Jillian Michaels' 8 Simple Swaps For a Healthier Lifestyle

Getting healthy doesn't have to be an intimidating overhaul. These simple swaps can have a major impact on your overall well being. The best part is that they're so easy, you'll barely feel like you're making tweaks to your diet, fitness routine, and general lifestyle. Let's get started!

You may think that orange or apple juice is a healthy drink, but some of these juices can have as much sugar as soda. Always read the nutrition facts and ingredients on the label first — just because it says "juice" doesn't mean it's good for you.

There are plenty of healthier options out there. You can easily make your own flavored drinks to satisfy your taste buds. Here's one idea: Start with sparkling or regular water and add cucumbers and oranges for a zesty flavor. I also love mixing two tablespoons of all-natural juices from Trader Joe's (like their cranberry and pomegranate juice) with sparkling water and a lime. I get antioxidants and vitamin C from the cranberry and pomegranate juice for just 30 calories — and no chemicals. Keep playing with the flavors until you find your favorite combo.

Kids wind up getting a lot of their solid fats from baked goods, and there are several ways to make these foods healthier. Try the following substitutes for butter or margarine: Olive oil, non-fat sour cream or yogurt, applesauce, mashed bananas, or mashed pumpkin.

I have a brownie recipe that uses applesauce, honey, and a touch of olive oil and it's so good! By trying these simple replacements you can literally cut hundreds of calories out of your baked goods without feeling deprived — trust me.

I'm not advising you to abandon the treadmill — I know that there are certain times of the year when it's literally impossible to run outside. But I would really like you all to try to take your workouts outdoors every once in a while.

There are SO many benefits. Running outdoors stimulates your senses, improves your mood, and helps you get more vitamin D from the sun (which helps to promote stronger bones and reduces asthma symptoms). So if you can fit an outdoor workout into your schedule once a week — do it! It will break up the monotony of the gym or your living room and challenge your body.

Indoor air can get really polluted. If you have pets and kids running around, air fresheners simply help to spread toxic chemicals that the cat or dog may have dragged in from outside, or germs your kids may have picked up at school. House plants, like ferns, help to clean the air — filtering toxins by up to 90 percent — and help to provide more oxygen

This swap comes with a warning: Grass-fed beef is slightly more expensive, but the money you'll save on healthcare in the long run will be dramatic. Grass-fed beef is much better for you because the cows are raised on pasture without the use of synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides, genetic modifications, cloning, or antibiotics. Aside from all of those glaring benefits, grass-fed beef also has four times the amount of healthy fats and omega 3's. Grass-fed beef is clearly the healthier option when it comes to eating red meat — your health is worth the splurge.

Honey is a powerful anti-microbrial, meaning that it fights bacteria that cause disease. Researchers have found that honey outperforms cough medicine in every category: Reducing the number of colds, the severity of coughs, and improving sleep in kids and parents. The most effective kinds are the darker varieties of raw honey, which you can find at specialty food stores.

This is one of the biggest swaps I repeatedly suggest. You need to make the change from refined grains to whole grains PERMANENTLY. Refined grains offer no nutritional benefits and are devoid of fiber. On the other hand, whole grains contain fiber plus protein, omega 3's, vitamins, minerals, and microbial nutrients. Be sure to read the labels closely. Just because the label says, "wheat bread," does not mean it's a whole grain.