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Sunday 10 March 2013

How Your Diet Can Help You Become Healthy

By Hershel Bile


Nutrition is much in the news. It is not enough just to eat. The variety and quality of our food does much to determine our health. Nutrition is about providing our body with the building blocks it needs. Study the tips given here and they can help you toward that long and healthy life you desire.

How do I calculate the fat content of my food? Most people recommend that no more of 25% of your calories should come from food, but it is very hard to figure out. Rather than focussing on counting fat grams, try to follow certain guidelines. Avoid fried foods, choose low fat versions of dairy products, and eat fresh fruit and veggies whenever possible. Choose poultry or fish over red meat, and cut back on snacks.

It's a fact: most kids just don't like to eat their veggies! But there are ways to get them to enjoy these wonderful foods. Try new, interesting vegetables and add low-fat dips. Take your child shopping and allow him to pick the veggie for tonight's meal. And if your child likes sandwiches, try to load them up with lettuce, tomatoes or anything he will allow!

Protein is a necessary component of any healthy diet, but do not consume too much animal based protein. Some high protein diets recommend large quantities of animal based protein which can rob the body of calcium. Over time, this could result in decreased bone density and brittle bones, especially for women. Be sure to monitor your intake and balance your diet appropriately.

A really useful way to help you stay fit is to keep a log of the food you eat each day. By recording what you eat each day, you'll keep track of your calories, and you'll also be able to pick up on which foods you like or don't like.

Thoroughly wash your fruits and vegetables, and eat them with the skin on whenever possible. Washing them will get rid of any pesticide residue. The skin of the fruits and vegetables is where a lot of the fiber and nutrients are located. If you consume the skin, you will get the maximum benefit possible.

Eat at least five to nine servings of fresh fruit and vegetables every day. You should choose which ones to eat daily based on the rainbow. Try to eat a different color of the rainbow with each serving. The more colorful your diet, the better your health will soon become.

Try to limit your consumption of processed and packaged foods. These types of foods are usually high in fat, salt and refined sugars. Also, if you are cooking for a large family, it can be a lot cheaper to make meals from scratch rather than buy large numbers of packaged ready meals.

If your child is a picky eater, a regular daily routine for meals can help. Give him or her snacks and meals at about the same time of day. Be sure that your child drinks plenty of water between meals instead of milk or juice, and don't offer treats between meals.

Try your hardest to avoid empty calories. This is things like refined sugars, soft drinks or other junk food snacks. These won't give you a feeling of being full and they also won't provide your body with any nutrients. If you are able to eat more complex foods your body will thank you.

Many people think when they travel often then there is nothing they can do much about not having the time to exercise. Fact of the matter is, most hotels lean towards having fitness centers in today's world. You can also bring fitness equipment with you in order to workout in your room.

To find out how much protein you need for your nutrition plan, calculate the recommended daily value about 0.3 grams and multiply it by your height in inches. This will give you an exact number to guide you to a better, healthier body and mind. It is fast and easy to do and has powerful benefits.

When buying a bagel from a bakery, beware of portion sizes. Most bakeries will give you a bagel that is actually two or more servings of bread. If you enjoy bagels from a bakery, consider splitting the bagel with someone. You can buy a bagel before you go to work and give half to a coworker. This can be a nice gesture and a way to control your portion sizes.

To improve your health, limit your intake of unnatural foods. Cut back on processed foods and foods fried in oil. When you do consume processed foods choose ones made from whole grains. Whole grains are more nutrient dense than the alternatives and since it takes the body longer to break whole grains down, you stay full longer.

Dark, leafy green vegetables might be the very best foods to select, when you try to add better nutrition to your diet. These vegetables, such as spinach, kale and exotic lettuces, are packed with beneficial vitamins and nutrients, as well as, being completely free of unhealthy ingredients. By incorporating them into a healthy diet, the savvy dieter will get plenty of healthy nutrition.

If you're working on addressing your nutrition concerns, make sure you don't villainize any food groups! Most things are okay in moderation, which means that, cutting carbohydrates out of your diet, is wholly unnecessary. Enjoy your pasta and bread in moderation and you'll enjoy long-term energy, if you're maintaining your protein intake, as well.

Starting a new diet does not necessarily mean that you have to deprive yourself of your favorite foods. Instead, consume your guilty pleasures in small portion sizes and much less frequently. This makes them innocent pleasures! Rather than rewarding yourself for sticking with a diet by eating a normal-sized treat, linger over a smaller, healthier portion.

If you are serious about losing weight over an extended period of time try to cut your caloric intake by about 150 calories per day. That amount of calories works out to be around 15 pounds lost in just one year. If you cut out a few calories and increase your exercise by just a little, you will see results.

There is so much to learn and these tips have given you many details about nutrition. From these you can gain a better understanding of how your body functions. Meeting its vital needs is the key to good health. Neglecting nutrition can have dire consequences. We hope these tips will set you firmly on the road to health and happiness.




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