Many people struggle with their health and weight, and one of the main reasons for this is the poor approach to nutrition that most of our society follows. Many suffer from problems caused by eating too many processed, additive-laced foods, and people who can afford all the food they want end up suffering from vitamin deficiencies because they don't eat enough fruits and vegetables. Here are a few things you may need to limit or increase to improve your diet:
Dangerous Additives and Chemicals
While there's no doubt that preservatives are necessary for making sure there's enough food to go around, we eat far more of them than we need to, and this often hurts our health. One example of a potentially toxic chemical is sodium nitrite, which is a common preservative used in curing meat. There is considerable evidence that it is carcinogenic, it may play a part in lung disease, and it's known to cause migraines among people who regularly experience them. Avoiding it is relatively easy: eat fresh meat instead of preserved or processed meat. You can avoid other added toxins the same way, by opting for fresh whole foods whenever possible.
Finding the Vitamins and Minerals You Need
There are a lot of crucial vitamins and minerals, and some can be extremely hard to find when you're aiming for an all-natural diet. For example, calcium can be a challenge: so many dairy products are highly processed, and vegans and lactose-intolerant people need alternative sources anyway. You can get small amounts of calcium from kale, broccoli and spinach if you're looking for a truly natural plant source, but you'll need to eat a lot! Calcium is often added to juice, grains, and soy products as well. Make sure you're getting enough in your day-to-day diet, and get it from natural food sources as often as you can.
Eat Enough Fruits and Vegetables
In these modern times many people don't get enough fruits and vegetables for optimal health, but you don't have to eat salad five times a day to do so. Simply add them as snacks and side dishes: put out carrot and celery sticks instead of chips when you sit down to watch TV, eat fruit salad for dessert, or have a glass of orange juice with breakfast. Keep finding ways to fit more healthy food into your daily eating habits until you're eating the recommended amount without thinking about it. Also consider the additives that you use to cook with rather than buying pre packaged flavorings look into more natural alternatives. Ginger, turmeric, garlic and many other ingredients each have specific health qualities. The health benefits of cinnamon are well documented and include such things as promoting weight loss among other things.
Healthy Meals You can Enjoy
Deciding to eat healthy doesn't mean you have to switch to a diet of tofu and kale (though more kale probably won't hurt!). Look for small, easy ways to make your meals healthier. If you eat a lot of prepackaged foods, look for a book of healthy recipes that list the best fresh ingredients and condiments to use. That way, you won't add too much time to preparing and cooking food, but you will cut out a lot of the preservatives, additives and calories you'd normally be eating. Another option is making sure that at least two meals and one snack include vegetables; if you're already succeeding there, try switching out canned or boiled vegetables for fresh ones.
A natural and balanced diet is still one of the best things you can do to improve your health. Whether you're young or old, overweight or slim, the results of a better eating plan are always worth the efforts.
Dangerous Additives and Chemicals
While there's no doubt that preservatives are necessary for making sure there's enough food to go around, we eat far more of them than we need to, and this often hurts our health. One example of a potentially toxic chemical is sodium nitrite, which is a common preservative used in curing meat. There is considerable evidence that it is carcinogenic, it may play a part in lung disease, and it's known to cause migraines among people who regularly experience them. Avoiding it is relatively easy: eat fresh meat instead of preserved or processed meat. You can avoid other added toxins the same way, by opting for fresh whole foods whenever possible.
Finding the Vitamins and Minerals You Need
There are a lot of crucial vitamins and minerals, and some can be extremely hard to find when you're aiming for an all-natural diet. For example, calcium can be a challenge: so many dairy products are highly processed, and vegans and lactose-intolerant people need alternative sources anyway. You can get small amounts of calcium from kale, broccoli and spinach if you're looking for a truly natural plant source, but you'll need to eat a lot! Calcium is often added to juice, grains, and soy products as well. Make sure you're getting enough in your day-to-day diet, and get it from natural food sources as often as you can.
Eat Enough Fruits and Vegetables
In these modern times many people don't get enough fruits and vegetables for optimal health, but you don't have to eat salad five times a day to do so. Simply add them as snacks and side dishes: put out carrot and celery sticks instead of chips when you sit down to watch TV, eat fruit salad for dessert, or have a glass of orange juice with breakfast. Keep finding ways to fit more healthy food into your daily eating habits until you're eating the recommended amount without thinking about it. Also consider the additives that you use to cook with rather than buying pre packaged flavorings look into more natural alternatives. Ginger, turmeric, garlic and many other ingredients each have specific health qualities. The health benefits of cinnamon are well documented and include such things as promoting weight loss among other things.
Healthy Meals You can Enjoy
Deciding to eat healthy doesn't mean you have to switch to a diet of tofu and kale (though more kale probably won't hurt!). Look for small, easy ways to make your meals healthier. If you eat a lot of prepackaged foods, look for a book of healthy recipes that list the best fresh ingredients and condiments to use. That way, you won't add too much time to preparing and cooking food, but you will cut out a lot of the preservatives, additives and calories you'd normally be eating. Another option is making sure that at least two meals and one snack include vegetables; if you're already succeeding there, try switching out canned or boiled vegetables for fresh ones.
A natural and balanced diet is still one of the best things you can do to improve your health. Whether you're young or old, overweight or slim, the results of a better eating plan are always worth the efforts.
About the Author:
Baking is one of my favorite pastimes. I also enjoys writing on a variety of food related topics, and I like sharing them with food lovers around the world. Visit my latest website for more useful tips: Loose weight with healthy eating habits. See you soon!
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