A Healthy Diet: Nutrition

The importance of a healthy diet and proper nutrition will be discussed here.

Nutrition is essential in providing your body's cells the necessary materials that support life.The sciences of nutrition involve examining the metabolic responses your body has to the various foods you eat.Understanding the principles of nutrition can easily show that many health problems can be avoided by following a healthy diet.The sciences of nutrition look at the steps our body's cells take starting with digestion and through the point when they change the digested food from one form to another.This is a process of metabolism.

We watch the science of human nutrition slowly evolving. A healthy diet is what is necessary for maintaining and improving health. A healthy diet is possible by eating fresh, unprocessed foods instead of eating processed foods. To maintaining a healthy diet you must eat a sufficient quantity of all nutrients and consume enough water. For this you will require a balanced amount of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats as well as vitamins and minerals.

The importance of a healthy diet on our health is enormous. The maintenance of a healthy diet is crucial to the prevention of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. A healthy diet will also go far to improve your mental health. There has been much research that has shown the eating of healthy nutritious meals has a beneficial effect on memory and brain functions.

A healthy diet:

Selecting a diet with a bounty of starchy foods such as rice, with plenty of fruits and vegetables for a good start. Add some protein like meat, fish, and chicken and a little bit of milk and dairy foods should give you a sufficient amount of nutrition. The key to eating a healthy diet is maintaining the proper balance of these nutrients: a good selection of varying foods in the proper proportions. Avoid too much fat, sugar and salt.

There are basically five different food groups. Eating a proper balance of foods from these groups daily is the essential foundation of a healthy diet. It is the recommendation that everyone receive the proper balance from these five basic groups. The five groups are:Grains, Fruits and Vegetables, Meats and beans (including eggs and fish), Milk and Dairy, and foods containing fat and sugar.

Fruits and vegetables:Vegetables: 2.5 cups daily, Fruits: 2 cups daily

We recommended you consume five portions per day of fruits and vegetables. A 1 cup per serving measure is a good gauge.The risks of diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancer should be decreased.

Grains: One third of daily food intake

Including foods like bread, rice, potatoes, corn and pasta are the starchy foods which should make up the largest portion of your daily diet. Whole grains are esspecially important as they contain the fiber we need to aid digestion and nutrient absorption. Grains are a good source of energy and provide fuel for the body.

Meat and beans: 15% -20% of total daily calories

Meats and bean provide good sources of protein. Additionally they contain several vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc and B vitamins. Protein is necessary for cell growth and repair.

Milk and dairy foods: 3 cups per day

Milk and dairy products including cheese and yogurt are great sources of protein. Dairy foods are also a major source of calcium.

Fat and sugar

Fat and sugar should be eaten infrequently. Eating too much causes our bodies to consume more energy than it burns leading to obesity and increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. The consumption of fat should be limited to mostly mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats. A smaller amounts of saturated fats is also acceptable. Trans Fats should be avoided.

Being healthy is one of the most valuable aspects on our lives that we need to take with great precaution and utmost importance.


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