Thursday, March 28, 2013

Eat Right, And Feel The Best You Have Ever Felt

By Luke Theuenin


Many times elderly seniors that live alone do not get the proper nutrition that they need. Turning towards easy to make meals can often lead to not getting the proper vitamins and proteins your body needs. This article will give you some great ideas to help balance your diet without having to cook a large meal.

Boost your pregnancy nutrition with a handful of nutritionally dense and delicious almonds. Besides being a good source of fiber, almonds add potassium, calcium and iron to your daily intake. They make a wonderful snack without adding empty calories to your diet and they help satisfy your appetite between meals.

Foods marketed as health foods are not always as healthy as you may think they are. Be sure to always check the nutritional information on the packaged or prepared foods that you eat and pay attention to the serving sizes as well. A snack food may have small amount of fat per serving, but if you eat several servings at a time, the small amounts of fat can add up.

Eating fruits and vegetables that are in season is a great way to save money and also get your vitamins. Foods that are in season will taste better and you will probably enjoy them much more. Buying foods that are in season will cost you less because they have so many of them that need to sell.

Do not believe everything you hear about weight loss and nutrition. There are all kinds of ideas, diets, and opinions out there. There are the good ones and the bad ones. You have to do your research, and make sure you are not falling for the next scam. First and foremost, you should consult your physician.

Give yourself a limit of 3 sugary treats per week. Better nutrition starts with cutting down on foods that are not healthy for you and then, replacing them with better options. Knowing that you have a limit and sticking to it, will help give you more control to make better food choices over the course of each week.

If you have hit an energy low point you should avoid sugary snacks and vending machine products. Good snacks that give you energy need to have complex carbohydrates. Carbs turn into energy, which you need, but the complex carbs do it more slowly than simple carbs. This helps to not overload your body and give you a sugar rush, followed by a sugar crash.

High cholesterol increases your risk for dangerous heart disease. If you want to lower your cholesterol, try replacing foods with saturated fats to foods with monosaturated fats. An easy way to do this is through stocking up on avocados, olives, olive oil and almonds. These monosaturated fat-rich foods will help lower LDL cholesterol.

Rather than stressing yourself out by trying to identify things to cut from your daily diet, think about how you can add healthy and nutritious snacks and foods to your regimen. If you make a commitment to add in more vegetables or fiber-rich foods, you may find that you are satisfied with the change and don't even miss the unhealthy snacks.

Snacks are tough when trying to stay nutritional, but some people can't go between meals without having at least something. So if you must snack, think smart about it. Aim for things like sunflower seeds, nuts, fruit, or even carrot and celery sticks. Snacks are okay in moderation and with a strict plan of what is considered healthy.

For better nutrition, eat your favorite fruits and vegetables raw instead of cooked. Raw produce contains many vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that steaming, boiling and frying removes. It is also a good decision to eat the skin of the fruit or vegetable, if possible, as most of the nutrients are near the surface.

If you have to have coffee in the mornings, the best thing you can do is to have it black, but if you must have it sweet and creamy, you do have an option. You can put skim milk and sugar substitute in it and it will be just as satisfying.

Fiber is an important part of anyone's diet. Fiber assists in weight management by helping you not to feel hungry. It also works to help lower blood cholesterol. Eating fiber will also to decrease your risk of some forms of cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

One helpful approach to nutrition and health has been the idea to not deprive yourself of foods you enjoy, but rather to swap them out for similar foods that will provide more or better nutrition. You must know or learn the nutritional profiles of what you're eating, learn what the alternatives are, and pick alternatives that have a healthier profile. This task has been made far easier in recent years with so many restaurants providing nutrition information on their offerings.

Try to eat more white meat in your diet everyday. Most protein comes from animal fat and this kind provides the least amount versus red meat. You can find tasty white meat in turkey, chicken and even pork. Add these to items such as sandwiches, salads, stews, soups, etc; the possibilities are endless.

Thinking about your body and nutrition? Well, start thinking hot and spicy. Spicy foods tend to have special ingredients in them which help to jump start endorphins in your body. These are chemicals which make a person feel good and make your body feel well balanced. Think foods like chili or curry, when trying to aim for spice in your life.

Folic acid is one of the most crucial nutrients to keep in your diet, because it is important for proper growth and neural health. It is particularly important for women who are pregnant or nursing because a deficiency can lead to major birth defects. Good sources include vegetables, nuts, grain, and organ meats.

As stated at the beginning of this article, good nutrition is essential for maintaining a healthy balanced diet. Eating foods rich in vitamins and nutrients, assists your body in remaining healthy and strong. Hopefully, this article has given you some useful tips for incorporating good nutrition into your life.




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