Healthy Choices Lead to Healthy Living

There are so many good reasons why you should choose to eat healthy. Our bodies need to be nourished with foods rich in vitamins and minerals to keep us alive and well. These vitamins and minerals work as messengers to all parts of your body to keep it running. They keep your bones strong, your eyes clear and your brain alert. They help to increase stamina and build a strong immune system, along with improving focus and clarity. Not to be forgotten is maintaining a healthy weight. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, etc. are just a few ways to ingest these essential nutrients.

It’s not only about eating the right foods; it’s also about not eating the wrong foods. For example soda is pure liquid calories. You may get the sugar rush you need at the moment, but what happens twenty minutes later? Relentless fatigue! And that’s with all sugars. Sugar makes you crave more sugar. It increases your risk of obesity and diabetes along with heart disease and cardiovascular issues.

So now that we’ve talked a little about sugar, let’s talk about processed foods. Processed foods tend to be rewarding to your brain. It makes you feel good in the moment. You can even call it comfort food. But do you really know what you’re eating? The food companies put so many chemicals into the foods, like preservatives so the food doesn’t rot. Colors are added so foods look appetizing and artificial flavors to enhance a particular flavor. They even add chemicals to enhance the texture. All processed foods, although tested by the FDA, have serious consequences to your body. They block the necessary nutrients that are necessary to maintain good health. The chemicals in the foods trick the brain into thinking it needs more. So you eat more.

The bottom line here is to create a healthy balance and it’s not a difficult thing to do. Give yourself direction. Start slowly by substituting one natural or raw food for one processed food. When you start with these small changes, you are more likely to stick to the program. Find what works for you and move in that direction. Choose wisely.

There are so many healthy choices. Create your own textures and flavors naturally. Like colors in the rainbow, your meals can be pleasing to the eye as well as the palate. Create harmony for your mind, body and soul.

Energize your life and appreciate your body. It’s the only one you have so take care of it. Nourish your body with healthy choices and enjoy living a healthy life.

Note: Next week I am going to have a special “Guest Blog” written by Melanie Rojas, a graduate from the Culinary Institute of America; Chef now Fitness Professional, Master Trainer and Presenter for Zumba. She will be writing next week’s blog on the importance of incorporating fitness into your life. You won’t want to miss this!

“ Healthy choices create harmony and balance for you mind, body and soul”
~ Jill Lee ~