People always talk about eating healthy, and so many times the word “diet” is brought in. Many don’t understand that what it truly means is a lifestyle change and not a quick fix to a health and weight problem. If you can’t imagine yourself eating in a certain way for years, don’t even start it because it will not last. Diets that are impossible to maintain will not do you any good, because you may need a true and long-term change to your habits. There is no need to stop eating a certain food altogether unless you have a specific disease or dietary requirement. A big part of staying healthy is about balance, portion control, and the regularity of the meals. Staying hungry and skipping meals is not healthy for the body or the mind. It can lead to outbursts and over-eating, as well as physical suffering and pain. Consider having little snacks between meals, to keep the blood levels in a good place and hunger in control. Plan to have snacks with you on the go too, and aim for healthy options like fruits and nuts. Overall the recommendation is to base 90% of your diet on whole foods. Those are natural, unprocessed foods containing only one ingredient. Processed foods have very little nutritional value and are sometimes called “empty” calories. Eating them in large amounts regularly was found to cause obesity and other diseases in some cases. The extra 10% of foods can be used for treats and snacks, such as processed foods.
It is very important to eat a variety of foods, because we need more than 40 different nutrients and we must eat different items in order to get it. With fruits and vegetables it is easy to do, because there are so many delicious options to try, and the possibilities of cooking with them are truly endless. Vegetables and fruits contain minerals, fiber, and vitamins, and you should aim to having at least 5 servings a day.
Drinking plenty of fluids is really good for you, and the recommended amount for an adult is 1.5 liters of fluids a day, preferably water only. Even during the winter, the human body still needs that certain amount of water. Sometimes you may feel hungry when in fact your body is thirsty. Misreading those signs often leads to unnecessary overeating and weight gain.
