Healthy Diet & Healthy Eating

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Healthy eating habits isn't as confusing or as restrictive as many people imagine. The first principle of a healthy diet is simply to eat a wide variety of foods. This is important because different foods make different nutritional contributions.

A healthy diet doesn't have to mean eating foods that are bland or unappealing. A healthy diet begins with healthy eating namely learning how to “eat smart” it’s not just what you eat, but how you eat.

1. Consumption of high fiber foods that is, fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. These are relatively low in calories.
2. Consumption of green fruits, orange fruits, yellow fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, cantaloupe, and citrus fruits. The antioxidants and other nutrients in these foods may help protect against developing certain types of cancer and other diseases.
3. Limit your intake of sugary foods, many sugary foods are also high in fat, so they’re calorie-dense.
4. Choose low fat or nonfat dairy products.
5. Keep your cholesterol intake below 300 milligrams per day. Cholesterol is found only in animal products, such as meats, poultry, dairy products, and egg yolks.
6. Maintain an adequate calcium intake. Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth. Calcium from low fat sources, such as skim milk and low fat yogurt.
7. Exercise and other physical activity are essential.
8. Excess alcohol consumption leads to a variety of health problems, alcoholic beverages can add many calories to your diet without supplying.  One drink a day for women, two a day for men.