Healthy and nutritious meals: In order to lead a healthy, disease-free life, it is important to add essential nutrients to your diet. In these stressful times, people often resort to skipping meals, or putting unhealthy, junk foods to their plate to satisfy their taste buds, not knowing that in the long run, it will cause great harm to their bodies. The need of the hour is to diligently establish a routine that ensures proper and timely consumption of meals. At the same time, people need to get active and prioritise home-made balanced foods that are packed with nutrients, as opposed to eating from outside and increasing the risk of food-borne illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, mental health issues, etc.
With National Nutrition Week underway, here’s looking at 10 key things that define a healthy and nutritious diet. Keep it mind that you must make efforts towards cleaning your diet and ensuring your good health, along with that of your family’s. While a a healthy diet is one aspect of overall wellness, it is imperative to combine it with regular physical activity and a balanced lifestyle for optimal health. Read on.
Variety And Balance
It is important to eat a wide range of foods from all food groups to ensure you get all the necessary nutrients in your body.
Whole Foods
Prioritise whole, unprocessed foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Keep Yourself Hydrated
Drink plenty of water on an everyday basis and limit your intake of sugary drinks that can take away the years from your life and also impact your skin and hair, besides causing harm to other organs.
Watch Portion Sizes
Mind your portion sizes. Eat until you are satisfied, but avoid overeating.
Limit Added Sugars
As mentioned earlier, restrict your intake of foods that have added sugars. Examples include sweets, sugary drinks, refined grains, etc.
Choose Healthy Fats
Add nuts, seeds, avocados, and olive oil to your diet, as they are good sources of healthy fats.
Incorporate Omega-3 Rich Foods
Additionally, try to eat fatty fish, nuts and seeds that provide essential omega-3 fatty acids to your body, and help you combat many infections.
Calcium And Vitamin D
Include calcium-rich foods like dairy, leafy greens, and fortified plant-based milk, and consider taking vitamin D supplements, if necessary.
Probiotics And Fibre
Eat probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables, and include high-fibre foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet.
Limit Processed And Packaged Foods
Try to avoid or limit foods that are rich in unhealthy fats, salt, and added sugars.
What do you think about these points? Have you been consuming a healthy and nutritious diet lately?