In many ways, our bodies are like precision machines. They have thousands of intricate parts that work together as a team to make an amazing whole. But like any machine, our bodies need regular fuel and maintenance.
We need fuel with the right mix of ingredients and nutrients to run with optimal performance. There is a tremendous amount of untrue information floating around the rumor mill and the Internet, and it is up to you to dig through that to establish your own good eating habits.
Below, you'll find some myth busters on good eating habits:
1. "It is best to work out on an empty stomach." A definite myth. Your stomach's rumblings are an attempt to tell you something, not to get you to go to the gym! If you ignore tummy rumbling, you are forcing your engine to run without fuel. Have a light snack, even just a piece of fruit, before you undertake anything physical.
2. "Energy bars and drinks are good meal replacements." Wrong again. While these can be fine on the fly or in a pinch, meal replacement bars and drinks are no match for a properly balanced diet. In order to get the antioxidants you need, reach for fruits and vegetables for a boost of vitamins, fiber, minerals and fluid.
3. "Breakfast isn't important." Of course, your mother was right about this one. Breakfast is and will always be the most important meal of the day. Eating a healthy breakfast gives your body the supercharge it needs to meet the challenges of the day. Skipping breakfast robs your body of precious fuel, and will leave you feeling tired and hungry all day long.
4. "Low-carb diets offer all the nutrients you need." While low-carb diets can be beneficial for weight loss, they are not great for all-around good health. Your body needs carbohydrates to store energy and develop muscle tissue.
5. "It's okay to eat what you want, when you want it." Not true my friend. That's too easy. Regular exercise and frequent good food choices will help, but you have to maintain both, forever, for the wellness benefits to add up. That does not mean "all or none", but rather seek the balanced diet that we hear so much about. Bread and cheese for three nights straight won't cut it.
6. "Cut as many calories as you can." While losing weight does involve cutting calories, you should never run on too short a fuel supply. Trim your calories wisely, and aim for a healthy weight loss of one or two pounds per week. If you start to drop weight too quickly, add a little more food to bring your daily calorie count up.
7. "Skip alcohol and soda." Yes! Not a myth. Good drinking habits are part of good eating. Soda pop really is just colored sugar water with chemical flavor. Why add to the profits of those companies, when you can drink tap water, juice, or milk? Drink regularly throughout the day. (Though it should be noted that the eight glass a day "rule" is not actually based on scientific research, but is itself a frequently repeated myth.) Don't let yourself get dehydrated.
Good eating habits begin with a solid understanding of proper diet. When you change what you eat, you'll be taking an important step toward improving your overall wellness. Fuel up and keep your motor running for optimum performance today, and down the road. - 16003
We need fuel with the right mix of ingredients and nutrients to run with optimal performance. There is a tremendous amount of untrue information floating around the rumor mill and the Internet, and it is up to you to dig through that to establish your own good eating habits.
Below, you'll find some myth busters on good eating habits:
1. "It is best to work out on an empty stomach." A definite myth. Your stomach's rumblings are an attempt to tell you something, not to get you to go to the gym! If you ignore tummy rumbling, you are forcing your engine to run without fuel. Have a light snack, even just a piece of fruit, before you undertake anything physical.
2. "Energy bars and drinks are good meal replacements." Wrong again. While these can be fine on the fly or in a pinch, meal replacement bars and drinks are no match for a properly balanced diet. In order to get the antioxidants you need, reach for fruits and vegetables for a boost of vitamins, fiber, minerals and fluid.
3. "Breakfast isn't important." Of course, your mother was right about this one. Breakfast is and will always be the most important meal of the day. Eating a healthy breakfast gives your body the supercharge it needs to meet the challenges of the day. Skipping breakfast robs your body of precious fuel, and will leave you feeling tired and hungry all day long.
4. "Low-carb diets offer all the nutrients you need." While low-carb diets can be beneficial for weight loss, they are not great for all-around good health. Your body needs carbohydrates to store energy and develop muscle tissue.
5. "It's okay to eat what you want, when you want it." Not true my friend. That's too easy. Regular exercise and frequent good food choices will help, but you have to maintain both, forever, for the wellness benefits to add up. That does not mean "all or none", but rather seek the balanced diet that we hear so much about. Bread and cheese for three nights straight won't cut it.
6. "Cut as many calories as you can." While losing weight does involve cutting calories, you should never run on too short a fuel supply. Trim your calories wisely, and aim for a healthy weight loss of one or two pounds per week. If you start to drop weight too quickly, add a little more food to bring your daily calorie count up.
7. "Skip alcohol and soda." Yes! Not a myth. Good drinking habits are part of good eating. Soda pop really is just colored sugar water with chemical flavor. Why add to the profits of those companies, when you can drink tap water, juice, or milk? Drink regularly throughout the day. (Though it should be noted that the eight glass a day "rule" is not actually based on scientific research, but is itself a frequently repeated myth.) Don't let yourself get dehydrated.
Good eating habits begin with a solid understanding of proper diet. When you change what you eat, you'll be taking an important step toward improving your overall wellness. Fuel up and keep your motor running for optimum performance today, and down the road. - 16003
About the Author:
Sheila Ffloyd is a freelancer for a variety of popular Internet sites, on exercise fitness and healthy living tips topics.
