Health and Nutrition
Beginning a healthier approach to eating is not an easy journey. We all know that there are “good foods” and “bad foods.” Good foods are natural foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and calcium rich foods. Man made sugary and salty treats are harmful to our body. It is nearly impossible for the majority of people to immediately cut out all the “bad foods” from their diet. The healthier approach is to slowly add more of the “good foods” to your daily consumption. Gradually incorporating more healthy foods into your diet will eventually decrease the amount of unhealthy foods in your diet. Your body will begin to crave the healthy food if you commit yourself to trying healthier alternatives.
To start
out a new healthy lifestyle, ask yourself a few questions:
• How does your weight compare with a year ago?
• Do you feel healthy and have a lot of energy or are you tired
all the time?
• Do you take vitamins or other nutritional supplements?
• Do you eat at home most of the time? If so, what types?
Whole fresh foods, boxed foods or TV dinners?
• If you eat in a restaurant,
what types of restaurants do you go to and what types of foods
do you choose?
• How physically active are you? Do you exercise
regularly?
• Do you eat healthy size portions, or do you stuff
yourself with every meal?
• Do you smoke?
• How much alcohol do you drink each week?
It is important
to take an honest look at your health and dietary habits in order
to set goals for your health and diet. Just adding a little movement
to your life can:
• Reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes
• Improve joint stability
• Increase and improve range of movement
• Help maintain flexibility as you age
• Maintain bone mass
• Prevent osteoporosis and fractures
Improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
• Enhance self esteem
• Improve memory in elderly people
• Reduce
stress
Creating
a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to mean drastic changes. In
fact, drastic changes almost always lead to failure. Making small
changes in how you live each day can lead to big rewards, so
figure out what you can to be healthy today.
Eat more fruit. Although eating fruit alone is optimal for digestion
add it to your cereal your salads or even your dinners. Fruit
is full of vitamins and essential nutrients.
Add more veggies. Add them wherever you can, a tomato on your sandwich, peppers
on your pizza, or extra veggies in your pasta sauce. Keep pre-cut or canned/frozen
veggies ready for quick snacks. Fresh and raw is always the best choice to get
the most nutrients.
Switch your salad dressing. If you eat full-fat dressing, switch to something
lighter and you'll automatically eat less calories. Try your local health
food store’s brand name items for an affordable healthy choice.
Eat low-fat or fat-free dairy. Switching to skim milk or fat
free yogurt is another simple way to eat less calories without
having to change too much in your diet.
Make some substitutes, look through your cabinets or fridge and pick 3 foods you eat regularly. Write down the nutritional content and, the next time you're at the store, find lower-calorie substitutes for just those 3 items. BEWARE of artificial sweeteners … opt for raw organic sugar, honey or agave all natural sweeteners.
A healthier
lifestyle is a daily choice in what we eat and how we exercise.
Please see our resource directory to connect with related health
and nutrition information websites.
Nutrition
Resources
Healthy
Recipe Resources
Healthy
Lifestyle Resources |
