The Healthy Balanced Diet for Weight Loss
It is usually good to be aware of what types of foods to go for to attain a healthy balanced intake which is what I am going to talk on in this chapter.
Eating a healthy balanced diet is the best way to keep all that unnecessary weight off both in the short and long term.
A good and healthy balanced diet is one which usually consists of lots of fruits, vegetables, healthy carbohydrates, fibre, protein, mineral salts and vitamins.
This is usually low in fat (especially saturated fat), salt and sugar and high in fruit, vegetables and fibre. This also allows us to eat the right amount of foods from all the food groups as the body needs all the different varied nutrients in order to function properly. This can also make you less prone to illnesses and also help maintain a healthy body weight. The main food groups are;
Carbohydrates
This is the source for energy and acts like the body fuel. It is needed for the body to breath, move and function. Most people eliminate this from their diets which can be dangerous as it is needed to get the body moving. They come in two forms, simple and complex carbohydrates.
Simple carbs are what I call the ”Bad Carbs” and can be found in foods such as white sugar, chocolates, sweets, cakes, biscuits, cookies etc. Complex carbs on the other hand are the ”Good Carbs” and can be found in foods such as fruits, vegetables and fibre.
Protein
This is needed for cell growth and tissue repair in the body and also helps in the formation and building of muscle. It helps in the repair of hair, skin, nails muscle and bones.
Some proteins can however be high in fat especially the ones from animals, and should therefore be eaten in moderation such as egg yolks, peanut butter, diary products and meat. Other proteins can be found in lean sources such as; white meat, fish, and turkey, chicken, egg whites etc.
Fats
Yes we do need fats in the body but should however be consumed in moderation. This is a source of insulation for the body. Meaning if we don’t have any fats in the body, we cannot live as we will be just bones with nothing to insulate or cover us. Human beings have a certain amount of fatty tissue in them to help other nutrients of the body function properly. So don’t be fooled to thinking certain people have no fat at all in their body as if this was the case, they will not be living.
Good fats are the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats and can be found in vegetable oils, and oily fishes. Bad fats are the trans fats and saturated fats which is usually very high in processed foods such as fries, etc.
Vitamins& Minerals
Vitamins and Minerals are essential for good health, growth, development and energy. They can also help prevent the body from certain diseases as they help to keep the body healthy.
Vitamins and minerals can be found in a large variety of fruits and vegetables which can be obtained by eating a healthy balanced diet.
