There is no one food, drink or pill that can ensure optimal health. This list I have put together of my top dietary suggestions for staying healthy and living a healthier lifestyle will however, help aide you in achieving the results you desire.

1. Eat breakfast everyday. Eat a breakfast that contains complex carbohydrates, protein and healthy fat within one hour of rising. Eating breakfast can rev up your metabolism and give you the fuel you need for a busy day. Try a hard-boiled egg, ½ cup of steel cut oats topped with nonfat milk and 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed.
2. Never skip meals. Eat every 3 to 4 hours so you are never hungry and feel out of control, grabbing at everything and anything in sight. When your blood sugar drops the biochemical response for your brain is to crave sugar.
3. Eat real food. A general rule, if it has a label and you can’t read or pronounce the ingredients, then it’s not real food. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, wild fish, chicken and turkey.
4. Plan ahead. Make a grocery list before heading off to the market, this will keep you on track so you only purchase the items on your list.
5. Always carry snacks. Never leave the house without a snack in your purse or briefcase. Carry non-perishable items like nut snack bags, fruit, kind bar, raisins and veggies.
6. Eat a diet high in omega–3 fatty acids. These heart healthy fats may help reduce inflammation, heart disease and arthritis, they also positively impact cognitive function and even help your skin look better. Try wild salmon, sardines, flaxseed, walnuts and omega-3 enriched eggs.
7. Drink water. Drink water first thing in the morning, this will help keep you full longer, boost your metabolism and flush out toxins. Drink 8 glasses of water a day.
8. Exercise. Working out is one of the best things you can do for your body. Exercise increases your concentration, improves your mood and increases your metabolism. Exercise will also help you make healthier food choices.
9. Go green. Add dark green veggies like spinach, broccoli, bok choy and kale to your meals. They are rich in vitamin c, iron, calcium, vitamin A, folate and magnesium.
10. Don’t believe every health claim you read. Nutrition information is popping up everywhere; turn on your computer and bam! You’ve got a health claim staring you in the face. If a diet or product promises you something that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Unfortunately there are no shortcuts to good nutrition, just plain old “healthy eating.”