Staying Young - Healthy Eating & Nutrition!

by Jan Winters
(Denver, Colorado, US)

The old adage - an apple a day still works today!

Eating a balanced meal is key to having a healthy body. It helps you to stay strong and keep your immune system healthy. It can also help you to ward off health ailments that could hinder your body.

Along with Exercise ,it’s important that you eat healthy and be sure to eat your three main meals each day. It’s also important that you eat small meals in between. You should eat at least three to four of them.

This will help your metabolism and also set you straight on getting enough Nutrition in your body. Also, make sure that you don’t over-eat during meals, whether they’re the main ones or the small ones. Even with the main meals, you should be cautious of portion sizes.

Don’t even think about engaging in one of those crazy diets. You may quickly lose the weight with a crash diet, but it will hurt you in the long run. Not only will it mess up your immune system, but when you go back to eating normally, you will gain the weight back quickly. It’s imperative that you eat meals that contain plenty of nutrients. If you feel the need to try a "diet", give the Mediterranean Diet a go, it's not a diet as such, more a different lifestyle way of eating, but is far better for you than most other "fasting" diets!!.

Eating smaller meals can help you to keep your blood sugar level stabilized. Try not to consume foods that contain a lot of sugar, sodium or saturated fats. For breakfast, you can eat carbohydrates. You can also incorporate fiber during breakfast. A good choice would be a bowl of oatmeal. Be sure to include protein for your muscles.

For dinner, eat some raw vegetables with your main meal. You can also do this if you are dining out. Having a salad provides you with plenty of fiber. Fiber is important for your body because it helps to regulate your digestive system. In addition to that, you will not feel so hungry because fiber is a filler. There are lots of great Vegetarian Recipes available that are an ideal source of fiber, give them a try!.

Another no-no when you’re eating is binging. If you do that, you should stop right away. This eating disorder can have serious consequences if done constantly. Some of the food that you consume may not digest in your stomach properly. It sits dormant, and you increase your chance of developing colon Cancer .You should learn to eat properly when you are young.

As you reach your twenties, your calcium intake should increase. Calcium is a key ingredient to prevent osteoporosis from occurring. Calcium helps to keep your bones healthy and strong.

Folic acid is another component to have in your system at a young adult age. Anything vegetable that is green and leafy is a good choice. Also, citrus fruits like oranges can provide you with plenty of folic acid. Make sure that you include other fresh Fruits & Vegetables in your eating plan. It’s essential that you have as many of these so called "Superfoods" as possible.

As you get into your thirties, your metabolism starts to slow down. It is more important than ever to eat balanced meals daily. You should avoid most if not all junk food. As you enter your forties, it is critical that you watch what you eat.

At this stage, you need to get as many nutrients as possible so your body can function properly. As you get older, additional fat deposits travel to your organs. You will definitely have to watch your fat intake, active regular Walking is an ideal way of ensuring that the body fats are not allowed to settle, adopting a sedentary lifestyle at this stage can cause long term health problems - keep moving & active!.

If you’re not sure about this, consult with your physician or nutritionist and they can help you create a plan that’s beneficial for your health. Also, make sure you’re going for your regular check-ups to make sure you’re healthy and fit.