Every New Year, millions of people embark on health resolutions that never pan out long enough to create results. This is usually because they take on ambitious goals such as losing a certain amount of weight within a short period of time, or because they end up going cold turkey, especially when it comes to habits such as smoking or overeating.
When it comes to diet, the key to making your New Year’s resolution work is to start with small but significant steps. What you put into your body is one of the most important factors that affect your overall health and well-being, and it is the best place to start toward improving your overall wellness. Here are a number of simple diet changes that you can make to modify your lifestyle slowly but surely:
Switch to plant-based milk
Non-dairy milk products are not just for those who are lactose intolerant. You can benefit greatly from switching to plant-based milk in general to improve your digestion and prevent ailments such as diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. Plant-based milk products also do not contain cholesterol and are naturally low in fat.
There are many types of plant-based milks to choose from that will surely fit your taste and other healthcare needs. However, it would be good to choose high-quality, natural non-dairy milks to ensure that you are getting genuine nutrients and health benefits. Elmhurst’s plant-based milk products, for example, are made from nuts such as almonds, cashew, walnuts, and peanuts, which are cold-milled without additional emulsifiers, stabilizers, or gums.
Drink more water
You have always heard the advice to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Many people dismiss this as being too exact, but they don’t realize the detrimental effects of dehydration until they suffer from conditions such as headaches, irritability, constipation, and many more. Drinking plain water is also a good habit to keep you away from other liquids that put more calories and sugar into your system, such as fancy coffee drinks, sodas, and other drinks.
If you have trouble remembering to drink water, consider getting yourself the Hidrate Spark water bottle. It connects to an app on your phone to track how much water you drink to help you meet your daily goal. You can get notifications on your phone, notifications on your Apple watch, and your bottle can glow to remind you to drink too!
Eat more fiber
Another simple way to tweak your diet and improve your overall health is to make sure you take in enough fiber on a daily basis. This helps make your bowel movements more regular and allows your body to get rid of toxins more effectively. By incorporating more fiber into your diet, you can lose tough belly fat more quickly in addition to lowering your risk for dreaded diseases such as heart attack, diabetes, and cancer. Incorporate more fiber into your diet by making smart choices like choosing whole grain breads, rice, and pasta, as well as eating more fruits and vegetables.
Control your portions
Being mindful of food serving portions is another constant reminder from dietitians and nutritionists that people easily dismiss, but it is one of the most effective and impactful ways to reduce weight. The trick is more on the mind than on the body. Techniques such as eating from a smaller plate and going for single-serve portions when dining on the go help regulate the amount of food (and calories) that go into your body.
Choose better fats
Fats are not completely bad because they are an important component of a balanced diet. The key is in moderating your intake of saturated and trans fats, which increase the levels of bad cholesterol in your system and thus also increase your risk for heart disease. Such fats are usually found in animal meat and processed foods such as cookies, cakes, and junk food. Polyunsaturated fats, meanwhile, are beneficial to your body. These good fats can be found in fish, avocados, olive oil and more.
Changing your life by changing your choices
It is a time-tested adage that you can change your life by changing your choices. Losing weight, increasing your stamina and energy, fortifying your immune system, and just feeling more whole and complete begins with smart choices. However, for these benefits to continue, you need to keep on making these smart choices. Don’t be overwhelmed and just start with these simple steps. Before you know it, you’ll be on track toward achieving a healthier lifestyle.
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