7 Ways to Eat Healthier RIGHT NOW

Go Green!

If eating the right stuff was easy and delicious, everyone would be doing it. Honestly, half the time I'm only working out and burning all those calories so I can eat more.

Today's post is a guest blog by my girl Jaime -- if you have questions you'd like answered or a topic you want to post about, email me

Have you wanted to eat healthier but you’re just not sure where to start? This short beginner’s guide can help get you on your way to eating healthier, losing weight, and improving your sense of well-being.

Ditch Diet Fads: Eat Healthier to Get Skinny Trying to lose weight on fad diets and diet pills never works. The secret to getting skinny is a healthy diet. When you eat healthy, you give your body the nutrition it needs to function at its best. Whole foods are filled with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats that keep you full, nourished, and satisfied. Eat Nutrient Rich: Healthier Foods Improve Your Mental Health Mood swings, insomnia, depression, and anxiety are common 21st century health problems. When you eat healthier, you not only have a healthier body but a more stable emotional state. In this day and age where the Standard American Diet is the norm, millions of people are living with multiple vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Vitamin D, omega 3, B vitamin, and magnesium deficiency can all contribute to the symptoms of mental illness. When you eat nutrient-dense foods, you’ll enjoy an overall sense of well-being and calm. Become a Label-Reader So many people shop by look and taste. They like the way the product looks on the bag or box and they’re addicted to the taste. Few people turn over a food product to look at the ingredients. One of the easiest ways to eat healthier is to become a label-reader. Force yourself to turn each package over and read the ingredients carefully. You’ll be amazed at some of the additives, preservatives, and chemicals in the food you eat every day.

High fructose corn syrup, for example, has been clinically-proven to cause obesity. Aspartame, commonly found in soda, is a potent neurotoxin. BHT and BHT, often found in breakfast cereal, is a known carcinogen. Soy lecithin, an emulsifier found in many pre-packaged foods, is over 90% GMO-derived, which means you’re eating pesticides in every bite!

Shop the Perimeter of the Grocery Store When you want to eat healthier, you've got to know how to shop. The next time you go to the grocery story, shop the perimeter first. Pick up your organic vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products -- and then duck into the aisles to pick up some nuts, beads, and whole grains. This way, you’ll be less tempted to grab those impulse buys just because the picture on the package looks tempting. Eat Organic A healthier diet means eating organic whenever possible. This is especially important when it comes to meat, poultry, and fish. Conventionally-raised meat products are pumped full of growth hormones and antibiotics that may cause serious health problems such as diabetes, thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, and cancer. Plan Meals Ahead of Time When you have healthy food in the house, you eat healthy food. This is why, to eat healthier, you should plan your meals. Before you head out to shop, look over some healthy recipes first, then write down the ingredients you’ll need. Organic apples, nut butters, string cheese, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and hummus make excellent guilt-free snack foods. Stop Drinking Soda One of the easiest ways to improve your diet is to stop drinking soda. High fructose corn syrup and aspartame are horrible. Just giving up this one thing can help you lose several pounds -- in a single week. Soda can be very addictive so taper off slowly, especially if you like the caffeinated kind, or you’ll end up with withdrawal headaches.

Just remember that processed food withdrawal does exist. You’ll have cravings but you can do it. Drink plenty of water, get lots of rest, and keep some organic dark chocolate to boost your mood and a small bag of organic potato chips for those sudden salt cravings.

When you eat healthier, you feel better. Those aches, pains, and sudden mood swings will start to disappear while a whole new world of health emerges.  

Jaime A. Heidel is a professional freelance writer with a passion for natural health. Her articles have been published on dozens of natural health websites including: AskDrMaxwell.com