Proper Nutrition: Fuel for the most important engine of all…your body

Remember when your mother kept telling you to drink your milk and eat those veggies? Well, we hate to tell you so, but she was right.

The food you eat day in and day out (including that midnight snack…yes, we know about that too), impact your health, well-being, and quality of life. This is especially true when combined with regular physical activity, whether that be from hitting the gym, taking a brisk walk around you block, or playing with your kids.

This combination, healthy eating and physical activity, provides the 1-2 punch combo Richardson, Texas residents can leverage to live their best life, now and into the future.

The Importance of Proper Nutrition for Richardson Residents

Food is a wonderful thing. For many of us, food represents one of life’s most simple and accessible pleasures. In fact, we’ve been conditioned to treat food as a “reward” since we were children. Remember getting desert if you ate your veggies, or getting ice cream if you behaved?

But food is so much more than a delectable treat. A balanced diet is a vital component of your wellbeing. Food provides your body with, essential fats, protein, vitamins, minerals and energy necessary to grow, live and function properly.

This is especially true for those that work in high stress or highly physical professions, such as local Richardson bail bonds agents, police, firefighters, and more.

The Impact of Nutrition for Richardson, TX Residents

We all know the benefits of proper nutrition, but what about the downsides of improper nutrition.
Unhealthy eating habits have resulted in one of the largest epidemics in the United States: obesity. In fact, around 33.8% of all adults in the US are obese. For those of you bad at math, that’s around 1/3 of the entire US adult population.

But obesity isn’t the only culprit of a poor diet. Other health risks include:
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Cancer
• Osteoporosis
• IBS
• Chronic inflammation
• And more…

Not good right? Right. So let’s dig into some actionable steps that Richardson residents can easily implement starting today to stay happy, and healthy, year in and year out.

6 Healthy Eating Steps you can Take Today

Even small changes can have a big impact on your health. Challenge yourself to implement as many of the following as you can.
Swap 50% of your Plate for Fruits and Veggies

Color matters here, and bright is right. Go for orange, red, and dark green vegetables. Think broccoli, tomatoes and sweet potatoes. Same goes with fruit. Treat yourself to a bright mixture and consider adding fruit as a desert or as part of your side dishes.

When it comes to Grains, Think WHOLE

With grains, refined is BAD. Swap out your refined and processed grains for whole grains like those used in whole wheat bread and oatmeal or rolled oats.
Reduce the Fat

Fat, in moderation, is great. If it’s the right kind. But many Americans overdo it when it comes to fat consumption and unhealthy fats. Consider simply switching to fat-free or low fat milk and dairy for a simple way to reduce your intake without cutting out foods you love.

Lean and Mean: Protein

Protein is an essential macro-nutrient essential for revving up your metabolism, building and maintaining muscle and for a whole host of other biological processes. But not all protein is created equal. Go for lean meats (such as chicken or turkey breast), seafood, poultry, eggs, peas, beans, nuts and legumes.

Reduce the Salt

Processed foods are notoriously loaded with unnecessary sodium. Check the labels and when possible, go for lower sodium options when and where available.

Cut the Processed Sugar

More and more research is showing that sugar is as nefarious as they come. We have known for years that sugar is full of “empty” calories, can increase weight gain, and contribute to diabetes. More recent research is showing that sugar can also contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure and increased risk of cancer.

Closing Thoughts

There are many aspects of our lives out of our control. But our diet is one that we can largely shape and modify in a way that can be beneficial to us and our families. Take the advice here as a good starting point or a conversation starter with your primary care physician and start taking control of your health and well-being today.