Making Nutritious Food Selections To Help You Enjoy Being Well
- September 1st, 2011
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Trying to eat healthy? It can be a tough thing to do, even during the best of times. To keep yourself eating healthy throughout your life, making smart food choices is mandatory. Don’t worry, there is an upside. Your health can improve, you can lose weight and you can feel better about yourself and life in general.
The first healthy food you should turn to is vegetables. Vegetables are dense with nutrients we need such as protein, calcium, vitamins, minerals and chlorophyll. When you eat lots of raw vegetables each day, you lower your body’s pH level, which is necessary to keep your body balanced. Without the proper pH level, you could develop cancer, chronic constipation, and many other diseases. Eat at least 3 cups of vegetables daily to ensure that you get enough alkaline foods in your diet.
Fruits are the second most important food that you should be eating. 2 cups of raw fruit each day is recommended for the average adult, though more can be eaten with healthy benefits. Avoid canned fruit as it is loaded with sugary syrup and as a result, is very unhealthy. Stick to fresh raw fruit and substitute that with dried un-sulfured fruit when needed.
The average person should consume 5 oz. of protein-rich beans each day. Beans contain almost no fat which makes them ideal for health-conscious people. Meat as a protein source has been the start of many debates, but beans are almost always considered a good option. Beans also contain plenty of fiber which, when paired with its protein, greatly reduces the risk of constipation, something that meat-eaters often struggle with.
Avoid eating solid fats. You will need to look closely at the food that you eat because bakery treats, frozen foods, and packaged foods often contain these unhealthy fats. To replace butter, margarine, shortening and lard, start incorporating cold-pressed oils such as olive, grape seed or avocado oil into your recipes. Not only can you use less oil than solid fat in recipes, the flavor will not be changed enough for anyone to notice.
If you require assistance purchasing food for yourself or family and are making a low income, you may be eligible for Mississippi food stamps, Missouri food stamps, or food stamps from another U.S. state which you live in.