Eating The Best Quality Food In The Right Quantities Is The Main Ingredient When Considering Food And Health.

Unfortunately, many people make the wrong choices when it comes to food and health, and even more alarming, many foods on the supermarket shelves are woefully short on nutrients.

Your body is made up of about 63% water, 22% protein, 13% fat and 2% vitamins and minerals and requires a balanced diet of vitamins, minerals essential fats, and complex carbohydrates to stay in peak condition.

The food industry conditions us to eat foods laden with sugar, fat, additives and preservatives. Foods are refined in order to make them last longer, but that also makes them deficient in nutrients.

Always remember that the food industry is, understandably, linked to profit and you should train yourself to read labels and make your own decisions on nutrition.

My aim here is to give you the basic information on food and health so that you can make the correct choices, together with details of where you can dig deeper if you want to know more.

Fat (about 40% of modern diet-ideal is 20%)

There are two types of fat i.e. saturated fat and unsaturated fat. Saturated fat is found in meat and dairy products and is not essential in the diet. In fact you should keep the consumption of saturated fat to a minimum.Unsaturated fats are far healthier and are split into two types. Monounsaturated fats, of which olive oil is a rich source, and which should still be used sparingly, and polyunsaturated fats which are found in seeds and nuts and are an essential part of a balanced diet.

Protein (12% of modern diet-ideal is 15%)

There are 25 different forms of protein and they are the building blocks of the body. Both the quality of the protein (determined by the balance of the amino acids) and the quantity that you eat are important as they are essential for growth and the repair of body tissue. They are also important for the manufacture of hormones, enzymes, antibodies and neurotransmitters, and help transport substances around the body.

The best quality protein foods in terms of amino acid balance, are eggs, quinoa, soya, meat, fish, and seed vegetables such as peas, beans and lentils.

Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are the main fuel for the body and there are two types:Fast releasing being sugar, honey, malt, sweets and most refined foods. (These give a sudden burst of energy followed by a slump.)

Slow releasing being whole grains, vegetables and fresh fruit. (These contain more complex carbohydrates together with fibre, which help to slow down the release of sugar.)



For a low glycemic food list go to Super Food Guru and to make sure you are getting enough calories go to everyday-life-diets.com (These pages will open in a new window so do return to me when you are done.)

Click here to learn how healthy eating can be simplified. You will find easy healthy recipes, 30 minute meals and free meal planners. (This page will open in a new window so do remember to return to me when you are done.)

For more food and health tips and advice on how to stay young go to organic health food, antioxidant foods, or yoga diet and home water filter.

For information on how to reach and maintain a healthy weight go to weight loss challenge