10 Important Tips to Eat Right

Eating healthy sounds like a noble idea, but for some, it can be a task that's easier said than done. When it comes to eating healthy, it is important to understand the elements of healthy eating in order to truly appreciate it and incorporate it into your lifestyle.

Long-term healthy eating helps contribute to a healthy weight, which can decrease the risk of developing certain diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, and increase your self-esteem.

These ten important tips on eating right will assist you with making the best food selections, so you get the most from your foods. Before you know it, you'll be an expert, teaching your friends and co-workers how to eat right, as well!

1. Eat a Variety of Foods - There are more than 50 varieties of healthy foods, each with their beneficial nutrient content, so there's no need to stick with just one or two. Instead, incorporate a variety of healthy foods into your diet, which will help ensure you receive a variety of vitamins and keep you from getting bored, so you continue to eat healthily.

2. Enjoy Plenty of Vegetables - Fruits and vegetables are packed with essential nutrients our bodies need to function properly. In addition, they are also high in fiber, which helps you feel fuller longer and aids in healthy digestion.

3. Choose Good Carbs, Not Bad Carbs - Carbs are essential for producing energy; however, carbs in the wrong forms can increase your chances of obesity, high blood sugar, and certain diseases. When consuming carbs, be sure to select good carbs, such as whole-grain bread, pasta, and cereals, which are high in fiber and nutrients and can be processed by the body better.

4. Eat Regularly - Skipping meals can lead to ravenous hunger, which can cause you to overeat. Eating main meals at regular intervals, along with snacking between meals, can actually stave off hunger. Just be sure to calculate your snacks as part of your daily caloric intake.

5. Ingest Moderate Portions - It is possible to enjoy all the foods you love if you keep the portion sizes reasonable. For example, if you are dining at a restaurant, you could share large portions or dessert with a friend to help reduce calories.

6. Stick with Quality Proteins - When selecting proteins, stick with high-quality choices such as fish, poultry, low-fat dairy, and beans, which are healthier for you.

7. Choose Healthy Fats - Foods, such as fatty beef, butter, and cheese, and oils, such as palm oil and coconut oil are high in saturated fat, which can contribute to high cholesterol and increase your risk of stroke and heart disease. On the other hand, essential fats, such as those found in fish, plant oils, and nuts promote healthy cholesterol and lowers harmful LDL cholesterol.

8. Consume an Adequate Amount of Calcium - Not only is calcium crucial for maintaining strong teeth and bones, but it also keeps your muscles, heart, and nerves functioning properly. In addition, studies show that calcium provides minute thermogenesis properties which boost the metabolism and burn fat, which is important for losing or maintaining a healthy weight.
  
9. Drink Moderately - Moderate drinking, three drinks for women a day and four drinks for men a day, can be beneficial, while excessive drinking can have detrimental effects for some.
  
10. Drink Plenty of H20 - Being that our bodies are comprised of mostly water; it is important to keep it well hydrated in order to keep it functioning properly. Water plays an important role in many bodily functions. It distributes essential nutrients to cells within our body, helps lubricate joints, helps remove toxins and sodium, and acts as an internal air conditioner to regulate our temperature through respiration and sweat.

In the end, eating right is all about balance. Meaning, as long as the majority of your food choices are healthy, you can allow yourself to consume the foods you love from time to time in order to keep from feeling deprived. Also, as with any new regimen, ease into it slowly to allow yourself to adjust to the new changes. Lastly, if you fall off the wagon, or fall prey to the entire tub of cookies and ice cream, don't beat yourself up, simply see the next day or meal as an opportunity to start fresh, and start over again.

About the Author

Dr. Donna Sergi is a leading Nutrition Response Testing Practitioner and Chiropractor in the Brooklyn NY area. Learn more about holistic healing by visiting her website at: http://www.healthieruny.com