Regardless of your eating style, here are a few guidelines that can improve your health.

Reduce processed foods

Processed foods contain few of the natural nutrients obtained from fresh fruits, vegetables, and plant-based proteins. Unfortunately, they do contain sodium, fat, and additives. Relying on packaged, processed foods for the bulk of your food intake can rob you of the valuable nutrients that are plentiful in fresh foods.

Balance calorie intake

Calorie balance is important to maintain a healthy weight. Whether you adjust your food intake or you increase physical activity, pay attention to how much you eat and how much you move, taking note of how it influences your weight. Weight loss results from burning more calories than you take in. If you are maintaining a healthy weight, that is a good indicator that your intake and output are in balance.

Eat more plant-based foods

Research supports that a plant-based diet is beneficial to health. Incorporate more dark, leafy greens, beans, legumes, cruciferous vegetables, citrus fruits, and berries into your eating plan. These foods provide unique phytonutrients that promote health. Their fiber and water content will help keep you feeling full keep you feeling full.

Reduce added sugar

According to the Mayo Clinic, the average American gets over 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day. That is more than double the recommended 9 teaspoons per day for men, and nearly triple the recommended 6 teaspoons for women. Excess added sugars have been linked to poor nutrition, weight gain, increased triglycerides, and tooth decay.

Lori Rice, M.S., is a nutritional scientist and author with a passion for healthy cooking, exercise physiology, and food photography.