The first step in any diet plan is to eat properly. Properly digested food is quickly metabolized by the body and provides all the nutrients that the body needs. There are two types of digestive processes that occur when consuming food-somatic processes and non-somatic processes. For a healthy immune system, it is important to move through both types of digestion to help prevent illnesses. It has been suggested that the nervous system and the brain depend on the proper functioning of the digestive system.
Most people think that eating is only about what they eat. However, eating is more than just what you put into your mouth. The five major food groups contribute to the nutritional content of our diets. Eating is the distribution of nutrients from the four food groups to the other five. In this way, eating ensures that we receive all the nutrients that we need and do not miss out on the necessary ones.
Dark chocolate is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. In addition to being full of antioxidants and healthy fats, dark chocolate is also rich in magnesium, calcium, and vitamin E, as well as protein and fiber. The benefits of this delicious treat, as listed above, make it an easy eating tip for the healthy individual.
Another healthy snack is a bowl of cereals. This is easily prepared with fruit, nuts, or vegetables in any form: cereal, bagels, bread, crackers, rice… Good quality cereals should be made from whole grains, which have been bran-free. Whole grain cereals are rich in calcium, iron, and other trace minerals. It’s important to remember that children should not eat cereals; as with other cereals, there should be no more than 1 cup of milk, cereals or alternative milk in a day.
Some fruits are healthy but not so great for your heart health, particularly those that are orange, red, and citrus in color. These fruits may be colorful, but are very high in calories. An alternative to orange and red fruits is to eat fruits that are low in calories, such as apples, peaches, melons, prunes, berries, and strawberries. Eating real foods like these allow you to reap the nutritional benefits without all the calories and fat. Real foods like these are a much healthier choice for a meal that will boost heart health.
For lunch and dinner, several healthy foods can be combined in one dish. An easy solution for this is to combine low-fat milk, low-calorie mayonnaise, and low-fat sour cream in a bowl. After dinner, you can top that bowl with a piece of whole-grain toast. The combination of these three nutritious foods will provide many of the nutrients that you need for a healthy diet.
