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What is considered to be a healthy diet?
Most experts agree that a healthy diet is one that contains a wide
variety of foods and includes protein, carbohydrate and fat, as well
as vitamins and minerals.
Protein is essential for the growth, repair and maintenance of cells
and is found in foods such as meat, fish, eggs, milk dairy produce,
beans and nuts.
Carbohydrate is valuable energy source. There are two forms: complex
carbohydrates (found in foods such as cereals, potatoes, rice, pasta
and bread) and simple carbohydrates (basically sugars, found in
foods such as chocolates, biscuits, ice cream and soft drinks, as
well as fruit). In general, complex carbohydrates (with the
exception of fruit) are better for us because as well as energy they
provide plenty of fiber, which is essential for a healthy digestive
system.
Fats are needed to help insulate and protect the body and are a
concentrated source of energy. There are two main types: saturated
fats (found in meat, dairy products, cooking fat, biscuits and
pastries) and unsaturated fats (found in foods such as olive olive
oil, polyunsaturated spreads, sunflower oil and oily fish). Needless
to say, experts recommend that we consume unsaturated fats rather
than saturated fats. This is because saturated fats are associated
with increased levels of cholesterol in the blood and a higher risk
of coronary heart disease, whereas unsaturated fats (such as extra
vergin olive oil) can help reduce the levels of cholesterol and may
help prevent heart disease.
Vitamins, contained in large quantities in most fruits and
vegetables, are essential to help the body perform a series of
functions, such as balancing hormone levels, boosting the immune
system, strengthening the skin and connective tissue, protecting the
arteries, assisting brain function, just to mention a few!!!
Minerals, like vitamins, are essential for just about every process
in the body. Some become incorporated into body structures, for
example calcium, magnesium and phosphorus which are found in the
bones. Teeth, like the bones, also need calcium and phosphorus. They
also need florine to protect them against decay. |
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