Healthy Eating How Small Diet Changes Can Improve Your Health

According to a number of dietitians and nutritionists, making small changes to your diet, as vigorous as your lifestyle, can do a great deal towards improving your weight and cholesterol levels, and also enhances you overall well – being. A healthy eating plan generally involves making those small but symbolic changes to what you eat, and how you eat. Here’s why how small diet changes can have positive effects on you health.

Switch To Healthy Fats

A few decades forward, whenever we were told to cut back on dietary fat, many of us sadly went extreme, and actually gave buildup on good store as well. A healthy diet includes the consumption of healthy fats and oils, which are derived from fish, legumes and nuts. Low – fat diets can also help to increase the body’s level of HLD, or good cholesterol. Good sources of healthy cholesterol include fatty fish, which is rich in Omega – 3 fatty acids, and is good for the heart.

Decrease Your Serving Size

If you’re the compassionate who loves super – sizing your food, since switching to up – sized drinks fries and burgers at the fast food joint only costs a few bucks, you may be loading your system with a lot of artery – clogging fats. Make sure that you check your food item’s health labels, because each extra calorie will have on to those pounds of unwanted monster that are stored in your body. A recent report by the American Journal of Public Health notes that obesity rates have soared up because serving portions and sizes have grown too. The best thing to do, is to decrease your usual serving portions of food by a quarter or a third. Instead of serving the usual hamburger – sized bun, give yourself sandwiches on dinner rolls, and make it a habit to order child – size portions each time.

Increase Your Intake Of Fruits and Veggies

In 199, the US National Cancer Institute, in tandem with the Produce For Better Health Foundation, began a five – spell program to encourage people to eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day, to reduce the risks of unfolding certain cancers. Today, more lucid and private health programs advocate increased vegetable and fruit consumption among the public. Five to nine servings of vegetables and fruits per day, according to the NCI, helps reduce a person’s risk of developing certain cancers, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and even macular degeneration. Serve yourself at number one one serving f fruits and veggies every breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also casual augmenting on dried o canned light fruits, and buy fruits in bulk, whenever they’re in season.

If you slowly educate yourself the basics of good diet, and you also start making healthy lifestyle and food choices, you’ll certainly be able to see positive changes in your body, in that well as in your general score. You’ll feel better about yourself, and you’ll have a better attitude towards family, friends and work. You’ll also have a lot of energy left at the end of the day to do the things you want.

24 Hour Fitness
http://www.www.24-hr-fitness.com

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One of the best and cheapest ways to get in shape is by walking for weight loss. You dont need a gym membership or fancy equipment. You probably wont even have to spend money on gas, since most of us can step outside our front door and begin. In climates where its warm all year round, walking is convenient during any month. In cold-winter climes, walking might have to be taken indoors for a short while, but there are ways to get your miles in even when the outside is covered in ice. You should keep in mind that walking for weight loss isnt going to show a drastic change on the scale if youre overeating.

If you dont change how you eat at all and you being a walking plan, you will probably start to lose weight, or at least not gain weight. But what you put into your body is the first and foremost indicator of whether or not you will lose weight. The only way to lose weight is to take in fewer calories than you use; and not just in one day, but over a period of time. If anyones telling you that you can drop pounds any other way, its simply not true.

But a great way to burn more calories and use more than you consume is by walking for weight loss. So combined with a healthy eating plan, walking is a great way to slim down. Even if youre not trying to lose weight, you just want to be healthier, walking is great exercise that works your whole body. Its easy, inexpensive and one of the exercises that makes you less likely to become injured than something like running, skiing or lifting weights.

If youre ready to start walking for weight loss, the only real expense required is a good pair of walking shoes. These dont have to cost you hundreds of dollars, but you should get the best pair you can afford. If youve never done much walking or youre very overweight its a good idea to go to a shoe store that specializes in sports shoes and athletics, have your foot measured, and get some recommendations from the experts. Do your research online, too, to find a good pair for a decent price. If you take off walking with a pair that doesnt support your foot, youll probably want to quit after a few days of hurting feet and sore calf muscles.

Do you have health problems or are currently under a doctors treatment for anything, be sure and give them a call before you start walking for weight loss. And use common sense. Dont plan to start by walking 4 miles in 100 degree heat.

Start slowly, expect to be a little sore, and work your way up. Find an indoor place like a mall where you can walk during very hot or cold weather so you can stay comfortable. Then youll be able to enjoy walking for weight loss all year long.

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Using fish as part of a healthy eating plan
Tony Robinson

It is hard to beat fish and seafood for high protein and low
fat. Fish has been shown in study after study to have a positive
impact on health, and to lower the risk of heart disease and
other diseases. In addition, fish is delicious and easy to
prepare.

Many nutrition experts recommend eating fish at least once or
twice every week. The most nutritious varieties of fish, and
those that contain the greatest amounts of heart protecting
omega-3 fatty acids, tend to be those that live in cold ocean
waters. These varieties of fish include salmon and sardines.

The benefits of a fishy diet Fish has long been thought to have
a positive benefit on the heart. So far the results of clinical
studies have been inconclusive, but research into the heart
healthy effects of fish continues. No matter what the benefits,
there is little doubt that fish is a healthy food, containing
significant levels of protein and smaller amounts of fat and
calories than other types of meat.

As a matter of fact, fish is one of the best sources of protein
there is. Everyone needs protein for building muscles and
repairing damaged body tissues. In addition, protein plays a
vital role in the growth of nails and hair, in hormone
production and in many other vital bodily processes.

In addition to fish, many other animal based products, such as
meat, eggs, poultry and dairy products, contain significant
amounts of protein. Plant based sources of protein exist as
well, in nuts, beans and lentils, among others.

The key to getting sufficient protein in the diet is to balance
the healthy effects of protein on the diet against the large
amounts of fat and cholesterol that protein rich foods often
contain. The combination of high protein and low fat is one of
the things that makes a diet rich in fish so appealing.

With the exception of salmon, almost all commonly eaten
varieties of fish are very low in fat, and even salmon contains
lower levels of fat than many varieties of meats. In addition,
fish is low in saturated fat, the type of fat that is most
associated with heart disease and clogged arteries.

Fish is low in unsaturated fat because of the nature of where
and how they live. Instead of storing energy in the form of
saturated fat as land animals do, fish store their fat in the
form of polyunsaturated oils. That adaptation allows their
bodies to function normally in the cool oceans and streams where
they swim. It also makes them a great choice for anyone seeking
to cut levels of saturated fat in the diet.

For all these reasons, fish remains an important part of any low
fat, heart healthy lifestyle. Substituting high fat, greasy
foods like hamburgers and ribs is a great way to make a change
for healthy living.

One note about fish and pollution, however. It is true that many
fish caught in polluted waters contain high levels of mercury.
While most commercially caught and grown fish is low in mercury,
it is important for fisherman to limit their consumption of
locally caught fish. Pregnant women are also advised to limit
their intake of fish, due to the potential harm to the baby.

Fitting fish into your busy lifestyle Many people avoid fish
because they do not know how to prepare and cook it. While it is
true that fish can present more of a challenge for the
inexperienced, there are many recipes and cookbooks that make
preparation easier. In addition, many packaged seafood products
contain cooking tips and serving suggestions that take some of
the mystery out of preparing a nutritious and delicious meal of
fresh fish.

Even those who do not cook, however, can enjoy the many benefits
of fish in the diet. There are a number of canned seafood
products on the market, including canned salmon, sardines and
the ever popular tuna. So there is no reason fish cannot fit
into your healthy eating plan.

About the author:

Tony Robinson is a Company CEO, webmaster husband and dad. In
his busy lifestyle he has placed importance on health and
fitness. Visit http://www.eat-healthily.com for good eating tips
and techniques to assist you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

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Healthy Restaurant Eating
Joe Serpico

Here’s food for thought….did you know the average restaurant meal has over 1,000 calories? That’s enough to blow any healthy eating plan. Fortunately, by following a few simple guidelines, you can dine out without having to sacrifice good taste and nutrition.

1. Avoid ordering an appetizer. It’s not widely known that some appetizers have more calories and fat than the main course. Plus, many appetizers are fried and served with heavy sauces which will add to your intake of saturated fat as well as trans fats and calories. It’s not a healthy way to start your meal.

2. Say “yes” to salad. Salad is a healthy eater’s best friend. Not only will it fill you up so you’ll consume fewer calories overall, but it will also give you a hefty dose of antioxidants which are heart healthy. Be sure to ask your waitress to hold the croutons and cheese which will further reduce your caloric load. Also, choose your dressing wisely. Avoid cream based dressings and go for the vinegar based ones. You also have the option of using vinegar and olive oil which is heart healthy.

3. Make the right entree selection. Go for broiled and grilled rather than fried. Not only will you save calories and fat grams, you’ll also avoid trans fats which are so prevalent in fried foods. Instead, consider asking for a doubles order of vegetables with your entree. Very few Americans are getting the 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables recommended for optimal health. Plus, by avoiding the starch, you’ll be reducing your caloric and carbohydrate load. Also, stick to tomato based sauces rather than cream based and you’ll enjoy a considerable calorie savings. Lastly, ask for the sauce to be served in a separate dish on the side so you can control the amount you eat.

4. Think about what you’re drinking with your meal. By not ordering an alcoholic beverage, you’ve saved yourself a considerable number of calories. Try sipping iced tea sweetened with a noncaloric sweetener, a diet soft drink, or water with lemon. You’ll be glad you did when you consider the calorie savings.

5. Indulge your sweet tooth wisely. Many of the chain restaurants now offer a low fat or low carbohydrate dessert selection such as a low carb cheesecake. These are wise choices for the health conscious eater and still allow you to end the meal on a sweet note. If a healthy dessert option isn’t available, try a cup of coffee with skim milk to help satiate your desire for something sweet.

6. Learn to control your portions. Many restaurants are serving larger quantities of food than in the past. If this is the case, put aside a portion of your entree at the beginning of the meal to take home with you. If you remove it from your plate before you start eating, you’ll be less tempted to overindulge.

By following these steps, you can make your dining experiences not only healthy, but enjoyable. Your heart will thank you!

About the Author

Joe Serpico is webmaster at aa-fitness-guide.com. For much more information regarding exercise, health, nutrition, and fitness, visit http://www.aa-fitness-guide.com

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