Making Healthy Food Choices

Vegetables, fruits, and grains are normally low infat and have no cholesterol. Most are great sourcesof dietary fiber, complex carbs, and vitamins. The American Heart Association recommends that youeat foods that are high in complex carbs and fiber.

Below are some tips for making healthy food choices:

- Coconut is high in saturated fat, while olivesare high in monounsaturated fats and calories. You should use these items sparingly to avoid gettingtoo many calories from fat.

- When vegetable grains are cooked, saturated fator cholesterol is often added. For example, eggyolks may be added to bread or even pasta.

- Processed, canned, or preserved vegetables mayalso contain added sodium. With some people, toomuch sodium (salt) may lead to high blood pressure.There are some food companies that are actually canning vegetables with less salt. You can lookfor these in the market area or choose fresh andeven frozen vegetables.

- Nuts and seeds tend to be high in calories andfat, although a majority of the fat is polyunsaturatedor monounsaturated. There are some varieties, macadamie nuts for example, that are also high insaturated fat.

Foods that are high in soluble fiber are a greatchoice as well. Examples include oat bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, andeven apple pulp.

Whenever you are looking for healthy food choices,always make sure you read the nutrition labelor information about the food. You can thendetermine what the food contains and how healthyit truly is for your body. By taking your time and making your healthy food choices wisely,you'll have a lifetime to enjoy the foods thatwill take care of you.

0