The 3 Basic Principles of Eating Healthy

“Eating healthy” is one of those buzzwords that nutritionists and fitness experts use to emphasize the importance of a healthful diet. It is right up there with “daily exercise” and “cardio workout”, which are all just blanket terms to make us feel apprehensive about taking care of our health. They do not necessarily mean one single thing, and can even cause confusion. So, what exactly does eating healthy mean?

Everyone talks about it, but no one seems to have a clear idea. Even if they have, they tend to sugarcoat it using hundred different technical terms, all of which bounce off our heads. Eating healthy is basically the practice of following a well-balanced diet that is filled with nutritious foods and which is devoid of ones that are heavily processed or treated with chemicals.

To put you at ease as you embark on a journey to be fitter and healthier, here are three basic principles associated with a regular healthy diet. These principles will give you more clarity and help you make wiser decisions when it comes to your diet. Whether it is weight loss that you are targeting or just being fit is your main agenda, these principles are worth hinging on.

Eat a Variety of Foods

The idea that minimizing the contents and variety of food on your plate can lead to weight loss is a polished myth. Of course, food items that are high in fats and carbohydrates can contribute to accumulation of excess fat in your body.

But saying no to a large, health-giving chunk of food types can have radical effects on your body and mind. These are essential from the points of view of metabolism and overall body development.

Sticking to a single type of food, say, for example, fruit salads, may not be sufficient to satiate your body’s needs for nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids which are all essential for optimal health upkeep. As industry experts, we at MeanMuscles, stress on the need to consume a variety of foods.

Find Out and Stick to a Diet That Works Best for You

A combination of a strict diet and workout regime that your best friend followed over the past year to lose belly fat may not work for you. Modern science seconds this reasoning.

It is important to identify the food and related compounds and components that work best for you. Are you on a diet that is high in carbs and low in fats and proteins? Do you feel more energetic when you get up in the morning? Then this diet is probably working great for you. But, it won’t necessarily work for your sister, as gender can also play a big role.

Consulting a registered dietitian to find out what works best for you is highly recommended. While there are several manuals and diet courses that are available online, it is important to gauge their veracity and effectiveness before following their advice.

Even when you refer nutrition books from trusted fitness experts, it is a good idea go with the ones that are already popular and known for giving results. The Fat Burning Kitchen by Mike Geary is a perfect example.

Avoid Processed Foods

If there is one type of food that people venturing into a healthy regimen are often recommended not to touch, it is junk food like fries, burgers, and chips. However, those are just a small part of a section of foods that one must avoid if he/she wants to maintain a healthy diet.

Technology may have made it easier for us to build muscles using supplements and stringent workout programs, but our bodies are still not capable of detoxifying all the chemicals and preservatives that we consume along with processed foods like microwave meals, sugary breakfast cereals, and soft drinks.

An innocuous-looking packet of chips in a supermarket can have a wide assortment of unwanted chemicals in it that is not suitable for proper growth and functioning of a human body.

This is the primary reason why there is a paradigm shift in the focus area among health professionals where they recommend people to buy fresh foods that are organically produced. In this regard, “organic foods” is another buzzword, but one that actually makes sense and contributes to our ultimate quest to live healthily.

There you have it, the three basic principles of eating healthy. You will find hundreds of articles online that list tips and tricks and methods to help you take control of your diet. But, the basic principles of all these tips largely remain the same.

At Mean Muscles, the aim is to provide materials that act as an enabler to anyone who puts his/her health first. Go over these principles and manage your diet because listening and responding to your body is the best thing that you can do to lead a healthier life.