Are You Eating Right?
Last Updated on by Sophie
Are You Eating Right?
In a typical day, I take a slice of white bread with a cup of coffee for breakfast, rice or pasta with seafood, chicken or red meat and salad for lunch. For dinner I will have sandwiches, pasta or soup.
I thought what I’m eating is healthy and enough to keep me healthy as I grow. When it comes to food and nutrition many of us has little knowledge or none.
In UAE and most of GCC countries there is lack of knowledge about nutrition and how to eat right that is why obesity in whole GCC and UAE in particular is on the rise. Add to it our sedentary lifestyle and you will have a perfect formula for bad health habits.
We make conscience efforts to dress up well and take care of our cars but not much about our food which is important for building our health as we grow. The spread of fast food chains and restaurants everywhere makes it easy for us to eat even when we are not hungry.
We think avoiding food rich in fat is all we need to do when choosing what to eat, according to Mayo Clinic we don’t need to avoid all fat in our nutrition, some fats actually helps promote good health but we have to consume them in moderation.
Saturated fat and Trans fat are bad for our health and helps raise total blood cholesterol levels and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, which can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Saturated fat may also increase your risk of type 2 diabetes according to Mayo Clinic
Healthier fat are Monounsaturated fat and Polyunsaturated fat, but remember even healthier fat has to be taken in moderation.
We need to cut down on salt in our food and if you are always eating outside that means your daily salt intake is high, it is recommended that we limit sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day.
Taking too much sodium and insufficient potassium will but your life at high risk which include high blood pressure and its consequences, such as heart disease and stroke. Some think sea salt is healthier while in fact content of sodium which matters is the same, the only difference is that sea salt contains small amount of minerals.
Healthy eating is selecting a balanced diet that is high in dietary fiber and low in fat, cholesterol, sugar and salt.
It also means having different types of food in the right amounts and not over eating any one type of food. Eat two serving s of vegetables and fruits every day and two servings of meat and alternatives, as for rice, pasta and bread try to limit your daily serving to three or less.
Eat at least three meals a day; balance your plate with different type of food. Mix Vegetables should take half the plate and one forth for lean meat, poultry or fish and one forth with grains.
Shopping smart is the start for eating right, start by paying attention to food label and read what it says about the food you are buying.
Look for food that is low in saturated fat and Trans fat, try buying food that is low in sodium, pay attention to calorie and fat you are getting and search for similar food that can give you lower calorie and fat. Choose food that is a good source of fiber, calcium, iron and vitamin C.
*This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or health care provider. We encourage you to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.
