Feeling overwhelmed by all the diet and nutrition advice out there? You’re not alone. Television, newspapers, magazines, radio, the internet… everywhere you turn there are ads and articles telling you what you should and shouldn’t eat. Unfortunately, the information is often unproven, contradictory and just downright sketchy. It’s tempting to give up and give in to your sugar/salt/saturated fat cravings and let the chip crumbs fall where they may.
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But it’s a far better idea not to. A nutritious, well-balanced diet is important to health and well-being throughout the lifespan and helps us maintain strength, mobility and a good quality of life as we age. It’s never too late to make better food choices but some people try to do too much at once, which can lead to frustration and failure.
Take five for better health
Why not start with just a few changes, such as the five listed below? They’re simple, sensible and proven to help promote healthy aging based on research evidence from recent systematic reviews.
- Please pass (up) the salt
You’ve always heard that too much salt is bad for you. Now research confirms the benefits of cutting back: reducing your sodium intake will help lower your blood pressure, which in turn decreases your risk of heart disease. The main culprit is processed foods (1). - Nothing fishy about this advice
Another good way to promote heart health is to eat more salmon, mackerel, tuna and other fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. Don’t like fish? Try fish oil supplements. Research shows that people with high blood pressure who took fish oil supplements saw a small drop in their blood pressure readings (2). - Cut the (saturated) fat
When it comes to our diet, not all fat is created equal. Saturated fat – common in meat and dairy – is the one we need to be most concerned about. According to research, reducing the saturated fat in our daily diets and replacing some with healthier unsaturated fats – found in plant oils – can lower our risk of heart disease (3). - Go Mediterranean
Need the structure of a diet plan to stay on track? There are so many to choose from, ranging from the sensible to the bizarre. The Mediterranean diet is one of the former. It supports the other recommendations by encouraging people to eat more vegetables, fruit, fish, whole grains and unsaturated fats such as olive oil (4-7). A vegetarian diet is another option that emphasizes similar foods and plant-based fats and protein (8).
Diabetic? There is evidence that a Mediterranean diet can also improve your blood sugar, insulin and blood pressure levels as well as help you lose weight (6;7).
- Take care with your choice of tableware
For people who are overweight or at risk of obesity, reducing portion sizes can help cut down on un-needed calories. Did you know that the size of the plate, package or portion you are offered can influence how much food you eat and drink? Use a smaller plate and say no to ‘super-sized’ portions to help avoid the health risks associated with weight gain (9-11).
Small, steady improvements for long-term success
When you’re ready to make some healthy diet tweaks, the suggestions above are a good place to begin and can help get you on the right track without biting off more than you can chew (which is also another good eating tip). You can then incorporate additional nutrition and lifestyle changes as needed to help you achieve your own personal health goals.
It’s also a good idea to discuss your diet plan with your doctor, particularly if you have a chronic disease or other medical condition that can be affected by your diet.
