Hindering Your Diet with Healthy Foods
By Donna Kostiew
“You can never have too much of a good thing.” How many times have you heard that? And wouldn’t it be nice if it really was possible? Unfortunately, it’s not always true because too much of a good thing can often have negative consequences. Too much wine can keep us in bed the next day. Too much sun will have us running to the drugstore to buy aloe. Too much dessert means we may end up shopping for larger clothing sizes.
But dessert isn’t the only type of food that we can have too much of, which brings me to the other saying … “everything in moderation.” Oftentimes, we overindulge on what we think is a great healthy choice when, in reality, it might actually be setting us back in our weight loss or fitness goals.
Eating in Moderation
There are certain foods that obviously need to be eaten in moderation and that don’t need to be mentioned here (think candy, pizza, alcohol). But there are some that we wouldn’t necessarily be worried about because we consider them to be super healthy. And they are healthy. But only when consumed in moderation.
- Granola – Granola can be wonderful for digestion and heart health, but unfortunately, it’s ridiculously easy to eat more than a single serving which can load up your calorie intake. Remember, a serving size is usually just 1/4 of a cup.
- Dried fruit – Most health or nutrition experts advise us to eat more veggies and fruit, but this advice doesn’t apply to the dried variety. Although dried fruit is generally a good source of Vitamin A, potassium, and fiber, a healthy portion of it is only 1/4 of a cup. Consuming more than that will increase the risk of going overboard on sugar and calories.
- Protein bars – These are great for a little pick-me-up while out on a hike, but not as ideal for an everyday snack, especially if you are consuming the ones that are loaded with sugars and artificial ingredients. Protein bars that are made with quality ingredients are a better choice.
- Juice – Be careful with your store-bought juice because many are filled with added sugars or are made with concentrate rather than fresh juice. And be mindful of how much juice you add to your smoothies if you want to keep your caloric intake down.
- Avocado – Yes, it’s a healthy fat and is good for us, but you still need to watch how many you eat. Keep this in mind; if you consume a lot, you will also consume a lot of calories and will increase your saturated fat intake as well.
Rotate Your Foods
This is a great reminder of why it is so important to rotate your favorite foods and aim for some variety in your diet. It’s fun to have a favorite go-to when you head to the kitchen, but it’s even more fun to stay on track with your fitness goals.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Culver City, Calif.