If you want to live a long and happy life, it’s important to know how to take care of yourself. Your health is your top priority if you want to achieve success in all areas of your life. There are certain small improvements you can make that will have a huge impact. Here are tips to help you learn how to live a clean healthy life.
Choose Your Food Carefully
The first step in how to live a clean healthy life is to choose the food you eat carefully. Your body needs the proper fuel in order to function at optimal levels. However, less than 15% of adults eat the recommended amounts of vegetables and fruits they need on a daily basis. Focus on buying lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables over processed foods like frozen pizza. Fresh food can give your body the energy it needs while processed foods can make you feel drained after eating.
Read nutritional labels and avoid buying items high in sugar or with ingredients you don’t know what they are. Certain foods like cheese fries can contain trans fats that are associated with causing depression. Look for organic food that is free from toxic chemicals and pesticides. Stay away from food that is high in salt or carbohydrates. By eliminating junk food, you can look and feel better to improve your overall quality of life.
Cook at Home
One of the best ways on how to live a clean healthy life is to cook at home. This gives you better control over the ingredients and portion control. Restaurant meals are often high calorie and loaded with fat and sugar which isn’t good for you. You can make family meals fun and affordable at home by having themed nights like taco night. All you need is some wholesale tortillas, ground beef, taco seasoning, and your favorite toppings.
You can also make meals healthier by cooking them in cast iron cookware over nonstick cookware that contains harmful chemicals. Cast iron cookware can boost iron levels in food which can have a number of health benefits. Non stick cookware contains chemicals that research shows may be carcinogenic to humans. Cast iron cookware has a bit of a learning curve over nonstick cookware, however. You will need to learn how to season cast iron cookware properly to protect the metal from rusting over time.
Modify Old Recipes
Modifying old recipes with better ingredients can help you immensely in your quest for how to live a clean healthy life. By tweaking a few ingredients, you can make your favorite comfort foods more nutritious. For example, you can modify an old banana bread recipe by replacing the butter with peanut butter or applesauce. Mix in other fruits such as strawberries and blueberries. Replace a cup of sugar with one-fourth of a cup of honey. Instead of processed white flour, try using whole wheat flour or rolled oats.
Add in vegetables to all your meals as much as possible. Substitute Greek yogurt whenever you use sour cream. Choose low or reduced fat dairy products. You can swap beef or chicken with hearty beans such as legumes. Whenever you cook a recipe, look online to see if there’s a healthier substitute for the ingredients you’re using.
See a Diet Specialist
To learn more about how to live a clean healthy life, you may want to consider seeing a diet specialist. A registered dietician can help you plan nutritious meals that are ideal for your individual needs and lifestyle. If you have trouble losing weight or have a health condition, a dietician can help you identify areas of improvement so you can look and feel better. During your first visit, the dietician will ask about all the medications you are taking as well as other factors that may be affecting your health. You can make follow up appointments on a regular basis to help stay on track and pinpoint any potential pitfalls.
If you experience abdominal pain when you eat, you may want to consider seeing a gastrointestinal specialist. These doctors specialize in treating digestive issues caused by the foods you eat. They can also screen for colon cancer. The gastrointestinal specialist will be able to recommend preventative tips and treatment options to keep your digestive system functioning at optimal levels. You should plan to see one if you are over 50 years old or having issues with swallowing or abnormal bowel movements.
Source Ingredients Locally
Another great way for how to live a clean healthy life is to source ingredients locally. You can find many fresh organic ingredients at farm stands or farmers markets. Fresh eggs from pasture-raised poultry can be purchased from an Amish chicken coop. When buying meat or milk from local farms, inquire about how the animals are raised. Ideally, the healthiest animals will be pasture fed and allowed to free roam.
Get to know the growers and ask plenty of questions. If they don’t offer the ingredients you are looking for, they can often point you in the right direction to get the highest quality food. Make use of seasonal items to add more variety to your meal planning. You can save money by stocking up when items are in season and then canning or freezing them for future use. Make sure to wash all produce thoroughly before use.
Grow Your Own Produce
Starting a garden can boost your mood and go a long way in how to live a clean healthy life. It’s also a good form of exercise and can save you money in the long run. Think about the foods you enjoy on a daily basis. What ingredients could you grow yourself? You’ll also need to think about the amount of space you have for a garden.
If you don’t have a big yard, you can start small with a container garden in your kitchen with a few basic herbs or plants. The most cost-effective vegetables you may want to consider growing are tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes, broccoli, and asparagus. If you are growing outdoors, you may want to consider composting instead of buying commercial fertilizers. Make sure your garden has plenty of sunlight and water. Look for environmentally friendly ways to deal with pests to avoid using harmful pesticides.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
One of the biggest things that can negatively affect how to live a clean healthy life is alcohol addiction. Approximately 95,000 deaths each year are attributed to excessive alcohol use. You should not drink alcohol if you think you may be pregnant, are taking medications, or planning to drive. The recommended amounts of alcohol are one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. If you drink more than these amounts, there are things you can do to cut back on your consumption.
If you are going out with friends, take only a certain amount of cash to spend on alcoholic drinks. Drink a glass of water between alcoholic beverages. Swap out strong liquors for beverages with lower alcohol content. By limiting your alcohol consumption, your skin can look better and you can get more sleep each night. If you are having trouble limiting your alcohol consumption, you may want to seek professional help.
Create a Kitchen You Want to Cook In
When it comes to how to live a clean healthy life, you want to have a fantastic place to prepare nutritious meals. You may want to consider a kitchen renovation to give you the optimal space to work with. You don’t have to have a big kitchen to be a good cook, but you want to have it set up and organized to provide you with everything you need. Take a look at the layout of your kitchen. You’ll want to create a work zone that allows you to grab things from the fridge to take to the countertops and stove with little effort.
You can reduce kitchen clutter by installing pantry pullouts in your cabinets to give you extra storage space. You may also want deeper cabinets to store kitchen appliances and other items taking up valuable counter space. Consider having countertops made of granite to provide a stain-resistant and easy to clean surface. Installing energy-efficient appliances can help you save money each month. If you do a lot of entertaining, you may want to consider having a deep kitchen sink that can better hide dirty pots and pans.
Prep Meals in Advance
When it comes to how to live a clean healthy life, it can be hard to make good food choices when you lead a busy lifestyle. You can make things easier by prepping healthy meals in advance. Make a menu for the week of meals that can be easy to reheat. Chilis, pastas, and casseroles can stay fresh for several days. Look for ingredients such as rice and chicken that you can use in multiple types of dishes.
Take a day and cook up as many things as you can to use throughout the week. Start with foods like meats and vegetables that will take the most time to prep or cook. You can portion out meals and store them in plastic containers in your fridge or freezer. Make sure to label the containers with what’s inside and the date it was made. Put the food that is likely to go bad the fastest in front and at eye level so you won’t forget about it.
Practice Proper Food Safety
Food safety practices are essential when it comes down to how to live a clean healthy life. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before preparing any food. Sanitize countertop surfaces as well before using. Once a week, go through your fridge and throw out any food that should no longer be eaten. Rinse vegetables before cutting, cooking, or eating.
Always use separate cutting boards for meats and vegetables. Do not put cooked meat on a plate that had previously held raw meat. Make sure food is cooked to the proper temperatures by using a food thermometer. If cooked food has been sitting out for more than two hours, it’s best to throw it away. Keep your fridge at a temperature of 40 degrees or less to help prevent bacteria growth.
Pay Attention to the Calories You’re Drinking
Another important factor to consider for how to live a clean healthy lifestyle is paying attention to extra calories you may not notice. These extra calories are usually in the beverages you are drinking. Sodas and other caffeinated beverages can contain high amounts of sugar that can cause you to pack on extra pounds. Even drinks that you think are healthy such as smoothies can contain too much sugar and fat. You can cut down the calories by making your own instead of buying them premade.
Swap out these beverages with water. You can flavor your water with fruits, lemons, or limes to give it some extra flavor. Plan to drink at least eight glasses of water each day to help you stay hydrated. You can also choose water-based foods to snack on to keep you from feeling thirsty. Eat several small low-calorie meals throughout the day to help keep your energy levels up. This can help you avoid the temptation of reaching for sugary items that can cause your energy levels to crash and make you tire and irritable.
When it comes down to how to live a clean healthy life, it’s important to consider all the factors in your lifestyle. Eating healthy is just the beginning. Use these tips to help you get started and make gradual adjustments over time. Combine your efforts with plenty of exercise and rest to help your body perform at its best. You’ll be able to look and feel better as well as have more energy to do the things you love and need to do. Take action today to improve your nutritional habits to enjoy a long and happy life!