So what is a healthy and balanced diet?
We all hear mention of it continuously – a balanced diet is very important in maintaining a healthy weight and for your entire health and well-being. However, not everybody realises what exactly a balanced diet means and how it is achieved.
Actually, it means different things to different people – not least because each person is different. For instance, vegetarians, vegans and people struggling with food allergies, sensitivities or intolerances will all have distinctive nutritional needs. That being said, the usual meaning of a balanced diet is primarily one that incorporates a good proportion of food from the numerous food groups, in conjunction with loads of pure water. Moderation and variety are essential!
Sadly, in this modern age (with ever-increasing time and financial constraints), many people are dependent upon “fast foods” / “junk foods”, ready-meals, frozen foods and highly refined and processed foods.
Despite the fact that they are clearly time-savers, these kinds of foods tend to be unusually high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and synthetics (such as food additives and preservatives). Not only do they fail to offer our bodies with the vitamins and minerals that they need, they actually induce toxin build-up, which can (for instance) possibly bring about digestive problems, an inferior immune system, weight gain and all of the problems that come with it (including higher likelihood of medical conditions, such as heart related illnesses, diabetes, high blood pressure etc).
Yet another very common error is that individuals will all too often miss meals in an attempt to lose some weight – this is actually counter-productive. Not only is this method harmful (and has the potential to cause harm to your bodily organs), it may possibly actually hinder weight loss and even induce weight gain! Although this appears to be illogical, once you think about it, it makes sense.
How leaving out meals can lead to weight gain
It is important to power up your metabolism with the ideal foods at certain times of the day. Skipping meals (notably breakfast) can lead to weight gain in several ways.
- When you don’t eat for a prolonged time period, your body might go into “starvation mode” and your metabolism then slows down to conserve energy. As a result your body will compensate for the deficiency of calories by burning up less calories than it otherwise would. When your body switches into starvation mode, it won’t call upon its fat stores for energy, causing it to be tougher to lose excess weight.
- It tends to bring about intense hunger later in the day, which can sometimes then lead to cravings, binging and weight gain.
- It supplies you with an unequal distribution of calories during the day.
- It means you could be depriving your system of the energy it requires to efficiently function, exercise, burn calories etc.
- It results in low blood sugar levels and delays insulin response, which can lead to diabetes.
- It’s a short lived measure and won’t remedy your long-term weight problems.
Bypassing meals is therefore clearly not the solution healthy weight loss. The most suitable means of dropping pounds and keeping off is embracing an informed weight management plan, i.e. making healthier eating choices, physical activity, drinking pure water and keeping your metabolism active. Metabolism plays a crucial role in how fast you burn fat and lose weight; consequently, it cannot be dismissed as part of your master plan for weight management.
Precisely why is a balanced diet important?
It should be noted that, exercising by itself will not cause you to be healthy. As the saying goes, “you are what you eat”. A balanced diet is required as it provides access to the broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals, salts and other nutrients required by your body. Therefore, a balanced diet is commonly thought to be among the crucial elements in securing a healthier and longer life and, more specifically, maintaining a healthy weight.
Learning how to keep up a balanced diet is important for long-term weight management and health. Dieticians can certainly help with this, if required. Otherwise, get going with a good quality free meal plan, which can offer you some instruction during the early stages of your lifestyle change. Eating fresh, whole fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, lean meats, seafood, whole grains and nuts is a fantastic starting point. This will help to ensure that your body gets the micronutrients it requires and desires.
So why may you want to take health supplements?
As an individual endeavoring to manage your weight, you might choose to take health supplements for several reasons. For example:
1. As a result of depleted soil, long-distance importation, long shelf-life, pasteurisation, cooking methods (such as microwaving) and chemicals in our food, it’s often short on nutrients, notably digestive enzymes. For instance, the level of vitamin C in vegetables can reduce by half within 5 minutes of being cut and by up to 70% after just twenty minutes. Furthermore, cooking food destroys around half of the protein content and close to 60% of vitamins and renders about 60% of the minerals non-absorbable. Superfood powders or multivitamins, for instance, may help you to top-up on nutrients easily and conveniently, day-to-day.
2.Constrained food choice can frequently make it more difficult to make sure you are getting the full spectrum of nutrients that your body requires. Plenty of slimmers therefore choose to supplement their diets with nutrients-fortified meal replacement powders and protein powders. A good meal replacement drink or protein powder will be sugar, dairy, lactose, wheat and gluten free. They will also be low in calories.
3.All those suffering from long-standing digestive system ailments will frequently discover that it is tougher for them to lose weight. Digestive tract problems are a typical side-effect of being over-weight, likely due to poor diet over a number of years. Many slimmers therefore find that they benefit from, for example, colon cleansers and cleanse and detox supplements as part of their wider weight management programme. Others use probiotics and digestive system supplements to support their inner health and help to re-establish healthy levels of gut flora.
4.Oftentimes, slimmers find that they require a bit of extra support in the early periods of weight loss. Weight management support supplements can be beneficial. As an example, a herbal fat metaboliser / herbal fat burner formula (that contains no ephedra, gluten, wheat, lactose, added sugar, artificial colourings or yeast), can help you to optimise the outcomes you accomplish from your weight management programme and training.
Specialist Supplements has a number of weight management products, which could help you to achieve your health goals in combination with a balanced diet and sensible exercise programme. Click on any of the links above to check them out now!
*Before changing your diet, undertaking a new exercise programme or taking health supplements, always be sure to consult your doctor or qualified health practitioner (particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medications).