Eating a healthy diet is essential for a healthy body and a
healthy mind. We all know a healthy body looks good. But a healthy body
and mind together allows you to think clearer, have more energy, stay
motivated and remain focused on your life goals. A healthy body and
healthy mind work hand-in-hand so you can live your life to the fullest.
Here are 4 healthy diet tips so you look and feel your best.
#1 Eat more green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, dandelion greens and spinach. Most people simply do not eat enough greens. But green foods are one of the least expensive sources of a variety of nutrients, making 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, iron and calcium yet have a low glycemic index. They are also high in vitamin K, a necessary nutrient for the production of osteocalcin which is necessary for strong bones. They are rich in a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that protect and nourish your entire body.
Another type of greens called super green foods are showing a lot of promise in recent laboratory studies. These are foods such as chlorella, barley grass, wheat grass and spirulina. They are rich in protein, chlorophyll as well as other vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Integrative medicine experts believe these green super foods help play a role in protecting the body from cancers, liver health, speed tissue repair and stimulate the immune system.
#2 Snack on fresh fruit a couple times a day as part of your healthy diet. Fresh fruit is has natural fiber and vitamins. The natural fiber helps to clear your digestive tract of waste buildup. Besides being high in fiber, the skin of fresh fruits contain powerful phytonutrients like cartenoids and flavenoids that help protect your body from cancers and other health problems. Fresh fruits help reduce internal inflammation, which is a factor in illnesses such as cardiovascular disease. Strive for organic fruits when possible as they contain more nutrients than non-organic.
#3 A healthy diet begins with a healthy breakfast that will give you energy to start your day right. Unfortunately, bacon, eggs and pancakes will not fit this profile. Studies, and people, show that eating a lighter yet nutrient-filled breakfast will sustain energy longer. Healthy breakfast ideas or free-range eggs with sauteed tomatoes and spinach or fruit, yogurt and nuts. Each will give you highly nutritious, lean proteins, fiber and energy while keeping your morning meal from weighing you down.
#4 Eat more whole grains and less highly processed grains. How can you recognize foods that contain highly processed grains? Avoid food that contains these ingredients on the label; white flour, high fructose corn syrup, bleached flour, ingredients that you cannot pronounce. Replace these with whole grains that you have to cook yourself. Try whole grain breads for better nutrition, too.
Whole grains contain a host of nutrients that are not found in highly processed grains. Essential Fatty Acids, or EFA's are a necessary nutrient found in whole grains but are stripped out during processing. This nutrient is essential for healthy skin, hair and brain function. But whole grains have even more benefits.
Repeated studies show that eating whole grains on a regular basis helped maintain a healthy weight. Risk of stroke, diabetes and heart disease were all lowered as well as reduced risk of asthma and healthier blood pressure levels. And the great thing is that benefits showed with eating as little as one serving daily.
Eating a healthy diet takes a constant effort. Start by replacing foods that you know are unhealthy with foods that will be good for your body. Do not stress if you eat treats once in a while. Your healthy diet, body and mind are determined by what you eat on a regular basis, not on what you do once in a while.
#1 Eat more green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, dandelion greens and spinach. Most people simply do not eat enough greens. But green foods are one of the least expensive sources of a variety of nutrients, making 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, iron and calcium yet have a low glycemic index. They are also high in vitamin K, a necessary nutrient for the production of osteocalcin which is necessary for strong bones. They are rich in a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that protect and nourish your entire body.
Another type of greens called super green foods are showing a lot of promise in recent laboratory studies. These are foods such as chlorella, barley grass, wheat grass and spirulina. They are rich in protein, chlorophyll as well as other vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Integrative medicine experts believe these green super foods help play a role in protecting the body from cancers, liver health, speed tissue repair and stimulate the immune system.
#2 Snack on fresh fruit a couple times a day as part of your healthy diet. Fresh fruit is has natural fiber and vitamins. The natural fiber helps to clear your digestive tract of waste buildup. Besides being high in fiber, the skin of fresh fruits contain powerful phytonutrients like cartenoids and flavenoids that help protect your body from cancers and other health problems. Fresh fruits help reduce internal inflammation, which is a factor in illnesses such as cardiovascular disease. Strive for organic fruits when possible as they contain more nutrients than non-organic.
#3 A healthy diet begins with a healthy breakfast that will give you energy to start your day right. Unfortunately, bacon, eggs and pancakes will not fit this profile. Studies, and people, show that eating a lighter yet nutrient-filled breakfast will sustain energy longer. Healthy breakfast ideas or free-range eggs with sauteed tomatoes and spinach or fruit, yogurt and nuts. Each will give you highly nutritious, lean proteins, fiber and energy while keeping your morning meal from weighing you down.
#4 Eat more whole grains and less highly processed grains. How can you recognize foods that contain highly processed grains? Avoid food that contains these ingredients on the label; white flour, high fructose corn syrup, bleached flour, ingredients that you cannot pronounce. Replace these with whole grains that you have to cook yourself. Try whole grain breads for better nutrition, too.
Whole grains contain a host of nutrients that are not found in highly processed grains. Essential Fatty Acids, or EFA's are a necessary nutrient found in whole grains but are stripped out during processing. This nutrient is essential for healthy skin, hair and brain function. But whole grains have even more benefits.
Repeated studies show that eating whole grains on a regular basis helped maintain a healthy weight. Risk of stroke, diabetes and heart disease were all lowered as well as reduced risk of asthma and healthier blood pressure levels. And the great thing is that benefits showed with eating as little as one serving daily.
Eating a healthy diet takes a constant effort. Start by replacing foods that you know are unhealthy with foods that will be good for your body. Do not stress if you eat treats once in a while. Your healthy diet, body and mind are determined by what you eat on a regular basis, not on what you do once in a while.
Cindy Papp is a Certified Nutritional Counselor; check out
healthy foods that cleanse
[http://www.springclean-cleanse.com/foods-that-cleanse-your-colon.html]
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Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Papp
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