Starting a new healthy diet is not the easiest thing in the world to do. Many people find they want to start a new diet because they are interested in healthy dieting, but also they are experiencing uncomfortable symptoms. Some of these symptoms include a bloated stomach, constant headaches, skin rashes and also unforgettable migraines. These are all difficult to deal with. But what causes them? Intolerance testing can certainly help in this respect. But whilst intolerance and allergy testing are integral to starting your healthy diet, here are 5 steps you should take to ensure your healthy diet works to full effect…
1) Be Prepared for your healthy diet
Everyone has time constraints and will often find themselves turning to processed foods, ready meals and also going out to eat. But this is not the best way to ensure you stick to your healthy diet. Everybody has a cheat day once in a while, but only you know what you are putting in your body if you have made it yourself.
Restaurants may claim and preach about being healthy, but it is just not the same. If you’re preparing your own meals from scratch and you are on a diet, you naturally take extra care. Everything is clean and washed properly. This is particularly important if you have an identified food allergy. You also choose your own portions, helping you to maintain a healthy diet and control your own weight gain.
2) Understand your intolerances
One of the most common food intolerances is wheat. But there are times when people do not realise that they have a wheat intolerance. Or, if they do have a wheat intolerance, they don’t know why they are suffering. Embarking on your healthy diet may see you cut down on refined grains if you are looking to eat healthier. Now, this is the difficult part, but also the most important! You may have to clear white bread, white rice and even refined wheat from your pantry. These may be a staple of your diet, but you also have to manage it properly. If you have a wheat intolerance, excluding it from your diet entirely will be the best form of defence.
3) Always check the ingredients
You should always read the labels to maintain your healthy diet. One small slip up could you leave you feeling fatigued, depressed or bloated. The best way to ensure you are eating the right diet and ingredients is to read the food labels completely. Don’t always trust that food is healthy just because it says healthy on the packaging. They are usually loaded with added sugars and ingredients. Trust the traffic light system but always look a little deeper.
4) Keep yourself hydrated
This is so so important. We always emphasise this regardless of your motives. The British NHS recommends that you drink between six to eight cups of water a day. It can also help in weight loss. The good news is that just drinking water is not always necessary. You can get the required intake of water into your body by eating the right foods and having a healthy diet. It can also help with appetite and portion control. Drinking water lessens your appetite, leaving you less likely to overeat.
5) Skip the fizzy drinks
Sometimes, if you are having a bad day or a cheat meal, people often throw in a fizzy drink because it won’t make much of a difference. There are some sugary beverages like fruit juice (orange and apple) as well as pop drinks which are loaded with sugar. These can often cause stomach issues and are a regular cause of bloating or other symptoms. If you switch to sugar-free beverages, your healthy diet is one step closer to becoming reality.
For more information on intolerance testing, check out Test Your Intolerance and get your very own intolerance test.
