Eating healthy is good for your body

Maintaining a balanced diet may not always be convenient or cheap, but it'll definitely pay off both in the short- and long term health plan you intend to have for your body.  One of the most important things in keeping a healthy heart is a well-rounded diet that's rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fiber.

Healthy eating means you're doing the following on a daily, or in some cases weekly, basis: 

• Eating a healthy breakfast
• Eating foods rich in folate, such as dark leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes and bell peppers
• Balancing your intake of lean protein and whole grain carbohydrates
• Eat fish two or three times a week
• Four to five servings of fruit and vegetables a day
• Cut back on sugar, salt, fats and alcohol
• Drink caffeine in moderation

Dividing your plate is a good trick.  Visualize your plate divided into four quarters.  One quarter should be complex carbohydrates (brown rice or pasta), one quarter should be lean protein (the size of your palm is ideal) and the last two quarters should be fruit and/or vegetables.  A good point to keep in mind is that the more colourful your plate, the healthier it is for you.

Enhancing your emotional state:

If we feel a little bit sluggish, the first thing we crave is pastries or some chips.  The truth is that those foods contain refined carbs which, even though they may help the brain produce serotonin, can cause a quick crash. Serotonin is also known as the "feel good" hormone which your brain releases when you feel pride after reaching a goal or hitting a milestone.  On the other side, whole grain carbohydrates sustain the levels of serotonin in your body and produce a more lasting effect on your mood.

Maintaining a healthy weight:

Eating moderately sized meals and staying within your recommended daily caloric intake are two ways you can be in contral of your weight.  Having a healthy weight means you're reducing your risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease just to name a few.

Boosting your energy levels:

Snacking on fruits and nuts, and drinking water helps you maintain your energy levels.  Also, eating foods high in iron sustains your energy levels throughout the day since the mineral iron helps carry oxygen throughout the body.  Examples of food rich iron are spinach, almonds, quinoa, red meat, turkey and broccoli.

Once you start eating a healthy, nutritious diet this is what will happen to your body:

• After day 1: less hunger pangs, increased clarity and focus, boost in metabolism
• After week 1: better sleep, increased energy levels, emotional stability, decreased bloating
• After 1 month: younger looking skin, you save money on soft drinks and fatty junk food, eating healthy becomes a lifestyle choice
• After 6 months: stronger bones, better sex, boost in self-confidence, lower blood pressure
• After 1 year: you're smarter about your food choices, you get sick less often, you feel stronger and more alive, your concentration and memory have increased, you've reached your goal weight.

Food is much more than just reading food labels or counting calories.  You need to look at food as the nutrition you need to keep going strong for many years to come.

xxx