No matter what your fitness/health goals are good choices relating to the foods you eat will be pivotal in your success. The foods you eat and your attitude to food in general can make or break you! So with the importance of good nutritional habits in mind heres four quick principles to think about....
1. Plenty of Water!
The importance of water cannot be overstated. A massive 60% of our bodie's are made up of water and while we can live without food for anywhere up to a month without water we wouldn't last a week. A loss of water even as low as 2% of our bodyweight can severly compromise our physical and mental performance. Caffeine, alcohol and even some sports drinks can further lead to dehydration. For this reason proper hydration is essential, especially for those partaking in strenuous physical activity. We should all aim to take in an absolute minimum of 2 litres of water a day and anywhere up to 4-5 litres depending on bodyweight, humidity and activity.
2. Eat like a caveman!
A good rule of thumb when looking to distinguish 'good' food's from 'bad' is to think like a caveman! If the food doesn't grow or eat something that grows then don't eat it! Our ancestors lived off of fish, meats, fruit, vergetables and nuts. Modern day food's are filled with salt, sugar, additives and preservatives that do our bodies no good. It is said that on average 60% of what we ingest everyday we were never meant to consume! Members of the few tribes left in the world who follow a 'cave man' diet are said to have exceptional health, strong bones, healthy skin and teeth etc. By eating natural whole foods we fuel our body's with nutrient rich foods as opposed to eating 'empty calories' in junk foods that quickly lead us to crash and feel tired and miserable.
A good rule of thumb when looking to distinguish 'good' food's from 'bad' is to think like a caveman! If the food doesn't grow or eat something that grows then don't eat it! Our ancestors lived off of fish, meats, fruit, vergetables and nuts. Modern day food's are filled with salt, sugar, additives and preservatives that do our bodies no good. It is said that on average 60% of what we ingest everyday we were never meant to consume! Members of the few tribes left in the world who follow a 'cave man' diet are said to have exceptional health, strong bones, healthy skin and teeth etc. By eating natural whole foods we fuel our body's with nutrient rich foods as opposed to eating 'empty calories' in junk foods that quickly lead us to crash and feel tired and miserable.
3. Never skip breakfast!
You've been told it since you were a kid and for good reason! Breakfast IS the most important meal of the day. When you skip breakfast you'll undoubtedly become tired much earlier when your brain and body run low on fuel. Ideally you should look to combine a complex (slow digesting) carbohydrate like oatmeal or bran with a clean protein like eggs or a protein shake. Add a piece of fruit and your starting your day with the best foot forward!
You've been told it since you were a kid and for good reason! Breakfast IS the most important meal of the day. When you skip breakfast you'll undoubtedly become tired much earlier when your brain and body run low on fuel. Ideally you should look to combine a complex (slow digesting) carbohydrate like oatmeal or bran with a clean protein like eggs or a protein shake. Add a piece of fruit and your starting your day with the best foot forward!
4. Regular Meals
Many are skeptical when they hear that eating five to six meals a day proves much more effective in improving physical performance, aiding weight loss and improving overall health than the conventional three meals we are raised on. Feeding your body six small meals a day effectively teaches your body that more food is on the way and your metabolism will speed up so more calories will be burnt. So on top of breakfast, lunch and dinner you might add two to three smaller meals during the day to ensure your eating something every two to three hours and your body is burning calories at an accellerated pace!
Many are skeptical when they hear that eating five to six meals a day proves much more effective in improving physical performance, aiding weight loss and improving overall health than the conventional three meals we are raised on. Feeding your body six small meals a day effectively teaches your body that more food is on the way and your metabolism will speed up so more calories will be burnt. So on top of breakfast, lunch and dinner you might add two to three smaller meals during the day to ensure your eating something every two to three hours and your body is burning calories at an accellerated pace!
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