Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year? If you did, there’s a good chance your plan was to eat healthier and lose weight, which is probably the most common New Year’s resolution out there. However, if you’re like most people, that goal is already a distant memory. But that doesn’t mean it’s too late to kick-start your lifestyle change. Here are four reasons to improve your diet this year.
Reach a Healthier Weight
Everyone knows that eating healthy can help you lose weight, but many underestimate just how important your diet is to your waistline. Unhealthy foods like processed goods tend to be packed with calories compared to fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. And while exercising is essential for overall health, it doesn’t burn all that many calories: Most people burn about 12 to 20 calories per minute spent running, depending on their weight. That’s less than a cup of white rice or about two slices of white bread. And if working out whets your appetite, you could easily end up eating those calories back.
Portion control can also play a serious role in managing your weight. If your plate overflows with food, healthy or otherwise, you’re going to suffer the consequences on the scale. To ensure you don’t overstuff yourself, pay close attention to portion control. This might involve learning how much food you need per meal and measuring out the amounts using a kitchen scale.
Improve Your Moods
Foods loaded with sugar and other simple carbohydrates can cause your blood sugar to fluctuate, leading to mood swings in diabetics and non-diabetics alike. On the other hand, wholesome foods tend to be lower on the glycemic index scale, which means they have a stabilizing effect on your blood sugar. This helps prevent mood swings and can even help with weight loss.
The positive effect of healthy eating on your moods goes beyond blood sugar. Deficiencies of certain nutrients including folate, selenium, and vitamins B12 and D have been linked to higher risk of depression. Tryptophan-rich foods increase serotonin production, and probiotics from fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut may help decrease anxiety.
Be More Productive
Do you ever feel like you don’t have the energy to do the things you want? If so, you should take a second look at your diet. Poor nutrition equals poor fuel for your body and brain, and it can cause low energy levels and a loss of productivity at work and home. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes will give you the energy you crave, resulting in better alertness, concentration, and memory.
Enjoy a Longer Life
If those reasons aren’t enough motivation to start eating better, consider the simple fact that a healthy diet is crucial for a healthy life. Diet-related diseases are a major cause of death worldwide, and beyond shortening your lifespan, these illnesses can lead to other health problems, cost you loads in medical expenses, and even decrease your satisfaction with life. Adopting a diet that focuses on vegetables, fresh fruits, fish, lean meats, whole grains, and healthy fats is central to preventing disease, protecting your brain, and living a long life.
Put Your Plan in Motion
You know why you should eat healthy, but how do you do it? If changing your eating habits was as simple as setting a resolution, everyone would be doing it. But even though it’s not easy, it’s feasible when you follow a few simple rules: have a plan when you grocery shop, follow a regular eating schedule, stay hydrated, stock healthy snacks, and forgive yourself and move on when you slip up. Beyond all of these, it’s about figuring out the healthy eating strategies that will help you stick to your plan now and into the future.