We hear it all the timeā¦lose weight for your health. Few us however, realize the extent to which this is critical to their physical well-being and ultimately their life expectancy.
A 2019 study of Australian adults found that obesity appears to lessen life expectancy. The study showed an obese 20-year-old white male, (5’10”)178cm and weighing (288 pounds) 130kg was estimated to lose over 10 years of his life as a result of obesity.
It is now well research that a Western diet that leads to obesity may actually act to stimulate the growth of cancer cells. It is never too late to improve your health through healthful eating and adopting a more health-giving lifestyle. Here are simple steps to follow which can make an immediate improvement to your health and vitality.
1. Check to see if you are overweight or obese.
To find out your BMI you need to divide your weight (measured in kilos) by your height (measured in metres) squared. If the result is greater than 25, your health may be improved by losing weight.Ā Take our FREE Health Assessment today to find out more.
2. Match your diet to your bodyās requirements.
If you eat and drink more calories than your body requires you will put on weight. Learn to control calories and portion sizes, make recipes leaner, and eat infrequently from fast food restaurants. Also learn how to snack with healthful choices. “Batch cooking” and distributing and freezing portion sizes can help to control how much you’re eating.Ā
3. Colour your diet with a large variety of colourful, cancer-fighting fruit and vegetables.
There are seven different colour ranges of both fruit and vegetables and by choosing between 5 to 9 daily serves from a wide range of fruit and vegetables, we are extending our consumption of cancer (and other disease) fighting nutrients.Ā Why not try out some of our smoothies as a great way to increasing your fruit and vegetable intake?
4. Eat lean protein with every meal.
Protein provides a powerful signal to the brain providing a longer sense of fullness. The right source of protein is essential to controlling your hunger with fewer calories and necessary to maintain your lean muscle mass. Choices of protein should be flavoured soy shakes with fruit; the white meat of chicken and turkey, seafood such as shrimps, prawns scallops and lobster and ocean fish or vegetarians may prefer soy based meat substitutes.
5. Rev up your metabolism with activity.
If you want to enjoy a lifetime of well being, exercise is a key ingredient. Thirty minutes activity each day that takes as much effort as a brisk walk is recommended for adults. Children should be active for an hour each day.
6. Get support to ensure you develop a healthful eating plan and reach your goal weight.
Another study called the Effects of Internet Behavioural Counselling on Weight Loss in Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes showed that participants who had the support of weight loss coaching lost more weight than those who didnāt. The study concluded that the support of a weight loss coach can significantly improve weight loss results.
Being overweight or obese has been identified next to smoking, as the most preventable major risk to developing cancer. Even small weight losses have been shown to have beneficial health effects. So it is never to late to start and we are here to help you.Ā To start you off on the right path why not join our 14-Days to Healthier Eating Program?