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But there’s a common misconception where eating healthy is concerned. People think that “healthy” means salads and green tea. And yes, although those things are good for you, it is not what eating healthy is all about.

Healthy eating is about eating all of the right foods to stay healthy. It’s not a diet. If you want a diet, go join Weight-less. This is a lifestyle that has to stay with you your entire life.

Eating healthy is important for every single human being on this planet. You won’t put poor quality gas in your car, will you? And a car is something you can replace. Your body isn’t. I’m not saying cut out chocolates entirely, I’m saying make the healthier choice.

Nothing you eat can prevent you from getting sick, but it can help your body fight against it. It can’t cause you to get ill either unless you have cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes. But most of the time, being obese can cause these things. It’s important to have a good eating plan in place, especially when you struggle with diets or self-control.

Here are a few reasons why eating healthy is so important and what it can do for you and your quality of life.

This is probably the main reason why you are doing this in the first place. It’s very rarely that people want to eat healthy and exercise just for the fun of it or actually being healthy. Eating healthy and having a balanced meal plan can drastically help you lose all of those unwanted pounds especially when you are exercising too. That’s why these two go hand in hand. You cannot exercise and see the desired results if you don’t change your eating habits to go with exercising. Losing weight has a whole list of benefits in itself and living a healthier life is one of them.

There’s this common misconception that all thin people are healthy, and all overweight people are unhealthy. Though it might be true in some cases it’s really not true.

Not all thing people eat healthy foods and not all overweight people eat unhealthy foods. Some are just luckier than others. My mother used to tell me that eating healthy would make me strong and help fight against diseases, but I never believed her. I was a sickly child. But when I started exercising and eating right, I hardly ever got sick. Eating healthy foods boost your immune system and your overall health will just be a hundred times better.

It goes without saying that obesity is the real villain in most cases of heart issues. When you are overweight, your heart has to pump a lot more blood to support the extra weight. When overweight, there is also a layer of fat that surrounds the heart which makes it harder to pump. Many foods help break down fats and increase the health of your heart. It is one of your most important organs, after all. You need to take care of it. It is also great for stroke prevention.

I have mentioned that food is like fuel and you wouldn’t put bad fuel in your car. Your brain needs this fuel to function at its full potential and it’s your job to give it to your brain. You owe it to yourself. When your brain functions the way it should, productivity is instantly increased. It also helps with productivity with your exercising as it boosts your body and makes you feel refreshed and energized. That is exactly what you want when you are working out. You want to be able to push yourself to your full potential.

When my sister was younger, she used to have these terrible moods. I could never understand why. Why was she always in such a foul mood? Did she hate all of us? She was in depression and there was nothing anyone could do to help her.

But she adopted healthy eating habits and exercise after I introduced her to it and it’s like a different person entirely. Food is not a natural antidepressant, but it is a booster. It also reduces stress by raising cortisol levels. A protein rich diet is best for reducing stress levels.

Vitamin D, C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids and polyphenols are said to help prevent dementia and cognitive decline. Although it is impossible to prevent it 100% of the time, you will feel better knowing that you are doing everything in your power to preserve your mind.

It also helps with day to day memories and are beneficial in many other ways too, not just for memory. Our memories are like flipbooks of our lives. If it were to get lost, it would be absolutely tragic.

Obesity increases the risk of cancer; did you know this? It is also bad for a person who already has cancer to be overweight as it worsens the condition. Antioxidants protect cells from damage. Cell damage can cause cancer. Foods rich with Vitamins A, C and E are great for this purpose as well as foods that contain beta-carotene and lycopene.

Fruits, vegetables and fiber reduces the risk of cancers such as colorectal and liver cancer. Not that it is not a 100% prevention rate, but it does help a person’s body out against these evils.

Low-fat dairy products, cauliflower, cabbage, legumes and broccoli are good sources of calcium that will strengthen your bones. But next to calcium, magnesium is just as important for strong and healthy bones. Magnesium is commonly found un leafy greens, seeds, whole grains and nuts. There are my other foods that contain magnesium and calcium, but these are the best sources to get it from. It is important to keep your bones healthy to fight against conditions like osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. As a person gets older, their bones become fragile and brittle. It’s important to keep it strong and healthy as young people so it’s not as tough on the body at an older age.

Diabetes can be caused by a whole number of things, poor eating habits being one of those causes. A healthy diet is a good way to prevent this condition and when a person actually has diabetes, it is important to stick to the healthy diet and keep your blood sugar levels as level as you possibly can. This is hard, but there are just some things that a person doesn’t play with, diabetes being one of those things. It’s like catching a Red Roman with bare hands.

Bad foods are known to keep people up at night. Sleeplessness is a demon that haunts most of us and one way to make it a little easier for a person without having to take medication, is eating healthy and drinking lots of water. Eating a variety of food and consuming those with the most antioxidants is the best way to get that much deserved sleep. When your body gets the nutrients it’s supposed to, it’s easier for it to function the way it’s made to. It is made to make you sleep at night and be wide awake during the day.

To live a healthy lifestyle, the average human being should not consume less than 1000 calories per day. Males need about 2000 calories a day to lose weight and 2500 calories to maintain their weight. For women it is a little lower. Women need to consume a maximum of 1500 calories to lose weight and 200 calories to maintain it.

Counting calories is simple and you don’t need to be a mathematician to figure it out. All you need to do is keep a long of the calories contained in the food you eat and add them up. The calorie counts can be found on the nutritional value label on the packaging of your food. Make sure not to leave anything out! Even your milk has to be added to the total.

Fish is a great source of protein with very little calories and added fat. The omega-3 fatty acids as well as the wealth of other minerals make eating fish a must in any healthy diet if you are not allergic.

Sugar is bad for your health as well as your teeth. Sugar is probably one of the things most to blame for obesity. People don’t think of sweets as meals and therefore don’t mind eating it between meals. The problem is that the weight loss process happens between meals when you are fasting in a way. Snacks break that fasting cycle. If you really do need a snack and feel like you are close to starving, have fruit instead. They contain a natural “free” sugar that isn’t nearly as toxic as the sugar we find in junk food.

As far as saturated fat is concerned; you need it in your diet. But not as much as you are currently eating. Saturated fat increases the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Try to avoid fatty meat, sausages, biscuits, hard cheese and butter.

My parents have the sort of relationship where my father wants to drown his food in salt and my mother doesn’t allow him to do this. My father gets frustrated, but my mother has good reason.

Excessive amounts of salt raises blood pressure and people like my father, people who actually have high blood pressure, can’t risk a spike. This can cause strokes or even heart diseases. The average human being should not eat more than 6 grams of salt a day. Children aren’t even supposed to have that much. Salt is bad for you.

I have found that the human brain isn’t nearly as smart as we like to think it is. When we are doing portion control, our brain sees the plate as being half empty. That makes your brain think that you are not eating as much as you are used to. But if you use a smaller plate, your

Of course, this is going to be part of the tips. This is an exercise book after all, isn’t it? Getting active will motivate you to eat healthier and vice versa. You will want the ultimate results which means you have to do both. It’s useless to get active and not eat right and although eating right is good on its own, exercising along with it is even better.

Shockingly enough, this airy snack is rich in fiber and very low on calories. This is definitely the wiser choice when choosing a snack. Because it is high in fiber, it is not only good for your metabolism, but also good for disease prevention. This is even better when you make your own popcorn at home instead of buying microwave popcorn. Avoid pre-popped popcorn as the added sugars and salts make them no better than chips.

Not only does this negatively affect your productivity, it also disrupts your appetite. When you are awake for long periods of time, you get hungry, which means you want to eat. This means that your calorie intake will drastically climb. Sleep is good for you and when you are sleep deprived, it can be as bad for you, if not more so, as it is good when you get it. So, in conclusion to this tip, not only does lack of sleep increase your appetite, it also increases the risk of multiple diseases.

Sometimes weeks went by without me drinking a single glass of water. It was always some sort of hot beverage, lemonade or soda. I hated the taste of water, or well, the lack of taste water has.

Drinking water benefits weight loss and is very important to your health. It flushes out all the toxins it can which means there are fewer things to battle in your body. It is also great if you can drink a glass of water before every meal as it will give you the illusion of being fuller that you are actually are.

No, this is not an old folktale. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day, but perhaps not for the reasons that you believe it is. Breakfast fuels you for the day, yes, but that’s not why it’s so important to weight loss. You want to be active after you’ve eaten to burn the calories that you have taken in from the food. With breakfast, it has the whole day to process and it gets your metabolism going for the day as well.

Although whole grain might not be that much lower in calories, it is known to carry a wealth of health benefits. Whole grain products also boost your metabolism and are high in minerals such as iron, zinc and magnesium. Refined grain has been linked to many health issues and although many people prefer eating refined grain items, it’s worth switching over to whole grain. Whole grain also reduces the risk of diabetes and heart diseases.

When I was a child, my mother made me eat my vegetables first. She said that I can have the rest of my food as a reward. Now that I am an adult, I realize that it wasn’t as much a game as a trick she played on me. Once I have stuffed myself full of veggies, I didn’t really feel like having dessert or any other snacks. I still do that as an adult. I eat my greens first before I move on to the rest. That way I ensure that I do not stuff myself full of other food and leave the foods that are actually good for me. These greens are also great for diabetes as it slows down the speed at which carbs are absorbed.

Strawberries are low in carbs and calories, but that’s not where it ends. They are also rich with nutrients such as vitamin C, fiber and magnesium.

While blueberries might not be the most delicious fruits, but they are very good sources of antioxidants. In fact, they are among the most powerful sources.

It’s common knowledge that bananas are rich in potassium but that’s not the only thing they’re packed with. They are also high in fiber and vitamin B6.

Unlike most fruits, avocados aren’t packed with carbs, instead they contain generous amounts of fat. Good fats, though. They are great for snacks.

Apples are high in fiber and vitamin C, not to mention the good number of antioxidants it possesses. Apples are healthy and filling and is a good snack instead of that packet of chips a person usually leans toward.

Carotene antioxidants are very high in carrots as well as fiber and vitamin K. it is said that carrots improve eyesight, others say it makes your hair curly. All I know is that they are tasty and very healthy.

Tomatoes are loaded with nutrients and are extremely versatile. Vitamin C and potassium are among the nutrients pumped into this fruit. (Yes, tomatoes are fruits, not vegetables.)

According to my mother, I have hated cucumber since the day she tried to feed it to me for the first time. I love vegetables, I really do, but when they consist mostly of water and taste like nothing at all, they are not my friend. Cucumbers don’t contain a lot of nutrients but they do contain some, nonetheless. If you are fond of cucumbers, you can expect small amounts of vitamin K coming your way.

Broccoli contains a lot of protein compared to other vegetables. It’s also high in fiber and vitamin C which makes it one of the best vegetables to eat.

There’s a reason why bodybuilders eat so much chicken. They rely on a protein-based diet and chicken is very, very high in protein while having a low fat and calorie count.

Right up there with chicken, is beef. It is a great source of protein and bioavailable iron. Avoid the fatty bits if you are on a low-carb diet.

I remember that by grandfather used to buy sardines and eat them out of the can. With child-like curiosity I asked him why he did this. He replied saying that they were the secret to his immortality. He died at the age of 94.

Although my grandfather was wrong about the immortality thing, he was right about sardines being the secret to something. That secret being that it is one of the most nutritious food a person can eat. They contain almost all of the nutrients the human body needs to function healthily.

Salmon is probably one of the most popular species of fish to eat. Its nutrients include protein, Vitamin D and omega 3. This is definitely something to consider adding to your diet.

Much like tuna, this crustacean is very low on fat and calories while being high in protein. It is great for high protein and low-calorie diets. It also contains selenium and vitamin B12.

Macadamia nuts are higher in monounsaturated fats than any other nuts but are lover in Omega 6 fatty acids. These nuts are delicious and a great snack on the go.

Over a third of chia seed’s weight is nutrients. It contains nutrients like magnesium, calcium, fiber and many more. It is one of the world’s most nutrient-dense foods.

One of the few nuts that will actually help you with weight-loss, almonds are packed with fiber, antioxidants, vitamin E and more nutrients.

Vitamin B1, magnesium and fiber can all be found in brown rice. Personally, I am not a fan, but if the meal calls for brown rice, you know I’ll have some brown rice.

This grain is high in fiber and magnesium and is also considered a pant-based protein. This is a good alternative for the more health conscious people among us.

I have always hated healthy loaves. This started as a kid and matured with me into adulthood. Ezekiel bread is the only health bread that I will eat because it is just so tasty. It also has a good load of fiber and nutrients, which makes it even better.

Beta glucans is a fiber that exists in oats. It is proven to be beneficial for ladies in particular and are very high in nutrients. By far the best breakfast you can have.

As toxic as they are raw, they are awesomely loaded with vitamins and minerals when cooled. It’s odd to think that something so toxic can be so good when cooked.

Peanuts, although the name might suggest otherwise, are not real nuts. But as misleading as its name is, the benefits of it don’t lie. Peanuts are proven to help with weight-loss and are high in nutrients. Note that this is peanuts and not peanut butter.

Just like milk, yoghurt is wealthy in nutrients and vitamins. But as yoghurt is made by adding friendly probiotic bacteria to milk, it has even more benefits.

It has recently become a realization of mine that I might have been a rat in a previous life. I love cheese and will probably eat an entire block of it if I am not careful. It is high in fat, so be careful about over-indulging. Cheese isn’t all bad though and one slice of it contains more nutrients than an entire cup of milk.

We all know that milk contains calcium and that calcium is good for us. But did you know that it is also rick with other vitamins and nutrients your body needs? (it’s also great for sleeplessness.)

Coconut out isn’t just good for skin, but also weight loss and diseases like Alzheimer’s. of course, this is only speculation, but it wouldn’t be common knowledge If it wasn’t at least a little true.

Extra virgin olive oil is the healthiest vegetable oil out there and contains a lot of antioxidants. It also adds great flavor to the food.

These are called tubers. Why? Because the storage organs of some plants which means that they contain a lot of nutrients. Potatoes are loaded with potassium and rumor has it that it contains almost every nutrient you need. Pretty neat, huh? Another cool thing about it is that it is very filling. This means that you will stay full for longer when you eat potatoes and don’t have to snack so often.

My mother used to believe that mixing apple cider vinegar with a little warm water would promote weight loss. Now, despite never having experienced this myself, apple cider vinegar is great for blood sugar levels. Most people claim that it is a good, natural weight loss “drug.” Using this as salad dressing is delicious.

Yes friends, chocolate is on this list. However, it might not be everyone’s favorite as dark chocolate is more bitter than any other chocolate. The great thing about dark chocolate that many people don’t know is that it serves as one of the planet’s most powerful sources of antioxidants. Not to mention it is a delicious treat.

Here is a perfect example of the ratio the food has to be in on your plate to have the perfectly balanced meal.

Fruit are great snacks and alternatives to junk snacks like potato chips, chocolates or sweets. The sugar in fruit is natural which makes it the much healthier alternative to sweets when you are craving something sweet. If you have diabetes, it’s best to stick to the low sugar fruits like raspberries, strawberries and kiwis.

There is also a limit to how much and what fruit you can have when you are trying to lose weight, though. So, keep an eye on those calories.

Most nutrients, fiber and minerals are found in vegetables. Opt for dark, leafy greens whenever you can as they have the most nutrients of them all. I’m not saying you should only have leafy greens, but they are good to add to a meal more than others. Other veggies might have different minerals than what can be found in the greens to make sure you get everything you need.

Whole grains are great for filling up that tummy. They are rich in fiber and other nutrients. Try brown rice, brown pasta and brown bread instead of the refined grains that you are used to.

If you are a vegetarian, chances are that you are getting the necessary proteins from nuts and beans instead of meat like other people. Low-fat meats are great to have as they do not contain all of the fatty bits and have the nutrients instead. Nuts and beans don’t only contain protein but also have a wealth of other nutrients too.