Things like eating a healthy diet , getting enough physical activity may seem like a dream that will never come true .
But the reality is that living a healthy lifestyle is one of the easiest things that you can do , providing that you change one small thing each time .
Replacing unhealthy habits with healthy ones overtime is one of the best ways to achieve your goals .
This is something that they won't tell you in that healthy lifestyle blog that you read on a weekly basis .
So if you are intrested and want to know how to have a healthy lifestyle keep reading , because in this article I'll give you 10 tips for a healthy lifestyle that you can apply anytime , anywhere .
10 Tips For A Healthy Lifestyle
Variety Of Foods Is Key
Don't think that you are living a healthy lifestyle if you eat one healthy meal every now and then .
It's a long term goal , and a well rounded and balanced food choice will have it's effect over the long run .
So be wise about your food choices , and try different foods to see what works best for you .
For example if you ate a high fat lunch , you can follow it by a low fat dinner .
Or if you had a large meat portion for dinner today , maybe try fish or eggs the next day .
Carbohydrates Are Your Best Friend
Foods like rice , pasta , couscous ... ect will give you more than enough energy to complete your day and workouts .
While whole foods like , wholegrain bread , brown rice and oats will make sure that you'll meat you daily fibre intake , which is important for a healthy digestive system and overall health .
Replace Saturated Fats With Unsaturated Ones
Go overboard on them and you'll have a lot of negative effects of your weight and cardiovascular system .
You see , fats health effects are diffrent from one type to another , so here are some tips that will help you to keep things balanced .
Avoid completely trans fats , it doesn't matter where they came from , they are unhealthy .
Limit total and saturated fats consumption , this means less fatty meats .
What about unsaturated fats ? You might be asking .
Well don't worry , as eating fish ones or twice a week will make sure that you reach your healthy intake , you can also take a serving or two of fish oil every now and then .
When it comes to cooking , instead of frying , you should boil , bake or steam your foods .
Also opt for healthy vegetable oils and remove all of the meat's fatty parts .
More Vegetables , More Fruits
How much should I eat in a day ? This is a question that a lot of people ask , well try to shoot for at least 5 serving of fruits and vegetables per day .
For example you can do something like this , a glass of homemade fresh fruit juice or blueberries and oatmeal for breakfast , a piece of fruit such as an orange or an apple as a snack , and a mixed vegetables salad with each meal .
Less Salt , Less Sugar
Here are some great tips to reduce salt intake in your diet .
When you go for grocery shopping next time , choose products that have lower or the lowest sodium content .
For cooking , try to replace salt with different spices , not only would this lower the salt intake , but it will add a variety of flavors and increase the tastes of your meals .
When you're about to start eating a meal , don't put salt at the table , or don't add salt to your meals before tasting them .
When it comes to sugar , we all love it , because it provides our foods with a sweet taste .
However , sugary foods and drinks are rich in useless energy and empty calories , so you should consume them in moderation , or as an occasional treat .
Fortunately, there are some healthy alternatives , such as fruits and honey , which can be used in foods and drinks .
Don't Starve Yourself , Control The Portions
Don't skip meals , especially breakfast , as it can lead to unwanted hunger which can lead to overeating .
Eating some snacks between meals will help you to control you hunger , but it shouldn't replace your main meals .
So try to keep your snacks small , you could eat things like a piece of fresh or dried fruits , a handful of unsalted nuts , or some liquid meals such as protein shakes or smoothies .
If you want to to eat foods you like , without eliminating any of them , and without consuming too much calories , then you should pay a close attention and control your portion size .
Cooking the right amounts of foods will always makes it easier to not overeat .
Here are some great guidelines of serving sizes to keep in mind next time you want to cook .
A perfect healthy meal will contain a 100 g of protein source such as meat or fish , half a cup of carb sources such as rice or pasta , some vegetables are spices to add micronutrients and flavor , and a piece of fruits .
Use smaller plates , as it will help you to eat smaller servings without feeling the need to eat more .
Next time you go for grocery shopping , pick foods that have nutrition labels , as the calorie value will help you with the portion control .
If you are eating out at a restaurant , try to share your portion with your friend .
Water , Water ... And More Water
But it is recommended that adults should drink 1.5 litres of fluids a day at the bare minimum .
Notice that I said 1.5 litres of fluids and not water .
It's true that water is the best source , but your daily fluid intake can come from other sources , like flavored or unflavored water , sparkling or non sparkling water, fruit juices , herbal teas , milks , coffee , liquid meals... ect .
Maintain Your Healthy Bodyweight
A healthy body weight is crucial for a healthy lifestyle , because being obese and overweight will likely increase the risk of a lot of diseases , such as heart diseases , strokes , diabetes , and cancer.
Luckily , this is an easy to solve problem .
You see excess body fat will come from overeating .
A lot of people think that you'll be fat if you eat a lot of fats and carbs , which is totally false .
If you eat past your daily calorie intake , you will store fat and , the calories source won't make a significant difference .
It just that fats are the most calorie dense macronutrient , that's why you need to consume them in moderate amounts .
The easy fix for this is eating less or doing more physical activity , or both of them .
Eating less will prevent you from overeating, and physical activity like exercising , and working out will spend the excess energy , which will make you'll feel good overall .
Move , Exercise , Workout
As I said previously , it will burn the extra calories , preventing you from dealing with weight problems .
It will improve you heart rate and blood circulation system , and will maintain your muscle mass and could increase it in some cases .
It will also improve your mood and help you to focus , and it will help you to be healthy overall .
The good thing about it is that you don't need to be a top level athlete to reap the benefits .
You easily stick to lowest recommendation of 150 minutes of weekly moderate physical activity , and enjoy all the benefits that it has to offer .
For example you can , use the stairs instead of the elevator , or you can park at the end of the parking lot so you can walk a little bit on your way to office .
You can go for a short walk during lunch break or after work , or you can make some time for fun family activities in the weekends.
Start today , And Progress Overtime
Last but not least on out 10 tips for a healthy lifestyle list is consistently adding small habits overtime .
If I can pick one tip or advice for good health in the long term , then this would be it .
Small and gradual lifestyle changes are easier to keep up with and maintain .
Don't change all your eating and lifestyle habits at once , you won't be able to maintain it and it could give you the total opposite effects .
What you should do is include these healthy lifestyle habits one by one as time goes by .
For example you can cut unhealthy foods one by one over time , or add a healthy food to your meal plan everynow and then .
This is an easy to practice habit , especially if you follow a specific diet , as it will make it easier for you to avoid certain foods based on the diet that you are following .
Or you can start an easy , short exercise or a workout routine and gradually progress to more challenging ones .
Also , instead of skipping breakfast , you could introduce a piece of fruit or a healthy drinks and gradually add things till you have a complete meal .
If you usually don't eat lots of fruits and vegetables , you can add just one of them to your daily meals and increase the amounts overtime .
If you used to eat a lot of high fat foods , you can replace them with low fat options , eat them less frequently or in smaller portions .
Final Thoughts
You don't need a healthy lifestyle plan that gives you bunch of useless, hard to apply health tips , you just need to make small lasting changes over time .
So pick a tip or two and start applying them today , toward a healthier, happier life .
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