You are what you eat, and for me, that means I'm a large frosted coffee and an eight-count nugget meal from Chic-fil-A, and it's not a good look. As a die-hard Pinterest user, I'm constantly intrigued by trendy diets that surface online. For example, a vegan diet is rich in nutrients, can lower the risk of heart disease, help you to lose excess weight, and put you in the running to win free Beyonce tickets for the rest of your life. If that's not reason enough for you to consider an alternative, I don't know what is.
At the end of January, Queen Bey challenged her fans to live a more plant-based lifestyle with her meal planning service, The Greenprint. Contrary to popular belief, Jay-Z and Beyonce aren't fully vegan, but they do abstain from meat on Mondays and consume plant-based eats for many of their meals and their meal planning service follows the same guidelines. The company, owned by the Carters and their trainer, Marco Borges, offers an array of dietary options including but not limited to: All plants, All the time; Plant-based for breakfast; Two plant-based meals a day; Meatless Mondays; or Plant-based on weekdays.
The Carters' enthusiasm has other celebrities hopping on the healthy lifestyle bandwagon, too. Steve Harvey mentioned on his show that his cholesterol levels have improved drastically since starting Beyonce's 22-day vegan challenge. And recently, we reported that The Real talk show host, Adrienne Houghton went (almost) vegan and the health benefits that come with the trendy diet make you (almost) want to join her. But if you're like me and you can't seem to ditch your meat-eating ways, here are a few other diets that may be more suitable for your lifestyle:
Ketogenic
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If you want to look like you're 25 when you're 52, the ketogenic life might be something you want to look into. Halle Berry shared that she made the switch to a keto diet at a young age after she was diagnosed with diabetes. This diet is high-fat and low in carbohydrates, which makes this option perfect for someone looking to balance out their insulin and blood sugar levels. A ketogenic lifestyle has proven to improve metabolism and burn fat more effectively.
Foods to Eat:
- Meat
- Seafood/Fish/Shellfish
- Avocados
- Eggs
- High-Fat Cheese
- Paleo
- Nuts & Seeds
- Berries
Foods to Avoid:
- Carrots
- Wheat/Rice/Oats
- Bread
- Pasta
- Low-Fat Cheese (Mozzarella, Cream Cheese)
- Legumes (Black/Brown/Kidney Beans)
- Chickpeas
Low-FODMAP
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This diet right here, ladies and gentleman, has been my best friend. I had my gallbladder removed when I was 16 and since, have had the digestion system from hell. Luckily, I'm not the only woman in the world who suffers from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (just ask my rich auntie, Tyra Banks) and there are options for people like me who suffer from ongoing constipation, diarrhea, and bloating. FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols, which are often poorly digested by the intestines, causing many of the aforementioned ailments. This lifestyle is perfect for women with food intolerances, or are just looking for a diet that's lower in high-fructose carbohydrates.
Foods to Eat
- Eggs
- Grapes
- Cantaloupe
- Oats
- Potatoes
- Leafy Greens (Spinach, Kale)
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Bell Peppers
Foods to Avoid
- Artichokes
- Legumes
- Cauliflower
- Apples
- Mangos
- Peaches
- Soy Milk
- Wheat/Rye
Paleo
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This regime is the most throwback of them all. A Paleolithic (or caveman) diet consists of everything was eaten during the stone-age. This means, if you can't find it, kill it, and cook it, it shouldn't be on your plate. During this lifestyle transition, you should avoid any sugar or artificial sweeteners, trans fats, or highly processed foods. Issa Rae recently revealed that her paleo diet helped her slim down and keep the weight off on her new healthy lifestyle journey. Heavy hitters like Kobe Bryant and Lebron James have also lived the paleo life, making the diet perfect for a superstar baller life yourself. The paleo diet can be linked to improved overall health and weight loss.
Foods to Eat
- Unprocessed Meats
- Fish & Seafood
- Eggs
- Vegetables
- Frits
- Potatoes
- Nuts & Seeds
Foods to Avoid
- Sugar & High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Legumes (Beans, Lentils)
- Dairy
- Soybean Oil, Sunflower Oil, Grapeseed Oil
- Margarine
- Grains (Bread, Pasta, Rice)
- Diet & Low-Fat Products
- Artificial Sweeteners
Featured image by DFree / Shutterstock.com
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Despite Washington and Asomugha choosing to live a relatively private life for the most part by not sharing images of their family on social media and occasionally attending events together. The rare glimpses they provide to the public showcase that Washington and Asomugha have much in common regarding essential topics.
For example, Washington is highly involved in politics and encourages others to participate by spreading information about various issues and how everyone would be affected.
As for Asomugha, the 41-year-old officially founded the Asomugha Foundation in 2010, years after doing other charity work in Nigeria. According to its site, the organization was created to help "disadvantaged youth and women by providing educational opportunities and mentorship."
Washington's public remarks regarding her relationship with Asomugha and their family may be rare, but when she does speak about their family, it's all positive.
Kerry On Why She Keeps Her Relationship Private
Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Bronx Children's Museum
In March 2016, the UnPrisioned actress revealed during a discussion panel at SXSW Festival that one of the reasons why she is adamant about remaining private about her union with Asomugha is because she doesn't want the public to make any narratives regarding her marriage.
At the time, it was reported that Washington and the former NFL player were experiencing marital troubles and were allegedly planning on getting a divorce. Washington would shut down those allegations by saying she hasn't and will not share any information about her private life.
"Social media has actually been great for [other celebrities'] relationships with the weeklies or the gossip sites because people say things and they say, 'That's not true!' So I'm thinking in some ways, it's been great because people are able to maintain their voice," she explained.
"It's a little different for me because I don't talk about my personal life. That means not only did I not tell you when I was getting married, it also means if somebody has rumors about what's going on in my marriage, I don't refute them, because I don't talk about my personal life."
Kerry On How She Met Nnamdi And What A Normal Day Looks Like for Their Family
Fast forward to October 2018, the Scandal star gave insight into how she met Asomugha and their family life. During an interview with Marie Claire, Washington shared that she and Asomugha met in 2009 while she was working on the Broadway play Race.
The mother of two told the publication that her life has "completely transformed" since their encounter. "The last time I did theater, it completely transformed my life. That's where I met my husband. I love being with my family. My days off look like homework, reading, and watching stuff. Just hanging out, doing things we love to do," she stated.
Kerry On Nnamdi's Accomplishment
Photo by Jeffrey Camarati/Getty Images
But as time progressed, Washington began speaking a little more openly about her man. In October 2022, Washington gushed over Asomugha and his Netflix project, The Good Nurse, which came out around the same time her film, The School for Good and Evil, was released. While talking to Entertainment Tonight, the star expressed how "proud" she was of her husband.
"I'm really proud of him, I think he's doing amazing work. I'm really excited for his film, The Good Nurse," she said. "It's really exciting to both have really important films at Netflix right now, we feel really blessed.”
Kerry On Why Nnamdi Is Her Soulmate
Washington shared how her love with Asomugha goes beyond the surface after spending over a decade together.
In a March 2023 interview with Marie Claire, Washington explained that she and Asomugha are perfectly aligned because she's allowed to be her authentic self with him.
"I'm in my immediate truth with [him]," Washington said. "Those mirrors are important because they help me get back to myself."
Kerry On The Couple's Upcoming 10-Year Wedding Anniversary
Photo by Bruce Glikas/Getty Images
That same month, Washington expressed that in addition to the many years the couple has been together, and their personal and professional accomplishments, she still finds Asomugha "incredible."
Washington shared this revelation while promoting her latest project, UnPrisioned, in an Entertainment Tonight interview.
"I do have an incredible husband," the actress told ET host Kevin Frazier as she disclosed little to no details about their upcoming plans for their tenth wedding anniversary. "Do you remember how secret my wedding was? How private and secretive it was? That's how the anniversary is gonna be too!"
Kerry On Why She Thinks Nnamdi And Their Children Are A Gift From God
Washington's love and admiration for Asomugha and their family grow increasingly each day, so much so that she uses it as inspiration to share positive messages with her fans.
The 46-year-old revealed during a panel with Al Sharpton at National Action Network Convention on April 12 that she sees her husband and their children as "proof" that God exists and loves her because of the great joy they bring to her life.
"Well, you've met my husband, my husband's amazing. I got a good one. We have three beautiful children. And I think, you know, when I look at my marriage, and I look at my kids, fundamentally, they are proof of God to me,” she said. "Because I know that God loves me to have put those people in my life. And that sense of like, knowing that God loves me. That, to me, is so much of how I make the decisions about the activism that I do and the content that I make."
Regardless of what the public may think about Washington and Asomugha's private union, they are proving with each moment that love can conquer all.
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Feature image by Arturo Holmes/MG23/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
