A Quick Guide
to a healthy lifestyle
By: April Wynn
Issue date: 2/14/07 Section: Entertainment & Features
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Staff Editor
For most people, living a healthy life isn't high on the agenda. In the world today, it seems as if everyone's life is on fast-forward and this leaves no room for a decent meal or a healthy diet. People forget that just like cars need gas, food is the fuel that keeps the body running. If a car does not receive the correct gas in its engine, then it does not work properly, the same thing can be said about the human body.
As college students, there is no looking back; only looking forward to the future and what life will be like once college is over. As a college student, think about taking care of the body now, not five years from now. If the body's needs are not met regularly, think of what may happen to it 20 years into the future. Though it may seem that maintaining a healthy diet is hard while on campus, it really only takes a few changes in diet to have a healthy lifestyle and give a body what it really needs.
Eat at a regular time each day. By eating at around the same time everyday, the body gets used to digesting food at that same time and a routine does help out a lot. Avoid skipping meals even if it is to study. There may be a test coming up, but a student's performance on the test can be enhanced by a good meal. By not skipping any meals it helps to avoid overeating, plus a person eats healthier when they are not driven by hunger.
Also try to eat one type of vegetable or fruit each day. Fruits and vegetables contain the correct and appropriate nutrients that a body needs as well.
As students, snacks are a must because sometimes the dining hall is not open when hunger strikes during a study session. When snacking, keep the portions at a handful to reduce making the snack into a meal. Keep healthier snacks in stock, such as pretzels, popcorn or rice cakes. Plus not eating chocolate and all kinds of fatty foods will help prevent acne.
Do not, however, cut sugar out of the diet entirely. Sugar is another vital nutrient that a body needs, just consume sugar sparingly and never late at night. Normally after 10 p.m. at night, the body is starting to shut down and therefore the digestive system is shutting down. This means that if you eat late at night the food just sits in the stomach until the next morning and that does nothing for trying to stay away from the Freshman 15 or Sophomore 30. So try to eat at an earlier time each night and have late night snacks on occasion.
Try to eat more diary products, such as drinking milk or having cheese on a salad. Dairy products contain nutrients vital to helping the body run well such as calcium and Vitamin D. Stock the body full of calcium, which will help in the prevention of diseases such as Osteoporosis.
Drink plenty of water. Try to drink more water than soft drinks on a daily basis. Soft drinks bring down your immune system which can lead to a cold. Experts say that it is healthiest to drink eight glasses or more of water per day, and if on a sports team a person should drink more. If it helps, bring a water bottle with you to class as a reminder. Most professors will not object to a water bottle in class either.
So, next time you need a snack, choose the carrots over the kit kat.