Posted on August 24, 2011 by CJ Article Team

When people think of fitness. the usual imagery that springs to mind is that of brightly lit gyms and various forms of exercise. Yet, how many of us really stop to consider the essential component to fitness of providing the body with a healthy supply of nutrient dense foods?

If you are dedicated to becoming as fit and healthy as possible, then educating yourself around healthy food vs unhealthy food is a pre requisite to success.

Healthy food vs unhealthy food is more than just reading the label. In order to make significant positive differences to our Diet, body-shape and overall health, we must carefully plan a Diet which includes a full spectrum of healthy Fat, Protein, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Vitamins and Minerals,.

The food choices that we make on a day to day basis will ultimately direct our overall health and sense of well being.

Categorizing food as healthy or unhealthy can be trickier than you think.

Follow this general overview of the healthy food vs unhealthy food debate:

First lets start with the obvious. Any of the following food types are good for us in the respect of them containing good quality nutrition, low fat and are all natural food sources: Vegetables of all types, Poultry, Red Meat (in moderation), Dairy (in moderation) Seeds, Fruit and Nuts.

Evidently, it goes without saying that there will be many other foods not listed in the above categories. Also, depending on your Fitness goals, this would also affect what could rightfully be considered helpful towards you attaining your desired outcome. A Bodybuilder for example will require a great amount of Protein in comparison to a sedentary person.

The fact is though, that every single one of the above mentioned food types is a healthy option no matter who you are or whatever your Fitness goals. Make sure to consume each and every one of these on a regular basis.

In order to look at both sides of the coin, its also key to become educated around what foods to avoid if at all possible. Our healthy food vs unhealthy food debate now veers towards the less healthy food choices – some of which may surprise you!

The obvious candidates are fried food, anything with high levels of fat and if course junk food. The ones to really watch out for though are the better hidden – yet totally unhealthy additives that stay lurking in many of our daily food choices. Including but not limited to: Artificial flavors and preservatives, saturated Fats and Trans Fats.

So, thats the obvious offenders. Less conspicuously unhealthy – but bad for you in large quantities nonetheless is surprisingly for many, Fruits, Smoothies of all denominations and Fruit Juices. Although they all contain healthy vitamins, the large amounts of natural sugars which they contain means that they should only ever be consumed first thing in the morning an a completely empty stomach.

Now that you have some idea of which foods are healthy and which are not, how do you ensure that you are consuming more healthy food vs unhealthy food on a regular basis?

In order to reap the benefits of healthy Diet ad exercise regime consistency is your secret weapon. The real results will not come overnight. Instead they will be increased in a compound fashion over a long term basis. The opposite is true for those who continue to eat an unhealthy Diet for many years also. That is the reason why long term junk food addicts or people who consume Diets high in sugar run the risk of developing sugar Diabetes.

In order to maintain a positive balance of structured healthy eating, one of the best things you can do is to throw out all of your junky crisps, chocolates and other calorie dense snacks from your cupboards. Do it on one fell swoop and replace with healthier alternatives. It is still a good idea to keep one or two treats though, to be eaten as a kind of little reward for consistently healthy eating.

Another fantastic tip is to pre-prepare meals and take the guess work out of a healthy eating plan. By planning meals in advance, you will never be lost for idea or stuck for ingredients and tempted to dial in a take away.

Now, everybody slips up once in a while. Its a natural temptation considering we are constantly bombarded by advertisers on a daily basis, fast food, cakes, crisps and sweets. Don’t beat yourself up about this, just get back into a healthy eating regime as soon as possible. A little slip up here and there is fine, but dont turn a ‘cheat meal’ into a ‘cheat day.’

That being said, the cornerstone of healthy eating also comes down to the factor of portion size. Whether it is a healthy food or a unhealthy (but delicious treat) small portions eaten frequently throughout the day are always better than large meals. That way, the body will make best use of the nutrients available. Raising metabolism and burning more fat.

So now you know how to ensure that you eat more healthy food vs unhealthy food. You should be on your way to a healthier and happier sense of self and body image. Remember to drink plenty of water while you’re at it. Healthy eating is a long term strategy. Miracles do not happen overnight, but keep consistent and you will look and feel greater than ever before!

by Alan Javier

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