The definition of nutrition is eating a healthy, balanced diet that supports the function of your body. There are many facets of good nutrition, but understanding some basics can help you make better food choices.
At HeartCare Associates of Connecticut, LLC, our medical specialists offer nutrition services to improve your diet and ensure that what you’re eating benefits your health.
When to consider a medically supervised nutrition program
We recommend scheduling a consultation to discuss our nutrition program if you’re not sure how to create a well-balanced diet.
Our team also suggests that anyone who has diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), or existing heart disease check out our nutrition program to better manage their condition.
Because everyone has different needs when it comes to nutrition, our nutrition specialists will customize a program just for you. However, there are some things you can do on your own right now to incorporate a healthier diet into your life.
Tips for improving your nutrition
Here are some tips to get you started on improving your health, your energy, and your overall quality of life:
Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables
Eating more fresh produce and limiting processed foods can make a big difference in your health. Choose recipes that use fewer processed ingredients and more fresh ones, and always keep fruits and veggies on hand for snacking.
Focus on low-fat proteins
When choosing proteins for a meal, opt for low-fat foods like lean meats, seafood, eggs, and beans. These foods are rich in essential nutrients but have less calories and saturated fats, making them especially good choices for your heart health.
Watch your portion sizes
Portion size refers to the amount of food you choose to eat during each meal. How much you eat matters just as much as what you eat. It’s hard to know what the right portion size is, though.
There are several ways to estimate portion sizes based on these tips from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Learn to read labels
Most foods have labels that list important information about the ingredients of the product, calorie counts, and vitamin content. It’s important that you learn how to read labels correctly and do so every time you get groceries.
For a heart-healthy diet, be sure to pay attention to the amount of sodium (salt) and trans fats in the items you choose. Avoid high-salt, high-fat foods as much as possible.
Benefits of personalized nutrition care
If managing your diet on your own stresses you out, or if you’re not getting the results you expect from your dietary changes, you can benefit from the personalized nutrition care we offer.
Our team at HeartCare Associates of Connecticut, LLC, will customize a nutrition plan based on your unique needs and existing health. This ensures that you receive the maximum benefit of your efforts to support your long-term health.
Through our nutrition program, you can:
- Prevent obesity
- Boost your energy levels
- Protect your heart health
- Incorporate long-term nutritional changes into your life
We not only help you learn how to eat better, but our team can also address practical matters like grocery shopping, meal planning, and even exercise routines, so you can achieve success.
Call the HeartCare Associates of Connecticut, LLC, office nearest you today or schedule a nutrition consultation online.