Most people do not make the very important connection between eating healthy food and being your healthiest. Everyone understands that the body turns the food we eat into energy. However, the body does this so effortlessly that we take for granted what our body is doing and how important what we eat is for our health.
It is not until we get sick or get diagnosed with a condition that we learn that our diets, if they were not good, may have contributed to our ailments Eating healthy now can get your body back on track and give your health a boost. This does not mean that you have to eat perfectly every meal but is does mean that a majority of your meals and snacks are nourishing and healthy.
What is a Healthy Diet?
Although there are fad diets coming along all the time telling us that it is best to lean on one food group or another, nearly all experts agree that the ideal diet is one that includes a high percentage of whole proteins, complex carbohydrates, and good fats. Focusing on eating a variety of whole foods is more important than following a strict dietary plan. Cut out processed foods and refined sugars.
Whole Proteins – are the essential proteins that humans need to build cells. They are found in all meats, but you can also find them in plant sources like quinoa, soy, and beans. So if you are a vegetarian, you can combine these vegetables to get the essential proteins. If you eat meat, you should be careful to eat lean meats and to prepare them well cooked but not overcooked in order to get the greatest benefits.
Complex Carbohydrates – are our best choice for carbohydrates, our most immediate food source. Carbs are either simple or complex, but simple cards are a bad food choice because they put too much sugar in our bloodstreams too quickly which can have negative consequences. Complex carbs include black beans, whole grain bread, whole wheat pasta and other whole grains. Each of these releases more slowly into your bloodstream avoiding insulin spikes. You should be careful however because some of the above mentioned contain gluten which can cause some people health issues.
Healthy Fats – are fats that are low in saturated fats which are the ones that clog the arteries and cause heart and circulatory problems. Some examples of healthy or good fats are nuts, avocados, cheese, dark chocolate and fatty fish like Salmon. You should still moderate your intake of healthy fats because they can cause weight gain if eaten excessively.
Avoid Gluten
Most people have heard of gluten but are not sure of what it is and why it causes some people serious health problems. Gluten is very common and is in many of the grains most of us eat regularly, most prominently wheat. Gluten forms the sticky consistency that allows dough to be made and it also helps dough to rise.
Many people are intolerant to gluten. This can cause health issues from mild symptoms, such as an upset stomach, to very severe consequences, like celiac disease. This autoimmune disorder involves the body treating gluten as a foreign invader. The immune system will attack the gluten and the lining of the intestines causing nutrient deficiencies, anemia, severe digestive issues, and an increased risk of many other diseases.
Many people are not aware that they are gluten intolerant and simply think that they have a bad stomach or intestines. In fact up to 80 percent of those with gluten issues are not aware that it is the culprit. Taking gluten out of your diet may bring health benefits.
Eating healthy can make a big difference in the quality of your life ad your overall health.
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