| We all know exercise is essential to being healthy | | | | highly processed and is created, packaged and sold as |
| along with a healthy diet. Mastering the second part of | | | | convenience. These convenience products always |
| that formula is much easier said than done. Most | | | | have a large number of preservatives, chemicals, |
| people have some idea of what things they should be | | | | flavorings and other things in them that aren't a part of |
| minimizing or avoiding when it comes to food. | | | | the actual food you think you're getting. |
| However, actually doing so is very difficult for a | | | | Eat organic whenever possible |
| number of reasons which include high levels of stress, | | | | Secondly, it's always better to buy the higher quality |
| social pressure and any number of other things in life. | | | | items than the cheaper lower quality items. Organic |
| The reality is, you aren't going to eat perfectly all of the | | | | food is better, it has more nutrients and less chemicals |
| time. Once you acknowledge that fact and give | | | | than most non-organic food. Here you have to be |
| yourself some room for error you are much more | | | | careful though because "organic" has become hip and |
| likely to develop healthy eating habits. But, in order to | | | | therefore gets easily twisted because companies |
| develop these habits you have to know some basic | | | | know people will pay more for it. Natural and organic |
| guidelines on what healthy eating habits are. Granted | | | | are not the same, so you have to look and see what |
| some individuals can get by with more than others in | | | | the ingredients are. If there is a huge list of ingredients |
| the way of cheating or indulging but the majority | | | | in a food that should have just a few that's usually a |
| cannot so you must not form your habits based on | | | | hint that it's probably not the best choice. |
| those on either extreme ends of the spectrum. You | | | | Find the balance of protein, fat and carbs at each meal |
| have those who never eat a dessert, or pizza or | | | | that gives you consistent energy levels |
| anything else. Then you have those who constantly | | | | Third, you want balance in your meals, just as in your |
| splurge and eat those things but appear to have | | | | exercise. That doesn't mean you need exactly the |
| perfect bodies. Ignore those extremes and look to | | | | same amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates that |
| have balanced sustainable habits that you can maintain. | | | | everyone else does. It does mean however that you |
| This doesn't mean it will always be comfortable or | | | | do need all three of those nutrients when you eat. |
| easy. There will be times when you have to deny | | | | Protein and fat come mainly from animals and |
| yourself some things that you are really dying for. But | | | | carbohydrates come mainly from plants. You have to |
| that's good, as it will instill some discipline in your eating | | | | figure out what balance of these nutrients makes you |
| habits and give you the confidence that you can do | | | | function best. This may be different at different times |
| without some things and still be ok. | | | | of the day so you have to work at it to figure out |
| What are the basics of eating beyond avoiding the | | | | what works for you. |
| extremes of crazy restriction or pure gluttony? | | | | This just skims the surface when it comes to eating |
| Eat primarily things that come directly from a plant or | | | | and figuring out what you should eat to be healthy. In |
| an animal | | | | summary though, if you eat mainly things that are of |
| The first is to always remember it's better to eat | | | | high quality (i.e. organic) come directly from an animal |
| something that came right from a plant or right from | | | | or a plant and you do so in a balance that gives you |
| an animal than it is to eat something that has been | | | | energy throughout the day you're off to a great start! |