Making healthy choice in your diet can help improve your mental, spiritual and physical health. Change the way you eat for a better you in life. Futurelife Dietician Lara De Santana has put together a few healthy habits to adopt that will help you improve your nutritional intake and take positive steps to a healthier lifestyle.
Dairy
- A great source of protein and low GI carbohydrates (making for a great snack on the go, effective for weight management and even a post-exercise recovery meal).
- Its calcium, magnesium and potassium content may help keep blood pressure down.
Tea
- Great for de-stressing: Studies show that drinking black tea four times a day for six weeks lowers the stress hormone cortisol.
- Green tea is packed with theanine, which can also help by increasing the brain’s output of relaxation.
- Many teas also provide antioxidants and can contribute to your daily fluid quota.
Sunshine
- Getting 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine 3 times weekly is enough to produce the body’s requirement of Vitamin D.
- The sun needs to shine on the skin of your face, arms, back or legs.
- Use sunblock after a few minutes and all other times when exposed to sunlight to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Fruits and veggies
- Choose local and seasonal produce because they are fresher, taste better, preserve more nutritional value and is, of course, cheaper.
Antioxidants
- Food and drinks such as red wine, chocolate, tomatoes, tea and green leafy vegetables are only a few of the numerous sources of antioxidants. The benefits of antioxidants are extensive and range from anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, gastrointestinal, cognitive (brain), reproductive, hormonal, prostate, liver and skin health.
