Monday, October 14, 2013

Good Health Is Not Just An Illusion

By Dr Pj Prakash


Proper nutrition is the keystone of a healthy and productive life. When you take in the nutrients your body needs, you provide the raw material for all the processes your body performs on a daily - and nightly - basis. Your nutritional choices have a profound influence on the level of well-being you can achieve.

Although salads are healthy, the salad dressing is not. Dressings that are creamy tend to have more fat and lower nutritional value. Choose, instead, a vinaigrette or a home-made version with vinegar and some olive oil. Adding healthy toppings to a salad (like cranberries or walnuts) will also improve their benefits.

If you want to purchase any prepared foods, take a close look at the label first. Just because something is labeled "reduced-fat" doesn't mean it is nutritionally sound. Often, they are loaded with unhealthy ingredients like sugar and lots of salt. Avoid processed foods if you are trying to lose weight. Labels should always list ingredients in terms you can understand. If many artificial ingredients are listed on the label, it's best to pass on the product.

Make whole grains a part of your daily food intake. Whole grains pack a much more nutritional punch than processed grains that have had most of their nutrients refined out of them. Try including brown rice, whole wheat pasta, and 100% whole grain bread to your daily diet. You will get the fiber your body needs in addition to the beneficial nutrients.

Do not skip over breakfast when you are on a diet. Breakfast is very important to get your body going after a good nights sleep, not only that, it provides the necessary fuel to help speed up your metabolism.

Don't eat microwave dinners if you're pursuing nutrition. Microwave dinners are usually high in fat, salt, sugar and preservatives. Prepare your own meals from fresh produce and lean meats for the most nutritious fare.

For best nutrition, be sure to choose fats wisely. Butter was once thought to be the enemy due to the high amount of saturated fat. However, margarine has been found to be high in trans fats, which are unhealthy for the heart. Best would be to limit your fats as much as possible; second best would be one of the "Smart Balance" non-trans-fat type margarine's, and third best would be to use real butter, but very sparingly.

A great nutrition tip is to start taking a multivitamin. Multivitamins are great because they cover a large area of vitamins and nutrients, and they can help balance out any diet. There are different multivitamins available for different age groups, so it's important that you get the right one for you.

When trying to have a healthy diet, add new healthy foods. Try something that you have never had before. You may be missing out on something that you really would enjoy. There are a lot of fruits and vegetables that people never try. You can start introducing new foods into your diet slowly. You should try something new once a week.

Cook up several whole potatoes and stuff them to have later as a quick meal. Potatoes keep great after being baked or even boiled. Just stick them in your fridge and when you are ready for a quick meal, slice them open, add some low-fat cheese and maybe some beans or broccoli, and warm everything in the microwave.

By learning about your body and what to eat to give your body the best nutrition can make yourself healthier. This improved health can have many benefits to the body and mind if you choose to follow this article and improve your overall nutrition for your body.




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