Healthy Eating

Do you sometimes feel tired and out of pep? Is your cholesterol and blood pressure a little on the high side? Healthy eating can help reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain types of cancer and "bad" cholesterol. By improving your diet, you will start to have more energy and feel better. Healthy eating promotes overall good health.

But how can I start to feel better? Will I have to buy special foods, and will my grocery bill be higher? You do not have to purchase special foods. You can start your improvement plan by simply focusing on food from the six basic food groups. They are whole grains, vegetables, fruits, milk and dairy, oils and protein.

Fat in our diet has always taken a bad rap. Good fats are necessary in helping us maintain our overall health. Fats make up 60% of our brain and are necessary for brain functions including learning, memory and moods. Good fats are also needed for our heart, nerves, digestion, eyes, lungs, hair, skin, hormones and energy. Some of the good fats include Omega 3 and Omega 6, Poly-unsaturated, Mono-unsaturated, and Saturated. Bad fats become bad when damaged by heat, light and oxygen. A particularly damaging process is partial hydrogenation, which gives the oil more shelf life. Despite the benefits of the increased shelf life, this creates trans fats which are extremely harmful to our bodies.

There are many websites that provide healthy cooking recipes. One suggested website for recipes of healthy fast delicious meals is as follows:

http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_recipes.htm.

Enjoy your journey in becoming a new healthy you!