National Nutrition Month is upon us and is the perfect time to look at your diet and see if you are on the right track to a healthier you!. Of course, everyone has their own eating habits and we all love our certain foods. But there are also still ways to eat what you enjoy and include healthy choices.
Here are a few tips to consider when you’re ready to prepare your next meal.
A healthy diet is one that: Emphasizes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat milk products. Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, legumes, eggs, nuts, and seeds. Balance calorie intake with caloric needs. Low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugar.
The importance of fruits and vegetables in your diet is key to good health: Studies have found that fruit and vegetable intake promotes a longer life span and lowers the risk of several chronic diseases, including stroke, cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
Fruits and vegetables are also vitally important for the amount of fiber they contain. Also, we need to consume foods rich in fiber for regularity, since constipation may be a problem as we get older. Diets containing fiber-rich foods may reduce your risk of heart disease.
Eating whole grains provides important health benefits: Many whole grains are good or excellent sources of dietary fiber. Most refined grains contain little fiber. Dietary fiber from whole grains, as part of an overall healthy diet, may help improve blood cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
Dietary fiber can make you feel full, so you may eat fewer calories. Including whole grains in your diet plan may help you reach or manage a healthy weight. Grains are also important sources of many nutrients, such as B vitamins, riboflavin, niacin, and folate.
Calcium rich foods are very important for the body: Build and strengthen bones, to help ward off osteoporosis. Help circulate blood, move muscles, and release hormones. Prevent the body from taking the calcium in our bones to use in the body for other functions.
Proteins are needed to build up the body: Help repair and build tissues. Protein builds up the bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood in the body.
About half the dietary protein that you consume each day goes into making enzymes, which aids in digesting food, and making new cells and body chemicals.
Throughout March and every month, remember the significance of your diet and your health. What you consume will help you feel better, fuel you right, and give you the nutrients you need. Your body will thank you for it!
Stay Happy, and Healthy, and Confident Always!
Meredith