Implement These Dietary Changes and Feel Better Today
We all want to eat more healthily, but giving up our favorite treats can be difficult. Fortunately, there’s no need to completely forgo snacks and treats, delicious spreads, nor maple syrup. All you need to do is to cleverly substitute certain foods. These 12 minor adjustments will let you enjoy treats that are similar in both flavor and texture to your favorite snacks, and the best part – they make a world of difference when it comes to a healthy lifestyle.
1. Protect Your Heart: Replace Pretzels with Pistachios
If you’re in the mood for a salty healthy snack that is both crunchy and
delicious, there’s no need to reach for those pretzels, which are full
of empty calories. Instead, opt for a small bowl of pistachios. Studies
have found that daily consumption of 1.4oz (40g) of pistachios reduces
the risk of a heart attack thanks to their healthy levels of “good”
cholesterol (HDL). Pistachios are beneficial for diabetics, they boost
the immune system, and, with their high levels of Vitamin E, do wonders
for your skin.
2. Watching Your Weight: Substitute Diet Coke with Ice Tea
Do you think drinking diet sodas will help you lose weight? A recent
study held at the University of Texas found that people who drank Diet
Coke regularly for ten years experienced a 70% increase in waist size.
The researchers concluded that Diet Coke makes people want to eat more
and that the average consumer of Diet Coke has worse eating habits when
compared to people who avoid sodas altogether. If you still crave a
sweet beverage, pour yourself a cup of iced green tea. Green tea is rich
in antioxidants, which help you stay younger and protect you from
cancer.
3. Stronger Bones: Substitute Spinach for Kale
If you’re in the mood for some healthy greens, forget spinach and grab a box of kale. You can substitute them 1:1, but kale is richer in antioxidants, as well as bone-building vitamin K. Kale also contains phytochemicals that aid in the fight against colon, breast, and cervical cancer.
4. Prevent Stomach-ache Illnesses: Replace Sour Cream with Greek Yogurt
Whether you want a delicious topping for your baked potato, or you’re
simply a sour-cream lover, try substituting it with Greek Yogurt. Both
products enjoy that delicious tartness. However, one cup of Greek yogurt
contains 20% of your daily dosage of calcium, compared to 1% in sour
cream. The yogurt also contains 20 grams of protein, while the cream
contains only 8 grams. Furthermore, Greek yogurt is rich in probiotics,
which help your body fight diseases and aid in the digestion process.
5. Better Nutritional Values: Choose Chicken Drumsticks over Breasts
Chicken breasts are lower in calories and fat, but the drumsticks have a
higher nutritional value. The drumsticks contain much more iron, which
helps your red blood cells distribute oxygen throughout your body; zinc,
which helps the immune system; and vitamin A, which is essential for
the health of your eyes.
6. Cancer Protection: Choose Red Bell Peppers
When compared to its green and yellow counterparts, red bell peppers contain three times as much nutritional fiber, eight times more vitamin A, and 60% more vitamin C. In addition, red bell peppers contain a pigment called beta-cryptoxanthin. Studies show that regular consumption of beta-cryptoxanthin reduces the risk of developing lung cancer by 27%.
7. Balance Your Cholesterol: Choose Avocado Over Mayonnaise
Avocado has a creamy texture that is similar to mayo, but unlike mayo, it is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, which boosts brain functions, lowers “bad” cholesterol (LDL), and helps prevent heart diseases.
8. Breast Cancer Prevention: Use Quinoa as a Starch
Half a cup of quinoa contains eight grams of iron, more than any other grain, as well as magnesium and fibers. Studies indicate that a fiber-rich diet lowers excess levels of estrogen in women, thus reducing the risk of developing breast cancer.
9. Preventing Alzheimer’s: Go for the Trout, Not the Cod
While salmon gets all the credit when it comes to Omega 3, trout, which
is from the same family, is just as rich in Omega 3. In fact, one
serving of trout contains as much as 200% of your daily Omega 3 needs.
Omega 3 was shown to be beneficial to the heart, memory, and brain
functions, as well as slowing the development of Alzheimer’s disease
10. Dealing with Diabetes: Use Real Maple Syrup
It is true that the maple-flavored syrups are sweeter, cheaper, and thus
more tempting, but they also contain an extensive list of industrial
additives, high levels of processed sugar or corn syrup, and various
other chemicals. In comparison, pure maple syrup is a natural substance,
produced from the sap of the maple tree, and contains more than 20
kinds of antioxidants, and helps reduce the risk of diabetes.
11. Breast Cancer Prevention: Substitute Chewing Gum with Parsley
If you like to end your meal with the fresh taste of gum, you will do
better to chew on a little bit of parsley instead. Parsley is one of the
most effective breath fresheners, and has many other benefits, such as
the ability to stop the development of breast cancer, according to a
study from Missouri University.
12. Maintain a Healthy Liver: Eat the Whole Egg, Not Just the White
Many people abstain from eating egg yolk, fearing that it is too high in
cholesterol, but the yolk is actually rich in choline – a water-soluble
nutrient that the body requires for the production of various
compounds. Additionally, choline can also prevent the accumulation of
cholesterol and fat in the liver.