Living Better

Because looking good is feeling good

THE GOOD DIET

Forget Jenny Craig or any of the prepackaged “healthy” meals. The key to a good diet (the perfect supplement to an exercise routine) is varying your intake. Just mix it up a little bit, while cutting down on fats and unhealthy foods. Why go out of your way to avoid the guilty pleasures that taste so good? Your physical health, your mental health, and your life are three pretty good reasons. Being overweight (or underweight) can lead to severe health issues. Overweight or obese individuals are far more susceptible to heart disease, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems, gallbladder problems, and arthritis.

The physical health risks of a bad diet are immense, but equally as important are the self image issues as a result of an unhealthy diet. As a little girl, I was always a little overweight. I felt bad for myself, but never did anything about it. McDonalds was my favorite food and a quart of ice cream was an after school snack. I was unhappy with the way I looked and my actions reflected this mentality. My girlfriends would go to bars and clubs in mini skirts and little tank tops, while I would bundle up in attractive, yet concealing clothing. It finally took an intense depression to convince me to make some major changes to my lifestyle and changing my diet made a huge difference.

The major trend in a healthy diet is to eat more fruits and vegetable and fewer fatty foods. In addition, try to eat more colorful vegetables (dark greens and oranges), fruits, whole grains, and dairy products. Try to avoid foods that are high in fat, highly processed, contain added sugars, and an unnecessarily high number of calories. Make sure to consume food from all the different food groups and to vary the types of food within each group. For more about maintaining a healthy diet from the United States Government, read the 2005 Dietary Guidelines.