It is not always easy to make wise and healthy choices when it comes to our lifestyle. It requires dedication and sometimes perseverance, but you do get a grateful and healthy body and energy in return. Integrate the ways below into your life as much as possible, so that it becomes part of your routine.
1. The 80/20 rule. If you make healthy choices eighty percent of the time, you can eat things twenty percent of the time that might not be good for your health, but you enjoy eating them so much! And that is also worth a lot!
2. Eat more vegetable. Choose plant products more often. It is better for your health, the environment and the animals.
3. Vegetable proteins. Add vegetable proteins such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, hummus, tofu, tempeh, nuts and seeds to every meal. Or opt for a vegetable protein shake.
4. Eat mindfully. And ideally accompanied by others, but in any case not in front of the television or behind your computer.
5. Eat more fiber. Fibers ensure a flexible stool, they also give volume to the stool and ensure that the intestines keep moving. If you often eat plant-based, fortunately you already get a lot of fiber. Fiber is found in vegetables, fruit, grains, legumes, seeds and nuts.
6. Drink enough. This is important because of the previous tip, because fiber absorbs a lot of moisture so it is important that you drink enough water and tea, and every now and then a cup of coffee. Do you find it difficult to drink water? Flavor it with fresh fruit.
7. Choose whole foods. Avoid products that contain artificial fragrances, colors, flavors and preservatives and are made in a factory. Choose pure, fresh and unprocessed products in their original form.
8. Good fats. Add avocado, coconut, nut butters, tahini, chia seeds, broken flax seeds, walnuts or hemp seeds to your diet and/or take an omega-3 supplement.
9. Supplements. Supplement your diet with supplements such as vitamin C, vitamin D3 and multivitamin to support your immune system.
10. Meal prepping. By planning meals you eat healthier. Take the time to think about your lunch and dinner for the coming week and put together a shopping list so that you also make good choices when shopping.
11. Choose organic. Buy your fruit and vegetables from organic farmers as much as possible, because of pesticides that affect our hormone balance. Check the annual Dirty Dozen list for the products you want to buy organic or avoid altogether.
12. Avoid refined sugars. Opt for natural options such as dates, honey or agave syrup or organic coconut sugar and avoid artificial sweeteners.
13. Get enough sleep. Get to sleep about 7 to 9 hours a night. The body recovers during your sleep and this is important for your nervous system and metabolism, among other things.
14. Relaxation. Relax with a book, a walk in nature or a good laugh with a friend. It all falls under the indispensable factor: relaxation.
15. Move! Ideally, you exercise for at least 30 minutes a day in the form of walking or cycling, but also alternate with cardio, yoga or weight training.
16. Meditate and mindfulness. Finally, mental health is also very important to feel good about yourself. It has been scientifically proven that you become more resilient and happier by meditating daily. Just like practicing mindfulness, which means being present in the moment.