The Basics Of Healthy Food
DELICIOUS HEALTH
The Basics Of Healthy Food
Copyright 2005 Healthy Body Secrets
With all the edibles you can buy in the supermarket, it’s hard to bother yourself with buying just healthy food It’s so easy to buy instant, pre-packaged food without bothering to check the ingredients of what you’ll be eating. However, with the dangers of diabetes and heart disease, not to mention obesity, you owe it to yourself to eat healthy food. If you don’t think you can identify what’s healthy from unhealthy, you can use this guide below as a quick reference.
Healthy food is high in natural fibers
Fibers take longer time to digest, so you’ll feel full for a longer period of time. If you feel full longer, you’ll be eating less, which is really helpful if you’re aiming to lose weight. Fibers also help in maintaining good digestion. High-fiber healthy food includes whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Healthy food has no or low saturated fat content.
Saturated fat increases bad cholesterol. Unsaturated fat does the opposite. It lowers cholesterol and can reduce heart disease risks. Olive oil is one healthy food you can use for flavoring or frying.
Healthy food is nutritious
Make sure that you are getting your recommended daily allowance for various nutrients. Check the label and see if you can get a substantial percentage of calcium, vitamin C and A, and iron. You can also mix different healthy food items to get a nutritious meal. Cereals made of wheat or bran, added with skim milk and fresh fruits, make one powerhouse breakfast.
Healthy food is low in sugar and salt
Flavoring isn’t bad—after all, no one wants to eat bland food. But don’t make a habit of indulging in candies and potato chips. If you feel like eating dessert, grab a fruit or flavored yogurt instead. For something salty, go for low-fat cheese.
Healthy food is reduced in fat
If there’s a low-fat version of the food that you normally eat, go for that. Skim milk takes the place of full cream milk, fat-free yogurt takes the place of ice ream, reduced-fat cheese takes the place of the regular one. Just don’t overeat, because even though low-fat versions have few calories and less fat, they still add up when taken in large portions. Healthy food should still be eaten in moderation.
Healthy food is natural, or as natural as it can get
Canned goods and instant food have preservatives, artificial flavoring, sugar, and sodium. Buy the fresh variety as much as possible. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the essential health food staples that you should have in your refrigerator.
It may not be easy at first, but once you’re used to eating healthy food, it’ll just become part of your daily routine. After all, eating healthy food is one of the biggest favors you’ll be doing for yourself. When you’re sixty and can still surf, or play ball, you’ll look back and be grateful that you’ve made the right choice.