Eating right and exercising are a great way to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. Sometimes, it's hard to sift through all of the information available today to find out what's important and what isn't when referring to health and wellness. If you're trying to get back on track or need a refresher, these tips may help you get back into health and fitness and on the road to a healthier lifestyle. 1. Drink water Water is essential for energy and weight loss. The majority of Americans are chronically dehydrated, leading to lack of energy, memory loss and a resistance to losing weight. Water must be present to turn your food into energy that you can use which means your body must be fully hydrated in order to process food correctly and absorb vital nutrients and minerals out of the food you take in. In addition, if you aren't fully hydrated, your body will hold water if you are not fully hydrated causing a bloated or puffy look and feeling. Make sure to have a bottle of water with you at all times. This should help aid in the process of becoming and staying hydrated. 2. Limit caffeine intake & liquid calories Caffeine can definitely give you your morning jolt and get your body going for the day but it can also hinder you. Limit your daily caffeine intake to 1 glass per day. This will allow for your coffee fix without any harmful side effects. Don't forget, caffeine is a diuretic which pushes water out of your body. So go easy on the coffee runs and drink water after that first cup! 3. Eat healthy, whole, fresh foods Stick to healthy fats, fruits and vegetables and lean protein for your meals. Diets high in sugar, saturated fat and processed foods can throw off your body's ability to regulate and maintain a healthy pH. Remember to put your meals together instead of buying meals that have already been assembled. Knowing what goes into your food is extremely important in maintaining optimal health. 4. Avoid trans fats Have you ever wondered why some foods will last in your pantry for a long time? Most of these foods have trans fats in them. Trans fats prolong the shelf life of items making them able to withstand the test of time in your pantry or cupboard. Watch out for these disease causing agents. Anything listed on a label as "partially hydrogenated______ oil" or hydrogenated oils are considered trans fats. 5. Avoid artificial sweeteners Artificial sweeteners may all taste great and lower the caloric content of a food but they are not good for your body. All artificial sweeteners are genetically modified foods and have been chemically altered in some way. Early testing in animals has revealed that these sweeteners may cause brain tumors and seizures as well as a toxic effect in the body. Do you really want to ingest these just because they don't have calories? Stick to the real thing and ditch the sweeteners. Real sugar not only is healthier for you but it tastes much better! 6. Try to eat most foods in their natural state. Guess what, it's time to throw out all of the fat free, sugar free and diet food. It's time to get back to the natural state of your foods. Fat free and Sugar free foods have been altered in some way to reduce the fat or sugar content. The problem is that these two macronutrients play a vital role in the chemical process of our body. It's better to have the real thing versus the fat or sugar free version. 8. Exercise everyday! Moving the body is essential for oxygenating the cells. Healthy cells need oxygen and disease cells can not survive in the presence of oxygen. Not only that, but exercise lubricates the joints by spreading Synovial Fluid, a lubricant, throughout the joints. This will make it easier for us to move and continue to move as we age. Not only is exercise a joint lubricator but it also helps us improve balance, improve posture, conditions the heart and lungs and helps maintain muscle and bone strength.
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