Some people make the mistake of thinking that as long as they exercise, they can eat whatever they want. This isn’t true. Exercise is very important, of course. But you still won’t be healthy or have the body and mindset that you want if you eat poorly, even if you exercise constantly. To put it simply, you can’t outwork a bad diet!

 

Here are five ways to improve your nutrition on a daily basis:

 

Consume less sugar.

You don’t eat sweets very often, so you don’t consume that much sugar, right? Wrong. It turns out that reducing your sugar intake is about much more than cutting out sweets. Things like white bread, sugary juices, packaged snack foods, and excessive amounts of alcohol all introduce large amounts of sugar into our diets, which can contribute to excess weight and other problems.

Eat more vegetables and fruits.

Sometimes, the most basic advice is the best. Adding more veggies and fruits to your diet is always a good idea. Leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale are packed with vitamins and minerals, as are citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits as well as berries, which are packed full of antioxidants.

Choose whole grains.

Whole grains have a higher fiber level than regular grains, and they offer other important nutrients as well while cutting down on sugar levels. Choose whole-wheat bread over white bread, and try substituting whole grain pasta for regular pasta.

Watch out for trans-fats.

Trans fats aren’t made naturally in the body, and your body doesn’t need them in any way. They’re fats that come from processed foods and fried foods, and they’re just not good for you. They raise your LDL cholesterol levels (bad cholesterol) while lowering HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). And they cause you to gain weight and put you at a higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, and other health troubles. Stay away from the processed stuff and focus on eating good fats from foods like lean meat, nuts, and oils.

Reduce your sodium intake.

Too much salt in the diet puts you at a greater risk for high blood pressure and associated heart problems. And it’s not just table salt that’s the problem — processed foods, condiments, and packaged snacks often contain high salt levels that you should stay away from.

 

Make Improvements Starting Today

When it comes to your diet, it’s much harder to reverse a bad one than it is to maintain a good one. Start eating healthier today with the suggestions above — you’ll be glad you did.