What Makes A Nutritious Diet?

Nutrition is always a hot topic, none more so than nowadays. Let's look at a few things to make life easier.

One thing you don't want is high blood pressure. Why? High blood pressure can increase the risk of strokes, heart attacks, eye damage and kidney failure. High blood pressure affects the arteries and they can become hardened, which can prevent the ability to adequately supply oxygen to the blood. High blood pressure can be caused when you eat too much food that is high in sodium, therefore ideally, you should aim to consume no more than 1 teaspoon of salt per day.

You should eat whole foods, such as vegetables, unsaturated fats, and lean proteins. Try to limit the amount of such foods as 'fast foods', including frozen dinners like pizzas and takeaway meals.

Legumes and beans is always be a staple choice that encourages any healthy diet. Legumes and beans are normally low in both fat and calories and provide vitamins, minerals, protein and fibre. Most vegetables are relatively inexpensive so can easily, and affordably, be included into any diet.

Everybody consumes fat of one type or another but it is important to distinguish between the types of fat available.

Saturated fats are generally found in meats and dairy products like cream and yoghurts. These are known to increase cholesterol which is unhealthy.

Poly-unsaturated fats are Omega-3 and Omega-6. Omega-6 fats are fats such as those found in sunflower margarine. Omega-3 fats found in foods like oily fish, such as pilchards, sardines and trout, and seeds and nuts are beneficial. Nuts and seeds, such as walnuts and linseed, are both high in Omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fats don't affect cholesterol levels but they are a benefit as they are known to help reduce the chances of forming blood clots. Adding 1 to 2 portions of oily fish per week can ensure an adequate intake of Omega-3 oils.

Mono-unsaturated fats such as olive oil contains fatty acids shown to reduce cholesterol and improve health.

Stay away from trans-fats which are chemically altered vegetable oils and produced artificially in a process called hydrogenation which turns liquid oil into solid fat. Trans-fats are found in hundreds, if not thousands of foods, including biscuits, sweets and ready meals. They are used because they are cheap, add bulk, give a long shelf like to products and have a neutral flavour.

Trans-fats in themselves are linked to high cholesterol which can lead to health conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. Hydrogenated fats must always be declared on the label, which also includes the term 'partially hydrogenated fats'.

Good knowledge of nutritious foods is essential to having healthy diet. You find more information on nomorecellulite.info cellite exercise at nomorecellulite.info nomorecellulite.info