August 22, 2008

How to achieve a healthy diet

What is a healthy diet?
Wikipedia defines 0A healthy diet is one that is arrived at with the intent of improving or maintaining optimal health0. 0This usually involves consuming nutrients by eating the appropriate amounts from all of the food groups, including an adequate amount of water.0
The main benifits of a healthy diet are:
1. Improves your immune system
2. Increases energy levels, vitality and alertness
3. Decreases your risk of heart disease and diabetes
4. Helps you cope with stress
A healthy diet is essential to live a healthy lifestyle. Having the correct nutrients can have a significant effect on your energy levels and vitality while decreasing the risks of disease. A healthy diet consists of meeting your daily calorie intake of the five major food groups with portion control of each food group totalling your necessary calorie intake.
The five major food groups are:
1. Fruit
2. Vegetables
3. Lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, legumes
4. Bread, cereals, rice, pasta
5. Milk, yogurt, cheese
A healthy diet is also made up of portion control. The portion control of these five food groups are as follows:
Carbohydrates: 6 - 8
Protein: 1 - 2
Fats: 1
Dairy: 2 - 3
Fruit: 2
Vegetables: 5
Water: 6
What constitutes a serving size for these food groups to achieve a healthy diet?
1. Carbohydrates (6-8 serves daily)
One serving should […]