6 Tips for Healthy Living
March is National Nutrition Month and an opportunity to learn how to make good food choices and develop healthy habits.
In honor of National Nutrition Month, I have put together my top tips for healthy living:
- Eat when you are hungry. Hunger is your body’s way of saying, “it’s time to eat,” so honor your hunger, and eat!
- Take your time and enjoy your food. Slowing down and enjoying your food gives your body time to notice hunger and fullness cues, which can help with portion awareness. Eating slowly also promotes gut health and gives you time to decompress during a hectic day. Taking time to decompress helps relieve stress. Finding ways to relieve stress is important for reducing the risk of chronic disease.
- Find ways to be active on most days, and make sure you choose activities that you enjoy. Your activity doesn’t have to be an hour at the gym. You can get active by dancing, walking in the park, gardening, or washing your car.
- Choose foods that nourish your mind, body, and spirit. Foods like whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, lean meats, salmon, tuna, or other protein foods help promote optimal brain function, decrease the risk of mood disorders, and decrease the risk of developing chronic diseases. Ultra-processed foods, fried foods, ad refined sugar can increase the risk of mood disorders, chronic disease, and poor cognitive function.
- Drink mostly water. Water accounts for about 60% of an adult’s body weight and is an essential nutrient, meaning our bodies need it to optimally function. One easy way to increase your water intake is by filling up a large water bottle and sip on it throughout the day.
- Get adequate sleep. We must have sleep to function. Lack of sleep can promote weight gain, negatively impact our mental health, increase brain fog, and increase the risk of many chronic conditions. So make an effort to go to bed at an appropriate time on most nights.
