. Do not eat carbohydrates but take high fiber such as brown rice, multi-grain breads or pasta.

3. Sweeten your day if you must but keep it to a minimum. Don’t eat it all by your lonesome. Solo eaters tend to binge on sweets especially when depressed. If you must give in to a sugar craving, try to have a piece of fruit first. Trust me, the fruit will cut your sugar craving by half.

4. Raise your wine glasses and toast to life and love with your friends but load up on water first. This ought to anticipate the acidity of alcohol and neutralize it somewhat in your stomach. If you have to drink, eat small morsels of food in between servings. Or, have a full meal before drinking. By the way, the combination of smoking and alcohol is lethal.

5. Should you attend a lot of social functions, try to push the bread plate away from you. Even if you are experiencing hunger pangs, stuffing yourself with bread isn’t the answer. It will only raise your blood-sugar levels. Instead, drink water with a few drops of lemon in it. Its alkaline combination will calm your stomach acids long enough to remove your discomfort.

6. Stay away from snacks while waiting for dinner to be served. Peanuts and chips are high in fat.

7. While at a conference/meeting or social occasion, contribute to the conversation. People who converse over a meal tend to eat less.

8. Eat your meal as soon as it is cooked. Freshly cooked food is better than day-old food for its nutrients are still intact. In fact, half-cooked veggies are more nutritious in this state.

9. Vegetable juices need to be drank within 20 minutes of preparation in order to beat the deadline on its oxidation. In short, the longer it is exposed to the air, the more its vitamins are dissipated.

Keep smiling

The more positive and hopeful you are, the more alkaline your well-being. And the more alkaline means the less acidic you are. Alkaline feelings like love and serenity can boost your immune system as opposed to anger and anxiety.

Affirm now: Claim for yourself a harvest of good things in life. You deserve only the best, not the worst. “The best of life is mine now and always.”

Love and light!