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Healthy Eating GuidelinesThe following healthy eating guidelines take into account the latest information regarding nutrition, and the fact that in our society we are bombarded with the constant temptation to indulge in eating foods that are not good for us. Nutritional experts and food research scientists are constantly revising healthy eating guidelines as they learn more. If we follow these guidelines, and temper them with a little moderation, and an occasional forbidden treat, we can ward off the uncontrollable binges and lapses in diet that can be the result of forcing ourselves to stay on a tightly controlled diet devoid of all junk food. 1. Understand your body’s needs. A young child has different nutritional requirements than an adult. Growing bodies need plenty of protein, calcium and carbohydrates to supply the body with building blocks for growth and fuel the body’s constant demand for energy. A mature, inactive adult needs a lot less protein, more fiber and a modest amount of carbohydrates, primarily in the form of whole grains, to maintain the same body weight. Growing teenagers seem to need to eat almost endlessly, especially if they are involved in daily sports routines, and a young, reasonably active adult fits somewhere in between. 2. Understand the Nutritional Value of Food You can learn a lot about the food you are eating by simply reading the label that comes on the packet. Food labels indicate what percentage of the body’s daily requirements are being fulfilled by the food they refer to, so you don’t have to go very far to get information. Even if you are not on a diet, you should always look for food that contains no trans fat, very little cholesterol and with less than 30% of the calories in the product from fat. However, if we focus too rigidly on the healthy eating guidelines, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that fat is one of the primary ingredients that gives food both flavor and moisture. We can’t exist entirely on dry, fat-free, tasteless food. The body needs a combination of different kinds of fat, and a certain daily intake of fat is necessary for the body to function properly. So eat fat with moderation, but don’t cut it out. 3. A Little of What You Fancy Does You Good The Body also needs carbohydrates. We know that whole grains are better for the body than food that is heavy in sugar and starch. If you never eat white sugar again your body will be better off. However, it is okay to slip up a little now and then as long as you don’t overdo it. The body doesn’t crave sugar as much as the mind. If we feel deprived of something too much for too long, we have a tendency to overindulge in an uncontrolled way. So eat mostly wholesome carbs, but have a small treat now and then if you need an emotional sugar fix. If you are trying to reduce your weight, and you like to try different diets, try to find the ones that don’t focus on depriving your body of the valuable nutrition that you know your body needs. “Low fat” and “low carb” are relative terms. Most of us tend to overdo fats and carbs. But diets that reduce fat or carbs to an unhealthy level are not necessarily helping you establish long term healthy eating habits. Keep healthy eating guidelines in mind and look for a diet that acknowledges the body’s need to enjoy all the good foods that abound in nature. Philip Kustner
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(www.7habitsofweightloss.com) is not intended as a substitute for the
advice or treatment that may have been prescribed by your physician.Information
found here should NOT be construed as definitive or binding medical
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