HEALTHY DIET TIP

Everyone wants to be healthier and most claim they want to eat a healthy diet. Sadly,that is easier said than done. But it doesn't have to be that hard. For instance, one of the most important ways to a healthier diet is not what you eat but what you drink! Leave off the sugary drinks. That is not just sodas! That means sweet tea, lemonade, fruit juices, those sugar-laden coffee drinks, etc. Sugary drinks are one of the biggest diet mistakes we make according to Barbara Borik, RD, LDN, CDE, of the Diabetes & Nutrition Center at the Northwest Hospital of Randallstown, Maryland. She states that sugary drinks are empty calories! Do you really want to consume empty calories? You really can learn to enjoy drinks without sugar. When I was pregnant with my last child, over 40 years ago, the doctor recommended I cut back on sugar. I started drinking my tea unsweetened. It quickly became my favorite beverage and now I simply cannot stand sweetened tea. It is a matter of training oneself. So try unsweetened tea, coffee, etc. Add a slice of citrus fruit or a few berries to a glass or pitcher of water to add some flavor and learn to leave those sweetened beverages behind.

PROTEIN FOR MUSCLES

Once we humans reach around 50 years of age we start to have weakened muscles.  This is a normal part of the aging process but it is important we do what we can to maintain our muscles. Weakened muscles can cause falls which can be very damaging to older people. Maintaining our muscles helps us to function better overall. Protein is an important muscle builder so we must be sure we get enough in our diets. The average 150 pound adult needs approximately 55 grams of protein per day. Older folks should probably have more. Learn to read nutritional labels on your foods and monitor your protein intake for a week. See if you are getting at least the recommended amounts, especially if you are an older person like me. Discuss with your doctor if you find yourself falling short of the recommended amount.

This file photo shows some samples of protein foods to consider. (I am preaching to myself here as I do not like any of the foods pictured below. Shame on me!)