Healthy Food for a Man

Healthy Food for a Man
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Choose healthy food such as fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean protein such as fish for a man's diet. These choices, along with keeping excess weight off through calorie control and exercise will help to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, according to MayoClinic.com. Avoid processed foods with their added sodium, preservatives and sugar.

Veg Out

Begin any food buying trip with fresh veggies and fruit to be sure to have a variety of vitamins and minerals along with plenty of dietary fiber. MayoClinic.com states that if you will begin filling your market basket with produce and avoid processed food snacks you will be less likely to gain the pounds that can make a man obese. The more variety of colors in fruits and veggies the better your coverage of vitamins and minerals.

Pro Lean Protein

Pick high protein foods that have lower fat content by avoiding red meat and going for fish, poultry and legumes. The Harvard School of Public Heath states that you can get the protein you need as a man to build strong muscles without the cholesterol-building fat in beef by choosing fish such as salmon. Try herring and trout on your barbecue for variety and because they also contain heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. You can also find high protein along with heart-healthy oils in nuts and seeds. A coating of crushed nuts and seeds can make a healthy and tasty coating for your braised fish or poultry.

Hold Out for Whole Grains

Bring home whole-grain breads, pastas and cereals rather than processed cereals and white bread to get lasting energy from the complex carbs in whole-grain. MyPyramid.gov states that you will get plenty of dietary fiber in your whole grains along with stored energy to carry you through a long day at work as a man. High fiber intake can't guarantee you won't get intestinal disease as a man but it will help you avoid diseases such as colon cancer.

Keep Calories in Control

Watch your total calorie count as a man to help keep your weight down. The University of Maryland Medical School states that as a man you can eat about 13 calories per pound of body weight and not gain any extra pounds. If you will exercise for at least a half hour daily with brisk walking or cycling, you can raise that number to 15 calories per pound. Check food labels to help keep within those numbers.

References

Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: Mar 2, 2011

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