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.
Eating well and taking supplemental vitamins are keys to maintaining one's health. For one to appreciate what "eating well" means, they must understand that having a well-balanced diet is very simple, but also very important for one's physical and mental well-being.
Try to substitute healthy alternatives for fatty or sugary foods you enjoy. For example, instead of a bowl of ice cream, you can have some yogurt with fruit. Instead of french fries, try half of a baked potato. You don't have to cut out all the good tasting food in your life, just make healthier choices about what the tasty things you do eat.
If you have bought one of the new special peanut butters with extra omega-3s added in order to improve your nutrition, be aware that you've mostly bought a marketing ploy. Though many foods are fortified in a way that makes a real difference nutritionally, the amount of omega-3s added to this special (and expensive) peanut butter is so small that you would have to eat 8 sandwiches' worth (16 tablespoons) to get as much omega-3 as in a four-ounce serving of salmon.
As advertised, eggs are most certainly incredible and edible, so never forget to use them in a diet. Egg whites contain zero fat, very few calories and they pack a powerful punch of protein. They also act as a great vessel for other ingredients and as a great carrier of flavor. Best of all, eggs are really cheap at every grocery store in the land.
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.
To increase the effectiveness of vitamin supplements, include plenty of manganese in your diet. Manganese has been shown to help your body absorb a variety of vitamins and minerals. Foods rich in manganese include pineapple, soybeans, and brown rice. Consuming these foods about an hour before you take any vitamins w,ill help your body take full advantage of them.
Use pureed fruit for a healthy substitute for commercial meat sauces. Fruit that is in season is more than affordable. You can puree up everything from apples to pineapples to marinate your fish, poultry, pork or beef. It works when you are barbecuing and even inside on the range or oven.
To summarize, there is quite a bit to learn about nutrition. Do not be overwhelmed though, because the basics are easy enough to implement. A lot is dependent on your willingness to make some changes, and a lot of those will start at your next trip to the grocery store. Are you ready for the challenge?
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.
Eating well and taking supplemental vitamins are keys to maintaining one's health. For one to appreciate what "eating well" means, they must understand that having a well-balanced diet is very simple, but also very important for one's physical and mental well-being.
Try to substitute healthy alternatives for fatty or sugary foods you enjoy. For example, instead of a bowl of ice cream, you can have some yogurt with fruit. Instead of french fries, try half of a baked potato. You don't have to cut out all the good tasting food in your life, just make healthier choices about what the tasty things you do eat.
If you have bought one of the new special peanut butters with extra omega-3s added in order to improve your nutrition, be aware that you've mostly bought a marketing ploy. Though many foods are fortified in a way that makes a real difference nutritionally, the amount of omega-3s added to this special (and expensive) peanut butter is so small that you would have to eat 8 sandwiches' worth (16 tablespoons) to get as much omega-3 as in a four-ounce serving of salmon.
As advertised, eggs are most certainly incredible and edible, so never forget to use them in a diet. Egg whites contain zero fat, very few calories and they pack a powerful punch of protein. They also act as a great vessel for other ingredients and as a great carrier of flavor. Best of all, eggs are really cheap at every grocery store in the land.
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.
To increase the effectiveness of vitamin supplements, include plenty of manganese in your diet. Manganese has been shown to help your body absorb a variety of vitamins and minerals. Foods rich in manganese include pineapple, soybeans, and brown rice. Consuming these foods about an hour before you take any vitamins w,ill help your body take full advantage of them.
Use pureed fruit for a healthy substitute for commercial meat sauces. Fruit that is in season is more than affordable. You can puree up everything from apples to pineapples to marinate your fish, poultry, pork or beef. It works when you are barbecuing and even inside on the range or oven.
To summarize, there is quite a bit to learn about nutrition. Do not be overwhelmed though, because the basics are easy enough to implement. A lot is dependent on your willingness to make some changes, and a lot of those will start at your next trip to the grocery store. Are you ready for the challenge?