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Your health goals is a multi-faceted approach.

Some of us are under the impression that a full-on schedule in the gym is the only adjustment need in your lifestyle to achieve your fitness goals, while some others are prone to bettering their diet (and not working out). The truth is, it is the middle of this Venn diagram where you will find your biggest gains.

Now, it is important to understand that unless you are a professional athlete most foods are just fine in moderation but if your end of year goal is to appear a little more svelte around your waistline there are some items you can cut out of your diet to make life a little easier for you.

Sugary drinks

These really serve no benefit whatsoever. Medical advisors state that no more than 30 grams (around 7 sugar cubes) should be in your daily diet and this doesn’t just come from a can of cola but the range of sugary beverages provided by coffee houses nowadays. Two or three of these in your day can add up to around 900-1000 calories.

Unnecessarily sugary breakfast cereals 

This is another thing which should be pretty easy to remove from your daily diet. Sweetened cereals and flavoured instant porridge are laced with sugar and refined grains and very little fibre. Instead, you can substitute this for natural oats and fresh fruit. Your pallete will adjust, trust us.

Processed lunch meats

A 2010 study conducted by Harvard University showed that people who regularly consume processed meats like bacon, ham and hot dogs are nearly 50 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack and also increases your risk of diabetes by 20 percent. These cold, hard facts should be enough to persuade you to opt for a healthier lunch.

Strange ingredients

Look at the ingredients list on any item of food you are buying. Does it contain a list of flavours, additives and other unpronounceable items? Put it back on the shelf and move along.

Trans fat

Otherwise known as trans-unsaturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids, these are unsaturated fats which can appear in pre-packaged biscuits, pie crusts and other such items. Trans fat will increase your overall cholesterol, decrease your ‘beneficial cholesterol’ and can lead to heart disease and an early death. And who wants that?