Healthy Choices

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

This article is about health food, particularly processed foods. Processed foods are foods that have been treated to make them more convenient, improve taste and preserve. Whole foods are foods which stay close to their original state. As in an apple over an apple pie, or whole meal flour over white flour. The problem is that the processed foods spike your blood sugar and then a bit later you come down. Whereas the whole foods tend to keep your blood sugar stable, so you should also see an improvement in your moods and energy levels. 

One of the best things you can do for your health is eliminate unhealthy foods, such as processed foods, sugars, and saturated fats. After you've read this article go to you pantry and throw away all the unhealthy food. 

• Swap white pasta with whole meal pasta.

• Stop eating sugar altogether. Replace sugar with stevia. A little bit of honey or fruit is okay. 

• Swap out ramen with brown rice pre-cooked sachets or cooked rice. 

• Swap white bread with whole meal or wholegrain bread, including rolls.

• Swap biscuits with homemade cookies made of whole meal flour, cocoa, dark chocolate chips and other health conscious additions. 

• With white flour as in  cakes etc. Make your own cakes out of whole meal flour, and stevia. If you're vegan use vegan egg mix for the cake. A little bit of icing sugar is okay for the occasional treat.

• Swap out white rice with brown rice. 

• Swap Ice-cream with natural yoghurt

• With soft drink, drink diet soft drinks, water, blackcurrant syrup or the occasional fruit juice.

• Swap vegetable oils and other oils with olive oil. 

• For butter, use cholesterol lowing spread, nut-butter or olive-oil butter. Use sparingly as these spreads contain trans-fats 

• Watch your take-out. Most fast food is full of processed ingredients and saturated fats. Always check the menu for the healthiest choices. 

• Swap quick oats with steel cut oats. Soak your oats overnight to improve nutrition. 

• Don't eat too many baked potatoes. 

• Other ideas are to make things like bread, cakes and biscuits from scratch so that you know what you're putting into your body. 

• And above all eat plenty of fruits and veggies. 

The thing we are aiming for is eating foods with a low glycemic index such as  fruits and veggies, beans, unprocessed grains, pasta, low-fat dairy, and nuts. Plus eating foods that are higher in nutrients. And we are avoiding processed foods, sugars and fats. By doing this you should find you feel healthier, with more stable moods and improved blood sugar levels, and maybe even weight loss. Try your best to make the right choices, eat everything with a healthy conscience and your body will thank you!