Say NO to diets and YES to healthy lifestyle changes. There are hundreds of diets and new ones emerge everyday. There are alarming numbers of people dieting everyday. Diets usually last a couple of months and then individuals resume their regular eating patterns. Every New Year’s Day, people try dieting again but they ultimately fail because they just can’t stick to it. Why? Diets fail because they are not convenient, people don’t see results quick enough, they are expensive, and people just get bored. Instead, why not just change your lifestyle and make better dietary choices?
The problem is that most people do not know where to begin and what changes to make. Just remember to start with simple changes and gradually make bigger changes overtime. Keep it simple and make some realistic dietary changes that anyone can do.
Let’s begin with beverage selections. It’s recommended that everyone drink at least 64 ounces of filtered water a day. Our bodies desperately need to be hydrated to function properly and flush toxins. Hydration is so important to your overall health and affects every cell in your body. Try to reduce or eliminate beverages with caffeine, cut back on processed fruit juices, and avoid soda all together.
The medical community tells us to avoid salt. What everyone needs to realize is that salt is essential to life. Throw out the table salt – which is highly refined – and replace it with natural sea salt which contains many trace minerals. Do not eliminate healthy sea salt from your diet because it supports weak adrenal glands and is a powerful enzyme activator that aids with digestion.
Another misconception in society is that fat is bad for you. However, healthy fats are critical for your body to function optimally. Try to add healthy fats to your diet everyday. You can add butter, animal fats, coconut oil, flax seed oil, and fish oils which can improve your health. However, you must eliminate all trans fats, margarine, and vegetable oils from your diet. Healthy fats are a great source of energy, enable you to absorb important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E & K, and provide the building blocks for cell membranes.
We’re all busy in our lives with work, school, kids, etc., so keep things simple! Including more water, sea salt, and good fats in your diet is inexpensive and convenient, and anyone can do it. After a few weeks, include some bigger changes like avoiding processed foods in your diet. Replace them with healthy proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Remember to go at your own pace – it’s not a race.
Finally, incorporating exercise like walking, swimming, stretching, yoga, etc. can improve both your mental and physical well-being. Hang in there and you’ll be on your way to a healthier you!
Sources:
http://www.nuun.com/hydration-101
http://www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2010/02/commercial-table-salt-vs-unrefined-sea
http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_diet_fats.htm