When cooking, use as little butter as possible. Instead, use olive oil. It contains monounsaturated fats which are actually healthy and beneficial to your health. Butter is loaded with saturated fat, something that is harder for your body to burn through and increases your risk of heart complications. So, use olive oil as a substitute for butter, whenever possible.
Organic food is much in the news these days and many of us are paying attention, as we should. Eating organically grown foods maximizes the nutrients we receive. One reason is that the soil on an organic farm is richer in the nutrients we need, which then imparts these nutrients into the food that we eat.
Omega 3 fatty acids not only assist in growth, development and brain function, they also help to protect against Alzheimer's disease. Consuming Omega 3's, has proven effective in its ability to protect the body against accumulating a certain protein believed to be linked to Alzheimer's disease. Studies have been quite encouraging.
For optimal nutrition, make sure you include enough fiber in your diet. Fiber is beneficial in the reduction of cholesterol, which is crucial in the prevention of heart disease. It also regulates your gastrointestinal system so you will not become constipated. Fiber can keep blood sugar levels stable, which is especially important for diabetics.
When trying to add more nutrition to your diet, it is wise to consult your doctor. They can help to direct you to what your specific needs are. It is often very easy to switch to a more nutritious diet by cutting down on fat and sugar, while increasing fiber rich foods such as fruit and vegetables.
To ensure your thyroid gland functions properly, include plenty of iodine in your diet. Iodine is a component of multiple thyroid hormones, including triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Insufficient iodine levels leave your body unable to synthesize thyroid hormones, which means your metabolism cannot be regulated properly. Foods that contain iodine include kelp, eggs, and strawberries.
Don't be sucked in by expensive "super-foods"! Normal food is just fine for nutritional value. Make healthful choices in fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats and fish, legumes, beans and nuts and whole grain breads and cereals at your local market. Use a water purifying pitcher to provide you with plenty of pure water economically. Avoid junk, and eat normal, healthful food in abundance for optimum health.
A great nutrition tip is to not order appetizers when you eat out at restaurants. An appetizer can easily turn into a whole meal and when combined with the rest of your order, it can wreck your fitness goals. Pass on the appetizers and just order the main course.
Clean out your fridge, freezer and cabinets. Toss the "bad" foods and replace with health alternatives. Keep fresh fruit and veggies on hand for snacking. Put a note on the refrigerator that says "no junk allowed" if you must. If you have kids, have a special place for any of their snacks that might tempt you.
When making a smoothie for a meal, it is important to only add ingredients that are healthy. Don't just load a smoothie with fruit and ice cream. That will load it with calories, and turn it into an unhealthy treat. Use yogurt, berries, frozen bananas and a small amount of honey.
If you're pregnant, make sure you limit the amount of caffeine you ingest. You shouldn't drink more than two cups of coffee a day while you're pregnant. Too much caffeine can lead to you either having a miscarriage or the baby being underweight when it's born, so it's important to limit the amount you take in.
If you have to have coffee in the mornings, the best thing you can do is to have it black, but if you must have it sweet and creamy, you do have an option. You can put skim milk and sugar substitute in it and it will be just as satisfying.
Good nutrition can go a long way in relieving some of the common discomforts of pregnancy. Avoid here fried foods, excessive spices and too many fatty foods to help combat the heartburn that often comes along when you are pregnant. Eat fiber rich foods to increase intestinal movement and avoid constipation.
Peas can make a delicious addition to your diet. While they do contain some starch, they also have lots of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. They're also quite versatile. In addition to eating freshly steamed garden peas, they also make a fine split pea soup when dried, or when frozen, make a great addition to stir-fries.
In summary, there are some obvious ideas that have been tested over time, as well as some newer theories that you may not have considered. Hopefully, as long as you follow what we suggest in this article, you can either get started with a healthy nutrition plan or improve on what you have already done.
