A lot of people cannot go a day without chargers for their phones, laptops, tablets, and even hydration diffusers. This is because they have accepted that if those gadgets aren’t powered, they will gradually go weak and eventually shuffle off this mortal coin.
The same applies to our health. We must carry along with us our body chargers to fuel our mind and keep us active daily.
And it shouldn’t just be any body charger. Nope. Oftentimes, people buy into the notion that “Everything goes” so long it’s edible. Just like we sort the perfect cord that fits our charging points, we should be attentive to what finds its way to our food chamber.
One thing, however, that has stood the test of time is that to eat is human but to eat healthily is divine. I’m sure no one wishes to break down right in the middle of duty or even at home. Because believe it or not, you are replaceable. So as business & career men and women working your fingers to bones daily, you should never neglect your health status.
Let’s take a look at the World Health Organisation (WHO). It cautioned that unhealthy diet is one of the leading global risks to health. Thus, it called on everyone to apply the saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
This means that when you maintain a healthy diet, your body automatically fights against noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer – which are leading causes of deaths globally.
As an upwardly mobile individual, you are likely to eat out when you go to work and eat late when you arrive home. I know you always believe that having processed foods and carbonated drinks once in a while won’t hurt. Well, that may be correct. However, it will build over time.
So here are a list of healthy practices for your daily consumption:
- Cut Down on Baked Foods Consumption
Severe ties with trans-fats of all kinds including both industrially-produced trans-fats [found in baked and fried foods, and pre-packaged snacks and foods, such as frozen pizza, pies, cookies, biscuits, wafers, cooking oils and spreads].
Avoid ruminant trans-fats found in meat [ruminant rumen also known as kpomo] and dairy foods from ruminant animals such as cows, sheep, goats and camels. Health experts warn that it increases one’s risk of coronary heart disease.
2. Take More fruits and Vegetables
The funny part of it all is that fruits are as cheap as smiles. At least 400g – that is five portions – of fruit is ideal daily.
Add to it some vegetables per day excluding potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava and other starchy roots
Go for legumes like lentils and beans, nuts. Whole grains like unprocessed maize, millet, oats, wheat and brown rice.
According to WHO, consume less than 10 per cent of total energy intake from free sugars, which is equivalent to about 12 level teaspoons for a person of healthy body weight.
Free sugars are classified as all sugars added to foods or drinks by the manufacturers, cook or consumer, and sugars naturally present in syrups, fruit juices, honey, and fruit juice concentrates.
3. Avoid Saturated Fats
Now, dieticians and nutritionists have prescribed that the ingestion of saturated fats should be abridged to less than 10 per cent of total energy intake.
Saturated fats exist in fatty meat, butter, palm oil, cream, cheese, coconut oil, ghee, and lard.
4. Consume Unsaturated Fats
Adopt unsaturated fats. You can find them in fish, avocado, nuts, in sunflower, soybean, canola and olive oils. They are preferable to saturated fats.
5. Be Hydrated
There are a thousand and one water vacuum in the stores. Get one and carry it along to the office, the gym, the market, the conference and everywhere.
The National Health Service (NHS) recommends that we drink six to eight glasses of water per day.
Start drinking in the morning and continue to do so regularly throughout the day, then reduce it at night.
While you meet with work schedules, travel the world for conferences and zoom meetings, it’s ideal you be as fit as a fiddle. Your health is non-negotiable. A healthy mind leads to a healthy body, eventually projects a happier life, and a lucid day at home and at your workplace.