6 Physical and Emotional Signs You’re Not Eating Properly
“Laugh more than you cry. Work hard and play hard. Eat well and you can eat more.” ~ Rachael Ray.
If you’re eating healthy – and playing and working hard – then you can eat more of your favorite foods. Yum! For more healthy eating tips from Rachael Ray – and her most recent recipe book – click Rachael Ray’s Book of 10: More Than 300 Recipes to Cook Every Day. And, read on for ten signs you’re not eating the right foods, plus six tips for healthy eating…
6 Physical and Emotional Signs You’re Not Eating Properly
1. Pale, unhealthy skin tone. The food you eat directly affects your skin tone. If you’re eating properly, your skin should be pink and healthy. If you’re not eating the right foods, your skin will be dull, flaky, or scaly. Healthy eating tip #1: Eat green, red, yellow, orange, purple, and blue foods (avoid white foods, such as white flour, refined sugar, white rice, and lard). The beta-carotene in orange foods is great for your skin – read 10 Healthy Skin Tips – How to Stop Acne, Pimples, and Wrinkles for more info on how your diet affects your skin.
2. Fatigue and lethargy. If you feel tired and sluggish most of the time, you may not be getting enough nutrients from your food. Poor nutrition affects your mood, thought processes, and energy levels. Healthy eating tip #2: Oats, whole grains, bran, beans, and other foods that are full of fiber give your body a steady stream of energy. They also contain B vitamins, which increase your energy levels. Also, don’t eat too much! This can be easier said than done, but try to stop eating when you’re 60% full.
3. Cognitive problems. Memory lapses, problems concentrating, slow brain processing, and other cognitive problems can stem from not eating healthy foods. Healthy eating tip #3: Eat omega-3 fish oils, especially DHA, in fresh salmon or sardines. I take a fish oil capsule every night to make sure my brain runs like a well-oiled machine. Also, your brain needs a steady flow of fuel to function properly – and complex carbohydrates offer that steady source of fuel. Think whole wheat pasta, whole grains, and brown rice – as well as apples, oranges, cherries, and grapefruit.
4. Depression or mood swings. If you’re not eating properly, your blood sugar levels, hormones, and brain chemicals will spike and crash erratically, which affects your mood. Some foods can contribute to depression, while other foods improve your mood. Healthy eating tip #4: Avoid foods that trigger spikes or crashes in blood sugar levels, such as soda pop, large amounts of chocolate, or caffeine. Instead, eat foods that not only stabilize your blood sugar (see Healthy Eating Tip #2), but that are packed with vitamins and nutrients. Yams, sweet potatoes, avocado, peppers, spinach, kale, and carrots contain more nutrients than, say, iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, mushrooms, or canned vegetables.
5. Loss of appetite. If you’ve always had a healthy appetite you haven’t found food appealing lately, you may not be getting enough nutrition. A poor appetite could also be a sign of dehydration. And, aging itself can slow metabolism and wreck your appetite (another hazard of getting old!). Healthy eating tip #5: Besides increasing your water intake, try eating different foods at different times of the day. For instance, eat an egg-white omelette for your evening meal, instead of breakfast. Or, eat a slice or two of pizza for breakfast instead of at night! Varying your meals can increase your appetite – and help you get a wide variety of natural nutrients.
6. Weight fluctuations. If you gain or lose 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) in a few weeks or months, then you’re definitely not eating properly (or you’re ill). Healthy eating tip #6: If you’re gaining or losing weight without changing your diet, talk to your doctor about possible causes of weight flucuations. And, eat enough protein via eggs, fish, beans, nuts, cheese, chicken, and lean beef. Protein regulates your body processes, helps you resist disease, and helps with tissue repair.
Do you have any thoughts or questions on these signs you’re not eating properly? Please comment below…
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