Cheers to your health with a healthy beer!

photo by flickr user Brother Magneto

It is March and it is also National Nutrition Month. The truth? I only know about it being National Nutrition month because of Google Alerts. Anywho... I am raising my glass to some new information from our USDA!

I love that I can raise a pint glass of Guiness and say cheers to National Nutrition Month even on St. Patrick's Day. After all, Guiness is a low-calorie beer, right?

For the first time since 2005, the USDA has released new recommendations for all of us Americans to get healthier. Their primary focus is for us to reduce sodium, especially those of us who are over 51 years old.

The other recommendations by the USDA? Here they are, as reported by the Sleepy Eye News. "These guidelines recommend eating smaller portions, reducing calorie consumption and increasing physical activity. Specifically, the guidelines suggest:

• Making half your plate fruits and vegetables and eating more whole grains to get more of needed nutrients.
• Eating more lean meats and poultry, legumes and nuts and seeds.
• Using fat-free or low-fat (1 percent) milk.
• Staying away from added sugars, refined grains and solid fats, which tend to have many calories but few essential nutrients.
• Making sodium comparisons for foods such as canned soup and frozen meals, then select those foods with the least salt.
• Consuming less than 300 milligrams per day of cholesterol.
• Avoiding trans fatty acids.
• Gleaning nutrients primarily from eating nutritious food, instead of relying on supplements.
• Consuming alcohol only in moderation, meaning one drink or less for women per day and two drinks for men.
• Drinking water instead of sugary sodas or other sweetened drinks."

These are all great guidelines, but I think we all know how we should (or shouldn't) be eating. For the rest of this month, try to make it a goal to tackle one of the items on this list each week. Adding good habits is so much easier than eliminating bad ones.

As for me, after reading these ideas, I will limit my Guiness to one (or two) after my Shamrocks and Shenanigans run on Sunday... Cheers to your health!

Eva Johnson is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer, who is trying to change the idea that a pint glass of beer is unhealthy. She lives in chaos with her husband and two boys. To see her complete blog about how to stay sane and in shape in the real world, visit www.fitnessbyeva.com.