Diet Tips for Teenagers

There's the banana diet, the cabbage diet, the Atkins Diet and hundreds more. It seems like every time you turn around, there's a new diet guaranteed to help you lose weight. Friends and family may even claim to have lost weight with one of them. The truth is, the only way to maintain a healthy body is to eat right and exercise. Temporarily changing your diet only hurts you in the long run. Make your changes permanent; simply eat real foods and keep moving.

Exercise

Modern recommendations are for at least 20 minutes of exercise each day. Try walking to school or to a friend's house, or taking regular hiking trips, instead of going to the movies. Pick up a stationary bicycle at a yard sale, or take your bicycle to the park. Even if you're just cranking up the music to dance in your bedroom, you're still in motion. That's important.

Avoid Processed Foods

Processed foods are believed to be the reason that Americans are the fattest in the world. Processed foods tend to be high in calories and low in nutrition. They are made with ingredients that are treated at high temperatures and mixed with preservatives and chemicals to maintain texture and color. Whole foods advocates encourage us to avoid processed foods. Even if you're hooked on fast-food restaurants, you can usually order salads and fruits at those places. The youtube.com video "How to get fat without really trying" explains the dangers of processed foods.

Water

Probably the most important ingredient for weight loss is water. Your body needs water to carry oxygen in the blood for energy and for the health of your organs. Drinking water ensures that your stomach acids are able to digest your food properly, extracting the nutrients that keep you from getting fat. Water has no calories and can make food fibers expand, helping you feel full longer. Beverages with calories generally do not provide enough nutrients. The exception to this would be some juices, such as vegetable juices and orange juice, but some can be high in sugar. Soft drinks are high in calories and are one of the worst beverage choices you can make.