Everyone wants to lead a healthier lifestyle. Whether you are exercising more or improving your sleep schedule, paying more attention to your health and wellness benefits your life in various ways.
Swapping out parts of your diet for better food choices is one of the most important ways to enhance your health. From grade school students to residents of a senior living community, people of all ages are trying to be healthier.
If you’re looking to lose a few pounds by swapping out some of your food choices, here are four clean eating tips that can help you lose weight and feel better in the process.
1. Less Sugar Drinking to Lose Weight
It’s probably no surprise that added sugar isn’t great. Much of the sugar we consume comes from drinks like soda, juice, and other sweetened beverages. Sucrose and other forms of sugar can contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and more health risks.
We could all reduce the level of sugar that we consume. According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, the average American drinks 44.7 gallons of soda a year. Instead, consider beverages such as unsweetened iced tea, coconut water, or sparkling water that will hydrate while giving you less sugar intake.
2. Add High-Quality Protein
Try to avoid traditional protein sources such as beef and processed meat, as they contain saturated fat. More high-quality protein sources such as eggs, nuts, and Greek yogurt contain added nutrients to cleaner eating. Almonds, for example, are high in magnesium and fiber.
Protein has many health benefits such as:
- Increasing muscle mass and strength
- Enhancing bone strength
- Lowering appetite
- Boosting metabolism
Adding more protein to your diet can help you achieve your health goals. You can also access delicious foods that are rich in nutrition.
3. Cut Back on Refined Carbs to Lose Weight
You’ve probably heard before that a large number of carbs can be harmful to your health. Eating too many refined carbohydrates can raise your blood sugar levels, resulting in your cells saving the glucose that your cells produce as fat. These include white bread and processed sugars. This can lead to weight gain and a lowered energy level.
Try cutting back on these refined carbs. If you want, you can add whole carbohydrates to your diet, which are unprocessed and high in fiber. These include foods such as quinoa, barley, sweet potatoes, and whole grains. Eating less processed carbs is one of the best choices you can make towards fresher nutrition.
4. More Leafy Green Vegetables to Lose Weight
We all could use more vegetables in our diet. In particular, leafy green vegetables provide an excellent source of nutrients and fiber while also low in calories.
For example, Kale is rich in vitamins A and C while also packing large amounts of calcium and magnesium. Spinach is full of iron. Arugula has vitamin K and a peppery taste that can be used in salads or other veggie-based recipes.
Leafy green vegetables offer many choices other than simple lettuce. As a result, you will vary your healthy food choices and add more nutrients to your diet.
When looking towards our futures, we all need to take better care of our health. We can start by making simple, more thoughtful choices about our diet that add to our nutrition and allow us to function better. With these four tips, you can start on the path towards clean eating and maintaining stronger health.
About the Author
Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.
