Do you know what powerful “drug” has the ability to save 1 in 5 deaths? We’re not talking about pharmaceutical medications but food! According to a recent CBC article, 11 million deaths would have been prevented in 2017 if more people would have consumed more fresh fruit, nuts, whole grains and vegetables. Imagine-better health is as close as the farmers market or the periphery of your grocery store.
Eat More of the Good
It’s not necessarily the amount of bad food people are consuming, but it’s the lack of nutrient-dense food in their diet. While limiting junk food, naturally, is critical, loading up on real foods is key. Real food such as a carrot only has one ingredient. A carrot muffin, however, is a food product as it has many ingredients. We like raw nuts, avocados and free-range hard-boiled eggs as they are full of good fats and protein to fill you up.
Shake That Salt Habit
One of the worst things we can put in our bodies is iodized table salt. High levels of sodium are found in many packaged foods and fast food. That’s because salt not only tastes good, but it’s an effective preservative. The good news is the right kind of salt-sea salt or pink Himalayan salt-is rich in magnesium and minerals. So ditch the table salt and switch to one of these instead.
Pay More Now-Live Longer Later
While fast food and prepackaged food is often inexpensive, it’s no bargain when it comes to your health. Sure, it may be a bit more expensive to eat better but consider it an investment in your long-term well-being. Poor health can lead to missed days of work, the development of chronic disease or worse-a life-threatening illness.
Shop Local
Shopping at farmers markets can save money as you’re cutting out the middle man. Purchasing locally sourced food is always a good idea. Doing so allows you to get a higher quality food product. For example, you’ll get fruits and vegetables picked as close to the date of being ripe as possible.
Prep Is Key
Between work demands and family activities, we’re busy people. By taking time, however, to prepare a meal from scratch, you’ll be helping your health. Consider using a slow cooker or making extra chicken breasts that can be used for another meal during the week. Cut up a bunch of veggies and store them in the fridge for grab-and-go convenience.
Maintain Accountability
So you can stay on track with your healthy eating, it’s vital to have accountability. If you work in a small office, for example, make a pact with your co-workers to refrain from bringing in any junk food to the office for a month or more.
You also can stay accountable on your own with apps such as My Fitness Pal. You can track everything you’re eating and look at your total caloric intake, the good carbs and bad carbs you’re consuming and more. There’s always the old-school method of writing in a journal everything you eat. You can see where you need to improve.
If you’d like some more healthy hacks that you can incorporate in your life, contact us today. While you’re at it, schedule your next chiropractic adjustment!