1) Eat Real Food
Unfortunately food quality has taken a nose dive over the last 50 years in favor of processed foods with 1-3 year shelf lives. Preservatives and food additives have been linked in multiple studies to cancer, hormonal irregularities and cardiovascular risks.
When comparing the thermic effect(the amount of energy used to digest our food) Real Food burns a much larger percentage of calories than processed foods.
The other clear advantage of a diet full of natural foods is the higher nutrient content that our bodies need to thrive.
2) Manage Insulin
It’s estimated that 1 in 3 people in the US are pre-diabetic. Your diet is by far the number one factor that affects insulin management. Foods that are high in processed carbohydrates trigger the body to release insulin and in time can cause insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can negatively affect testosterone, estrogen and thyroid hormones. High triglycerides and cardiovascular disease are also strongly linked to insulin resistance.
To properly manage insulin, it’s imperative that your diet contains enough protein, fibrous vegetables and healthy fats while eliminating processed carbohydrates.
3) Balance Your Fat Intake
Getting the proper balance of fat can prevent disease, build muscle and improve your ability to burn fat. Your body actually thrives on the right healthy fats. However, trans-fats and isolated vegetable oils can cause problems.
Top health practitioners recommend that humans consume a diet with an Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio not exceeding 4:1. Today the typical western diet can be as high as 50:1! Addressing this imbalance can make drastic health improvements!
A diet that rotates nuts, seeds, olive oil and coconut oil with plenty of proteins that are grass-fed, free-range and wild-caught will give you an optimal ratio of health fats that your body needs.