- The ‘junk’ in junk food already implies its uselessness. It has no positive effect on your body whatsoever and instead contains lots of salt, sugar, calories and chemical additives that make it pleasing to our pallet. Fruits and vegetables make much better snacks.
- Try to gradually decrease your sugar intake, and keep decreasing it until you realize that you don’t need it (sugar) anymore. Granulated sugar contains neither vitamins nor minerals, and even brown sugar (which is deemed healthier in some circles), actually contains very little of these nutrients. Your body will store sugars as fat, not to mention it’s bad for your teeth as well!
- Give your kids fruit instead of sugary treats and distract them with family fun activities
rather than a candy bar. Children will come to associate these things with living a healthier lifestyle, which will play an important role in their physical and mental development. Starting this process at an early age is the best way to ensure that your child becomes a healthy adult. - Be aware of the amount of food you eat, the kinds of nutrients in it, and how much of it is enough. Todays ‘snack’ sizes are usually enough for two people.
- Eat more fish. Several varieties of white fish contain small amounts of fat, while ‘fatty’ fish such as Mackerel and Salmon contain omega 3 fats. Omega-3 fatty acids lower your risk of heart disease mainly by lowering triglycerides and countering inflammation. These fats are unsaturated and are scarce in other foods. They can decrease your cholesterol levels and are good for your heart.
- If you don’t like fish, but still want to benefit from omega 3, you can try linseed or linseed oil. These are readily available in most health food stores, and can be ingested once a week as a substitution for Omega 3 rich fish.
- Don’t be tempted to buy the colorful, well-marketed brand name products in the super market. Just because it’s more expensive doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Commercials can be very persuasive, but don’t believe everything you see and hear. Gain knowledge of what is essential, useful and healthy, and make your own choices.
- If you have an allergy, it is important to know what the allergen is. This could include dust, smells, pollen, smoke and animals. Once you figure out what is causing your allergic reaction, you can try to avoid it.
- If you think you may be allergic to something in your food, be cautious, as sometimes food allergies can be deadly. You may want to consult a Doctor, otherwise try to eliminate it from your diet. If you’re not sure which food may be the culprit, start limiting your intake gradually for about 2 to 4 weeks. Then reintroduce them into your diet and observe whether or not the allergic reactions return.
- The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid coming into contact with the allergen. Check the labels for possible ingredients that could trigger a reaction. Some preservatives and flavor enhancers can also cause allergic reactions.