“Healthy Eating”

Nowadays, a person having diet lacks fact on what should they really do or eat according to their goals. Many people do diet just for the sake to lose weight. Some skip meals and doesn’t eat and they consider it as diet, but they don’t know that it is not a healthy diet. Skipping a meal is not healthy because our body needs nutrients and other factors that will make each part or system to work well. A good or a healthy diet means consuming from all the different good groups in the right quantities. We all know that everything that is too much is not good and anything that is too less is bad as well that’s why everything should be balanced. There are different food groups, one of which is the whole grain. USDA (United States Dept. of Agriculture) said that we should consume at least 3 ounces of whole grains a day.

Photo from: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/health-gains-from-whole-grains/

Fruit and vegetables have a high vitamin, mineral and fiber content that are essential for our body to work well. They also help us to lessen the risks of different illnesses. It is advised to intake at least nine servings or four and a half cups of fruits and vegetables a day. Many would consider potatoes as a fruit/vegetable but it doesn't and it should be taken less. It is better to make your fruits and vegetables always visible so that when you are hungry it is the first choice to eat rather than eating unhealthy foods. It is also advised to take fruits before a meal to help cleanse and detoxify our system.

Photo from: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vegetables-and-fruits/

People need protein for the repairing of tissue in our body. Protein foods include essential minerals, such as iron, magnesium, zinc, as well as B vitamins. Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, and soya are good sources of protein. Also when eating meat, pork should be the least and fats should be removed. There are people who are doing Protein Diet but it said that it is not good with working out because energy gets its last supply from protein.

Photo from: http://taylorednutrition.tripod.com/pickyourprotein.html

For healthier bones and teeth we need calcium and it we can get it from dairy products and it includes milk, yoghurts, cheese, and some soya dairy products. But it said that we should intake low fat dairy products to have a healthier diet. As you decrease the fat in dairy products there will be less calories, less saturated fat, and less cholesterol.  Protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals remain and help the body to sustain its need and help to lessen cardiovascular diseases along with the right exercise and intake

Photo from: http://texaswic.dshs.state.tx.us/wiclessons/english/foodpackage/dairy-products.asp

The last would be Fats and Sugars. It is not always bad to intake fats or sugar because our body still needs it but of course it should be taken at the least. Our body needs fats as the first source of energy to do different activities especially physical activities. Too much saturated fat consumption or excess consumption increases the risk of having different sicknesses such as heart disease. It can be taken once in a while because too much fat can lead to obesity and a lot of illness can take place when someone is obese. Too much sugar can also lead to diabetes, but in the bright side, sugar is a good source of energy after a heavy workout.

Photo from: http://kkkmedicine.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html

Consumption and selection of foods play a great role in everyone’s diet. Along with the food selection, exercise should go along with it for a healthier and fitter body.

Blogpost by: Ted Nichol Q. Siquian

References:

Medical News Today (2013, December 1). Retrieved January 27, 2014, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153998.php

Harvard School OF Public Health (n.d. ). Retrieved January 27, 2014, from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vegetables-and-fruits/