On my journey to a healthier lifestyle I have discovered 12 nutritional basics that help me to lead a healthier and happier life. Using these basics, I am able to keep a healthy lifestyle, an eating plan, set new goals, and a simple plan for achieving it all.
Here they are:
Drink plenty of water! It is always important to stay hydrated. Every now and then I like to have a fresh squeezed juice or a good cup of tea, but water is always the best, Staying hydrated helped your mind and body work faster and keep cool, especially in this summer heat!
If you want a flavored drink, drink herbal teas. They will help many parts of your body and mind and are much better than something that has lots of sugar in it. My personal favorites are green tea (which helps with brain function and burning fat), ginkgo biloba (which helps your memory), ginger (which helps with digestion), and chamomile (which is a good relaxing tea before bed).
Always eat breakfast! It is the first meal of the day and will help set you off on a good start. I like to have whole grains myself; quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat, or millet. Sometimes I will have eggs with smoked salmon and avocado on whole wheat toast if I’m feeling fancy.
Eat lean meat and fish and combine those with lots of vegetables. Fatty meats give you bad fats. Fats must be eaten in moderation and eating lean meats gives you the protein you need without the unhealthy fats that can clog your arteries and slow you down.
Eat fat in moderation and choose healthy fats from plant sources (like olive oil, avocado, almonds, ghee, and walnuts are just a few examples).
Choose fresh ingredients when cooking foods and avoid precooked meals. Fresh organic fruits and vegetables will maximize your nutritional value and help you to know exactly what is in the food you are eating.
Exercise daily if possible or at least routinely. Walking is one of the best and most undervalued forms of exercise. Even if you don’t have time to go to the gym or work out, take a long walk through a local park or get off the subway a stop early and walk home. this will get your heart pumping and provide the exercise that your body needs to stay healthy.
Eat three or four small and balanced meals with only one snack daily. Make sure your snacks are healthy and eaten in the afternoon. Fruit smoothies and nuts are some of my favorites.
Make sure you chew your food well. Enjoy every bite! This will help with your digestion and can prevent an irritable bowel. You have to turn your food to liquid eventually in order for your body to access the nutrition, why not make it easier and help your stomach along the way by chewing your food well!
Your last meal of the day should be by 6pm. Eating early in the day so by dinner you have something smaller helps with your digestion. By the time you go to bed, your stomach won’t have to work as hard to break down the nutrients you have given your body and you won’t wake up with an upset stomach.
Make sure you are well rested and relaxed! Adequate sleep (everyone should get 8 hours of sleep a night) helps with skin, digestion, happiness, brain function, and memory among other things. Keeping a positive attitude also helps with staying relaxed and feeling good.
Be consistent. Your body functions best when following a pattern. This also helps when you are maintaining a goal of living a healthier and happier lifestyle.
By setting clearly defined goals in life and creating a plan act on it helps to attain any goal with ease and comfort. Following these nutritional basics has helped me feel so much better. I hope it helps you as well!
About Author
