Nutrition
Nutrition – You are what you eat. If you eat junk food, you will be junk too. If you want to be healthy, you need to eat right and stay on track. These tips will help you do just that.
* Nutrition labels are a must! While it may be easier to grab a fast food burger and some fries, those calories will not be great for your body. Read the labels on all products. If you don’t recognize or can’t pronounce it, don’t buy it. The same goes for items that are frozen, canned, or jarred. Look for nutritional information in the produce section or grab a cookie when checking out.
* Exercise. Consistent physical activity is important for overall health too. A brisk walk is great for boosting circulation and pace. Vigorous exercise can make you sweat and increase the flow of oxygen in your system. Both of these will help you live a healthier life.
* Feed your body. Eat smaller portions more frequently throughout the day to help keep your blood sugar levels stable and to keep you from becoming hungry. Try to include some protein in each meal, such as lean meat or fish, which are rich in protein and decrease the calories that are carbohydrates, which is what you should be getting most of the time anyways.
* Keep your calories balanced. As a rule of thumb, each time you eat one thing, you should also be eating something else. This will help you realize that you’re eating more than you really need, and you can eat more without feeling like you are overeating.
* Substitute fat with something else. For instance, instead of using oil or butter on your french fries, use vegetable oil or applesauce to take the place of oil or butter. Use less salt and sodium. These are ways in which you can make sure that you are not going over your recommended intake of sodium, fats, cholesterol, and other nutrients so that you are still healthy.
* Cut down on the drinks you drink. If you want to be drinking beer, TV already has it. Instead of drinking beer every night, cut down on the number of times you drink it. If you want something sweeter than alcohol, replace it with diet sodas or fruit drinks. It may be hard to do at first, but your waistline will thank you for it.
* Make sure you are aware of the risks involved with drinking. Having a beer every night is not going to make you a healthy individual. Being honest and healthy is not only having a proper diet, but also exercising, which is important because exercise burns off calories. Just make sure that everything you do balances.
* Eating healthy does not mean that you can never have a chocolate chip cookie. There is a lot of that junk food that looks tempting, but none of it really nutritious. Having a once in a while is acceptable. Eating junk food should be something you do once in a while. Because you can have junk food, you can still be healthy.
* Overall, stick to whole foods as much as possible. Packaged meals and snacks are generally nothing but carbs and chemicals. You can make great healthy meals and snacks, and still be indulging your cravings every once in a while. It’s all about strategy.