Is it Worth The Weight?: A Diet for a Healthy Heart

Today, many do not have enough time to eat all of their meals at home together. Some may eat meals at work or at school or restaurants. There are many food options available to us but now a days what ever is most convenient (example fast foods) are what many are turning too. The result is that many are trying to maintain their weight or are overweight.

SO WHAT SHOULD YOU BE EATING?

Well, a healthy diet contains 6 essential substances which are:

PROTEINS:

Needed for the repair, replacement, growth and function of the body. (Example: Meat, fish, cheese and eggs)
WATER:
The body is made up of about 65-70% of water. When you sweat or urinate, the water must be replaced. 6 to 8 glasses of water every day are suggested.

CARBOHYDRATES:

These are the chemicals that contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They are our main source of energy. Some examples are pasta, bread, potatoes and cereals.

FIBER:

It helps the large intestine efficiently carry away body wastes. Proteins can also prevent diseases throughout the body.

FATS:

Are found in plant foods (ex peanuts) and animal products. Fats provide energy but excess fat is stored in the body as a fatty tissue. Each form of fat contains the same number of calories (135).

VITAMINS:

The body can make small amounts of vitamins. Eating fresh fruit and veggies as well as fish and meat can give you vitamins.
MINERALS:

You need at least 20 minerals in your diet. Adding salt to some of your recipes is known to increase the risk of heart disease so try to avoid a great deal of salt.

AND NOW...LETS LOOK AT DAILY EATING HABITS:

Breakfast - It is the most important meal of the day, so do not skip it. This is an important meal that provides energy for starting your day. Instead of fatty high-cholesterol foods such as bacon, hash browns and sausage, switch to healthy fruits (ex grapefruit) and whole-grain breads and cereals.

Common Option .....Healthy Option

LUNCH- Try NOT to eat in a hurry. Many people eat high-fat foods like hamburgers and fries. Instead, try a more nutritious meal like a salad, whole-grain bread sandwich and fresh fruit and veggies.

From this.... To this....

DINNER- For most people, dinner is the main meal of the day. Large portions of red meat (ew) should be replaced by LEAN red meat, fish, chicken and don't forget the veggies! If you really want dessert, my ULTIMATE FAVORITE is LOW-FAT FROZEN YOGURT which tastes like ice cream, but it's so much healthier.