It seems that in today’s society, people are becoming more and more interested in living healthier lifestyles. People are working out more and really cleaning up their diets. Whether it’s turning to veganism or perhaps giving up gluten or dairy, people are really starting to pay close attention to what they put in their bodies. However, maybe you’re still not quite ready to jump on the healthy eating bandwagon, or maybe you don’t really know where to start. Well, here are a few tips and pointers on how to begin implementing healthier choices into your lifestyle.
Why is Eating Healthy Important?
Why is eating healthy so important? Well, the simple and easiest answer is: because the food we eat is essentially our life force. What you eat determines how efficiently or inadequately your body will function. If our bodies are starved of vital nutrients and bombarded with junk and over-processed foods, then the end result is usually never positive. Eating a poor diet can result in the malfunction of vital organs, and even making you more susceptible to sickness by weakening your immune system. In addition to keeping us physically in order, eating a healthy diet can also improve your mental state. According to the Childline website, maintaining your health physically can also help to keep you healthy emotionally.
6 Additional Reasons Why Eating Healthy is Important
- Helps you naturally maintain a healthy weight and/or lose weight
- Reduces the risk of chronic heart disease and cancer
- Improves overall mood and productivity
- Helps promote strong bones and teeth
- Improves memory
- Improves gut health
Poor Eating and How it Affects Your Life
Unhealthy eating is running rapid in this country and many others. According to HHS.Gov, approximately one-third of adults in the U.S are obese or extremely overweight, and about 12.5 million children between 2 and 19 years of age are obese as well. Sadly, the numbers don’t lie. Obesity has truly become an epidemic in this country. Why did we become so uninvolved in our health?
Obesity, however, isn’t the only indicator that the body is unhealthy. It is also possible to be at a somewhat normal weight, while still eating a poor diet. In fact, there have been increasing numbers of young people being diagnosed with chronic diseases. Diseases such as type 2 Diabetes, hypertension and even sometimes strokes, have all been linked to increased weight gain and unhealthy eating. Eating a proper, whole food diet is only the beginning. In order to really achieve maximum results, it’s important to also include physical activity into your lifestyle. Physical fitness and healthy eating are the best ways to ensure you’re doing all you can to keep your body in optimum condition.
How to Eat Healthily
Now that we’ve covered the importance of why we should make healthy eating choices, how exactly does a person apply it into their lives? Well, in most cases it’s best to start small. Maintaining good health is more than just “dieting.” It’s a lifestyle change. Which is why it’s best to start off making small adjustments to your diet, and working your way up. Even though everyone is different, going the “cold turkey” route isn’t advised. We’ve been acquiring our eating habits whether good or bad for many years now, and it’s simply foolish to think that we’ll eradicate every bad habit we have overnight. A great way to begin eating better is to create goals for yourself. For instance, if you know that you aren’t drinking enough water, that could be your first goal. Small, consistent changes can gradually make a big difference in your health overall.
Consider Readily Available Supplements
Another great way to ensure your body is receiving all the nutrients it needs is to add in supplements. Dietary supplements come in many forms. They can come in the form of pills, powders or even liquids. Before taking any supplement always consult with a doctor first if you are unsure of what your body needs. Protein supplements are a thing to go in this era as it gives bulk and helps in building muscles. You can check out supplement bands which are trusted by athletes like Hector Lombard – ufc fighter.
What Foods Should I Eat
When choosing the right foods to eat, always think about whole foods. No, not the grocery store, but rather whole nutritious foods. Foods that are whole, haven’t been stripped or over processed. They still contain all the vitamins and nutrients that they were designed to contain. Incorporating fruits and veggies is almost a “no-brainer” when it comes to making the right food choices. Also, be mindful of the snacks you choose. Our Western culture is very fast paced and everyone is always on the go; which can make it difficult to eat healthily. However, the best way to combat the latter is to plan ahead of time.
Swapping the fattening vending machine options for an apple or perhaps some nuts is a great step in the right direction. Also keeping vegetables and cut up fruits like mango or pineapple in the fridge can help you stay on track even when you’re at home “Netflix and chilling.” Drinking plenty of water is also vital in maintaining good health. Our bodies are made up of mostly water, so it’s important to make sure we are drinking enough. According to WebMD “When your water intake does not equal your output you can become dehydrated.”
A Few More Ideas on What You Should Eat
- Make more of the grains you eat “Whole Grains”
- When eating fill half your plate with fruits and/or vegetables
- Swap out sugary drinks and excessive caffeine for water instead.
- Cut back on bad fats (e.g. cakes, cookies, processed sweets
There are so many advantages and reasons to eat healthily. However, the number one reason to eat healthily is that it’s the least we can do for ourselves.
