Secrets of a Healthy Diet

Almost everyone wants to eat a healthy diet but, for one reason or another very few of us do. Some people think that they never have time; others think that it doesn’t really matter. Most people in truth know little or nothing about what it really means to eat healthy and how education and good sense can improve all of out diets significantly.

The first step is to choose foods that are healthy first, and avoid foods that are known to cause problems like diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Carbohydrates have been in the limelight in recent years but watching your calorie intake is still very important.

The recommended daily calorie intake for an active adult is about 2000 calories, depending on your age and gender. Try to start eating foods you have never tried before like fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Take moderate helpings. And with all that food you want to make sure to drink plenty of water.

Everyone loves sweets. Processed sugar, salt and refined grain products are not good for your system, each making the body overwork in order to process them. Drinking one 12 ounce can of Coke a day for a year can increase you body weight by almost 20 pounds.

Here are a few examples of food types and what they can do for you and to you:

o Bad carbs have been stripped of all of the sugar, fiber and starches by heavy processing. White flour, sugar, and white rice will digest so rapidly that it can cause in blood sugar, weight gain, or even diabetes.

o Whole grains contain phytochemicals and antioxidants, which help prevent against cancer and heart disease. Look for the words on the package, “Stone ground”, “Multigrain”, or 100% wheat/bran before you buy.

o High fiber is a must. Fiber helps you feel fuller and cuts the amount you eat, keeps your blood sugar under control and helps maintain a healthy colon.

o Cut the amount of saturated fats from red meat and whole milk, to lower your LDL (bad cholesterol) which increases your risk of heart disease.

If you are on one of the fad diets that tell you to lower the amount of carbohydrates, fat, proteins, etc. from your diet, ask your doctor what they think. Our bodies all need a good balance of all of those and protein and minerals as well.

Talk to your doctor about outlining a diet that meets your specific needs and pay attention to your body.

Source by Chris Cornell