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A Balanced Healthy Diet : It's Not So Hard

How much of a balanced healthy diet do you have? Do you take it seriously? Because I see an astounding number of overweight people walking around sipping soda. Just ditching pop without doing any additional dietary changes or exercise can lead to as much as 16 pounds of lost weight. How easy is that?

Balanced Healthy Diet : Can YOU do it?

Following a balanced healthy diet is not terribly difficult. You can do it. And the Benefits of a Healthy Diet far outweigh the sacrifice. And you mustn’t think that you have to give up all junk food that you love. Indulging once in a while is ok. I’d like to be first in line for some Breyer’s all natural Rocky Road ice cream. MMM. Yummo, as Rachel Ray would say. But only maybe once a week MAX and only a serving(which is just 1/2 a cup, by the way!), NOT an entire cereal bowl filled to the brim.

Chemicals, Chemicals Everywhere

Let me expound briefly upon the reason I mentioned Breyer’s ice cream. That reason is because a prevalent problem in the American diet is excessive amounts of chemicals. Chemicals in our diet can appear by way of pesticides, herbicides, pollutants, preservatives, artificial flavors, artificial colors, etc. One way to drastically limit these ingredients is to avoid the packaged, processed foods. “So what do I eat?” you may ask.

Good Carbs

A balanced healthy diet should include whole grains,the good kind of carbs. Such items as barley, brown rice, and whole wheat pasta are excellent choices. It may take a little getting used to, but you will grow to enjoy these healthy grains, not just for the taste, but for how you feel after eating them. Avoid anything that has enriched flour, as this has been stripped of bran, fiber, and nutrients. Also, enriched flour causes dramatic rise in blood sugar.

A Small Side Note:

It’s just come to my attention that there’s some new deception in labeling for breads and cereals. Read the ingredients, as I always admonish you to do. Just because it says multi-grain, or whole wheat, well, that means nothing. It needs to say 100% whole wheat. No enriched flour. No high fructose corn syrup.

Proteins---Not Just Meat

A balanced healthy diet includes lean protein choices, of course. However, when I say lean protein, what comes to mind? Chicken breast, pork? Try not to always think of meat when considering protein sources, because you do want protein in all your meals so having balance dictates not always the same stuff. Nuts, seeds, and beans are good sources of protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals, not to mention being cheaper than always hitting the meat department. Branching out into uncharted territory with new recipes can be fun. Don’t expect to like everything, but be open to try. Your body will thank you. Check out the Healthy Diet Menu article, too.

Another Small Side Note

You may be saying “Beans, huh?” and I know what you are thinking. Yes, I’m gonna go there. GAS. I have two recommendations for you. The first is also a great quick weight loss tip. Chew slowly and consciously until there’s virtually nothing left to chew. You will eat less and digest much better. I discovered this recently…I thought I was just getting old (as it turns out, I’m not!). Certain foods weren’t agreeing with me. I took this advice and voila! Better digestion, no regrets. The second tip is to use Beano. Wonderful product. It works.

Of Course, Fruits and Veggies

A balanced healthy diet should mostly be comprised of a vast variety and quantity of fruits and vegetables. Again, you want to branch out here. We have access to so many choices that you need not be bored with the same old apples and oranges. Dark leafy greens have a multitude of health benefits and with the ease and speed of the internet, you can have an array of tasty recipe options in minutes. A rainbow of colors in the way of fruits and veggies is great for your health. They are also a major player in anti-aging/skincare, too.

Getting up on the pulpit but just real quick

I began the article criticizing soda consumption. When I say soda…I really mean ANYTHING with high fructose corn syrup. That stuff is bad news for weight loss and general health. A lot of so-called “fruit drinks” have it. Therefore, if it doesn’t say “100% juice”, I don’t want it. In truth, juice contains a ton of sugar with no fiber, so it’s not a great choice. But it is a step up from soda. I do also have some notes on Drinking Water to Lose Weight .

In short, a balanced healthy diet is totally achievable for you. If you realize you are in a pretty bad place right now, you don’t need to give up everything all at once. Try adding one extra fruit or vegetable a day. An easy way to manage this is with a Diet Log. If you’re averaging only two servings a day, bump it up to three for a week or two and then the next two weeks do four. Although by giving up everything junky all at once, you may experience some encouraging results quickly, it typically does not lead to a healthy lasting lifestyle. And that’s what it’s really all about!

You may wish to check out another article, Best Diet for Fat Loss Or maybe you've had enough of me telling you what to do, so just head on back to the home page and Exit Balanced Healthy Diet. Two more quick things...If you really, really like what I'm saying you'd most likely be interested in my 21 Day Weight Loss program. But if you're really cheap and not ready to commit with your mind, body, and wallet, then hey, that's ok. If you're into Facebook, I have a fan page, totally free tips and sh*! for you to take advantage of. Join me! Quick Weight Loss Success

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