Health Care and Healthy Foods

Everyone loves to eat good food, but often eating healthy has been viewed as eating food that doesn't taste good. Misconceptions about healthy foods are common, and that has typically come about by reasons related to poor preparation, or ingredients that are not flavorful or tasty. Some perception can even be caused by poor marketing by the manufacturer. However, eating healthy foods is paramount to having a healthier lifestyle and physical wellbeing.

For example iVillage.com has come out with a list of Fifty foods that are healthier than you think. See this site: http://www.ivillage.com/foods-are-actually-healthier-expected/4-b-492275?nlcid=ht10-11-2012.  And as an additional twist on the food pyramid, the Harvard School of Public Health has designed a Healthy Plate format: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/pyramid/ . And even the Food Network has a site about healthy eating: http://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy-eating/index.html. If you are looking for the best, Fitness Magazine suggests the Top 10 healthiest foods: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/superfoods/the-10-healthiest-foods-on-the-planet/.

According to HelpGuide.org, healthy eating is not about strict nutrition philosophies, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, stabilizing your mood, and keeping yourself as healthy as possible– all of which can be achieved by learning some nutrition basics and using them in a way that works for you. You can expand your range of healthy food choices and learn how to plan ahead to create and maintain a tasty, healthy diet. They have many tips that are excellent to help you with healthy eating, located at this site: http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm .

Give your diet a healthy boost with health foods, noted by the Mayo Clinic. They're among your best bets for eating well because they meet at least three of the following criteria:

• Good or excellent source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients

• High in phytonutrients and antioxidant compounds, such as vitamins A and E and beta carotene

• May help reduce risk of heart disease and other health conditions

• Low in calorie density, meaning you get a larger portion size with a fewer number of calories

• Readily available

For a complete list, visit this site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/health-foods/MY01108 .

Tipsheet: Healthy eating starts with healthy food shopping, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Using a shopping list and keeping a well-stocked kitchen can help reduce the time you spend cooking healthy meals. Read the labels as you shop, and pay attention to serving size and servings per container. Compare the total calories in similar products and choose the lowest calorie ones. More info can be found at this site: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/shop.htm .

According to About.com, choose foods that are good for you and eat them in the right amounts. The closer a food is to its natural state, the better it is for you. Fresh fruits and berries are will satisfy a craving for sweets. Whole green, orange, and yellow vegetables have lots of vitamins and minerals. Steam them, or eat them raw, to retain the nutritional value. Don't add too much gravy, cheese, or sauces that are high in calories and fats. Much more material about the specifics of food types can be found at this site: http://nutrition.about.com/od/nutrition101/a/keepitsimple.htm .

If you're an emotional eater, keep the junk food like potato chips, tortilla chips, ice cream, and candy out of the house. Keep healthy snacks like fruits, crunchy vegetables with dips, or nuts handy. If you absolutely feel the need for a treat, then purchase a small piece of high quality chocolate or your favorite treat and enjoy it, just don't buy any to bring home. The same tips are helpful for those who enjoy snacking while watching television at home. If you don't want to give up nibbling while watching your shows, keep low-calorie foods close by, because it is very easy to eat too much when you are entranced by your favorite drama, football game or cooking show. Eat crisp raw vegetables with your dip instead of greasy chips, according to Shereen Jegtvig, author of the Nutrition Guide at About.com.

Remember, eating healthy is more than downing a bowl of cardboard flavored granola each morning. It’s a lifestyle of making wise choices for your diet, portion control, and the best foods for your personal health based on your individual situation. Make sure that you consult a personal physician if you plan on dieting or maintaining a specific type of food intake. Certain foods interact with some medications, and not in a good way. Be careful on the amount of food you eat, even if it is healthy. Just because something is low in fat or sodium doesn’t mean you should eat the entire bag at one sitting. Use common sense when preparing your food, and when you go out to eat find locations that have a high rating with the local health department. Be healthy, but be safe. Then, enjoy your food.

Until next time.