The 16th to 22nd March marks the annual Nutrition and Hydration Week, to highlight the importance of food and drink health and well being to reinforce, focus and energise.
There are so many elements of nutrition, so we wanted to touch on one area and with a number of earth derived food-grade ingredients in our natural and organic skincare, we wanted to highlight some benefits of plant-based eating.
Plant based eating emphasises foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and healthy oils. These diets are rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals that help to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, reduce the risk of diabetes, and help maintain a healthy weight, all of which can lower the risk of heart disease. They avoid highly processed foods that are depleted of numerous healthy nutrients.
“Eat the colours of the rainbow.”
There are so many vibrant and flavoursome plant-based meal options available to be creative with now. Fruit and vegetables fall into five different colour categories, red, orange, blue/purple, brown/white and green, each carrying its own set of phytochemicals to fight disease.
We are becoming more and more aware of how swapping some, if not all meat with plant-based meals can also help to reduce our environmental impact, cutting greenhouse emissions.
“How can you increase your hydration levels?”
A glass of water to start and end the day is known to support organ function and for every caffeinated or alcoholic beverage drunk, and post exercise have a glass of water to replenish your water supply and counteract dehydration. Switch drinking fruit juices to water, instead eating your fruit which lowers your intake of added additives and sugar, in-turn improving your nutrition.
In a nutshell, make small and simple changes to your overall eating and drinking pattern to help you stay healthy.
For more information on how you can get involved with nutrition and hydration week, bettering your nutritional intake and even partake in a global tea party visit the nutrition and hydration website here.