Eating for Better Health

Self-control is an important part of health and wealth. It allows us to enjoy abundance today and a better life in the future. Paul Zane Pilzer offers a few suggestions for living healthier, starting now.

1. Eat Half

Before you order the next course, eat half of what's on your plate. Put your fork down and wait for a few minutes. Not only will you spend and eat less, but by slowing the pace of your meal you'll give your body time to register the food you've eaten. Remember, it takes 20 minutes for your brain to get the signal from your stomach that it's full. Forgo that overstuffed feeling by eating slowly and eating less. In restaurants, don't even order an entree until you've eaten your appetizer.

2. Don't take it home

We're often told to eat half our meal in a restaurant and take the other half home. Pilzer advises to leave the excess there. Restaurant food typically isn't healthy in the first place, and when you take it home you'll be tempted to eat it at the wrong time - late at night in front of the television.

3. Enjoy variety

The Garden of Eden had every type of fruit and vegetable available and gave Adam and Eve all the nutrients and vitamins they needed. Give your body what it needs by eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid all heavily processed foods. And because few people eat enough produce, Pilzer recommends taking a supplement to ensure your body gets the necessary vitamins and minerals God prescribed for us.

4. Drink up

Drink lots of water, but not at meals. Your body needs water to function properly, but drinking during meals can dilute the chemicals in your stomach that are necessary for proper digestion. When the digestion process is watered down, the body can't efficiently capture the nutrients and protein from the food you've eaten.