Eating healthy is not about buying all the low-fat and sugar-free items you can find in the grocery store. These items will not hurt you, but they will not help you lose weight, maintain a healthy weight, or even give you the energy you need to get through your day.

It is more important to focus on the foods that provide us with natural sugars – like fruit – and fats – like low-fat milk or yogurt – rather than the processed kinds. Why is this? It is simple; your body knows what to do with the natural foods that are not caked in chemicals, pesticides, and toxins.

Basically, your body can function more efficiently when it is being fed the right kind of fuel. Take a vehicle with an 8-cylinder engine as an example. It will run fine if you put unleaded gas in it; however, it will give you a longer run for your money if you fill it with premium fuel. Why? Because this is what it needs to function properly and efficiently.

Our bodies are the same way; they function more efficiently when they are filled with proper nutrients. Feeding your body junk, day-in and day-out will do nothing but shut it down; it realizes it needs to focus all of its energy on processing these toxins, but eventually runs out of places to store them.

Having said this, learning to eat healthy is a lifestyle change that we need to make on our own as no one is teaching us as we age. Being healthy is about eating the right foods, exercising, and treating our bodies as if they are they are the only bodies we will get. If we give our bodies the vitamins and minerals they need, it will give us more energy and a longer life in return.

Okay, this may sound a bit silly, but it is true. People who take care of themselves via diet and exercise tend to live longer, healthier, more fulfilling lives. Additionally, they are able to ward off some of the deadly diseases that are taking so many lives; diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

Both of these, yes, can be hereditary. But have you seen the rise in these diseases? It has been proven that these are lifestyle changes and can be avoided; and not with medication, but by living a healthy lifestyle. So, you ask, what guidelines do I need to stick by to live a healthy life? It’s actually quite simple:

Eat natural foods – lean meats and dairy, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and eggs
Exercise on a regular basis – make the time
Eat 5-6 small meals a day
Stay away from juices, and other flavored drinks; drink water

If you can do this, you will be well on your way to a long, satisfying life. You only have one chance to get this right; take care of you and your body now and it will take care of you as you age.