Food’s main job is to fuel your body, and there is a connection between what you eat and how you feel. The better you eat, the healthier you will be.
It can be hard to know what to eat when there is such a wide range in the shops. Here are some small changes you can make to improve your health.
Ditch processed foods
When you think about eating healthily, you will need to balance reality with your own expectations. In general, people eat a lot of processed foods because they are convenient and quick in the middle of a busy day.
In an ideal world, you would be able to cut out processed foods completely. Realistically, try to limit yourself to one meal a week, for example. This will lower your salt and sugar intake, leading to better heart health.
Drink plenty of water
Humans are made up of a number of different components, but 50-60% of that is water. It is an essential part of your daily intake that your body needs to function properly.
It is recommended that UK adults have between 6 and 8 glasses of water a day. Although pure water is best, you do get water from other drinks and from the food we eat as well.
Dehydration is dangerous for your body. It can lead to impaired cognitive function as well as your organs struggling to function effectively.
Eat more protein
When you think of protein, you may picture huge bodybuilders eating loads to keep their strength. But the average person still needs a lot of protein to be healthy.
Low protein can lead to fatigue, muscle weakening and mood changes. Getting enough protein, as well as increased energy and building muscles, can lead to strong hair and nails.
To measure your protein, you should aim to consume 0.7g per pound of body weight. This is a good baseline if you are looking to lose weight or build muscle as you adjust and eat enough for your goal weight.
Increase fruit and veg intake
It is taught in schools from a young age that fruits and vegetables are incredibly good for you, but adults in the UK still struggle to eat enough. You should aim for half of your plate to be loaded up with fruits and veg for each meal. This leads to a lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and some cancers.
Fresh fruits and vegetables every day can be on the pricier side, so you may want to grow your own. Not only will this get your body moving and result in healthy food, but you will also find it benefits your mental health.
Start by growing some plants that are easier to take care of, such as beautiful tomato plants. Once you feel confident with your gardening abilities, you could branch out to beans, corn and even cabbages.
