March is National Nutrition Month.

And in my career as a nutrition coach, I’m often amused by the reactions I get when people consult with me about their health challenges and the first thing I say to them is, “How’s your diet?”

I usually get the deer-in-the-headlights look, or they look down at the floor.

That good, huh?

Now, most people know darn well that eating wholesome nutritious foods is important!

But the problem is that there are sneaky little excuses that can pop up and make it very easy to not eat as healthy as you should.

Let’s look at 6 of the most common excuses for a bad diet and see how you can get on the road to a healthier (and slimmer) YOU!

Excuse #1: “I don’t have time to cook healthy meals.”

Really?  No time whatsoever? 

But you do have time to watch your favorite shows, poke around on social media or sit in line at the McDonald’s drive thru.

There are 10,080 minutes in a week.  Many nutritious dishes can be prepared in 30 minutes or less. 

Do the math and admit that you have time to make healthy meals.

Excuse #2: “I work out.”

The benefits of regular exercise are enormous and include:

• Strong heart health and lower blood pressure
• Weight loss
• Better sleep
• Stress reduction
• Better mental focus and improved mood
• Fewer aches and pains
• More energy

But EVERY SINGLE ONE of those benefits can be negated by an unhealthy diet!

Exercise is supposed to complement a healthy diet—not be an excuse to eat poorly and justify it because you work out.

Excuse #3: “I’m stressed out.”

Chronic stress makes us eat more because the repeated secretions of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol increase your appetite…especially for refined carbs like cookies, crackers, bread, chips and candy.

But being stressed is never a valid excuse for a poor diet.  Deal with your stress instead.

Excuse #4: “My medication will help.”

Although medications are frequently prescribed to counteract certain health challenges, that’s not a green light to eat whatever you want!

Statins are a perfect example here. 

Studies have shown that many people who take statins consume more fat and calories than they did before the meds, since they know the drug will keep their cholesterol in the desired range. 

Same goes for some people that take Metformin.  I have observed several type 2 diabetics who eat pizza, pasta and sweets, knowing that the medication will help keep their blood sugar in line.

Medications can never undo the effects of a bad diet, and if you think they can, you are a ticking time bomb.

And of course, let’s not forget that in many cases, if someone had a healthy diet, they probably wouldn’t need the medication to begin with!

Excuse #5: “I take a daily multi-vitamin.”

Vitamins are designed to supplement a nutritious diet—not to be a replacement for eating right, or worse yet, to undo the effects of an abysmal, unhealthy diet!

Plus a poor diet can stir up inflammation in the gut, and when your body is inflamed, it can’t use vitamins and minerals like it should.  So your daily multi won’t be doing you much good.

Excuse #6: “I’m not overweight.”

What’s your point?

There are a great number of thin people in the world who are among the unhealthiest people in the world.

Although a slim bodyweight is a plus because it prevents challenges associated with excess weight, it in no way guarantees that you are healthy.

No more excuses—take action instead!

The good news is it’s easy to enjoy a healthy diet that tastes great, as well as to help undo the effects of a bad diet you may have had in the past.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Eat REAL foods

At least 80-90 percent of what you eat should be real foods.

"Real foods" include fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry and fish, dairy, eggs and good fats like olive oil, coconut oil and real butter.

Real foods do NOT include anything in a package with a long list of ingredients that you can’t pronounce, fake fats, artificial sweeteners or margarine.

When you eat real foods, your body gets better nourished and then you can start seeing some of these awesome changes:

• You will get full faster and stay full longer (which can help you lose those extra pounds).
• You will have more consistent energy all day and are less likely to indulge in unhealthy pick-me-up snacks like soda, coffee or sweets.
• Your body’s systems will have the nutrients they need to work like they’re supposed to, which makes you a less attractive home for disease.
• Your immune system can stay strong and able to protect you from sickness and disease.

Now that’s healthy!

2. Make sure your digestion is efficient

If your foods are not broken down like they should be, you won’t get the maximum nutrition from them…and that can spell deficiency and disease.

In addition, poor digestion leads to waste buildup in your colon which can cause harmful bacteria overgrowth, weaken your immune system and make constipation your new BFF. 

Accomplishing easy, comfortable digestion isn't difficult--it's just is a matter of eating meals that your body can more easily break down.  When you make your system’s job easier, it can work like it’s designed to and accomplish smooth, efficient digestion!

My Great Taste No Pain system shows you how to structure meals (featuring delicious, good-for-you foods) that help pave the way for sound digestion, more regular BMs and less gas and bloating!

And it really delivers on the great taste too—the plan features many easy, scrumptious recipes that will soon become your go-to favorites.

3- Support your gut microbiome

A poor diet is not only detrimental to your health, but it’s also harmful to your gut microbiome!

And considering this is where 80 percent of your immune system resides, you need to make sure yours is in tip-top shape!

That's why supplementation with a full-spectrum, multi-strain formula like Super Shield and Super Shield Plus can benefit SO many people.

Super Shield’s 13 strains of potent beneficial bacteria each has their own specialty in how they help to support good health and a strong immune system.

Start now!

It’s time for you to make a commitment to a wholesome real foods diet, as well as better digestion and a healthy gut environment—not just today, tomorrow or next week, but for life.

See for yourself the difference it can make in how you feel…for the rest of your life!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia