A smart, healthy diet is a diet that consists of eating a wide variety of foods. By eating a wide variety of foods, a person will have access to different vitamins and minerals needed by the body.
One important item of note is maintaining a healthy balance between calories taken in and calories expended.
The idea here is not to eat more food than what your body will actually use.
As always, the more active you are allows you to eat more and maintain a healthy balance of calories taken in and calories used.
There are some simple steps you can take towards a smart, healthy diet that does not mean giving up your favorite food. Keep your diet rich in fiber and nutrients, eat small portions, and limit the fast foods, high fats, high carbohydrates, sugar, and caffeine as these types have detrimental effects on the body.
However, there are just a few smart and basic guidelines to follow for a healthy diet:
· Eat plenty of fruits
· Eat plenty of vegetables
· Eat plenty of beans
· Eat plenty of whole grains
· Limit intake of sugary foods
· Cut down eating foods with animal fat
· Choose lean meats
· Choose poultry
· Use non-fat or low-fat dairy products
· Cut down trans fats (found in vegetable oils and processed foods)
· Eat more fish
· Eat more nuts
· Make sure you are getting enough calcium
· Make sure you get your minerals from foods over supplements (though occasionally you may need supplements since foods are highly processed and cooked and a loss of some vitamins and minerals occur which do not leave enough for the body to utilize)
· Maintain weight
· Drink alcohol in moderation
· Make sure to incorporate regular physical activity
The guideline is a gentle reminder for us all, that we can have a smart, healthy diet. Remember the key to a healthy mind, body and spirit, is living a lifestyle of nutrition, fitness and wellness.
