Food Groups
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Foundations of Healthy Eating
It has been proven and known that eating a balanced diet from the basic food groups is the absolute foundation of healthy eating and weight loss.
No matter how old you are, what type of body size you have, your activity level, whether you are male or female and if you are pregnant or breast-feeding - You need food and a balance amount.
Every human body needs its correct amount of nutrients to function properly and the basic food groups are where they’re at. The food groups include a variety of foods to choose from that provide our bodies with these dietary constituents: Carbohydrate, Protein, Lipid (Fat), Vitamins, Minerals, and Water.
Different Food Groups
The Energy Source
The grain products group includes breads, pastas, noodles, cereals, rice dishes, other grains and even the starchy vegetables: corn and potatoes.
This food group provides the body with a great source of energy, dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates, important vitamins, and some protein. Especially valuable, are unprocessed whole-grain products, that are not stripped of their nutritional value.
Lots of Variety
Bread, Pasta, Rice, Corn, Potato, Barley, Millet, Oatbran, Hot or Cold Cereal, Bagels, Pancakes, Buckwheat, Couscous, Scones, Waffles, Crepes, and much more.
Eating too much grains at the wrong time could hurt your weight loss goals as grains are mostly used for energy. When eating lots of grains at night when your body is shutting down will force your body to storing that extra energy into fat and this is what has become a huge issue with weight gain.
What could provide our bodies with a wealth of minerals, vitamins, dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates, and various phytochemicals - ALL essential for good health and weight loss?
Fruits & Vegetables are all that.
Better yet, this food group makes our meals more interesting; adding different colors, flavors, and textures to our plate.
As a rule, the color of fruits and vegetables is a good indicator of their nutritional content. Phytochemicals are biologically active substances that occur in plants and give vegetables their color, flavor and odor. They work as antioxidants, protecting our cells and organs from the damage caused by free radicals. For example, beta-carotene, which becomes vitamin A in the body, is found in yellow, orange and dark green vegetables. Beta-carotene is associated with reducing the risk of cancer, heart disease and eye disorders.
Vitamin D & Nutritous? D – licious
Dairy foods, including milk, cheese, yogurt, in their many forms and varieties, remain an essential food group for all ages and body sizes. While it is important to choose dairy products that are lower in fat more often for weight loss, the essential vitamins and nutrients offered by the dairy group should not be neglected.
Some recent Canadian research found that during winter months many Canadians had low levels of essential vitamin D: A vitamin especially crucial to preserving bone strength in adults, and bone development in growing children. Vitamin D is produced by the skin during exposure to sunlight. But in winter, especially in
Have a look at milk, yogurt and cheese for some tasty recipes to help you get the dairy you need.
Why meat and alternatives are so important?
They are the builders and repairers. This food group provides the proteins that build and repair the body.
Meat and it’s alternatives also provide B vitamins, Iron and Zinc. In fact, Vitamin B12 is only found in the animal products of the Meat and Alternatives Food Group.
Good sources of protein include meats like poultry, beef and fish; legumes like dry beans, chick peas and lentils; eggs, cheese and even nuts.
Eating lean meats and protein will give you the egde on building muscle and achieve your weight loss goals while keeping you fuller longer unlike carbohydrates.
By providing your body with a correct amount of nutrients from the food groups will give your body the macro/micro nutrients it needs to keep strong and healthy.
