Start eating healthily
HAVE you ever wondered why you fall sick? There are so many ailments that worry your mind.
Today, modern science has revealed two kinds of diseases, those that are infectious and are passed through physical contact or air, water and food and the non-infectious diseases that cannot be spread through personal contact.
So if you have the common cold or flu, you should know that you could pass it to others around you.
Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens which is a foreign body that causes diseases. It could be some sort of fungus, a virus, some form of bacteria or even external parasites that invade your body and wreak havoc on your immune system.
They are in the air, in the food we eat. They can also gain access to your body through cuts and wounds.
However, not every pathogen that enters your body will result in sickness. Your immunity might fight off the foreign agents, making sure you stay healthy. But these pathogens evolve from time to time and put your immune system through constant battering, sometimes fooling your body’s defences long enough to gain entry.
One way is to protect yourself against these diseases is to change your eating habits.
Unhealthy eating habits are one of the main contributors to falling sick. A diet with high animal fat and less fibre poses a higher risk for various diseases.
In addition, preservatives and chemical additives in refined food, processed food, fast food or canned food are harmful to our health and may cause cancer.
Invest in foods that consist of high-volume, high-density, and high-fibre foods such as soups, salads, vegetables, whole grains and beans to help keep the body healthy and strong.
Here are some tips that incorporate foods with other ways to stay healthy:
1) Do not beat yourself up over food and do not treat food as a friend or enemy.
You should neither feel bad when you overeat, nor feel good when you don’t, otherwise it may lead to bingeing and craving of unhealthy food. 2) Negotiate with yourself. This mentality allows us to have everything, just not everything at the same time. If you know you want dessert with dinner, do not have a sweet treat during the day. If you know you want pasta or carbohydrates or alcohol at one meal, stay away from it at other meals.
3) Serve smaller portions. When you serve food on smaller plates, you will be able to eat more indulgent foods.
Ordering an appetiser as an entree will allow you to sample indulgences such as crab cakes, as long as you pair them with a vegetable or salad.
4) Use only real ingredients. Do not use any manufactured foods or anything with ingredients you cannot pronounce.
5) Cook with colour. The brighter the natural colour, the more healthy and loaded with antioxidants the food is. Spinach, sweet potatoes and blueberries are perfect examples.
6) Cook using local and ingredients that are in season. They are healthier because they are fresh from the farm instead of being shipped thousands of miles ahead of time and being picked prematurely. A summertime peach is a better choice than a pineapple shipped from Hawaii.
7) Cook more raw foods. Raw foods have live enzymes that give you that overall glow. Make small changes and substitute cooked vegetables for salads.
8) Prepare ahead. Choose a cooking day, buy disposable containers and prepare healthy meals and snacks for the week. Also, cut up fruits and vegetables making them more convenient. When flying, do not rely on fattening plane or airport food. Think ahead.
9) Keeping fit is about planning. Your diet is a bank account, so spend your calories wisely.
10) Spoil your appetite. If you are going to a party or out to dinner, prepare an apple or whole grain bread with nut butter so you do not eat everything in sight at the party. Eating a healthy snack before dinner will save you from overeating.
11) Exercise. It calms and clears your mind. Even though yoga does not make you drip in sweat, it calms the mind and prevents overeating.
Healthy eating begins with learning how to “eat smart” – it’s not just what you eat, but how you eat. Your food choices can reduce your risk of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, as well as fight against depression.
Additionally, learning the habits of healthy eating can boost your energy, sharpen your memory and stabilise your mood.