Ten Steps to a Healthy Diet

Whether you’re seriously ill with a life-threatening disease or feeling fit as a fiddle, it is of fundamental importance to have a healthy diet. Recent research has provided considerable support for some traditional advice, such as the importance of drinking water and eating fruit and vegetables, while also revealing the dangers of consuming certain commonly-available food products.

After studying the research, I’ve compiled my top ten tips for a healthy diet. Don’t worry if you can’t face following them all at once – you can follow them in steps, and very soon you’ll be maximising your body’s ability to function efficiently, ward off disease and heal itself.

Drink plenty of water You’ve heard it before: we’re composed of 70 to 80% water – it’s true! Water plays a myriad of roles, so aim to drink around 2 litres a day.
Eat plenty of fruit and veg High in fibre, essential vitamins, minerals and disease-fighting antioxidants, fruit and veg are without doubt the healthiest foods on the planet!
Buy local produce Not only does this support the local economy, but the produce is likely to be fresher and richer in nutrients than produce shipped half way round the world!
Try a fish dish As well as providing us with nucleic acids needed for our cells, fish naturally provide oils that neutralise harmful free radicals in the body.
Cut down on dairy Research shows that cows’ milk - while extremely good for baby cows - can be harmful to humans. ‘But what about calcium?’ Don’t worry, we get it from the same place that cows get it – leafy green plants - for cows the plants are grass, for us they’re vegetables!
Cut down on sugar Sugar can damage health because it imbalances the levels of minerals in the body and suppresses the immune system.
Cut down on saturated fats Equally destructive are saturated fats and oils, such as those in animal fat, as well as ones in junk, processed and fast foods. The end product of their digestion is free radicals, which can cause cancer.
Avoid food additives The majority of additives provide no nutritional benefits, just cosmetic ones like changing the colour or taste of food, and they can actually be quite harmful.
Cut down on salt We get all the sodium we need from a balanced diet. Unfortunately, the extra that we get from prepared foods is unnecessary and can increase blood pressure and the chance of a stroke.
Strive for an alkalising diet The body performs best when slightly alkaline (a pH of 7.4), but most Western diets contain an abundance of acid-forming foods like cakes, chocolate, crisps and fast food. Try to consume alkalising food like fruit, vegetables, millet, cracked nuts and seeds.

If you’d like to see all of these tips incorporated into a set of delicious weight loss meals delivered to your door, why not book a Nutrichef meal plan today! Please note that we also specialise in healthy snacks and healthy meals for sports training.