What is a healthy diet? A good diet, for most people, is a balanced diet which helps to keep or increase overall health. A healthy diet supplies the body with necessary nutrients: adequate food energy, fluid, micronutrient, and adequate fiber. A good diet should provide all the food groups: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and breads and cereals. A good diet should provide the body’s minimum requirements for vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
A healthy diet helps to maintain or improve cardiovascular health and longevity. Researchers have identified a number of diseases that can be prevented through healthy diet. Heart disease, type II diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, and some cancers are all thought to be affected by nutrition deficiencies. A good diet can prevent or reduce the risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, and osteoporosis.
Studies have indicated that nutrition deficiencies can contribute to the development of many cancers and other diseases. Nutritionists advise against poor nutritional eating habits and recommend eating a well-balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low fat dairy products. These foods contain all the nutrients necessary for good health. For those who are not used to eating healthy eating habits, it may take some time to learn to eat a well-balanced diet. It is important to remember that what you eat is very important and that your diet can affect your overall well being.
An intake of fruits and vegetables should comprise at least five portions per day. Two to three servings of fruit and vegetables should constitute the majority of an individual’s intake. Four to five servings of fruits and vegetables should be included in the morning, afternoon, and evening meals. When choosing your fruits and vegetables it is best to choose ones that are low in fat and have a high nutritional value. Vegetables such as carrots, spinach, green beans, romaine lettuce, squash, sweet potatoes, and yams are all excellent choices.
A good healthy diet should include carbohydrates as it provides energy for your daily activities. In order to receive the most benefit from carbohydrates, try to get them from the foods that have a high nutritional value. Carbohydrates can come in the form of whole wheat bread, pastas, cereals, pasta, potatoes, rice, and fruits. It is recommended that the majority of carbohydrates eaten in a day be derived from the non-starchy vegetable variety such as broccoli, cabbage, carrots, and spinach.
The consumption of starchy vegetables per day should be limited to one or two servings. Pasta, rice, and bread are excellent sources of starch. For those who like to have vegetables per day but prefer bread, choose brown rice instead of white rice. For those who are lactose intolerant, it would be wise to eat products that have a low glycemic index than eat products with high GI.