Healthy Living

The general public regularly blame marketing and the food industry for their unhealthy diets and weight issues. But, the fact is that you have control over your diet, and your own nutrition is your choice and your choice alone. This assertion of itself is encouraging.

This short article presents several sensible strategies for tailoring what you eat and your attitude towards life, so that you have the ability to eat a healthy diet, supporting an overall well-balanced lifestyle.

Just what is healthy living?

Healthy living is a commitment to changing every facet of your daily routine to the extent necessary to support your personal health aspirations. In other words, it is a holistic, long term technique, blended with a positive mental attitude.

It is not about fad diets or focusing on one problem area (like surplus weight) in isolation. It is only when you start to look at the bigger picture (e.g. a healthy diet, regular physical exercise, intake of water, nutrient intake, food intolerances, weight, digestive system health, metabolic rate etc) that make up your own lifestyle that you can decide on an effective healthy living plan for you.

Healthy living plan

Everyone’s health living programme will be slightly different, according to their own individual circumstances, including starting health level, medical conditions, weight, flexibility etc and it is usually advisable to talk about any modifications to your diet or exercise levels with a qualified health practitioner before you start (especially if you are on medication or are pregnant). But, with that in mind, there are a few general healthy eating principles that can provide a little direction in the preliminary stages.

Breakfast

Start your morning off in the right way! So many of us forget the morning meal routinely, but to get your metabolism moving (so that you are able to use up more calories throughout the day) and to keep your blood sugar stable (and stave off cravings), it is important not to miss meals. Subject, obviously, to any sensitivities you may have (for example to gluten or dairy products), choose a healthy and balanced breakfast of, say, muesli, probiotic yoghurt and fresh organic fruit. Mix with nuts and seeds for an added nutrient boost – linseeds, almonds and sunflower seeds are a great blend. Keep away from high-sugar cereals, which also tend to contain sulfites – harmful additives that may prompt asthma attacks in sensitive people.

If you just do not have the time for breakfast each and every morning, do not allow that to stop you – no excuses! Have breakfast on the go by using a top quality, nutrients fortified dairy free and gluten free meal replacement or protein shake.

Lunch and snacks

An effective way to put together nourishing meals and snacks effortlessly is to buy foods that are ready to eat after opening or with very little preparation. There’s really no excuse not to eat healthy foods when there are many choices for fast and healthy eating. Some examples are low-fat deli meats, whole grain breads, fresh salads, fruit, nuts and seeds among other things. A number of superfoods and superfruits now come freeze-dried, so that you can stick them in your desk drawer at work munch on them as a healthy snack throughout the day. For instance, exotic goji berries (often referred to as wolfberries). These small berries are high in nourishing substances, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, such as essential and trace minerals, amino acids, polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids and several phenols related to antioxidant activity. What more could you want from a quick snack?!

Dinner

If you’ve observed the above suggestions, when you reach the evening meal you shouldn’t be starving, which in turn will mean that you are unlikely to binge or indulge in unhealthy snacks.

A fantastic nutrition tip is to be more mindful of portion size. A well-balanced diet is not about starving yourself; you should always feel satisfied, due to the fact you’re giving your body just what it needs. However, if you have a propensity to overeat, try to eat little and often. A couple of other helpful suggestions are:

- increase your intake of water – quite often people who do not drink enough water mistake thirst for hunger. By drinking more and staying hydrated, it can help you feel satisfied for longer;

- drink a protein shake or superfood powder – not only can these help to make you feel full when your meal was just not enough, a quality protein drink or superfoods blend can supply you with additional nutrients and enzymes.

Benefits of healthy living

Implementing a holistic approach to healthy living, as opposed to trying to find a fast solution for issues such as obesity and digestive disorders, is helpful for a number of reasons. For instance, not only will it most likely address your specific health goals, it will also support your general health and well-being.

A healthy body, receiving the full scope of vitamins and minerals, is much more likely to have a robust immune system. This consequently makes it easier to fight common disorders and other conditions, including colds and flu, diarrhoea, constipation – and without having to turn to prescription medication.

Everyone’s objective is to have as long and happy a life as they possibly can. Furnished with the facts about your nutrition and health, and with an idea of how different foods, drinks and chemical substances can affect your body, you will be better placed to achieve that aim.

Healthy living guide

Having gained some understanding of healthy living, take another step to the new you – click here for a free healthy living plan and suggestions on dietary supplements that can help you to achieve your health goals!