The New Year means resolutions aimed at improving health. Professor and Chief of dietary assessment at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center Catherine Champagne says when finding the right diet, look for red flags, like anything that would eliminate food groups.
“Don’t eliminate food groups. Eliminate sugar sweetened beverages. Eliminate desserts. Eliminate things that may be really high, high fat items, like eating a pound of bacon a day,” said Champagne.
Champagne says portion control on serving size is vital.
“I think just being realistic and moderating your intake is just the best way to go and incorporate those foods that we know are nutrient dense,” said Champagne.
Health goals should not only factor in food intake, but be accompanied by physical activity as well. Champagne says try walking thirty minutes a day, three days a week to start off, then increase it to five days a week.
“You would get 150 minutes of physical activity. And if you really want to go full force, walk thirty minutes a day, every day,” said Champagne.
