8 Simple Rules for Healthier Eating
The question of, “what should I be eating in order to eat healthier”, is actually pretty simple, but it’s made much more difficult because of all of the various diets out there confusing the public on what is actually healthy. The bottom line is that all the evidence of points to a plant-based diet as being the healthiest choice. This would include vegetables, fruits and whole grains. It’s also important to eat healthy fats, such as that in olive or canola oil. Red meats and saturated fats should be eaten very sparingly.
The most important thing to consider, when trying to eat a healthier diet, is keeping an eye on the number of calories being consumed. Keeping your calorie count within normal levels (1,200 to 2,000 calories per day) will help you avoid weight gain.
The Harvard School of Public Health has come up with “eight tips for eating right”. These tips are based off information found in the Healthy Eating Pyramid which was developed by the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health.
1. Do not eliminate carbs; instead, eat good carbs. Whole grains are a great example of good carbs.
2. Pay attention to the types of protein you’re eating. The best choices are fish, poultry, nuts and beans.
3. Eat healthy fats, but limit the amount of saturated fat you consume. Eliminate foods containing trans fat. Some good sources of healthy fats include: plant-based oils, nuts, and fish.
4. A fiber-filled diet rich in whole grains, fruits and veggies is best for good health.
5. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and focus on those with plenty of color. Use variety when it comes to fruits and vegetables.
6. Calcium is very important to our health, but milk is not the only source of it. As a matter of fact, it’s not even the best source of it. Some alternative sources of calcium include: collards, fortified soy milk, baked beans and supplements.
7. Moderate alcohol consumption can be beneficial to your health, but it’s not for everyone. Each individual needs to weigh the benefits and risks of consuming alcohol as part of a healthy diet.
8. Daily multivitamins can be viewed as a “nutrition insurance policy” to be sure you get all of your daily vitamins and minerals. Taking some additional vitamin D may add even more of a health benefit.
May 20th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Sounds like some really sound advice. Over the past year, I’ve been hearing many people talk about the benefits of taking extra vitamin D such as warding off the flu & even helping back pain!