Home Articles Nutrition

It looks like everyone is always concerned only about diets, about what you should eat and what you shouldn't - about junk foods and healthy foods. It's a good sign, really, since healthily eating can make you look and feel different. And don't worry; even little changes in the way you eat will certainly make a difference.

Why Healthy Eating

A healthy diet will definitely bring about some results that you will see pretty quickly. For instance, healthy eating will help you:

1. Control your body weight so that you are neither overweight nor underweight
2. Have extra energy to get a kick out of all sorts of exciting physical activities, such as tennis, baseball, surging or dancing
3. To reach your full physical potential, be able to support your body while you are growing and developing.
4. A good balanced diet affects your mood. It will ensure that you get all the nutrients necessary for your brain to function well.

A healthy diet will also help you avoid diet-related diseases that usually people develop when they cross 40, such as:

1. Adult-onset diabetes (most common type of diabetes)
2. Heart trouble
3. High blood pressure
4. High cholesterol
5. Osteoporosis (thinning of bones).
6. Some cancers
7. Strokes (brain damage as a result of blood supply problems)

By healthy eating now you will be able to reduce the chances of developing these diseases later in life. The risk of developing certain cancers will also be decreased by eating fruits and vegetables and cereals, since they contain anti-oxidants and fiber.

Some Tips

• Include a wide variety of nutritious foods from various food groups
• Have plenty of vegetables, fruits and legumes
• Have lots of cereals (this includes breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain
• Include lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives in your diet
• Incorporate milks, yoghurts, cheeses and/or alternatives. Chose low fat varieties, as far as possible
• Have plenty of water.

Take care to:

• Limit your intake of saturated fat and moderate total fat intake
• Always choose foods that are low in salt
• If you drink, limit your alcohol intake
• Have only moderate amounts of sugars and foods containing added sugars.
• Include spices and herbs in your diet as they are rich in phytochemicals which have an antioxidant effect.
• Avert weight gain: Remain physically active and eat according to your energy needs.
• Take care of your food: Prepare and store it safely.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.