You are what you eat. We’ve all heard this statement – and then proceeded to continue with our regular diet. Eating healthy isn’t merely walking into your local restaurant and ordering a side salad over a cheeseburger. If most of us take the time to write down what passes our dinner plate every day, we might find the results shocking when we review them at the end of the month.
Eating healthy requires a sustainable approach to our relationship with food. Our actions determine our outcome, and this is true with everything we choose to put in our mouth and swallow. Many people don’t understand that our food choices are the most significant factor in determining the status of our health.
Making poor dietary and lifestyle choices results in the development of chronic disease and a decline in quality of life. Once we realize that what we eat plays a significant role in our health and well-being, we’re in a position to change our eating habits to a sustainable approach that improves our relationship with food. Here are 17-diet tips for healthy eating that you can implement to improve your health and enhance longevity.
1. Pace Yourself
The next time you sit down to a meal – take your time and enjoy the food. Instead of wolfing down your food and moving on to the next item on your agenda, chew slowly and take a short break between every other bite. Studies show that people who eat quickly are more likely to gain excess body weight.
The research indicates that it takes a moment for your brain to engage with your hormonal system and digestive tract. Leptin and ghrelin are the “hunger hormones” that control your feeling of satiety. When you eat too fast, the balance between the two hormones remains at pre-meal levels. Therefore, you’re more likely to eat more than you need too because you’re feeling hungry and the brain doesn’t recognize the amount of food you’re eating.