Health and Wellbeing

Do You Know What You Ate Today?

Weird question you might say but each day we are eating more than they think they are. For most of us, this is really important as a healthy lifesytle also has alot to do with what we eat. If you are trying for a baby, concerned about your influence what your children eat or simply trying to stay heathly, here are some changes to consider.

Know and aim to reach your ideal body weight

To do this you need to know what your Body Mass Index (BMI) is. BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. When you know what your ideal weight is then you can begin to make changes to help you reach your goal.

 Start and follow a healthy eating pattern

Healthy eating means eating a balanced diet and avoiding foods high in fat and sugar. It is recommended that we eat a variety of foods daily:

• Fruit and vegetables - these can be fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or a glass of juice. Aim for at least five portions a day.

• Carbohydrate foods such as bread, rice, yam, pasta and potatoes.

• Protein such as lean meat and chicken, fish, eggs and pulses (beans and lentils).

• Fish, at least twice a week, including some oily fish, but don't have more than two portions of oily fish a week. This includes fresh tuna (not canned tuna, which does not count as oily fish), mackerel, sardines and trout.

• Dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yoghurt, which contain calcium.

• Iron rich foods, such as red meat, pulses, dried fruit, bread, green vegetables and fortified breakfast cereals, to build up your resources of iron especially if you are preparating for pregnancy. 

Take a vitamin supplement

While you can meet almost all your nutritional needs through a balanced diet, some experts believe that even the healthiest eaters could do with some extra help. Just as long as you remember that a supplement is a safeguard, not a substitute for a sound diet. Visit a local pharmacist and get help in choosing a supplement that contains about 100 per cent of the RDA (recommended daily allowance) so that it does not contain mega doses of vitamins or minerals.  

Cut back on achohol

If your drinking habits leave something to be desired - and many people's do - you'll have to make some adjustments. Here's some solid advice: cut out or only occasionally drink alcohol.  The risk of heavy or binge drinking far outweighs the pleasures.

Quit Smoking

Almost everyone knows that smoking and a healthy lifestyle do not go together. But if all the reasons to quit are not enough, you also put the lies of those you love as risk when you smoke. They are as liable to the same consequences as you are through secondhand and thirdhand smoking.

Get some exercise

Drive less. Ride a bike. Take a walk. Exercising does not have to be done at the gym and you will be amazed how just a few planned physical activities can make a huge difference to your health and wellbeing.

Whatever you do, as long as you do it in moderation and seek medical advice when needed, you should be on your way to a much healthier happier you.

Useful Links
Online Body Mass Index Calculator
Know Your Recommended Dietary Allowance