FOODS FOR GOOD HEALTH

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INTRODUCTION: A balanced diet comprising of healthy and diverse foods is key to promoting good health. Healthy food promotes good health. Foods contain vital nutrients that aid our body’s metabolic function. A nutritious diet can rectify underlying causes of diseases and restore one to wholeness of mind and body. Once we realise the connection between a wholesome diet and good health, our food will be our medicine and maintaining good health will be a matter of making the right food choices and leading a healthy lifestyle. FOOD GROUPS: Single food group can’t nourish the body with all the vital ingredients it requires, it is important that we consume a variety of healthy foods to derive the nutrition our body needs. The following are the five main food groups. These include: * Fruits * Vegetables* Cereals and Pulses* Dairy* Poultry, Fish and Meat products. These five food groups ensure essential vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. The food group serving size will depend upon various factors like

age, activity level, body size and gender. It is also important that one eat a variety of foods from within and across the food groups. As some foods from within a food group provide more nutrients than others. This will ensure that one gets the maximum recommended nutrition from the food group; besides the food variety will make for an interesting meal. SIMPLE TIPS FOR HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES: The following tips are one way for people to understand how to eat healthy. These include: *Eat lots of vegetables and fruits.

Try picking from the rainbow of colors available to maximize variety. Eat non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, carrots, broccoli or green beans with meals. *Choose whole grain foods over processed grain products. Try brown rice with your stir fry or whole wheat spaghetti with your favorite pasta sauce. *Include dried beans (like kidney or pinto beans) and lentils into your meals. *Include fish in your meals 2-3 times a week. *Choose non-fat dairy such as skim milk, non-fat yogurt and

non-fat cheese. *Choose water and calorie-free "diet" drinks instead of regular soda, fruit punch, sweet tea and other sugar-sweetened drinks. Choose liquid oils for cooking instead of solid fats that can be high in saturated and trans fats. Remember that fats are high in calories. If you're trying to lose weight, watch your portion sizes of added fats. Cut back on high calorie snack foods and desserts like chips, cookies, cakes, and full-fat ice cream. Eating too much of even healthful

foods can lead to weight gain. Watch your portion sizes. Also visit:http://www.herbsandcures.com

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