In today’s world of fast easy information, how often do you read a faceless writer’s article telling you what to eat? Perhaps you watch a program that informs you of particular foods that may cause disease. Does this influence what you eat? Finally to top it off, the media saturates you with advertisements from fast food companies, energy drinks, low fat diets, and new improved foods. How do you decide what to eat?
The opposite extreme is the crazy diets and pills to lose weight or stimulants to stay focused. Okay, I give up. What am I suppose to eat to stay healthy, have energy, lose weight, etc. Well, as complicated as it is to design a proper diet for an individual, the facts are simple.
Education is power. Take the time and write down what you eat in a day for an entire week. Count how many calories you consume in a day. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple starting estimate to your average weight. If your high on the BMI and want to lose weight, consume fewer calories and exert more energy. Exercise. A maximum of 1-2 lbs a week is recommended among most health experts.
Here is a simple guide below, so you can make an educated decision on what you think you should be eating.
Eat six to eight small meals throughout the day, it will help you maintain energy, focus, and additionally can help you lose unwanted weight. More meals regulates the body for energy use, in turn the body stores less fat.
Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits. (Variety of kind and color.) Fresh spinach and broccoli are great sources of calcium. For a healthier diet, stray away from starchy vegetables and try to eat a minimum of one whole fruit a day, especially if you are diabetic or trying to lose weight. Whole fruit is always a better choice over juice.
Break your meals into macronutrients. For example, consume 20-35 percent protein, 35-65 percent carbohydrates, and 10-25 percent fats daily. Recommended fats are unsaturated fats; polyunsaturated and monounsaturated.
Drink water, drink water, drink water. Water is a simple natural cleanser. The body is made up of 55-60 percent water. This means to drink water. Water will not hydrate your body alone, so be sure to add electrolytes to your diet; potassium, sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate.
Take a multi-vitamin, not all vitamins are created equal so do your homework.
Antioxidants are a necessity part in fighting off radicals produced and increased by a chemically polluted society.
Beef, chicken, fish, tofu, and beans/rice are main sources of protein. Organic foods do not have growth hormones, pesticides, or other unwanted chemicals. What you put in your body could be the difference of developing cancer.
Remember everything in moderation. Variety in your diet is a good way to increase the amount of nutrients the body may need.
This is your one and only body, so take the time that you say you never have and make sure you are feeding it what it needs to be healthy. A healthy body is a happy person; a happy person is already successful.
Aaron Ogden, Masters Herbalist and BA in sports science has a saying he lives by. “The difference between involvement and commitment is like an ham-and-eggs breakfast: the chicken was involved, but the pig was committed. What are you going to be, a chicken or a pig?” For a more committed diet go to chickenorpig.com.