Living a healthy life is essential if you want to live a long and healthy life without limitations, but living a healthy life can be easier said than done. Making healthy choices is crucial to a healthy life. Did you know that roughly seventy-five percent of Americans believe they are making healthy choices even though the evidence proves otherwise? Unfortunately, this means many are making poor choices without realizing it. Education and tips on making healthier choices can be essential to a healthier lifestyle. Because of this, I am posting a series of blog posts about simple healthy swaps and general ways to live a healthier life here on this blog.
With that in mind, I created a list of 7 simple must-have tips for making healthier daily choices. Two things that I can’t stress enough: 1. Be kind to yourself as you make changes to your lifestyle, and 2. Baby steps. When I decide to do something I am all in, but this can sometimes be rather overwhelming and can lead to giving up altogether. Can you relate? By taking baby steps and creating a manageable plan for a healthier you, you will be much more likely to stick with it, so, baby steps. How do you climb a mountain? One step at a time.
Here are seven tips for making healthier choices each day:
Eat for Fuel and Immunity
Food should be primarily seen as a vital source to fuel for your body. The better the fuel, the better more efficiently your body will run. This is why fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, and nuts are so important. Foods shouldn’t be heavy in fats, sugars, and sodium.
Find Healthier Swaps for Your Favorite Foods
Believe it or not, most foods you eat, including some of your favorites, most likely have a healthier alternative that you will still enjoy. So while it may not be perfect, the health benefits make it worth trying. Check out Seven Magically Smart Low-Carb Swaps for High-Carb Favorites.
Learn to Ditch the Processed Sugar
Granulated sugar is one of the worst things to put in your body. It leads to high blood pressure, inflammation, and other chronic diseases that can reduce your life or make it harder to live a full and happy life. Instead, eat more fruits and vegetables throughout your day to make sweet cravings go away. I struggle with needing something sweet now and then, so here is a tip that might help; try eating multiple servings of fruit for breakfast. This should help ease sugar cravings.
Recognize Proper Portions
Proper portions help you control your calories while keeping the weight off while enjoying all your favorite foods. Half a serving of your favorite foods can save you many pounds over the months.
No one wants to leave a meal still feeling hungry, then you will most likely be tempted to eat again soon and chances are it won’t be healthy. To avoid that from happening, try eating a meal with lots of fiber and eating those foods first. For example, eat your salad loaded with veggies first. This will fill you up faster with fiber and give you important nutrients your body needs.
Hydrate but Don’t Drink Your Calories
Adults are 60% water, and blood is 90% water, making hydration a crucial part of good health. Dehydration can cause weight gain simply due to your body holding on to water instead of releasing it. Not only does this feel uncomfortable it also puts your body in a state of panic as it tries to reduce the inflammation caused by the lack of water. MedicalNewsToday warrants the many health risks of not getting enough water every day. So, ditch other drinks and reach for water.
Here are two simple tips for drinking more water every day:
Measure your daily intake of water. You might be surprised at how little water you are getting daily.
Add fruit to your water for a flavorful taste without adding calories, just make sure you filter out the fruit while drinking to avoid the added calories.
Be Committed but Ditch Perfection
Perfection is non-existent, and trying to achieve it can put your hard work to shame. In addition, the stress you put on your body can lead to weight gain due to water retention and even cause indigestion, resulting in poor digestion. If you mess up, forgive yourself and move on. If you struggle with perfection check out Recovering Perfectionist.
Work Movement into Your Day
One of the best choices you can make for a healthier you is to get up and move every day. I’m not talking about cardio, weight lifting, or anything that requires special equipment, though that is an important conversation for another day. I am talking about just getting in movement. The one thing that I personally highly recommend is taking a walk. No special equipment is required, it’s low impact, and it is free. Win! Win!
I have found for me that walking can change everything. If I take a walk after eating, especially after a heavy meal, I will feel completely different than if I sit on the couch and watch TV. This is because walking after eating can help manage blood sugar levels. Even just a ten-minute walk after eating can have a big impact on your health, according to Healthline,
“The benefits of walking after meals are plentiful and include improved digestion, heart health, blood sugar management, weight loss, and regulated blood pressure.”
Don’t let poor choices prevent you from living a happy and healthy life. Adopting these daily tips will significantly reduce your chances of developing diseases and makes it easier to change your life forever. The key to a healthy life is to make healthier lifestyle changes.
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