With everything that is going on in the world right now, it is important to feel as healthy as possible, whether that’s physically or mentally. One way we can do this is to make sure we’re eating well, something we can easily do by shopping local and getting a wide variety of fresh foods.
Doctors agree that the most important key to overall health is to make sure that you have a good diet, especially one that helps increase the diversity of microbes in your gut – gut health is essential to skin health, heart health, brain health and well… general health! It’s all very well saying to eat well to feel well, but what foods should we focus on and where do we start?
Eat more herbs
Fresh herbs not only add flavour to your meals but they’re also a great way to increase your gut health! You could grow your own on your windowsill by picking up some seeds from here or you could buy herbs from one of these producers and have them readily on hand.
Make your meals colourful
According to nutritionists, the more colour in your meals, the more diverse the microbes are – so make those meals as colourful as you can by adding a variety of fruits and vegetables!
Add grains
They can be used to bulk out a stew or add some crunch to a salad. Adding grains to your diet is another great way to improve your overall health. You can find a wide range of local businesses selling grains from barley to quinoa, so stock up and experiment!
Also beans!
Beans and pulses are full of prebiotics and fibre and work well in a variety of dishes! Some of them are even ready canned for you which makes it even easier!
Thirty and thriving
Life doesn’t just begin at thirty, thirty is the magic number when it comes to a healthy diet. According to experts, we should be aiming for thirty different plant based foods across the week, including fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts and seeds. Though that seems a little daunting, it doesn’t have to be, add some peas to a shepherd’s pie or some diced peppers to a curry or even top your morning cereal with some fruit and you’ll be there in no time!
Check your ingredients
We don’t all have the luxury of being able to eat fresh, organic food, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy good gut, and therefore, good heart and brain health. Try adding foods with unsaturated fats into your diet, like oily fish and nuts, as well as putting a focus on foods high in fibre – these can really help improve cholesterol!
Foods with refined sugars should be used sparingly as they can affect brain function and too many can lead to health issues like diabetes. Swap things like white bread and pasta for wholemeal versions, you’ll instantly see a difference!
Foods that are high in Vitamin E are also beneficial, especially for the skin and vitamin C is a great way to increase your overall wellness, you can get these into your diet just by adding peppers or fruit to your meals!
Here in Dorset we’re lucky to have such a diverse range of producers, it couldn’t be easier to make a difference to your health by simply swapping to some local shops and businesses, why not click here to find out more about our producers and start feeling better today!
