Diet Information
|
Diet Foods For Good HealthHealthy diet foods are found in all major food groups, namely: fruits; vegetables; grains; dairy products; meats; nuts, seeds and beans; fats and oils. Within these food groups, for optimum dietary health, choose "nutrient-dense" foods. Generally speaking, this means choosing foods with a high nutritional content but with relatively few calories. Choose Foods With Adequate Nutrition Within Your Calorie LevelThe average American diet contains too many calories but too few nutrients. This is one reason for the surge in obesity levels as well as diet-related diseases such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. We are eating too many calories from non-nutritious foods which destabilize our blood glucose levels and impair our metabolic and digestive systems. Therefore, in order to improve our health and weight, many of us need to change our eating habits and choose meals and snacks that are higher in nutrients but lower in energy content. See also: How Healthy Are Your Eating Habits? Nutritional Deficiencies in DietBased on dietary intake data concerning the average American diet, the following groups may be at risk of deficiencies in a number of vitamins and minerals. Adults Nutrient Deficiency Due To Low Intakes of Certain Diet Foods
|
Avoid Diet Foods High in Calories, Saturated and Trans FatsAmericans typically eat too many calories and, at the same time, too much saturated and trans fats. Cheese and beef are the main diet foods which contribute to excessive intakes of saturated fat, while cakes, cookies, crackers, pies, bread, animal products and margarine are largely responsible for the high intake of trans-fats. Eggs, while high in dietary cholesterol, are now regarded as a healthy nutritious food. Restrict Added Sugars and Choose Diet Foods Low in SodiumAmericans consume foods and drinks with too much added sugar (eg. regular sodas, frosted cereals, cakes, confectionery), and too much sodium from foods like salt, soy sauce, canned soups and stock or bouillon cubes and powders. Two Eating Plans Containing Healthy Diet FoodsThe latest Dietary Guidelines For Americans (2005) recommend two eating plans: the USDA Food Guide and the DASH Eating Plan. In contrast to the way that most Americans eat, these diet plans include:
|