10 Ways To Make Healthier Diet Choices
Eating healthy is
one of those things you know you should do, but probably don’t know exactly how
to do. Between all the fads, trends and gimmicky routines, it can be hard to
make sense of it all. Below are some simple and easy ways you can make
healthier diet choices immediately.
Reduce Refined Sugars
Refined sugars
refer to any type of sugar that is made as a result of heavy processing, such
as white table sugar and especially high fructose corn syrup. Avoid foods that
have a high content of refine sugars and syrups, choosing unsweetened options
to keep it natural. You can also switch to unrefined sugars, such as coconut
sugar, for baking and other uses.
Eat Meals Regularly
Sticking to any
kind of healthy diet depends on eating the right number of meals every day.
Skipping a meal deprives your body of the energy it needs to run, and leads to
gorging at your next meal. Start out by making sure you eat a balanced
breakfast every morning, and then work in a few healthy snacks throughout the
day to keep yourself full and fueled.
Read Ingredient Labels
One of the easiest
things you can do make healthier diet choices is to read the whole nutrition
label on everything you buy. Check the amount of vitamins and minerals to make
sure you get enough nutrients, and also check the ingredients to make sure
they’re not hiding anything. For example, some brands advertise as being Greek
yogurt, but actually use corn starch to thicken it instead of the real active
cultures.
Choose Lean Meats
If you eat meat,
make sure it’s always as lean as possible. While 80% lean and lower ground beef
might seem like a good deal, it’s sneaking a lot of fat into your foot that can
lead to weight gain, high cholesterol and more. If you can’t buy leaner meats,
then make sure you cut out the fat at home before you cook it.
Limit Processed Carbs
You’ve probably
heard people talk about going on a low carb diet before, or even trying to cut
carbs out completely. Carbs, which is short for carbohydrates, are one of the
three basis nutrients that you need in your diet, so you shouldn’t cut them out
completely.
Instead, focus on
decreasing the amount of highly processed carbs you eat. It’s a simple as
eating 100% whole wheat instead of bread made from enriched flour.
Rethink the Drinks
Many sodas contain
a high amount of refined sugar, which can not only cause you to pack on the
pounds but increase your risk of diabetes. Alcoholic beverages can also lead to
unwanted weight gain, liver damage and cause you to overeat later on. Consume
these drinks in moderation whenever possible.
Focus on Natural Sugars
While it’s not
good to eat too much of any sugar, when you do make sure it’s a natural sugar.
The sugars that come from fruits are always going to be better for you than
eating refined sugars, since the fruits also offer valuable nutrients as well.
Stick to the Perimeter
When you go
grocery shopping, try to stay on the perimeter of the store, which has all of
the fresh produce, diary, and meats. This helps you stay away from the inner
aisles that contain the dry goods with lots of preservatives.
Go Fresh over Frozen
Try to buy fresh
foods whenever you can, since these are going to have a higher nutrient
content. Freezing fruits, vegetables and meats can decrease their health
factor, and the frozen items may also include sauces and sugars.
Cut Out the Extras
Whenever you’re
ordering food at a restaurant, think about everything that goes into it so you
can cut out the unhealthy extras. Little things like leaving the mayo off your
burger or cutting the syrup out of your coffee can have a huge impact.
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