Why is it important for you to improve your nutrition now?
You could also ask the same thing about smoking to really put the question in context. What are the effects of NOT quitting smoking (i.e. making a positive health choice) right now? Obviously, it means more damage to your body and an increased risk of disease. The same thing, but to a lesser extent, perhaps, can be said about bettering what you put into your body now as opposed to sometime later in the future. The longer you go before you begin focusing on a better diet, the longer your body will suffer the effects of a poor diet. And there is no question what a poor diet leads to; increased disease risk. Improve your nutrition and improve your health
How can someone make healthy nutrition a key component for their self-care, without spending a lot of money?
I’m one of the cheapest guys I know, and I feed a family of 8 on around $700 per month. We eat lots of fruits and veggies and don’t really ‘go without,’ we just focus on the cheap versions of the foods we need. For instance, we buy lots of fruits and veggies but only the ones at a reasonable price. Bananas, apples, tomatoes, broccoli, melons, etc. carry a fairly low price, even in the winter. The same is true of meat. Chicken is fairly inexpensive as are some forms of pork. We just don’t buy foods like steak because it’s really just meat that is very expensive. Also, we eat lots of eggs because they are very cheap and nutritious. If you don’t insist on eating like a one-percenter, you can be healthy without breaking the bank.
What are the three most important supplements to take to improve your nutrition, as an adult woman? As an adult man?
A multivitamin is a necessity for men and women. It is an insurance policy against failing to get enough of the right vitamins and minerals in your diet and the fact of the matter is, most people don’t. Another ‘biggie’ is fish oil. It is the best source of omega-3 fats, which have been shown to have a plethora of benefits for the heart, the brain, the skin and overall disease risk. Lastly, a vitamin D 
supplement is probably in order for men and women but especially women. The reason is that although our bodies make vitamin D, it only does so when UV radiation from the sun penetrates it. Depending on the season, where you live, and your lifestyle, you likely don’t expose your skin to enough sunlight. This can lead to weaker bones, depression and for women, breast cancer.
What are three things an adult can do increase healthy nutrition now?
- Eat fewer things that come in a box. Many foods that are high calorie and low nutrition come in a box, such as Mac and Cheese. That doesn’t mean everything in a box is a poor choice. For instance, high fiber cereal (but not sugary cereal) is still a good choice.
- Eat more fruits and veggies. Track and see how much of these you are getting and be sure you are getting plenty.
- Get enough protein. This is where most people go wrong. 80% of the non-water building blocks of your body are protein and they are constantly being replaced, recycled, and added to. At least, that’s what should happen. Making it happen properly means actually getting enough protein, of which meat is the densest source. Higher protein diets are associated with weight loss and higher metabolism because when you have enough protein, your body is able to keep more muscle around at the expense of fat.
