March is National Nutrition Month, and it’s a great time to reset your diet or make a few adjustments for a healthier lifestyle. Good nutrition is essential to living a longer, happier life. People with healthy eating patterns live longer and are at a lower risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
For people with chronic conditions, eating healthy helps manage these conditions and prevent complications. Here are several surprising statistics and what you can do to combat the negative health impacts of poor nutrition:
BRMS recommends:
- Avoiding high-sugar foods and sugary drinks
- Try 100% juice with no added sugar or a zero-sugar sports drink as a substitute
- Replace sugary drinks or juices with water, which has 0 calories and 0 sugar
BRMS recommends:
- Incorporating fruit with your morning cereal or oatmeal
- Have a piece of fruit as a snack instead of chips or candy
- Drink your fruit as 100% juice or a refreshing smoothie
BRMS recommends:
- Compare similar food products at the store and choose the option with lower sodium
- Substitute high-sodium seasonings with lower-sodium versions
- Eat more foods that are low in sodium like fresh fruits, vegetables, or quinoa
BRMS recommends:
- Washing your hands and surfaces often when preparing food at home
- Avoid cross contamination between raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs to avoid the spreading of foodborne germs
- Cook your food safely to the right temperature by using a thermometer
At BRMS, we support good nutrition all year long. The key to living a longer, healthier life lies in large part with what you put into your body, and developing good nutrition habits now will lead to a better future. We remain dedicated to helping you save money on health costs and providing support for a healthy, balanced life as we continue to build our trusted and valued relationships.