With all the crash diets, detoxes and general misinformation about how to live a healthy life out there, how does one actually know what to believe? It seems like one day it’s low carb and then the next people are drinking lemon juice to detox.
Well, I’m here to tell you that there is a way to help sort out this mess. The following is a list of some of the most important guidelines one should follow to lead a healthy lifestyle and control your weight.
Fruits & Veggies – Most Americans don’t get their daily recommended amounts of fruits and veggies according to the new MyPyramid guidelines. In fact, reports show that people don’t even get half of that! But, these diet staples are extremely important to living a healthy life so try adding more to your daily diet. You can do that by adding veggies to casseroles, stews and soups and stock up on frozen vegetables so you can quickly prepare them anytime.
Pass on processed – Unfortunately, processed foods make up the bulk of the typical American diet. The problem is that these types of foods pass on little to no nutrients and they don’t fill you up for very long so you find yourself snacking again a short time later. So, make the bulk of your diet unprocessed whole foods.
Calorie Control – If you are looking to maintain your current weight or even lose a few pounds then what matters most is calories. In order to lose those pounds you must burn more calories in a day than you take in by following a well constructed low calorie diet plan and regularly exercise.
Exercise – Combining a healthy diet with physical activity is the best way to live a healthy life and control weight. Aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and if exercising just isn’t your thing try to sneak it in by taking the dog or the kids for a walk, for example.