One of the most talked about subjects is nutrition. Yet, there is much to be discovered in this field. Studies are being done every day and every year to unravel all the pieces that make up the nutrition puzzle. The results are simply amazing.
To have a healthy body we need to keep track of what we eat. There is a very popular saying that goes to say that you are what you eat. That is entirely true, therefore it is important to limit the consumption of processed food and take in more organic foods.
In order to maintain a healthy body, getting the right amount of sleep is very instrumental. A good sleeping tip that anyone can do is to limit the intake of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. These substances can disturb sleep patterns, and therefore, will prevent the body from having proper rest.
Eat oatmeal for breakfast. Foods that contain oats or a lot of grain can be very filling. Try eating foods like oatmeal for breakfast in the morning. This will make you fill fuller for a longer amount of time than a typical breakfast. You will be more likely to make it from breakfast to lunch without picking up a snack.
When making your plates of food, be sure to use a very small plate. The small plate will be full so it will trick the brain into believing that you are consuming more food than you actually are. This means that you will feel full after consuming less food.
Eat nuts as a healthy snack food. Nuts are not just good for you, they also help you feel full. There are many different flavors of nuts out there. You can even try soaking them in water for a different texture. Just be sure you don’t have a nut allergy before snacking.
When considering your nutrition vegetables are a great choice, but be sure that you are not losing nutrients by how they are being prepared. Often times, boiling will actually cause your vegetables to lose a large percentages of their nutrients to the bottom of the pot. You will retain the most vitamins by either microwaving or steaming your vegetables.
Grow your own herbs for cooking in a container garden. Fresh herbs add wonderful flavors to food without adding fat or calories. If you grow your own you will always have a selection of your favorite herbs on hand. Be sure to add the herbs last while cooking so that the flavor is really strong.
Make sure that you get enough Vitamin-A in your diet. The fat-soluble vitamin aids skin repair. Deficiencies can cause dry, cracked, flaky, infected skin. Foods high in Vitamin-A include spinach, carrots, liver and apricots. Try to avoid artificial Vitamin-A supplements. Taking excessive amounts of the vitamin can have harmful effects.
Because they’re cheaper to make, easier to control, and generally tastier, highly-processed grain products have become more common than whole grain ones. There is some truth the idea that some flours, particularly white ones, are better for baked goods. But whole grains, in general, provide far more taste than the over-milled grains, and aid digestion through their fiber content.
The nutritional value of fish makes it a “must” in our diet. Omega 3 fatty acids are its most touted value. Salmon is especially high in Omega 3’s. But fish also provide other good things: protein, vitamins A and D, and valuable trace minerals. These nutrients are best found in “wild caught” fish.
Eat a healthy mix of different foods in your diet. If you are trying to bulk up or lose weight, you might be focusing on certain foods to complement your workout routine, but don’t forget to eat in a healthy way that incorporates foods from all food groups. This will help keep your body full of the nutrients you need to function.
Create a list of low-fat, low-carb, high-protein foods that you love and then work to create a small recipe book using your favorite ingredients. Eating the same thing over and over can be quite boring, so look for new and fresh ways to use those healthy ingredients to prepare meals you haven’t tried before.
Slow down when you’re eating. It takes up to half an hour from the time you start eating until the time you start feeling full. So if you are eating slowly, in half an hour you’ll feel full and you won’t have stuffed yourself and overeaten to do it.
It can be difficult to make your money stretch for a whole month of healthy meals, but it’s not as hard as you think. Your meals don’t need to rotate around meat; it’s better to have a couple strips of chicken on top of a nice bunch of lettuce than 6 fried processed chicken food nuggets.
It’s a good idea to add cabbage to your diet. Not only does it store well, and is a versatile ingredient in everything from kimchi-topped burgers to the humble coleslaw, but it’s filled with copious amounts of fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and lots of minerals. A quick steaming is a great way to preserve the nutrients.
It is okay to have a cheat day once in awhile, but do not go overboard. When you do cheat it is okay to have a slice or two of pizza, but definitely not the entire pie! Portion control is key to maintaining a healthy weight.
The world of nutrition has unfortunately become incredibly over-saturated recently. This has led to hundreds of diets and books being released. The best thing to do with this is to completely ignore them. The fads change week by week so it is essential to just stick to the basics of healthy food.
As you can see, nutritional studies are ongoing and new information is uncovered nearly every day. The more we learn about the subject of nutrition and how it impacts the body, the more we can take charge of our health. Keep learning new info as it pops up.
