Being active and exercising frequently are both important parts of a healthy and fit life. However, the proper diet can take one’s personal health and fitness to the next level. It is often said that weight loss starts in the kitchen. Meaning that just working out alone will not yield the best results but working out and choosing the right foods can be much more effective. The opposite is also true, however. Maintaining a healthy weight and staying fit has as much to do with diet as it does exercise.
As college students, it is tempting to simply walk through the cafeteria and pick up a big and unhealthy serving of whatever looks appetizing at the time. This is not the best course of action when trying to maintain a healthy body though. A healthy diet needs to have adequate proportions of a variety of things. A balanced diet should contain:
Protein: red meat, fish, chicken, dairy products, eggs, beans and nuts.
Healthy fats: ground flaxseeds, avocados, oils, nuts.
Carbohydrates: starchy vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans.
Vitamins: A, B, C, D, E and K
Minerals: calcium, potassium, zinc, folate, magnesium and iron.
Water: it is easy to forget to drink water on a daily basis but it helps with more things than most individuals realize. Calorie control, hydration, skin and muscle health and vital organ functions all benefit from an increased intake of water.
Minimizing the amount of sugar that is consumed can also play a large factor in health and fitness. High fructose corn syrup is also a very unhealthy alternative to natural sugar that can be found in many kinds of processed foods. Steering clear from high fructose corn syrup can be extremely beneficial as well. Because it is used so heavily, the easiest way to avoid it is to say no to highly processed foods.
When meals are eaten also plays a role in health. Breakfast should be the largest meal of the day and take place around 8:00 a.m. followed by a medium sized lunch around noon. A healthy snack in the afternoon around 3:00 p.m. is acceptable but too many snacks can ruin a diet quickly. Dinner should be eaten between 6:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. but should be the lightest meal of the day.
Many factors play a role in a healthy and fit lifestyle. Avoiding the wrong foods and consuming the right ones is a great start. From there, make sure to be consuming a variety of healthy foods and eating correct portions. Eliminate unnecessary snacking, especially after dinnertime and be sure to drink ample amounts of water. It is not easy to maintain such a healthy and struct diet, but the rewards for doing so far outweigh the inconveniences of doing so.
