A chaotic lifestyle, a frenetic daily routine, stress and anxiety are some of the reasons that can make people embrace some bad eating habits that can seriously harm their health, figure and can also encourage the aging process. Even though some of these habits might look rather ‘inoffensive’, in fact, their effects might be utterly dangerous. Besides the food choices we make, we are also used to follow a certain ‘tradition’ and a set of rules that can have a negative impact upon our life. From unconscious snacking and starving yourself to skipping breakfast or having a heavy meal before going to bed, take a look at some of the most unhealthy eating habits and learn how to eat better every day in order to stay young and healthy.
Skipping breakfast
People are probably tired of this same old song saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Still, one cannot imagine that taking time to have a nutritious breakfast every morning can be extremely helpful for your health. Now, why is breakfast so beneficial? First of all, breakfast helps you when you want to lose weight. How? Well, studies show that the fat burning process is most active in the morning, while fat storage in the evening. Therefore, eating a healthy breakfast will not just help you start your day optimistically, but it will boost your metabolism to burn fat and calories. You don’t have to overeat in the morning, but have something such as fruits and vegetables, whole grain foods, skim yoghurt or milk.
Heavy meals before bed
It is well known the fact that there are foods that help you sleep better and others that may cause serious problems and even interrupt sleep. Moreover, if you have a large, heavy dinner before bed, your body might not be able to burn all the food and will turn it into fat. However, this doesn’t mean you have to go to sleep on an empty stomach. Eat vegetables and lean protein with at least three hours before bed and avoid foods high in sugars and carbohydrates.
Unhealthy and compulsive snacking
Snacking between meals has become a bad eating habit due to all the unhealthy choices people make when it comes to their snack box. The most popular choices are chips, doughnuts, pretzels, cookies, or other delicious baked foods. We all know that controlling your cravings and finding the best solution for healthy snacking can be a real challenge. Still, in order to keep your energy high and avoid overeating, it is essential to go for nutritious and filling snacks such as fruits, whole-grain crackers, celery sticks and hummus, a yoghurt, baby carrots, or a handful of almonds. Also, remember not to have compulsive snacks whenever feeling stressed or bored.
Eating quickly
Did you ever observe the way you eat? If not, next time take a closer look and make sure you enjoy food and eat at a leisurely pace. Scientists say that eating quickly is one of the main reasons of obesity and gaining weight. Since the brain needs about 15 to 20 minutes to send the signal of fullness, by eating rapidly you just overeat and therefore you end up consuming more calories. So, break this unhealthy habit and try to force yourself to eat slowly.
Not drinking enough water
Water is vital. This is one crucial thing to keep in mind if you want to stay young and healthy. Every single cell in your body needs water in order to function properly. Fatigue, migraine, dry skin, kidney problems, and irregular blood pressure are some of the effects of dehydration. Water also has an array of health benefits. It helps you lose weight, makes your skin look younger and healthier, helps digestion, relieves fatigue and migraines, and it also reduces the risk of bladder and colon cancer. Experts suggest that an average person should drink at least 2 liters daily (eight cups). Avoid drinking water before, while or immediately after eating, or just before going to bed. Also, when feeling hungry, instead of starting to eat, grab a glass of water as this might be a sign of dehydration.
Starving yourself
Starving yourself is one of the most terrible habits as it can have disastrous results on a long run. Even though cutting out calories will lead to immediate weight loss, when starting to eat regularly your body will not be able to burn all the food and therefore will store it as fat. In order to support vital functions such as breathing, pumping blood, or cellular repair, a woman needs 1,200 calories daily and a man, 1,500 calories. Starving yourself causes nutritional deficiencies, weakness, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, and depression, while on a longer period of time it leads to organ failure and even death. So, with so many healthy options available on the market, there’s no need to compromise one’s health with such extreme solutions.
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