Eating the right foods for a healthy lifestyle play a crucial role in our daily performance. Depending on our food choices, they can either leave us feeling sluggish or energised.
Embracing the concept of biohacking your nutrition can reinforce healthy habits, regardless of whether you’re already health-conscious and follow a nutritious diet or if you’re on an unhealthy eating regimen and pay little attention to what you consume.
No matter where you stand, making specific nutritional adjustments can empower you to adopt healthier eating habits that will have a lasting impact on your well-being.
Balanced vs Monitored Eating
You can go down different paths when following a healthy food lifestyle. The balanced route where you consume a well-rounded supplement of the recommended healthy nutritional foods. The monitored solution of tracking everything you eat and only consuming the necessary foods for your body. Or maybe just somewhere in between.
The direction you take with your eating habits all depends on the outcomes you want for yourself. An elite athlete will require a different diet to a bodybuilder. So establishing your dietary goals of whether you want to lose fat, build muscle, or maintain your weight will help guide you in the right direction.
Breaking down Macronutrients
The basic rule of thumb is that if you want to lose weight – consume fewer calories, and if you want to gain weight – eat more calories. However, not all calories are created equal; each macronutrient has its calorie size and purpose for the body. You’ll want to digest a certain amount of Carbohydrates, Protein, and Fat depending on your nutritional goal.
- Carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram
- Proteins have 4 calories per gram
- Fats have 9 calories per gram
Enforce your digestive system with fresh foods
This is one Biohack that so many of us neglect. A healthy digestive system reflects on our overall health and promotes the smooth functioning of the rest of our body systems.
Vitamin supplements are great but they don’t come close to the powerful nutritional impact of fresh, natural foods.
This hack is simple: eat fresh foods every single day. Some excellent suggestions for digestion-promoting foods are:
- Fresh carrots or carrot juice for enforcing mucous membranes in the intestines.
- Oranges, fresh oregano, thyme, and ginger are great for reducing stomach gas.
- Celery promotes regular bowel movements and reduces constipation
- Chlorella, cranberries, blueberries, artichokes, and wheatgrass support the digestive process.
Get creative with Quinoa
Quinoa is one of the best superfoods you can put into your body. It is a South American grain that is considered one of the healthiest foods in the world.
Quinoa is packed with nutrients including copper, iron, vitamin B6, thiamine, magnesium, and phosphorus. It’s also considered gluten-free; however, be careful as it may contain the proteins that affect people with celiac disease.
Although quinoa is not palatable to everybody, there are many creative ways you can incorporate it into mouthwatering meals, such as adding it to stews and soups. Simply Google “Quinoa recipes” for hundreds of creative and delicious dishes.
Replace probiotics with pistachios
Probiotics are the rave these days, with many health-conscious people considering them an essential health supplement. However, Pistachios are an all-natural food that contains all the properties of probiotics.
Research has found that pistachios foster and promote the intestinal microbiome. They also balance cholesterol and reduce oxidative stress, leading to a healthy gut. They are also a great source of healthy fat and protein – and what’s more, everybody loves pistachios!
Track possible allergies
You may actually be mildly allergic to some foods without knowing it as the symptoms are so mild. However, your body will exert more energy to flush out the allergens, which takes its toll on your overall health.
Food allergies are caused by “biogenic amines” or “histamines found in certain foods. Symptoms of intolerance include mild to strong headache, fatigue, clouded thinking, and low energy.
Monitor yourself after consuming the following foods to see if you experience any of these symptoms:
- Processed meats (bacon, ham, pastrami, deli meats)
- Tomatoes
- Aged cheeses
- Eggplant
- Spinach
- Fermented foods
- Anchovies and sardines
- Alcoholic beverages and beer.
You may want to decrease or eliminate these foods from your diet for overall better health.
Be aware of the dangers of foil
Almost everyone uses foil for cooking without giving it a second thought. We use it to stew meat and poultry, we cover casseroles with it and sometimes use it to wrap and store food.
Cooking in foil, particularly with acidic or salty foods, can lead to a small amount of aluminium leaching into the food. However, the amount is generally considered safe and within the acceptable limits set by health authorities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that the daily intake of aluminium from food is usually negligible compared to other sources like antacids, aluminium-containing cookware, and some food additives.
Aluminium is bound throughout nature, it is found in water, air, and your food. In fact, it can provide great health benefits by providing a safe barrier to bacteria and contamination in food preservation. The problem only comes along in high doses, just like everything else that we consume.
If you have any concerns over the amount of aluminium intake you may be exposed to, you can try other alternatives. Use a pressure cooker, casserole dishes with oven-resistant covers, and use plastic wrap to cover or wrap food. Overall, while some aluminium may transfer to your food when cooking in foil, the levels are generally considered safe for most people. If you have specific health concerns or conditions that make you sensitive to aluminium, it’s best to consult with a healthcare professional.
Final thoughts on a Healthy Lifestyle
Discover the incredible power of small changes in your diet that can revolutionise your health and energy levels! Forget about strict diets and deprivation—these simple biohacks will have you feeling vibrant and nourished without the struggle.
Gone are the days of bland, boring “healthy” meals. With a plethora of delicious and nutritious options at your fingertips, eating well has never been more exciting. Plus, by fuelling your body with the right foods, you’ll supercharge your immune system and set yourself up for long-lasting success. Say goodbye to temporary fixes and hello to a vibrant, permanent lifestyle upgrade!
Are you eating the right foods to maintain a healthy lifestyle? 🍏🥦🥗
Which healthy food has made the biggest impact on your lifestyle? 🍓🥑🍇