The key to a healthy body is nutrition. What you eat not only affects how much you weigh, but can impact your health in many ways. This article will provide you with some simple tips and tricks to make sure you are getting the nutrition you need for a healthy body.
Soy has been known to be a great addition to any healthy diet. It has been shown to help prevent diseases like heart disease and cancer because of its essential fatty acids, iron, phosphorus, and other nutrients. It is great for eliminating blockages in arteries too. Soy also helps reduce cholesterol levels.
When considering nutrition for a child, be sure that you stick to a standard schedule so that they eat when they are supposed to eat. If a child snacks throughout the day, it is very possible that they will not be hungry enough to eat a full meal and may miss out on nutrients that were not available in their snack food.
An unknown boon to many, studies have shown that red wine is actually a healthy choice. Compared to white wine, red wine has less sugar and more healthy nutrients. Nutritionists believe that drinking one glass of red wine per day may increase your life expectancy. The same idea applies to dark chocolate.
Try and eat the rainbow! Fruits and vegetables that are very brightly colored give you lots of nutrition without tons of calories. You should eat a bright veggie or fruit at every meal. Eat the skins if possible; that’s where many of the antioxidants in the fruit reside.
When you are craving a glass of fruit juice, you should consider having a small piece of fresh fruit instead. This will curb your craving and it will also keep you full for much longer. If you must drink fruit juice, try to drink a diet or 100 percent natural version.
One way to have healthy bones is by taking lots of calcium rich foods. A good source of calcium are dairy products, such as soy milk. These products also provide the body with a good amount of protein and helps the body to be less prone to the disease called osteoporosis.
A good nutrition tip is to start taking iodine as a supplement. Iodine works to produce the T4 and T3 hormones, which are essential in regulating your thyroid. If you’ve been to the doctor and you found out your T4 or T3 levels are down, taking an iodine supplement can be very beneficial.
Don’t be sucked in by expensive “super-foods”! Normal food is just fine for nutritional value. Make healthful choices in fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats and fish, legumes, beans and nuts and whole grain breads and cereals at your local market. Use a water purifying pitcher to provide you with plenty of pure water economically. Avoid junk, and eat normal, healthful food in abundance for optimum health.
You should be wary of foods that are advertised as fat-free or as containing zero trans fat. Foods like this frequently have additives such as sugar. Always look over the nutritional labels of these items.
Try to avoid using food as a friend when you are eating healthy. Food should not be considered a friend. Do not eat to make yourself feel better when you are sad or upset. Find someone that you can talk to that will help you through your problems. Get into this habit and you can avoid weight gain from comfort eating.
Everyone loves a good dessert, even the most health-conscious eaters. When you know how, you can still eat healthy sweets. Fat-free yogurt has tons of calcium, and you can add some berries, granola, nuts and perhaps a little bit of cinnamon. This same yogurt can also accommodate a delicious topping of crushed graham crackers; either cinnamon or honey flavored.
Try using whole wheat flour for healthier baking. Whole flour has not been processed as much as white flour, so it retains valuable nutrients and additional fiber.
Make sure you’re eating a balanced meal. 15-20% should be protein, 30% should be fats, and 50-55% should be carbs. This ensures that your body is getting everything it needs to function properly. Any diets that have high amounts or extremely low amounts of the nutrients deprive your body of what it needs.
Use organic produces whenever possible. They are grown naturally without the use of artificial fertilizers, antibiotics, pesticides or genetically modified organisms. Organic products are readily available in most supermarkets for a slightly higher price, but as a return you don’t have to worry about the negative interactions between your body and agricultural chemicals.
Vitamins and health supplements are just that; supplements. They are made to be taken in conjunction with a healthy diet, not in place of it. If you are taking too many pills and supplements, you risk doing more damage to your health than good. Have your doctor test your blood to see what vitamins you are deficient in, and focus on taking just these.
Keep plenty of healthful snack choices available for your children by placing a bowl of fruit on a table or within easy reach in the refrigerator. Have healthful choices such as low fat cheese and whole grain crackers, fresh vegetable sticks, and low fat milk or pure water readily available so that it will always be easy for your child to make the best nutrition choices.
A colorful plate is a healthy plate. Fill at least half of your dinner plate with red, orange, and dark green vegetables, and you are on your way to a well balanced meal packed with vitamins and other nutrients. Add a side dish of fruit to your meal to finish things.
There is an old saying, “You are what you eat’. And it could not be more truthful. By being aware of what you are putting into your body and employing the simple tips discussed here, you will be well on your way to a happier and healthier life.
