5 Health Habits You're Probably Doing Wrong

Being healthy can be hard. 

It seems like every day there is a new health trend to follow, and more than that, another one that you should stop following that once was recommended. 

Don’t get bogged down by all the details, and instead, start by doing a check in with these 5 habits to see if you need to make a change:

1. Assuming Gluten free is better – Cutting gluten out of your diet may not necessarily be a healthier option than consuming typically gluten filled foods.  Many gluten free foods that are now filling the shelves are made with starches, fillers and sugars to make them resemble the consistency, look and texture of their gluten free equivalent.  Unless you have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease, consuming whole grain products that are made with organic gluten products actually still offer beneficial health advantages, including fiber to fill you up and provide sustainable energy, anti-stress B vitamins and Magnesium, and several other essential nutrients. 
2. Holding back on the salt – When the news started to indicate a few years ago that excess salt was connected to heart problems, many people cut salt out of their diet, or at the very least minimize it a great deal.  Salt is actually an essential mineral that plays a key role in several reactions within our body, including helping to balance our water, and to facilitate proper activity along neural pathways.  Opt for mineral rich salt such as Pink Himalayan Salt, and add it to your foods to enhance flavor.  Avoid salty processed foods and iodized table salt when possible.
3. Drinking your calories – While a smoothie for breakfast, a bottle of kombucha and a Starbucks Matcha latte all sound good in theory, a quick look at the caloric content of each and you could be pulling in nearly an additional 1000 calories just from beverages alone.  Smoothies are great when they are low in fruit within minimal use of sweeteners like dates and honey, and are liquefied via water or plant-based milk.  Packing in a pile of fruit and then adding orange juice and maple syrup to sweeten packs in a lot of calories and sugar and not much nutritional value.  Likewise, be sure to check that other beverages you are consuming do not have added sugar, or aren’t outrageously large in portion size.
4. Thinking sugar alternatives are always healthy – While definitely healthier than their refined sugar counterparts, choosing a sugar alternative, such as maple syrup, brown rice syrup or coconut nectar, doesn’t mean it gives you free reign to have the sweetener as much as you like.  It is still a simple sugar, and when it hits your body, it is still metabolized as such within the blood stream.  Not to mention, sugar is calorie dense and needs to be consumed in moderation to avoid excess caloric intake. 
5. Eating health foods with no limits – Healthy foods are obviously better than non-healthy food selections, but they still have a caloric content.  And whether you get your calories from unhealthy food, or healthy food, at the end of the day, they still add up as the calories in.  With healthy food, you do get a better nutrient profile and better fuel for your body, but remember that there are still calories in the food.  In addition, even if it is healthy, moderation and controlled consumption are important for whatever food you are eating!