Healthy Habit No. 9: Snack the Healthy Way
The ADA recommends five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day as part of a healthy diet. These plant foods can do many things, including:
- Reduce the risk of some cancers
- No more signs of aging
- Improve memory reminding
- Promote heart health
- Enhance the immune system
One way to incorporate fruits and veggies into your diet is to have them as snacks. “If you can do one thing [to improve your health], concentrate on getting fruits and veggies,” says Johnson. “They are low in calories and high in nutrients.”
The best time to snack is when you are hungry between meals, says Johnson. But beware: Cravings could easily be mistaken for hunger cues, especially for people who are dieting.
Healthy Habit No. 10: Drink Water and Eat Dairy
The body needs water to keep properly hydrated. Joints need it to stay in motion, and vital organs such as the heart, brain, kidney, and liver need it to work properly.
If you don’t get enough water, the body goes into emergency mode, and clings to every single water molecule it can find. The stored molecules appear as extra weight. The weight is only released once the body gets enough water.
The calcium in dairy, is known to be important for strong bones and teeth. Studies have also shown it can help prevent high blood pressure, kidney stones, heart disease, and colon cancer.
