Studying into the early morning hours, attending classes regularly and planning social functions are all activities with which many college students are associated. The notion of a healthy and balanced diet is not typically high on this list, to say the least. At times, college life can feel like a balancing act, as students are pulled in several directions. The result of this busy lifestyle may result in a lack of maintaining a well-balanced diet.
Good nutrition is an important stress-management tool. Stress takes a greater toll on our health when our bodies are fed poorly. Since stress comes with the territory as a college student, keep the following tips in mind:
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    Try to consume three meals a day. Chances are, if you are skipping meals, you are not getting in all the necessary fruits, vegetables, fiber and lean proteins that your body requires.
- Â Â Â Â Graze between meals. Healthy snacking throughout the day will keep your metabolism moving, which is vital in maintaining a healthy weight. Try carrying almonds, fruit or low-fat granola with you to keep blood sugar levels balanced.
- Â Â Â Â Start your day with some type of protein. You will be satisfied until lunchtime, which in turn lessens the likelihood of indulging in a high-fat meal later in the day.
- Â Â Â Â Replace soda with tea or water. Not only will too much soda deplete your bones of calcium, it will also add empty calories to your diet.
-     Don’t rush yourself while eating! Give yourself approximately 20 minutes to eat a meal. When you hurry to finish a meal, you are not giving your brain sufficient time to register that your body has received food, and is satisfied.
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Take the time to familiarize yourself with the FDA dietary guidelines to better gauge the food you are putting into your body.  Following these recommendations will allow your body to function at its best, as well as helping to reduce the risk of developing heart disease and cancer. We all have the desire to take care of our most prized material possessions. Our bodies should be treated with the same respect and care as anything we own, thus striving to keep them in the best condition possible. Your body is like an investment in this respect. If you do not fail your body now, it will not fail you in the future! So do embrace a healthful lifestyle by keeping the above tips in mind, and your body will thank you one day.
Editor: Gena Reist