Your Must-Keep Diet Rules
Are you a ‘SAD’ victim too? SAD or the Standard American Diet is the stereotypical diet of the Americans which is dominated by high intake of red meat, sugary desserts, high-fat foods, and refined grains – all foods which are known to be sneaky culprits behind fatigue, headaches, chronic illness and premature aging. Remember -‘You are what you eat’. So, stop being ‘SAD’ and shed off that unwanted weight (physical and mental) off yourself, have a flawless skin, triple your energy and boost your immunity all at the same time. Sounds too good to be true? Well it’s not. The simple logical explanation is this - by making the right food choices you actually cleanse your body of the toxins that is has accumulated over years. The result is absolute physical, mental and spiritual rejuvenation.
Read on for the simple but sure-shot dieting rules to kickstart your journey towards absolute health and wellness.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
90 percent of people today are chronically dehydrated. Water flushes out the unwanted toxins from our body. When we drink inadequate quantities of water, our body reserves the water and the accumulation (known as ‘water-weight) adds to the body weight. No wonder, people who don’t drink enough must feel so awful! So, drink plenty of water – whether plain or flavored (freshly-squeezed juice from your favorite fruit) or your favorite herbal teas. A good rule of thumb is to drink half your bodyweight in ounces and you will be super hydrated and beaming with health, vitality, energy and even immunity.
Go Fruity and Green
‘Eat your veggies!’ - Our mothers did not say this for nothing. Vegetables, especially the greens only do you benefits. Fresh seasonal vegetables, salads, leafy greens, low-sugar fruits, nuts, seeds and healthy oils; unrefined, organic, high-water-content foods should come first on your diet chart and should substitute the junk foods by at least 90 percent of your daily diet. Eating fruits will also help fight your sugar cravings. Refined foods, fast foods, trans-fats, red meat, dairy, sugar, caffeine, white bread, white pasta and rice, condiments, alcohol, chocolate, chips, ice cream and pizza are the ‘junk’ foods which we want to avoid.
Be a Regular
Starving oneself or too long interval between meals will trigger your sugar cravings. Fight cravings by eating small, healthy meals every three to five hours. This will stabilize your blood sugar levels and will save you from irrational eating behaviors. Do not starve yourself at any point, just eat right.
Go Easy
Take it slowly! Most people who try to be perfect with a “full-throttle” approach from day one find it very hard to stick to rules for a long time. They end up feeling hungry, frustrated and stuck. So what if on the New Year or that birthday party of your friend you managed to zig and zag from your diet? That’s okay, you had fun on such ‘cheat days’! Now you just need to get back on track. Simply replace those junk food by smart choices like those raw fruits or gently warmed veggies your plate at meal or snack times. This is doable, don’t you think?
Exercise and breathe
Exercising complements the benefits of any diet by boosting your cleanse-therapy so as to keep the body and soul healthy. When you breathe deeply and rapidly as you exercise, your body releases carbon dioxide, and intakes more oxygen. Do your exercises every day whether in form of walking, jogging, aerobics or yoga to release and activate the ‘feel-good’ hormones in your body. More to the point, it allows you to stop, focus your mind, visualize and relax.
Go for Buddy Challenges
Go on your weight loss agenda with a friend, a co-worker, your mom or that neighbor who watches one too many reality tv shows. Right from the start, you both will realize the benefits of the buddy system! You share ideas, feel more confident and self-assured when you’re not the lone ranger at your mission. Also, later, there is somebody to challenge you back to your mission whenever your enthusiasm wanes and vice-versa!
Good nutrition is a lifestyle, not a diet. Take these baby steps, get there slowly and be healthy and happy forever.