Food swaps that will change your life (and make you live longer!)

If you are trying to get fit these days, or just generally trying to eat healthy, altering your complete taste palette seems to be a herculean task. However, the good news is that, it does not have to be! A little swap here and there can make a lot of difference to your overall health and fitness journey. Now, we are not saying that all these swaps are 100% healthy, but still are a great way to at least kickstart your journey. Take a look...

A lot of us are addicted to soda, sweetened juices, or energy drinks, which have a lot of sugar and empty calories. Instead, try drinking fresh coconut water or lemon water. Coconut water is natural, hydrating, and full of minerals like potassium. Lemon water not only tastes refreshing, but also helps digestion. These swaps will keep you hydrated without the extra sugar. And what's better is that they even taste great!

A lot of us like to snack on something that is crispy in between meals with tea, or even with your main meals, especially a rice one. Potato chips are tasty, but often fried and full of unhealthy fats and salt. A healthier and crunchy alternative is roasted chickpeas or a handful of nuts like almonds or walnuts. Roasted chickpeas are high in fiber and protein, which help keep your stomach full. Nuts provide good fats that are good for your heart. This swap satisfies your craving while giving your body important nutrients.

White bread is made from refined flour, which loses many nutrients during processing. Whole wheat or multigrain bread contains more fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Eating whole grain bread helps improve digestion and keeps your energy steady throughout the day. However, make sure that the bread is 100% whole wheat, and has an expiry of just 2-3 days, which means it has less preservatives.

Who doesn't love icecream? However, the loved dessert is unusually high in sugar and fat. A healthier option is frozen yogurt or homemade fruit pops made from fresh fruit juice. Frozen yogurt has probiotics, which are good for your gut health. Fruit pops are refreshing and full of vitamins. However, make sure that the fruit pops you are consuming do not contain any added sugar, as that would defeat the purpose.

Butter is commonly used in Indian cooking but is high in saturated fats, which can affect heart health if eaten in excess. A healthier alternative is ghee . Ghee, when used in moderation, contains healthy fats and antioxidants, and it is easier to digest for many people. A better trick would be to keep rotating your oils, so that you reap the benefits of all. And make sure that the oils you use are cold-pressed that retains their original flavor.