Food is for fuel and for enjoyment. Food – especially good tasting processed food – is so available so it can be hard to eat what you should. To feel better about the food you eat you can stop eating food that makes you feel bad, make healthy choices, and beware of refined sugars.

Stop Eating Food That Makes You Feel Bad

There are many reasons why food can lead to you feeling bad. Too much fat or salt in one sitting can leave you feeling bloated and gassy and lead to water retention. Foods you are sensitive to may also cause you to feel gastrointestinal distress. If you have a stomach sensitive to fiber, high fiber foods may not sit well. Learning your body’s cues on how it feels after eating can be helpful in removing foods that don’t make you feel good. You may need to eliminate cheese, reduce salt, or stop eating high fiber foods like beans, fruits, or cruciferous vegetables.

Make Healthy Choices

To feel better about the food you eat, you can consciously choose to eat better choices. Many people focus on eliminating the bad but adding more nutrient rich food can help to crowd out less nutritious options and ensure you get enough healthy foods. Nutrient rich foods are important for your health and for your waistline. Nutrient-rich food will give you more energy throughout the day. It will help you have stable blood sugars while providing you calories your body needs.

Beware of Refined Sugars

Refined sugar can be found in many processed foods. While it is good to reduce the number of processed foods, you should especially be aware of the sugars within. Refined sugars cause a spike then drop in insulin which can leave you feeling low energy. Foods containing these sugars will leave you feeling hungry soon after as they do not contribute to feelings of satiety. This can lead to eating more calories than your body needs throughout the day. Natural sugars found in fruits, vegetables or dairy don’t have the same effect because these foods also include vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Eating is about fuel but also for enjoyment. You can still eat a healthy diet and enjoy the food you eat. To feel better about the food you eat, you can stop eating food that makes you feel bad, make healthy choices, and beware of refined sugars.

Check out this article on why you should have more fish in your diet!