What is a healthy diet?
A healthy diet is a type of diet that provides you with the nutrients that you need to feel at your best, healthy, full of energy and positive. It is an optimal diet for you! Healthy food choices, such as eating fruits and vegetables, have both physical and mental health benefits.
This blog post will provide you with general healthy nutrition recommendations. While it may be tempting to opt for fast and ‘ready to eat’ pre-packaged meals over healthy whole-food based meals that require more preparation, these choices can have a significant impact on your overall health and well-being. By making small changes to your diet and lifestyle, you can improve your health, prevent health risks associated with certain foods, and feel better overall. Adopting a healthy diet is a simple yet meaningful lifestyle change.
Healthy Diet Guidelines
Are you ready to make a positive change in your life and improve your overall health? Then, I invite you to follow these guidelines to make informed choices about your diet and start your journey towards a healthier you!
- Firstly, choose real food over processed food. When buying prepackaged meals, check the ingredient list on the label and decide accordingly.
- Fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables are essential and should be part of every meal. Aim to make half of your plate vegetables. High-quality foods also include healthy sources of protein and healthy fatty acids.
- The number of meals you eat a day depends on the type of diet you are following, but it is recommended to eat between three to six meals a day, including healthy snacks, to avoid feeling hungry.
- Certain food combinations are more beneficial to our diet. For example, combining plant-based proteins such as legumes with carbohydrates creates a full range of amino acids, similar to animal-based proteins. Try to have more meals with a plant-based protein source, such as a combination of rice with beans or bread with hummus, to increase the biological value of the proteins.
- Choose healthier cooking methods such as steaming, boiling, or sautéing, and consider using non-toxic cookware.
- The glycemic index indicates the rise of your blood sugar level after eating different types of carbohydrate foods. Foods that take longer to digest cause less of a spike in blood sugar levels. Consider the types of carbohydrates you eat according to the glycemic index chart and try to eat foods in combinations to lower the glycemic index of your meal.
- When choosing meat, opt for free-range, sustainable, and organic options as they provide more nutrients and are important for the well-being of the animals, the planet, and us.
- Finally, when choosing a type of diet, do not compromise any macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) or micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).
By cooking your food, and choosing the right ingredients and combinations, you can support your healthy lifestyle goals and enjoy the many benefits of a healthy diet.
Conclusion
In summary, a healthy diet is crucial for maintaining good health. Nevertheless, implementing significant changes to your diet all at once can be daunting. It is advisable to introduce healthier options gradually to ensure a smooth transition towards a healthier lifestyle.
Remember, choosing a healthy diet is a journey, and it takes time. Start by incorporating small changes and be patient, and in time, you will feel the positive impact of a healthier lifestyle.
Pazit Azoulay is a Naturopath ND MNNA, CNHC, GNC, and her clinic, Paz By Nature, offers natural remedies to support your health journey.
