Healthful Eating

Healthful Eating

Leisa J. Allender

June 26, 2010

English 101

Instructor: Pamela Cantrell

University of Phoenix

Healthful Eating

     The key to healthful eating is to incorporate nutritious foods into our daily menus.  The proper foods added to a diet could mean avoiding future health problems and eliminating health problems you have at the present time.  If we eat the right variety  of foods, serve the right portion sizes and reduce our intake of foods and beverages which we know lead to health problems, we are on our way to “Healthful Eating”  Our overall eating pattern is the key to changing our life style to help us to feel better and living longer.  

     We are all familiar with the food pyramids.  These pyramids outline the different food groups that form the basic healthy diet.  There are different types of food pyramids for different countries, Asian, Latin American, and Vegetarians to name a few.  The American food guide pyramid is broken down into dairy products, meat, beans, poultry and fish, vegetables and fruits, grains, pastas and cereals and fats, oils and sweets.  Most of the nutrients  our body needs comes from unprocessed foods.  When foods go through the processing stage they lose the elements that are beneficial  to our bodies.  Almost all food products have additives that are not needed  for good nutrition.  The more additives that are put into a product , the more the cost of the product rises.  When products claim to be packed with extra nutrients or claim they will help bulk you up or slim you down there is a definite mark up in the price.  We can get the same benefit from preparing nutritious meals in the comfort of our own home.

     Then we have the “Superfoods”.  These are the foods that have more nutrients and antioxidants than regular foods.  There are a number of them that are effective in helping ward off a number of diseases including cancer.

Turmeric and flaxseed are known for reducing the risk of cancer.  The flaxseed is also good for your bones.  Flaxseed helps reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancer. The “superstar spice” cinnamon can be sprinkled on a number of different food items.  It can help with the cholesterol and diabetes levels.  

There are fruits and vegetables included on the super foods list  such as broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, oranges and blueberries.   Also included are beans, oats, salmon and walnuts.  The foods that are colored by nature are good for us.  

     Phytochemicals, which the root “phyto” means to grow is a natural chemical that is the main ingredient for preventing health problems.  Antioxidants are a chemical substance that inhibits oxidation, which increases our positive charges in our bodies.  According to JoAnn Manson “It may be the combination of antioxidants, phytochemicals and fiber that work together to confer health benefits”.  The serious ailments they may help prevent include heart disease, diabetes and cancer.