It is not always easy to eat healthily. There are so many temptations all around us that it can be difficult to stay on track with our eating habits. But what if I told you that there are five basic rules of how to eat healthily? If we follow these, then we will have a much easier time staying on track and achieving success with our diet! Let’s take a look at the five rules in detail:
1. Eating a Variety of Food
Variety ensures that we’re getting all the nutrients our body needs without consuming too much sugar or fat in one sitting! Eating a mix of veggies, fruits, whole-grain carbs like brown rice and oatmeal – as well as lean protein such as fish, beans, eggs – will provide your body with what it needs to function properly.
Also, include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Doing this will help your body get the vitamins it needs, improve digestion, and reduce the risk for certain diseases. Aim to have at least one item from this group with each meal or snack.
2. Reduce Sugar Consumption
Eating less sugar doesn’t just reduce the risk for cavities or diabetes – excess sugars can actually lead to hormonal imbalances that cause mood swings or fatigue. Fruit will naturally contain some natural sugars but is still much better than eating candy bars all day long! The body does need glucose from carbohydrates occasionally though, so don’t go cold turkey on this one 😉
3. Minimizing Processed Foods (or cutting them out entirely)
Processed foods tend to be high in refined sugars. Avoiding excess refined sugars as well as chemicals such as preservatives may improve health in the long term by reducing exposure to potential toxins which could lead to chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, etc.
Processed foods also contain a lot of ingredients that can be harmful to our bodies, like chemical preservatives or high amounts of sodium. Reducing salt intake is important because too much salt increases blood pressure levels – this has been linked with an increased risk for conditions including kidney failure and cardiovascular events (for example strokes).
Focusing on whole foods will help you avoid these issues and provide your body with the essential nutrients it needs for day-to-day functioning.
4. Eat More Fiber
Fiber is important because it improves weight loss outcomes by helping you feel fuller on fewer calories. This helps fill us up and keep our digestive system running smoothly.
Aiming to consume 30-35 grams of dietary fiber each day will help you feel fuller longer, improve the health of your gut and digestive system, and reduce the risk for certain diseases. Include whole grains like oatmeal or brown rice at breakfast time, fruits with skin on them like apples or oranges at lunchtime, beans such as black beans in soup, or kidney beans atop a salad for dinner.
5. Drink Plenty of Water
One important rule of eating healthy is to make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. We often forget that our bodies are over 75% water, and if we don’t replenish it with enough H20 then dehydration can set in quickly.
It’s important to stay hydrated because not only does dehydration lead to fatigue but also impaired brain function as well as a greater risk for health problems such as kidney stones or heart issues.
It’s recommended that women drink at least two liters per day (or eight cups) while men should be aiming for three liters (12 cups). If you find yourself thirsty – especially during the hot summer months – it might mean your body needs more fluids!
Stay Active and Do More Exercise
Physical exercise is one of the most efficient ways to stay healthy. The benefits are endless and include improved sleep, better heart health, reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, increased energy levels (which also helps with weight control), lower blood sugar levels in those who have diabetes or prediabetes – these are just a few!
So, other than just eating healthily, keep active and engage in some daily simple exercises like HIIT or strength training. It will help greatly or even double the results you desired.
Eating Healthy is Expensive, but it’s Worth the Investment!
While eating healthy may seem like a high cost for those on a budget, research has found that when you do eat more healthfully and stick to whole foods with less processing – like fresh vegetables, fruits, oatmeal instead of sugar-coated cereal or packaged cereals without added fiber (which tend to be higher in calories), beans rather than meat at every meal – your diet will improve as well. Plus most grocery stores offer reduced pricing on produce during certain times throughout the week!
