Thursday, January 21, 2016

Women's Healthy Weight Day

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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