The New Year has begun and many of us are already dealing with the guilt of having broken resolutions we made while in the safety of 2017. Don’t be too hard on yourself though. The goals we set are often easy in theory, but when it comes to actually sticking to them day in, day out, old habits tend to sneak back in to derail us. So pick yourself up and set yourself some achievable resolutions for a healthier you that are actually achievable. We’ve compiled three fail proof healthy eating tips to help you re-start your 2018 the right way.
Cut back on meat
Cutting back on the amount of meat in your diet can drastically improve your health. Replacing meat in dishes with veggies, fruits, beans, lentils, whole grains, nuts and seeds can provide you with a range of benefits. The biggest reason to swap out the meat for a healthy alternative is to prevent and reverse heart disease.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death, globally. Studies have shown that there is a strong link between the amount of red meat people eat and their risk of dying of heart disease. This isn’t only due to the fat and cholesterol in meat. Eating meat also encourages hardening and thickening of the artery walls.
If you’re a meat-lover, try starting slowly with a ‘Meatless Monday’ every week. You’ll start to find new and exciting recipes that will likely spill over into the rest of the week, helping your heart stay healthy. For added protein, you can add ‘Wazoogles Superfood Protein Shakes’ into your diet or pure plant Protein powders.
Reduce your sugar intake
Added sugars in food and drinks such as sucrose are full of calories but have no healthy nutrients. This is why they are referred to as ‘empty calories’. Eating a lot of sugar is linked to resistance to the hormone insulin, which can contribute to many diseases, most notably type II diabetes.
Sugar has also been shown to dramatically increase the risk of becoming obese and is also very bad for the teeth as it promotes bacteria growth in the mouth.
Eating less sugar can be particularly difficult, as it is highly addictive. If you have a serious sweet tooth, replace sugary treats with healthy, delicious sweet treats like the Gayleen’s Decadence range, which offers you chocolates and sweet treats that are actually good for you!
Get more fibre in your diet
Fibre is an absolute necessity for your health and has been shown to help prevent cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. One of the easiest ways to increase your fibre intake is to eat more fresh salads and more whole grains, such as quinoa, and of course Freekeh, which we’ve discussed in detail previously. These grains are easy to prepare and ideal for serving with healthy veggies for delicious dinners.
If you can stick to these three simple tips, you’ll be on the road to a healthier, happier you in 2018!
