Hey Mount Pleasant and Charleston DUFFNATICS! Last week we blogged about 5 health myths that can DERAIL your DIET and thus SABOTAGE any progress you may have made at working out at the gym!
This week, we’re focusing on the positive and listing the TOP 5 HEALTH TRUTHS TO LIVE BY!Read on to see our favorite Internet experts have to say:
Health Truth #1: There Is No Perfect Diet for Everyone
HealthLine explains, “We are all unique… and subtle differences in genetics, body type, culture and environment can affect which type of diet we should eat.Some people do best on a low-carb diet while others may do fine on a vegetarian high-carb diet. The fact is, what works for one person may not work for the next. To figure out what you should do, a little self experimentation may be needed. Try a few different things until you find something that you enjoy and that you think you can stick to. Different strokes for different folks!”
Health Truth #2: Exercise Boosts Brainpower
WebMD gets heady with this proven fact about working out explained by David Atkinson, Director of Program Development for Cooper Ventures in Dallas: “Not only does exercise improve your body, it helps your mental function…Exercise increases energy levels and increases serotonin in the brain, which leads to improved mental clarity. All that makes for a more productive day.”
Health Truth #3 Exercise improves mood
The Mayo Clinic goes beyond the brain and makes it about mood: “Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A gym session or brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.”
Health Truth #4 Variety, Balance and Moderation are Keys to Healthy Eating
LiveStrong takes it to the plate by explaining that variety isn’t just the spice of life, it’s a key to happiness: “Variety, balance and moderation are three of the most important concepts to keep in mind for healthy eating. Eating a wide variety of foods can help you to obtain as many nutrients as possible and keep your diet interesting Balanced diets include the right amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and other nutrients important to health. Balanced meal plans can help you avoid overloading on one nutrient while neglecting another. Moderation is the ability to recognize your body’s hunger and fullness cues. By focusing on moderation, you can avoid eating too little or eating too much.”
Health Truth #5 Soft Drinks Sabotage Your Diet
DoSomething.org boils it down to this: ”One can of soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar and the average American adult drinks 500 cans of soda every year, estimating about 52 pounds of sugar consumed in soft drinks alone.” Think of how many burpees it would take to work off all of that sugar!
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