Avenues to Healthy LIving
Healthy living includes balancing physical activity and nutrition. The key is to start small and make one change at a time to improve your quality of life. Drastic changes to your daily routine can be difficult to maintain. When making lifestyle changes, think of gradual changes, ones that you can make into lifelong habits.
Physical Activity
- Physical Activity Basics
- Weight Loss
Nutrition
A balanced diet includes a variety of foods from each of the food groups.
- Grains- try to eat more whole grains than refined grain products
- Fruits & Vegetables: try to eat a variety of colors; deep rich colored fruits and vegetables generally contain more vitamins and minerals
- Milk: go for low-fat dairy products; if you don’t like milk, or are lactose intolerant, you can get calcium from deep green vegetables, legumes, and fortified foods and beverages.
- Meat & Beans: choose low fat meats and try to grill, broil, or bake more often than fry
- Oils: limit your intake of saturated and trans fats; good oils to choose are canola and olive oil
Supplements
While it is always better to get nutrients from whole foods, if you cannot meet your daily vitamin and mineral needs, it may be necessary to take a supplement.
Keep in mind that you may only be lacking in one or two nutrients and so a multivitamin/mineral may not be necessary. If you are not sure about which supplements to take, do not hesitate to consult a dietitian or your doctor.
When choosing a supplement, make sure read the label and do not exceed the Upper Limit as indicated by the Dietary Reference Intakes.
Also, be careful when choosing supplements that contain herbal ingredients. Check out the US Food and Drug Administration’s list of supplements associated with illness and injuries.
