There is a lot of conflicting information everywhere about how to best manage your diet. Since your health affects everything else in your life, and a good diet is directly connected to good health, you know you need to put dieting near the top of your priority list.

But, as Bono of U2 sings: "The rich stay healthy and the sick stay poor". Although it can seem that only the rich can afford to look thin, getting fit does not mean you have to be rich. It can be incredibly scary trying to maintain a good diet because of the fear of making costly mistakes. But eating a balanced diet can be cheaper for you in the long run, keeping you from obesity-fueled health conditions like diabetes Type 2 and heart disease.

Balance In Everything

Variety is not only the spice of life, it is the not-so secret secret to having good health and to loosing weight. Diet and exercise are very important for good health. But your diet can't be just celery and vitamins. You need a bit of this and a bit of that. If you eat mostly sugar or meat, that should be a clue that you need to switch to fresh fruit and vegetables at least some of the time you would normally eat sugary foods or meat.

Regular exercise is essential to weight loss, but jogging twenty miles a day before you go to a full time job is going to hurt you more than it will help you. If you are not sure about how to plan a diet or exercise routine, ask your doctor. Usually, you just need to walk about a half hour a day just enough to break into a sweat.

The Importance Of Water And Fiber

You need to drink plenty of water or clear fluids like herbal tea. Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages will not only dehydrate you, they add a bunch of calories to your body's fat supply without adding any nutrition. Drinking a few glasses of water a day can also help give you a "full" feeling.

Fiber is another natural way to get that full feeling, although it has a lot more taste than water does. You can get fiber from cereals, foods made with whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables and beans. Only have a small portion first if your body isn't used to it. Too much fiber can give you cramps and diarrhea. Contact your doctor for any help with how much fiber you should be eating a day.

by Rena Sherwood