Conflicting information not only touts which foods are healthiest, labeling particular food items as bad in one study only to be called healthy in another study, but also how to eat. Putting all of this confusing information aside, here are a number of logical healthy eating habits that anyone can follow.
Always Eat Breakfast
The saying "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" has been around for a long time, but why is it the most important meal of the day? Breakfast not only stimulates metabolism, but also prevents both the late morning slump when the body is likely to run out of energy, and also prevents hunger pangs at night when snacking is most likely to occur.
Eat When You are Hungry
Eating when you are hungry prevents the body from feeling deprived which often times leads to over-eating or eating the first food available, even though it may not be healthy. Ideally, eat at mealtimes allowing no longer than four hours in between meals which will prevent the body from feeling starved and will also maintain blood sugar levels.
Eat Slowly and Stop When You are Full
“Studies show that 'fullness' is a complex concept that combines the number of times you chew, the time you spend eating, the look of the food on the plate, as well as the actual amount of food you eat. Slow down and you may feel full with less,” claims Mark Stibich, Ph.D in his 2007 article "Benefits of Eating Slowly.”
Snack Only on Healthy Foods
Try to eat as many foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Processed foods do not maintain the same vitamin content as foods which are non-processed. Eating processed foods may give a full feeling but they do not satisfy the body’s need for nutrient intake.
What to Eat
If you still find food choices confusing, make a point of making uncooked produce a large part of your diet. Heavily processed foods that contain additives such as artificial flavoring, food coloring, and monosodium glutamate, are generally not healthy foods. They may taste good in the moment and there may not be any apparent immediate reaction to them but over long term consumption these additives may contribute to varying health problems.
In Eliza Fulton’s book overview of “Excitotoxins – The Taste That Kills” by Russell Blaycock, MD, Fulton writes, “As excitotoxins MSG and NutraSweet activate a number of brain systems that affect sensory perception, memory, orientation to time and space, cognition and motor skills.”
In conclusion, these tips on healthy eating all stem from the same recommendation. It is important to be well-educated on simple bodily functions but also to listen to your body. It will tell you when it’s hungry, when it’s full, and also when it’s nourished.
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