Donuts, pizza, and ice cream, oh my! While these are tasty
indulgences, eating these nutrient-lacking foods too often may bloat your
thighs. Today, on Women’s Healthy Weight Day, in the middle of Healthy Weight
Week, we will discover some ways to maintain a healthy weight without feeling
like you are depriving yourself of comfort food completely.
Maintaining a healthy weight is a key component of disease
prevention and overall health. According to the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services’ National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, maintaining a
healthy weight hinges mainly on exercise and a healthy diet.
Physical activity is important in a healthy lifestyle. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest exercising for 150
minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity
activity, or an equivalent combination of the two each week to maintain a
healthy weight. If traditional exercise, like running on a treadmill doesn’t
jive with you, try “disguising” your exercise in the form of an activity you
enjoy, like swimming, playing a sport, or even dancing.
A balanced diet will also aid in the preservation of a
healthy weight. The CDC recommends a healthy diet that emphasizes
fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk
products; includes lean meats, poultry, fish,
beans, eggs, and nuts; is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt
(sodium), and added sugars; and stays within your daily calorie needs.
You may notice that donuts, pizza,
and ice cream don’t exactly make the top of the “healthy foods” list. However,
that doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite comfort foods all together!
The CDC concedes to the eating of these types of foods, but less often and in
smaller portions. So, if you have your heart set on that candy bar, try opting
for the bite sized version to satisfy your sweet tooth without going overboard.
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