75% of Americans may claim to eat a healthy diet, but all evidence is pointing the other way. That suggests that many people may think they eat a healthy diet but they actually aren’t sure what a healthy diet is.
Who could blame them? With all of the fad diets and misinformation floating around, it’s easy to get caught up in trends that may not actually be good for you.
The best diet is a balanced diet, not a trend. Ignore the fads and focus on this nutrition advice to get the best for your health.
Eat Lots of Fruit and Vegetables
You may have heard it before, but it’s not just something people say! Eating fruit and vegetables is essential to keep your body in the best health it possibly can be.
They’re packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and more than help you live longer. These not only keep your body strong and functioning the way it should, but help boost your immune system to equip your body to fight off disease.
Eat More Plant-Based Foods
Although we all love a tasty burger or grilled cheese and it’s fine as the occasional treat, they usually aren’t good for you. They’re full of fat and are often the cause of high cholesterol.
Cutting down on dairy and red meat can be especially helpful in handling this. It’s not essential to be vegan to live a healthy lifestyle, but taking into account how much meat you’re actually eating can be very impactful.
For more information on keeping your cholesterol down and keeping your heart healthy, check out healthy-heart.org.
Get Protein Daily
When preparing your meals, protein is essential for a healthy diet so don’t skip it. It’s easy to do so if you’re trying to eat more plant-based foods, but protein isn’t just found in meat!
Some healthy sources of protein include:
- Tofu
- Lentils
- Beans
- Soy milk
- Oats
There are some healthy sources of meat protein too, such as chicken and turkey.
Listen to Your Body
Listening to your body is, perhaps, the best way to achieve a healthy lifestyle. When you’re full, stop eating. If you don’t feel good, take a look at your diet and determine if the cause is in there.
It’s also important to be realistic. If you restrict yourself on a fad diet, you’re more likely to end up binging because you’re hungry.
Being balanced and treating yourself every now and again is the best thing you can do.
The Best Diet Is Balanced
The best diet is a balanced diet! Don’t be drawn in by trends that claim you need to be super restrictive, never eat after 6 pm, and limit yourself to one type of food.
Instead, make sure you’re getting the right amount of protein and healthy foods, and always consider your diet as a whole.
For more lifestyle tips and other news, check out the rest of our blog.
