Healthcare and your Diet
Two of the biggest factors in staying healthy are regular exercise and a healthy diet. There is a huge market for diet products and convenience foods but to stay in shape it really is as simple as exercising regularly and eating well. Following a healthy diet helps to keep cholesterol levels low, reduce blood pressure and ensure you remain a healthy weight.
Firstly, it is very important to get at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. There are various vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found in fruit and vegetables that help to keep your heart healthy. Fresh, tinned, frozen and dried varieties are all fine and count towards the 5 a day as does 100% fruit juice. However, supplements will not provide you with the same benefits. it is easy to work this amount into your daily diet without feeling like it's a chore! Try having a fruit smoothie for breakfast, and supplement meals with a side salad, or vegetables. For dessert have fruit and always carry a piece of fruit with you to snack on so you are not tempted by fatty, unhealthy snacks!
There are different types of fat and you do need fat in your diet to maintain a healthy body. However, you need to be aware of the types of fat that you are consuming. As a general rule steer clear of trans fats (biscuits, chocolate, pastry and frying oils) and saturated fats (these are found in artifical 'junk' foods as well as high fats cheeses, full fat milk and animal fat). Instead have a small amount of menstruated fats such as olive oil and rapeseed oil.
Fish is very good for you as it contains Omega 3. Omega 3 is type of polyunsaturated fat and studies have shown that it may benefit a healthy heart. Oily fish such as mackerel and salmon are particularly good for you.
On the whole to maintain health from a dietary point of view you need to make sure you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, reduce the amount of 'bad' fats in your diet. Reduce the amount of meat you are eating and introduce beans and pulses or extra vegetables in its place occasionally. You also need to eat 2 - 3 portions of oily fish per week and limit intake of alcohol. Finally, make sure you drink plenty of water and limit caffeine containing products such as coffee.