One of the stages of change is contemplation. It’s the part where we are thinking about what we might like to change without doing anything about it yet. Those of us who love New Year’s Resolutions might want to spend a little time in the contemplation phase to consider benefits, difficulties, and the like. Since diet is a common target for those resolutions, here are a few things to contemplate shifting in the new year.
1. Sugar. It’s addictive. It contributes to inflammation, which can make us ache. It rots our teeth. And it doesn’t really provide anything of value to our diet besides calories. Reducing added sugars can be a powerful change.
2. Alcohol. See above comments on sugar, plus liver damage.
3. Dairy. A lot more of us have dairy sensitivities than we might think. Cutting down our consumption can help us feel better.
4. Veggies. Eating veggies instead of other, more caloric, less-nutrient-dense foods is a great way to get more bang for our calorie buck. Most of us don’t get enough fiber and we may not get all the micronutrients we need from our foods. Increasing the proportion of our calories we get from veggies can help address those issues.
5. Water. I say it a lot: dehydrated people are crabby people. Also, we eat less when we are hydrated. Our bodies work better. Our skin feels nicer.
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