by Dr Pj Prakash

Staying healthy and eating right is not rocket science. This article contains easy to follow advice to assist you in making better choices about what you eat. There are many easy options for you to choose from when your goal is good nutrition.

A great nutrition tip is to make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables every day. The USDA recommended daily allowance for fruits and veggies is 9 to 13 servings per day. That probably sounds like more than it actually is. Have a glass of real orange juice with your breakfast or put tomato pasta sauce on your spaghetti.

Consume whole grains as part of your daily diet. When people eat whole grains, it leads to much better health than that which can be had by consuming processed grains. When choosing your food, pick items that are made with 100% whole wheat; bread, pasta and brown rice are great options. Try to stay away from any white food, it is generally an unhealthy choice. This will give you the fiber and nutrients your body needs which refined carbohydrates do not have.

Highly processed foods, like those that have trans fats, should be avoided. Foods with high trans fat contents increases your risk of heart disease. Not only do trans fats increase your LDL, or "bad", cholesterol levels, they simultaneously decrease your HDL, or "good", cholesterol levels.

Don't leave your broccoli on the plate! A single medium stalk of this green super food can give you a day's worth of Vitamin K/ It contains enough vitamin C to meet your recommended intake for two days. Vitamin K and C will strengthen your bones and even reduce your risks of developing some types of cancer. You should steam your broccoli instead of boiling it.

If you must eat chocolate, choose the dark kind. The dark variety is good for your heart as it aids in controlling your blood pressure. The antioxidants dark chocolate contains works to improve your cholesterol. Make sure that the majority of your dark chocolate is cocoa to reap these benefits. Be aware that even dark chocolate contains calories, so it should be consumed in moderation.

You should always encourage water consumption during the day. Have juice or milk with meals, but make water the only beverage you drink otherwise. If they have juice or milk all day, they are less likely to be hungry at mealtime.

Cook your vegetables in water rather than oil in order to decrease your fat consumption. Steam or boil your veggies for a more flavorful, nutritious side dish or entree. If you must use oil, just use a dab of vegetable oil rather than butter.

When you begin using the above tips in your daily life, you'll find it easier to make nutritious choices without having to think much about it. Once you get the basics, it gets easier to incorporate good nutrition into your daily life. Good health to you!




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