One of the ways to live a healthier life is to learn about nutrition. Once you’re aware of the foods and ingredients that you should avoid, and the proper nutritious alternatives, you’ll be on the road to fitness and health. Here are a few solid nutritional tips.
Remember that portions are extremely important. To make sure you are eating the correct portion sizes, fill up your plate with the healthiest foods first and then the least healthy. It also helps to eat the foods on your plate in the same order.
Consume 600-900 mg of garlic, about 1 fresh clove, daily to help lower your cholesterol. There have been many studies where people have used garlic for health reasons. These studies have proven garlic is extremely beneficial in helping to lower total cholesterol, and in particular, LDL, the bad cholesterol and triglycerides.
Soy has been known to be a great addition to any healthy diet. It has been shown to help prevent diseases like heart disease and cancer because of its essential fatty acids, iron, phosphorus, and other nutrients. It is great for eliminating blockages in arteries too. Soy also helps reduce cholesterol levels.
Vitamin C is an important part of a healthy diet. It is an effective antioxidant. It also helps forms the collagen which is needed for healthy blood vessels and gums, wound healing, and development of teeth and bones. Vitamin C has been found to decrease the risk of cancer, cataracts, heart disease and other diseases.
You can improve the nutritional profile of even packaged cake and cookie mixes. In addition to the regular instructions, many brands also list a “lower fat” version in which applesauce is used instead of oil. In a pinch you can also leave out the eggs. The point is that even when indulging in something like a cake, you can take steps to improve its nutritive profile.
To stay away from sodas and other sugary drinks, you need to find an alternative. It is natural to have cravings for something sweet: why not try fruit juice? Or better yet, mix fruit juice and water. Buy some oranges and squeeze them yourself. You can do the same with a lot of fruits, and combine different kind of juices for flavor.
When you go to coffee shops to get your morning fix, you should stick to basic coffee and personalize the amount of sweetener and lightener you add to it. This means that you can add a sugar substitute and skim milk, and you will not be drinking any unnecessary fat and calories.
Foods marketed as health foods are not always as healthy as you may think they are. Be sure to always check the nutritional information on the packaged or prepared foods that you eat and pay attention to the serving sizes as well. A snack food may have small amount of fat per serving, but if you eat several servings at a time, the small amounts of fat can add up.
If you are dealing with a picky eater, try to give them smaller portions at each meal. By doing this, they won’t feel overwhelmed with the amount of food in front of them and if they are hungry, they will be more inclined to eat their entire meal since it is not a huge serving size.
As part of your nutrition plan, see if you can reduce drinking soda. You’ll reduce your sugar and calorie intake and avoid unnatural, artificial sweeteners. Drinking plain water is unappetizing for some people, but most enjoy the clean, natural taste. If you must, you can add small amounts of fruit juice to add a bit of flavor.
If you find it hard to make nutritious meals because of the time it takes to make them at the end of a long day, try taking one day a week, to cook and prepare lots of dishes that can be stored in the freezer. Then each night, you only need to take one out and heat it up to have a healthy, homemade meal.
If you have had a long and tedious day at school or work, try to fit in a twenty minute nap to restore your body to normal capacity. This will also help to reduce your anxiety level and can limit the cravings that you may have, for the rest of the night.
It’s a good idea to add cabbage to your diet. Not only does it store well, and is a versatile ingredient in everything from kimchi-topped burgers to the humble coleslaw, but it’s filled with copious amounts of fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and lots of minerals. A quick steaming is a great way to preserve the nutrients.
Keep learning about nutrition to make sure you stay on the right track. Using the tips in this article is a great way to get you started on the pathway to a long life of eating well. Eating better is not only about getting a healthier body. It is also about adopting a better lifestyle.
