How Changing the Food You Eat Can Keep You Healthy and Avoid Heart Disease

Food is any material consumed by an animal to give nourishment to an animal. It can be in the form of flesh, milk, eggs, cereals or vegetables. Generally speaking, food is generally of animal, plant or fungi origin, and has necessary nutrients, including vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Plants contain carbohydrates by way of their sugars, whereas animal products, such as meat, provide protein.

Types of foods The four major groups of foods include vegetables (i.e. vegetables and fruits), legumes ( beans and lentils), grains (e.g. whole grain rice), and nuts (e.g. walnuts and peanuts). Vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and fruits are rich in nutrition, but they differ in terms of processing and preparation techniques. Animal foods such as meat, fish, milk and eggs are rich in protein and other nutrients.

Types of meals Some of the main groups of foods that people consume on a daily basis include carbohydrates/sugar, fats/oils, protein, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other unprocessed foods. This dietary approach makes it easy to meet dietary needs. On the one hand, there is a need to have a source of carbohydrates or sugar for energy; for example, to perform physical activities and to have the energy supply during day-to-day activities. Carbohydrates are found in food sources in the form of breads, pasta, cereals, potatoes, rice, etc. These foods provide carbohydrates or sugar for daily use.

There are two kinds of carbohydrates: complex and simple. Complex carbohydrates provide a source of energy by combining with other nutrients. Simple carbohydrates are found in foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grain products, and some dairy products. Consuming complex or simple carbohydrates can improve the immune system healthy and can enhance the nutrient intake needed by the body.

Vitamins and minerals The food that the body consumes contains the essential vitamins and minerals. These food groups contain nutrients that are needed by the body for proper functioning. Examples of vitamins are Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Iron, Zinc, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Pumpkin Seeds, Almonds, and Other Nuts. It is best to eat a well-balanced diet consisting of all these nutrients and minerals to get the most benefit from the food.

Including Unprocessed Foods To make the diet based on unprocessed foods and cut down food portions may help reduce weight. It may also help reduce heart disease risk, stroke, diabetes and other diseases. Adding these foods to the daily diet may help you live a healthy life. It is important to add these food choices to the diet to achieve or maintain the desired body weight.