By Charles Watley, DigitalBizSolutions.net
Healthy living incorporates eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and exercise while surrounding yourself with a supportive group of friends and family. It is also important to eliminate bad habits such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol.
While it is abundantly clear that the average adult needs about seven hours of sleep every night and should exercise for thirty minutes on most days of the week, eating a healthy diet is a more debatable subject. New research indicates that the traditional Western diet our parents and grandparents ate is not considered a healthy option anymore.
Below are some diets to consider to bolster your well-being and overall health.
Keto Diet
There is currently a lot of buzz surrounding the keto diet. While weight loss is the main benefit associated with this diet plan, there are other health-related reasons people are turning to this type of eating regiment. Strict carbohydrate restriction to 20 grams of carbohydrates daily combined with a focus on eating healthy fats is what the diet requires. This type of diet requires the self-discipline to resist all sugar-rich and high-carb foods. Many people turn to Ketogenic supplements to control cravings so they can successfully reap the many benefits of this popular diet.
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting is an easy way to restrict calories without obsessing over them. Since most people eat about 14 to 16 hours a day, restricting your eating hours to eight hours a day is sure to slim you down. Other ways people practice fasting are they fast every other day or on two non-consecutive days per week. Intermittent fasting is tied to many health benefits such as improved blood pressure and delayed onset of Alzheimer’s.
The Vegan Diet
Vegan diets exclude all animal products for consumption. While this type of lifestyle can be difficult to follow for the average Westerner who loves their meat, it does have many converts who are highly committed for a variety of reasons. This diet is heart-healthy and believed to be very nutritious since vegetables are the main stable. Vegans also tend to live longer on average. MedicalNewsToday reports that a 2016 poll found that 2.5% of U.S. residents follow this diet.
The Paleo Diet
The paleo diet, otherwise known as the caveman’s diet is based on eating only what people were believed to eat during the Paleolithic period that dated back as many as 2.5 million years ago. The idea behind the diet is to eat foods that were eaten by the hunters and gatherers eliminating processed, prepackaged foods. The diet is comprised of fish, lean meats, seeds, fruits, nuts and vegetables. Health benefits of this diet are weight loss, lower triglyceride levels, improved blood pressure and glucose management.
The Mediterranean Diet
As the name implies, the Mediterranean Diet is representative of what the 16 countries that border the Mediterranean Sea eat. People who live in these countries have been documented with lower levels of heart disease as compared to Western countries. The diet promotes eating predominantly fruits, vegetables, potatoes, nuts, beans and olive oil. Unlike the Western diet, little red meat is eaten.
General Guidelines for Healthy Eating
Many health-conscious people resist restrictive diets opting instead for commonsense guidelines that allow for a wide variety of foods. Sticking with whole foods with only one ingredient is always a winning formula for good health. Avoiding foods laden with sugar is key for good health. Refined carbs, vegetable oils and advertised low-fat foods should be avoided.
Healthy Eating Habits and Tips
- Eat slowly and savor every bite to allow your body to respond to the food and feel full.
- When you feel hungry in-between meals, try drinking water first. When we think we are hungry, we are most likely thirsty.
- Portion control is important. Resist going back for seconds.
- Do not feel compelled to eat everything on your plate when you eat out.
Conclusion
A healthy diet is crucial for good health. You have the power to live a happy and healthy life by taking control of your eating habits.
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