| One of the most important and easiest things we | | | | type of diseases that can be prevented by |
| can do to have a healthy body is make a habit of | | | | healthy eating. If your family has a history of |
| eating healthy. There is a very strong link | | | | hypertension, colon cancer, heart disease or |
| between diet and health. More than 35% of all | | | | osteoporosis then you can make changes in your |
| cancers are related to diet according the | | | | diet to lower your risk of getting the disease. This |
| American Cancer Society. | | | | may be the perfect place to start since the |
| More than half of the children born with neural | | | | whole point of eating healthy is to remain healthy. |
| tube defects, such as spina bifida could have been | | | | 2) Start making changes that will have the biggest |
| prevented if women ate foods rich in folic acid. A | | | | impact on you health. For example, eating more |
| healthy diet can also have an effect on your | | | | fiber can lower your risk of colon cancer. So, you |
| mental health, affecting how well you think and | | | | can start adding more whole grain cereal, fruits |
| your sleeping habits. Some mental disorders such | | | | and vegetables to your diet. |
| as depression can be treated with certain vitamins | | | | 3) Don't try to change all your bad eating habits |
| and minerals. | | | | at once. If you try to change everything at once |
| Although we live in era of fast fatty food, you | | | | you will become overwhelm and most likely quit |
| can eat healthy without dieting or starving | | | | trying to eat healthy. Instead, take small |
| yourself. Only four out of ten Americans claim to | | | | manageable steps. If your goal is to add more |
| have healthy diets. Some people refuse to eat | | | | fiber to your diet, then start by adding a fruit or |
| healthy because they believe that healthy foods | | | | vegetable to each meal until you are eating at |
| have no taste and they would have to give up all | | | | least five a day. This can easily be accomplished if |
| of their favorite foods. All you need to do is | | | | you add a sliced banana or berries to your cereal |
| make healthy choices in the food you eat. | | | | for breakfast. Eat carrot or celery sticks as |
| You do not have to go home and throw away all | | | | snacks throughout the day. Add a fruit to your |
| of the food in your pantry and go shopping for all | | | | dinner in addition to the vegetable normally |
| healthy food. To perform such a drastic step | | | | served. |
| during these economic hard times would be | | | | If you follow these tips you should be eating |
| ludicrous. You can make the switch to healthy | | | | healthy in a short period of time. Just remember |
| eating a gradual process. Here are three tips to | | | | that no one eats healthy all the time. So if you |
| get you started: | | | | have a bad day where you did not meet your |
| 1) Decide if you need to eat for prevention of | | | | goals, just stay focused and start again the next |
| disease. Research your family history for any | | | | day. |