Diet
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Balanced Eating for Optimal Health
Having a healthy diet is something that we should always be focused on – because the healthier you eat, the better you will feel. As far as the benefits of good nutrition, there are many. For example, when you eat healthy, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing certain chronic diseases – including diabetes and even cancer. It’s also said that you can prevent both premature heart disease and diabetes by as much as 80% just by having a healthy diet and incorporating other healthy lifestyle factors into your daily routine, such as getting regular physical activity and avoiding bad habits, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Along…
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Fad Diets: A Risky Shortcut
When it comes to losing weight, the most effective and sustainable approach is changing your overall eating habits, not just looking for a quick fix. However, many people fall into the trap of fad diets, often because these diets promise fast and dramatic results. While it may be tempting to try a diet that promises rapid weight loss, the reality is that fad diets can be incredibly harmful to your health and rarely lead to long-term success. What Are Fad Diets? Fad diets are eating plans that typically become popular through media, social media influencers, or celebrity endorsements. They often claim to deliver rapid weight loss with minimal effort, sometimes…
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Food Preservatives: Friend or Foe?
When it comes to diet, many of the foods we consume contain preservatives; and sometimes those preservatives are consumed unknowingly as we don’t always tend to think twice about reading food labels to find out what, exactly, we’re putting into our bodies. If you do read food labels and can’t pronounce half of the list of ingredients, chances are it likely contains preservatives and isn’t something that you should be eating in the first place – snack foods such as cookies and crackers are a prime example. Preservatives are a type of additive used in certain foods to prolong their shelf-life and prevent them from going bad – i.e. going…
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Simplifying Nutrition
Just as you declutter and clean your home from time to time, it can also be a good idea to do the same for the diet. You not only feel better by eating healthier, but you’re also more likely to think clearer by ditching certain food distractions. Unfortunately, with new fad diets always coming to the forefront as well as conflicting nutritional advice, it can be hard to know where to start. The good news is that nutrition isn’t something that has to be complicated. By keeping the following guidelines in mind and remembering that your diet should be looked at as a lifestyle change rather than a temporary solution,…
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Healthy Foods to Eat in the Summer
When it’s warm out, the last thing anyone wants to do is stand over a hot oven or stove cooking – and the warmer the weather, the more tempting it can be to want to grab something quick and easy, which might not always be the healthiest. For example, getting something from a fast food restaurant, which could be loaded with grease, bad carbohydrates and sugar – all things you want to avoid to ensure optimal health and reduce the risk of potential health problems like weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Before we dive into the topic of food, it’s a good time to remind everyone about the importance…
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Nuts: Nutritional Powerhouses for Health
Nuts are considered to be nutritional powerhouses, as they are packed with heart-healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and proteins (i.e. omega-3 fatty acids, fibre and more.) They will also help you feel full and suppress the appetite, which will prevent you from overeating. However, some nuts are also high in calories, so while they’re certainly a better snack to indulge in than that chocolate bar or bag of potato chips, they should still be consumed in moderation. When it comes to nuts, some are healthier than others – with almonds, cashews and pistachios being some of the healthiest, especially if you’re looking to maintain a healthy weight. The lowest-calorie nut is…
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Healthy Summer Grilling Guide
Welcome to the much-anticipated summer BBQ season, a time of year that brings about a sense of excitement and joy as the days get longer, the weather becomes warmer, and the grills are fired up, creating an atmosphere of fun and camaraderie among friends and family. This season is synonymous with outdoor gatherings where the delicious aroma of grilled food fills the air, enticing everyone to indulge in a feast. However, it’s no secret that BBQs are often associated with heavy, calorie-laden dishes that can leave you feeling sluggish and guilty. The good news is that this doesn’t have to be the case. With some mindful choices, a bit of…
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Summer’s Healthiest Fruits
Summer fruits not only provide a refreshing treat during the hotter months, but they also bring a myriad of health benefits. Packed with vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants, fruits can contribute significantly to overall health and well-being. This article focuses on the health benefits of the top three seasonal summer fruits: watermelon, mango, and berries. Watermelon Nothing screams summer like a juicy, sweet slice of watermelon. This quintessential summer fruit is not only thirst-quenching but also offers an array of health benefits. Comprising about 92% water, watermelons serve as an excellent hydration source, making them a perfect treat for those sweltering summer days. Watermelon is also known for its high…
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The Science-Backed Benefits of Protein
Protein is considered one of the most important food elements (also known as a macronutrient) for the normal, healthy growth of the human body, and there are many science-backed reasons as to why you should eat more of it. Your hair and your nails, for example, are made up of mostly protein. Your body also needs protein to create hormones, enzymes and other types of chemicals, and is essential in the building of our muscles, bones, cartilage, blood and skin. While most people consume enough protein to avoid becoming deficient in it, it’s never a bad idea to increase your protein intake – as whether you’re wanting to lose weight…
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Nutritional Strategies for Stress Reduction
Stress can impact us in a number of ways and for a number of different reasons. There are also many different ways to deal with stress, including everything from trying different relaxation techniques to speaking with a counsellor. Stress can also be a common contributor to both anxiety and panic attacks, which sometimes need to be managed with medication. What you might not be aware of, however, is the role your diet can also play when it comes to stress management. When you’re stressed out, your body produces hormones that can cause a temporary increase in your blood pressure. If your high blood pressure is, in fact, related to stress,…
