Page - Clean Up Your Plate
Clean Up Your Plate
Food... need we say more?
When it comes to health, eating well is one of the most important things you can do to keep your body functioning at its best. Unfortunately, right now in the U.S one in every three adults and one in every five children are obese (CDC). This is largely attributed to poor diets loaded with sugar, highly processed foods, and super-sized serving portions.
The good news is that making little changes in your diet and lifestyle can make a HUGE difference in how you feel, how you look, and, most importantly, how your body functions.
Here are some tips to get you started
- Consume more whole grains
- Stay away from processed foods
- Get more fruits and veggies!
- Opt for lean meat
At least half your grains should be whole grains, such as whole wheat, barley and oats. Whole grains retain the bran and germ and thus all (or nearly all) of the nutrients and fiber of the grain. Whenever you can, change out refined wheat (also called “white” or “enriched flour”) to 100% whole wheat or 100% whole grain.
The term ‘processed food’ applies to any food that has been altered from its natural state in some way, either for safety reasons or convenience. This means you may be eating more processed food than you realise. Highly processed foods contain little nutrition and will most likely have added salt, sugar, and/or fats, leading you to consume more than the recommended daily amount of these additives.
Get your nutrients straight from the source. Eating a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables will ensure you are getting proper nutrition without any processed ingredients, maximizing your nutrient intake.
Red meat and processed meat contain saturated fats and boost LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. To limit your intake try subsituting your red meats for leaner light meat like skinless poultry, fish, and nonfat or low-fat dairy products.