A healthy diet helps you to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, it takes lots of efforts to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine. Many people think that they can eat whatever they want if they exercise regularly. But, it’s simply a myth. Your diet is reflected on your body and physical and mental health. Neglecting your eating habits may prove fatal to you. In fact, your poor eating habits or tendency to overeat may result in becoming obese and prone to various physical or psychological situations such as depression, cancer, diabetes, and poor digestion. Therefore, it is important that you follow guidelines as listed below to maintain a healthy lifestyle:

1) Know your calorie intake

An average person should have at least 2,000 calories in a day. However, this count should go up if you are a sportsperson or go to the gym in order to meet your energy requirement. Your exact calorie intake is directly dependent on you gender, weight, height, and physical activity.

2) Eat different types of foods

Eat different types of foods including whole grains, proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Inability to have good amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet may result in various deficiencies.

3) Be a cautious buyer

Remember to check the food labels carefully when you shop for essential commodities. If a food item contains low amount of fat or sugar, it doesn’t mean that it is a healthier option for you. Many food manufacturers add various unhealthy ingredients to reduce fat, carbohydrates or sugar. Even a seemingly healthy food item may have been manufactured using a less healthy ingredient. For example, you should check whether whole wheat flour is the first ingredient in a whole wheat or whole grain bread. Also, you can ask for nutritional facts of your meal when you order food in a restaurant.

4) Eat smaller meals

If you eat 2-3 larger meals a day, your blood sugar level increases, which is likely to cause weight gain. On the other hand eating 5-6 smaller meals everyday helps you boost your metabolism and get required energy and nutrients to meet energy requirements.

5) Avoid eating junk food

Junk food is bad for your physical as well as mental health. People having junk food are often reported to feel more depressed. Other than this, they are likely to face lots of health problems in their life. So, avoid eating junk foods just for their taste. If you find it difficult to curb your temptation to have junk food, you can indulge in occasional pleasures, but never allow it become a habit!

Other than following these five tips, you can research on Internet to get tips on developing a healthier regimen. You can even seek online health guidance to devise healthier eating plans. Inform you family and friends and seek their support in order to follow by a healthier dietary routine. Your eating habits will surely be reflected on your health, so plan your diet carefully.

Helen R. Miller is a diet control fanatic, who has lost over 70 pounds of body fat. She shares her amazing story of how she did it through her weight and diet control blog.