When it comes to health, we do become what we eat, so if we choose to follow an unhealthy diet we will most likely become unhealthy. Adhering to a healthy diet is not as hard as you may think it is, and if you do think it is too difficult for you to be bothered with, you could increase your risk of developing a chronic illness. Eating healthy foods will help you look and feel your best.
Fruits and Vegetables
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, research has shown a diet that includes fruits and vegetables in it contributes to good health. When you eat lots of fruits and vegetables, your chances of having a stroke, heart disease and certain types of cancer are reduced. Healthy vitamin A rich fruit such as cantaloupe can help you maintain healthy eyes. Oranges, mangoes, kiwi, strawberries and pineapple contain vitamin C. Beans, peas, lentils and artichokes contain fiber, and black-eyed peas, cooked spinach, great northern beans and asparagus contain folate. Sweet potatoes, tomato paste and tomato puree contain potassium. Other healthy potassium foods include white potatoes, white beans, lima beans, cooked greens and carrot and prune juice.
Grains
Healthy foods include whole grains such as wheat, oats, oatmeal, whole-grain corn, brown rice, wild rice, rye, barley, buckwheat, bulgur, millet, quinoa and sorghum. These foods offer protection against stroke and cardiovascular disease.
Dairy
Low-fat yogurt and fat-free yogurt is a healthy dairy food, as are low-fat or fat-free milk, cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream and Swiss cheese. Other healthy dairy foods include egg whites. The yolk of the egg contains a high amount of cholesterol.
Fish and Meat
Salmon is one of the healthiest choices when it comes to fish, as it may help to prevent strokes. Other choices of healthy fish include trout and herring. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish may offer protection against heart disease. Lean chicken and turkey are also healthy meat choices. Meat such as beef, pork, lamb and duck, on the other hand, can be high in saturated fat and may contribute to heart disease.
Nuts and Seeds
Walnuts and flax seeds are healthy foods as they contain essential fatty acids. Sunflower seeds, almonds and hazelnuts contain vitamin E. Nuts and seeds also contain healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Oils
Heart-healthy oils include peanut oil, almond oil, sesame seed oil, olive oil and canola oil.
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