Nutritional Advice for A Healthier You

Nutritional Advice We Could All Benefit From

Navigating the ever-changing landscape of health trends and nutritional advice can be overwhelming. However, true nutritional success hinges on consistently opting for nourishing food and drinks. By adopting healthy eating habits, you can relish in culinary choices that align with your taste preferences, cultural heritage, and financial means. A balanced approach to nutrition prioritizes the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and protein sources. For dairy, the recommendation leans towards low-fat or fat-free milk, lactose-free alternatives, and fortified soy-based beverages. It’s important to note that non-animal and non-soy plant-based beverages lack the same nutritional profile as milk and soy.

Regarding protein sources, the suggestions encompass a range of options such as seafood, lean meats, poultry, eggs, legumes (including beans, peas, and lentils), soy products, nuts, and seeds. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025, most individuals in the United States should consider adjusting their dietary habits to boost their intake of dietary fiber, calcium, vitamin D, and potassium. Simultaneously, there’s a call to reduce the consumption of added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium. To initiate these changes, here are some helpful starting points.

Nutritional Advice for Your Digestive System : Boost Your Fiber Intake

Fiber plays a crucial role in maintaining digestive well-being and promoting prolonged feelings of satiety. Moreover, it contributes to managing blood sugar levels and reducing cholesterol. Excellent sources of fiber include fresh produce like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, as well as nuts and seeds.

To increase your fiber consumption, consider these strategies:

Keep sliced raw vegetables on hand for convenient and healthy snacking. Storing celery and carrots in water within the fridge helps preserve their crispness.
Kickstart your mornings with a whole grain cereal like oatmeal or opt for dishes prepared with bulgur or teff. To further elevate your fiber intake, enhance your cereal with the addition of berries, pumpkin seeds, or almonds.
Elevate the fiber content, texture, and flavor of your salads by incorporating half a cup of beans or lentils.
Embrace whole fruits, such as pears, apples, melon slices, or passion fruit, as accompaniments to meals or delightful dessert alternatives.

Get More Calcium and Vitamin D As Most People Don’t

Calcium and vitamin D collaborate to promote optimal bone health. While our bodies can generate vitamin D through sun exposure, certain individuals might face challenges in producing sufficient amounts, and excessive sunlight can heighten the risk of skin cancer. Although few natural food sources contain vitamin D, many fortified foods and beverages provide this crucial nutrient. Refer to the list of foods rich in calcium and vitamin D.

To elevate your calcium and vitamin D levels, consider this nutritional advice:

Incorporate a fortified dairy beverage into your meals.
When assembling your lunch, include a portion of salmon or a can of sardines (with bones) once a week. These varieties contain more calcium than boneless options.
Integrate spinach, collard greens, bok choy, mushrooms, and taro root into your vegetable-based dishes.
Seek out foods fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Keep an eye out for soy-based beverages, soy yogurt, orange juice, and select whole-grain cereals that are enriched with these essential nutrients. Ensure they are free from added sugars.

You Probably Need More Potassium

Potassium plays a vital role in maintaining proper kidney, heart, muscle, and nerve functionality. An inadequate potassium intake can lead to elevated blood pressure, decreased calcium levels in bones, and an elevated risk of kidney stones. While individuals with chronic kidney disease and those on specific medications might encounter excessive blood potassium levels, the majority of people in the United States typically require more potassium in their dietary routines. Review the list of potassium-rich foods.

To boost your potassium levels, do the following:

Experiment with fresh recipes incorporating beet greens, lima beans, or Swiss chard.
Infuse variety into your beverage choices by opting for a cup of 100% prune juice or 100% pomegranate juice.
Select a banana as a convenient and potassium-rich snack.
Indulge in 100% orange juice or a recommended dairy product as accompaniments to your meals.

This Might Be the Most Important Nutritional Advice: Limit Sugar Intake!

Too much added sugar in your diet can contribute to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Some foods such as fruit and milk contain natural sugars. Added sugars are sugars and syrups that are added to foods and drinks when they are processed or prepared. Added sugars have many different names, such as cane juice, corn syrup, dextrose, and fructose. Table sugar, maple syrup, and honey are also considered added sugars. Sugary drinks are a common source of added sugars [PDF-30.6MB].

To limit added sugars, try this:

Drink water instead of sugary drinks. Add berries or slices of lime, lemon, or cucumber for more flavor.
Add fruit to your cereal or yogurt for sweetness.
Don’t stock up on sugary drinks and snacks. Instead, drink water and keep fruit and vegetable slices handy for snacks.
At coffee shops, skip the flavored syrups and whipped cream. Ask for low-fat or fat-free milk or an unsweetened, fortified soy beverage. Or get back to basics with black coffee.
Read nutrition labels and choose foods with no or lower amounts of added sugars.

Substitute Saturated Fats

Opting for healthier unsaturated fats over saturated fats can contribute to safeguarding your heart health. Common sources of saturated fat include fatty meats like beef ribs and sausages, whole milk, full-fat cheese, butter, and cream cheese.

While a certain amount of dietary fat is necessary to provide energy, promote the growth of healthy cells, and facilitate the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals, unsaturated fats are more favorable for our well-being compared to saturated fats. Consult the list of prevalent sources of saturated and unsaturated fat.

To make the shift from saturated fats to unsaturated fats, consider these strategies:

Swap out whole milk in your smoothies with low-fat yogurt and incorporate an avocado for added creaminess and beneficial fats.
Enhance the nutritional profile of your salads by substituting cheese with a sprinkling of nuts or seeds.
Rely on beans or seafood instead of meat to meet your protein requirements.
When cooking, opt for oils like canola, corn, olive, peanut, safflower, soybean, or sunflower oil as alternatives to butter or margarine.
Transition from full-fat milk and cheese to their low-fat or fat-free counterparts.

Reduce Your Overall Sodium Intake

Excessive sodium consumption can elevate the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. Packaged and prepared foods account for over 70% of the sodium in the American diet. While sodium is present in various forms, salt constitutes 90% of our sodium intake. Review the primary sources of sodium.

To decrease sodium consumption, consider these tactics:

Enhance the flavor of your meals without resorting to salt. Incorporate a squeeze of lemon juice, a pinch of no-salt spice blends, or fresh herbs.
Limit your consumption of high-sodium processed and prepackaged foods. Common items like bread, pizza, and deli meats tend to contain substantial sodium levels.
When grocery shopping, examine Nutrition Facts labels to identify low-sodium options.
Opt for unprocessed foods, such as fresh or frozen vegetables, which you can prepare at home without the need for added salt.

Look for a Spectrum of Colors

A beneficial habit involves striving for a diverse array of colors on your plate. Fruits and vegetables in shades like rich, dark greens, vibrant oranges, and deep reds—along with the inclusion of fresh herbs—offer a wealth of vitamins, fiber, and minerals.

Consider these steps:

Enhance the flavors of your salads or whole wheat pasta by sprinkling fresh herbs as a finishing touch.
Craft a red sauce using fresh tomatoes (or low-sodium canned tomatoes) combined with fresh herbs and spices.
Elevate the nutritional profile of stews and omelets by adding diced veggies like peppers, broccoli, or onions, imparting both vivid color and essential nutrients.
Pile low-fat, unsweetened yogurt with your preferred fruit to create a delightful and nutritious topping.