Those looking to ward off disease, maintain a healthy weight and enjoy overall wellness should follow simple healthy steps to eating. The basics for eating healthier involves more fruits and vegetables, less fat and salt and better portion control.
Lifestyle Change
Before starting any kind of diet, you really have to commit to your goal. If you're not completely on board with your diet, it's not going to work. Instead of looking at it like a "diet," you should consider it a lifestyle change. For it to be successful long term, it has to be something that becomes natural to you. You have to really want to change in order to eat healthier.
Healthy Steps to Eating
Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables
There are a lot of things to consider when trying to eat better. First of all, a healthy diet includes servings of fruits and vegetables. Not only are they low in fat, but they contain natural sugars needed by your body for energy. They also contain important vitamins and minerals your body needs to function properly. Simply put, you can't eat too many foods from this category. Be aware, though, that these foods have higher nutritional value before processing. In other words, fresh carrots are better for you than canned carrots. The same goes for other fruits and veggies.
Go Low-Fat
Try to eat low-fat. When you eat fatty foods, fat from the food turns immediately to fat. Our bodies need a certain amount of healthy fats, but even with good fats you shouldn't over do it. Limit your fat intake when you can. Saturated and trans fats can cause hardening of the arteries or high cholesterol. A healthy diet doesn't have a lot of room for fatty foods. Read food labels to help determine better choices. If a food's calorie content consists of over half fat calories, you probably should not select it.
Control Portion Size
Eat reasonably sized portions. Keep in mind that a good rule of thumb is that a portion of something is no more than the size of your palm. By controlling portion size, you are more likely to control your calorie intake, too.
Sodium Patrol
Limit your salt intake. Large quantities of sodium causes water retention and is not good for your heart. While it's a difficult habit to break, reduce your salt usage. For instance, taste your food before adding salt to it. It may be just fine without it.
Sweet Tooth
A certain amount of sugar is alright in your diet, but attempt to eliminate sugar that comes in the form of junk food. High intake of sugar has been linked to diabetes.
Take Vitamins
In case you aren't getting all the vitamins your body requires through what you eat, it's a good idea to take a multi-vitamin. It can't hurt you, and it can help give you that boost to guard against colds and flu bugs.
Consult a Dietitian
If you have questions about what you should or shouldn't be eating, it's a good idea to consult a dietitian. Insurance sometimes pays for this service. However, even if this is not covered by your health insurance, it is beneficial to do. Dietitians can offer insight into what you're doing right and help steer you from bad habits you may not realize you have. They answer questions and warn about potential pitfalls.
It's Not That Hard
It's not hard to take healthy steps to eating. It's a matter of becoming aware of what's good for you and wanting to change your habits. Once you start a healthier diet, you'll feel better, you'll look better and your health will be protected for years to come. Many people report that after changing their diet they have more energy and can think more clearly. There are a lot of benefits of having a healthy diet.
