Healthy eating is all about balance and moderation with some variety thrown in for good measure.
What this means is that you need to get all of the essential nutrients but not too much of one to the exclusion of others. You also need to make sure that you eat a wide variety of different foods so eating does not become mundane or boring.
It is also important that you do not take in too many calories. Healthy eating is about keeping diseases at bay and it is also about managing your body weight.
In order to eat as healthy as possible it is important that you consume a selection of foods that are rich in nutrients.
While there are an array of healthy foods that you can choose from to eat, no one food can provide you with all of the nutrients you require.
In fact, each person requires more than 40 nutrients in order to remain in good health. That is a tall order for any food to fill.
To Start Healthy Eating You Need To Know The Right Foods
When choosing foods to eat on a daily basis these are the foods that should be included for optimum health fruits and vegetables; meat, fish, poultry and other foods for protein; low fat dairy products; whole grain bread and other whole grain products such as pasta and cereals.
Some good references to help you determine the amount you should be eating include the Nutrition Facts panel included on many food labels as well as the Food Guide Pyramid.
Speaking of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, are you eating an abundance of these foods every day?
Surveys have shown that most Americans are deficit in terms of eating the proper amounts of these very important food items. To be eating as healthy as possible you should be consuming three to five servings of vegetables a day and two to four servings of fruit a day.
Picky Eaters Listen Up!
If you are very picky about what you eat then the good news is that there are lots of different fruits and vegetables to choose from. Experiment with different foods and different recipes in order to supply you with the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants you require.
You might even want to try a new fruit or vegetable every week or every other week. You never know what tasty concoction you may come up with!
Healthy Eating Means A Healthy Body Weight
A healthy body weight is tied into healthy eating. If you maintain healthy eating habits and a healthy lifestyle then maintaining a body weight that is good for you should not be a problem. It is important to bear in mind however that everyone’s ideal weight is not the same.
What is right for you is not necessarily right for your mother, sister, brother or best friend. The right weight for anyone is dependent upon the person’s gender, age, height and genetic makeup.
Having too much fat on your body can put you at risk for a variety of diseases including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer. It can also place an excessive amount of pressure on your back and the rest of your skeletal system which can lead to back aches, headaches and pain in the arms and legs.
On the other hand, being underweight can also lead to health problems such as osteoporosis, menstrual irregularities, etc. If you find that you are prone to yo-yo dieting and do not have sensible eating habits then seek out the assistance of a registered dietitian to get you on the right track.
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