Eating a healthy diet is essential for a healthy body and mind. A healthy body looks good, but it’s the combination of a healthy body and mind that will allow you to think clearly, have more energy, stay motivated, and remain focused on your life goals. Here are four tips to help you eat healthily.
To improve your health, eat more green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, dandelion greens and spinach. Most people do not eat enough greens. But green foods are one of the least expensive sources of a variety of nutrients—vitamins A and C, folic acid, iron and calcium—which make them essential for a healthy diet. These range from chlorophyll that helps absorb and remove toxins to powerful antioxidants that help prevent against cancer. Leafy green vegetables are high in fiber and have a low glycemic index. They contain vitamins K and E; calcium; potassium; and magnesium. A large body of evidence supports the notion that eating plenty of vegetables is good for your health and can reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and some kinds of cancer.
Super green foods, such as chlorella, barley grass, wheat grass and spirulina, are being studied in laboratories to determine their effects on the body. These foods are rich in protein and chlorophyll as well as vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Integrative medicine experts believe they help protect against cancer and stimulate the immune system.
Consume fresh fruit two or three times a day as part of a healthy diet. Fresh fruits contain fiber and vitamins, which help to clear the digestive tract and reduce internal inflammation. Organic produce may be preferable due to its higher nutritional content.
A healthy diet begins with a healthy breakfast. A proper breakfast will provide you with the energy needed to start your day off right. Bacon, eggs and pancakes will not fit this profile. Studies have shown that eating a lighter yet nutrient-filled breakfast will sustain energy longer. Healthy breakfast ideas include free-range eggs sauteed with tomatoes and spinach or fruit, yogurt and nuts. Each of these meals provides lean proteins, fiber, and energy while keeping your morning meal from weighing you down.
Whole grains contain many nutrients not found in processed grains. Essential fatty acids, or EFA’s, are only found in whole grains and are crucial for healthy skin, hair and brain function. But whole grains have even more benefits.
Studies have shown that eating whole grains on a regular basis helps maintain a healthy weight, reduces the risk of stroke and diabetes, and lowers the risk of heart disease as well as asthma. And the great thing is that these benefits can be obtained with just one serving daily.
Eating a diet that is rich in nutrients takes effort. Start by replacing unhealthy foods in your diet with nutritious alternatives. Do not feel guilty if you indulge in a treat every once in a while; it is what you eat regularly that will determine the health of your body and mind, not occasional indulgences.
Ideally, you can opt for dietary services from a reputed dietician if your body is under stress. Amandeep Hospital offers bespoke meal plans customised to your needs, along with a range of dietary services.
