Return to site

Healthy Habits For Getting The Right Nutrition

Proper nutrition is essential for a high quality of life and an overall sense of well being. Many Americans, however, struggle with knowing what foods are healthy to eat, and what foods are best consumed in very small doses, and so levels of obesity and weight-related disorders and diseases continue to rise.

Oprah Winfrey used the phrase "clean eating" in her book Oprah's Kitchen. It's helpful to think of clean eating as a good way to approach food. Simple preparations, lighter salad dressings, using less oils and fats (though still a bit for flavor!), and keeping things as fresh as possible - all these ideas contribute to her way of clean eating. Oprah loved her fried chicken - and presents a clean way of cooking it in her book. The bottom line is, if you have a choice between fancy and heavy vs. simple and fresh, go with the latter and your scale will thank you, no matter what food you're eating.

One of the most important nutrients that your body needs is water. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Preferably, use filtered tap water to simultaneously avoid cluttering the environment with bottles but also avoid drinking any chemicals or contaminants that may be found in your local tap water supply.

Nutrition is key to any successful exercise routine, so be sure not to let your body run out of fuel. If you are going to exercise for more than 90 minutes, you will need to replenish your store of energy. Eat 50 to 60 grams of carbohydrates for each hour you plan to exercise.

Leeks, garlic and onions are sometimes frowned upon due to their odor. But if you have avoided them, you should reconsider. They provide B and C vitamins and help liver function. Many studies have indicated their properties in deterring cancer. Cooking them in complex dishes, reduces their strong odor.

Instead of bemoaning the fact that your favorite foods are high in fat or sugar, start focusing on the healthy foods you do like. This way you'll be happier about eating in a health-conscious way, and you might be surprised at the number of foods that are healthy that you already like.

Avoid using hydrogenated oils for cooking, and watch out for them in packaged foods. These oils provide no nourishment for your skin or your body. In fact, they actually interfere with "good" oils (olive oil, sunflower oil, flax seed oil, fish oil) ability to nourish your skin, hair, nails and entire body!

To help get a proper nutritional outlook, minimize the emphasis that is put on desert. Don't eat dessert every day.

When you are craving a glass of fruit juice, you should consider having a small piece of fresh fruit instead. This will curb your craving and it will also keep you full for much longer. If you must drink fruit juice, try to drink a diet or 100 percent natural version.

Try to stay on course with meal times. If you get your child into a routine it will be much easier to get them to eat. The child will learn when he will eat next so he will feel more hungry at that time. Always offer fruits or vegetables with every meal.

Nutritionists agree that when it comes to lowering cholesterol levels with protein, 25 milligrams per day is the magic number. Vegetarians (or anyone else, for that matter) can easily meet this requirement by consuming soy foods like edamame (green soybeans that have been steamed and lightly salted), tofu, and roasted soy nuts.

When trying to add the nutrition of grains to your diet, be sure to read package labels carefully. Products that claim to contain nutritious grains may not be providing the whole grain that is essential for good nutrition. Look for the words "whole grain" on the label to make sure you are making the most nutritious choice for your body.

Many people think that they hate nutritious food but this is simply because their body is addicted to the bad foods. When you want to change your diet take a week or two to really focus on removing the bad addictions. One substance in particular to avoid is refined sugars as this starts to create a feedback loop.

Peaches are a popular fruit among many peoples around the world. When eaten with the skin, they are extremely high in fiber, Vitamin A, and potassium. They are delicious eaten out of your hand, but you can also make preserves or pies out of them. They are closely related to nectarines.

Avoid foods that contain monosodium glutamate. Commonly known as "MSG", this is a food additive used by many restaurants and food manufacturers to enhance the flavor of food. It adds no nutritional value. Many people experience adverse symptoms like headaches, nausea, and heart palpitations after consuming foods with MSG. To avoid possible reaction, you should avoid foods containing MSG altogether.

Read as much as you can about nutrition as you start to change your diet. Half of the problem with people who eat poorly is misinformation. When you understand just how bad sugar is for your organism you will start to naturally avoid it and gravitate towards healthier options in your diet.

If you have a child who is a picky eater and you are worried that they aren't getting enough nutrition, try hiding vegetables in other foods. Use pumpkin or zucchini in muffins, or puree carrots and apples in a pasta sauce. There are lots of ways to sneak fruits and vegetables into snack foods for your child.

Avoid eating sugar-rich cereals for breakfast. These cereals contain sugar, but they also contain preservatives and chemicals and some even have trans fats. Switching to oatmeal is a great way to get a quick meal, and helps you stay full much longer than if you ate a bowl of sugary cereal.



Be careful about over eating, even if you are eating healthy foods. Even healthy foods contain calories, sometimes fat, and carbohydrates. While all of these things are important components of a nutritional eating plan, over doing any of them is not healthy. Weigh and measure foods to get a good grasp on adequate portion sizes.

As you can see, all of these tips are practical and reasonable. It is clear that following them will help you in your efforts to have good nutrition. Why not take one of these tips a week and implement it in your life. You will soon feel better and look healthier.