Function of food pyramid

Above about used of food pyramid.

The pyramid of food is a tool that is used to help people eat better and also it is used to create a healthy diet. People should have to consume in great quantity the foods that are in the base, and those that are on the top, should be eating with less frequency. A single meal doesn't provide all the nutrients that the body needs. For that reason, a variety of foods of each group should be included in the diet. This will help us to get the nutrients that our body needs among other substances to promote a good health. Some recommendations when serving the foods are to diminish the exaggerated consumption of foods that are not beneficial for the health, such as red meat, sweets and fatty and to consume them once per week or less. That will help us to have a balanced and healthy meal. One has to begin to work making small changes getting the body used to consume more quantity of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, etc. People should have a good attitude of creativity and disposition to begin to eat well and to eat health.

Eat less fat

Here's about food pyramid.

For decades, the USDA food pyramid has been telling us to eat less fat. When they launched their campaign, only 14% of Americans were obese. Today, that number’s at more than 30%, with another 30% of the population being classified as “overweight.”

So what’s wrong? Did the public fail to get the message? Are we all secretly pigging out on high fat foods? Did we all suddenly turn sedentary?

By the late 1990s, more than 90% of American consumers reported eating low-fat products, and roughly two-thirds of us believed “a need exists for food ingredients that can replace the fat in food products.” By all appearances, we embraced the low-fat message with open arms. Yet we still gained weight.

A funny thing happens when you cut fat out of the diet. You want to replace it with something.

Recently, Ode Magazine ran a cover story called “Fat Is Where It’s At,” highlighting the changing tide as scientists have started to recommend higher fat diets. From the article:

So given the blanket condemnation of fat, what did we eat instead? If we cut fat out of our diets, we have to get calories from somewhere. When food companies offer reduced-fat versions of cookies, salad dressings and sauces, sugar and carbohydrates generally make up the difference. When we consciously reduce the fat in our diets, we don’t typically eat fewer calories; we eat more rice and pasta, according to a survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And low-fat products have their own problems. “If you reduce the fat, you have to replace it with something,” says Samuel Klein, a professor of medicine and nutrition in the medical school at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. “So it’s sugar.” It’s true: Either for taste, or to replace fat’s richness and moistness, the food industry began using sugar.

But as researchers studied fat and weight, they learned more about the effects of sugar, which as it turns out may inspire more weight gain than fat does. When we eat sugar—or refined carbohydrates, which break down into sugar—the body produces insulin to transport the sugar to the muscles and organs that burn it as fuel. Insulin, though, also regulates fat metabolism, and when insulin levels are high, the body stores fat rather than burning it. The issues and consequences of producing too much insulin are still open to debate, but many researchers believe that replacing fats with sugars and carbohydrates has the potential to wreak havoc on your metabolism. And ironically, even sugar substitutes, like aspartame, the sweetener in NutraSweet and Equal, have been linked to weight gain. Scientists aren’t sure why, but they seem to encourage people to eat more, or disrupt energy expenditures.

So now the scientific community is starting to backtrack. They’re finally starting to own up to the fact that not all fat is bad.

Check out these prime quotations from the Ode article:

–”Regularly described as the nutritional equivalent of cigarettes, fat has been the target of public-service campaigns and municipal bans aimed at keeping us slender and healthy. But a growing body of international research suggests our obsessive fear of fat may be misplaced. A high-fat diet won’t necessarily make us sick or fat; a low-fat diet may not make us healthy or slim.“
–”Even the American Heart Association (AHA), a leader in the campaign against dietary fat, recently revised its nutritional guidelines, increasing the daily recommendations for fat. “The science just wasn’t there,” acknowledges Robert Eckel, president of the AHA and a professor of endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.”

Personally, I love fat. It makes everything taste better and keeps me full. In order to get the proper balance of fats necessary for a healthy liver & heart (an Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acid ratio of 4:1, for starters), I try to get my fat from traditional sources. This includes butter from grass-fed cows, tallow and lard from grass-fed, wild, foraged animals, and quality olive and coconut oils. I drink full-fat milk raw from grass-fed cows, don’t shy away from cream or sour cream, and enjoy bacon grease.

Roughly 55-65% of my daily calories come from these fats, and I’ve never been healthier. I’ve lost weight, eliminated mood swings, and said goodbye to fatigue.

The Healthy of Food Pyramid

Above about the healthy of Food Pyramid.

The Food Guide Pyramid was created more than ten years by the United States Department of Agriculture. The food pyramid illustrates what the USDA said were the elements of a healthy food pyramid diet. The food Pyramid was taught in schools, the media and brochures, cereal boxes and food labels. It seems that the last word on everything that we really comer.

Food guide pyramid is a fable. Not the way to a healthy diet. We were told today the food guide pyramid is based on weak evidence. Has not changed over the year to reflect major advances in understanding the relationship between diet and health.

Recently, the USDA withdrew the old food guide pyramid and replaced it with my pyramid, a new system of symbols and orientation. This revision is primarily the result of the food pyramid his side.

Good news about the new food pyramid :

• For the poor and buried in pyramids.

The bad news about food pyramid.

• The new food pyramid does not give us enough information to help us make informed decisions about our diet and health in the long term.

• We continue to recommened that are not essential for good health.

• The amount of food recommended in May also be harmful to our health.

A new food pyramid guide published in early January 2005:

• We will continue to focus on weight control;

• fats were considered bad. The new guidelines emphasize low and to limit our saturated fats. No hay limit artificially low in fat. The last piece of advice that is recommended to arrive between 20% and 35% of calories from fat. The new food pyramid guidelines also recognize the potential health benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fats;

• complex carbohydrates is a term used in the past that has little biological significance;

• New food pyramid americans recommend limiting intake of sugar and stressles benefits of whole grains;

• The guidelines suggest eating half the grains as refined starch, refined starch, but acting like or sugar, add empty calories, have adverse metabolic effects and increase the risk of diabetes and heart.

Facts about The Biggest Loser Diet

Here's about the Biggest Loser Diet.

This diet is based upon the popular television show "The Biggest Loser", where contestants are competing to lose the most weight possible. This diet plan focuses on lowering calories, lowering fat and reducing refined carbohydrates while promoting exercise. This diet is based on the premise that if you eat fewer calories and burn more calories, you will achieve weight loss as a result. Some of the rules of this diet involve keeping track of calories and also eating three meals every day as well as between one and three snacks.

What makes the Biggest Loser diet unique in comparison to other diets is that it is based on a television show, as well as the standard USDA food pyramid with a few small changes. The focus in the Biggest Loser diet is to eat more fruits and vegetables and less whole grains. The Biggest Loser diet also promotes the consumption of lean proteins while requiring that dieters cut down on refined grains and sugar like potatoes, white bread and pasta for example.

The Biggest Loser diet focuses on lowering fat, lowering calories and lowering refined carbohydrates. It is vital that dieters track their calories. It is also recommended that dieters purchase food scales as well as measuring cups to learn how to exercise portion control until the point where portions can be eyeballed. There is a book that provides the calorie guidelines for dieters following this particular diet, but the Biggest Loser diet also has a website that offers all the information needed in order to properly do the diet math. The Biggest Loser website can be found at http://www.thebiggestloserclub.com.

The Biggest Loser diet does not give any specific weight loss expectations for those that follow the diet, because the minds behind this diet say that everyone is going to lose weight at a different and natural weight. According to this diet, however, a weight loss rate of two lbs per week is perceived to be a normal and safe amount of weight loss per week. It is important to know that weight loss through the Biggest Loser diet does involve exercising, including circuit training, cardio and strength training for the best possible results.

Healthy diet must follow the food pyramid

Above aboit the important of food pyramid.

As individuals we all can do a better job of choosing foods to help us have a healthy diet. A healthy diet is hard to commit to and often we simply do not know what foods we should be eating to have a healthy diet. This is why the Food Pyramid was created. To help us make the best choices to keep us and healthy and happy. The food guide sets the guidelines for picking foods is represented on a triangular shape pyramid. There are different types of pyramids, but they all have this in common. While choosing to have a healthy diet is no sense of the word easy, the food guide developed for us will make things a little easier for us. The Food Pyramid shows us where we should focus when we select foods that we pick foods. The pyramid displays that the food most that we should be eating the most at the bottom and moves upwards to the foods that we should eat less of.

The basics of the food guide, is to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and to reduce the intake of saturated fats, trans fat and cholesterol as well as limit sweets and salt. And when you drink, drink in moderation or not at all. Control portion size. The best way to do this is to use a smaller plate when you are fixing a plate for yourself or your family. Include physical activity to your day. This does not have to be going to the gym and doing a hard core workout. The body should not be static and should be moving. The food guide places the foods we ought to eat in different categories such as dairy products or meat and beans group to help guide you in your food choices. No single food group offers you all the nutrition that you need so making to a goal to eat from all major food groups is a must for having a healthy diet.

How does one ensure of using the Food Pyramid effectively. It is not complicated, it is easy to use and follow. The problem comes in when you actually have to put into action. It is important to choose variety foods from each and every food group. This will ensure that you get all the vitamins, protein, calories, fiber and minerals daily. A good way to make sure that you all getting everything you need is adapt your healthy diet plan to your specific taste. For instance, you don’t have to just eat a slice of bread to meet your grain requirements. You could have wild rice or pasta instead. And can combine foods from each group. Like grain groups and bean group.

How to boost your metabolisme

Above about tips to boost your metabolisme.

The first step is having real food available and choosing mostly food that has either been directly caught or picked. That means minimally processed foods and eating balanced meals consisting of lean protein, healthy fat, and complex carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetables or whole grains. Being prepared, and not having junk in the house is the first step. Don?t worry if you can?t eat like this all of the time. If you eat healthy 80% of the time, you should eat without guilt 20% of the time.

My recommended food pyramid has activity at the base and then whole grain foods two to three times a day; a small amount of healthy fats with each meal; vegetables in abundance; fruit two to three times a day; nuts and legumes one to three times; fish, poultry, eggs two times; dairy one to two times a day. On top is red meat, butter, and white (flour) foods. Finally, drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and consider 3-4 cups of green tea to boost your metabolism. If you?re dehydrated, you might think you?re hungry.

The second step has to do with portion control. I suggest using a 12-inch plate and dividing it into quarters. Each quarter holds a protein, starch, vegetable, and salad. That way you can?t over eat the starch or protein.

It is also really important to eat at regular intervals so you are not totally famished when you eat. That is a common problem for people who end up binge eating and eating more calories late in the day when they are easily stored as fat due to your metabolism slowing down. Of course starting with a healthy balanced breakfast and eating every 3-4 hours is best to keep your metabolism working for you.

Low-fat salmon dinner

Here's about low-fat salmon dinner.

Most Americans don't eat fish as often as the Food Pyramid suggests, so she's been looking for ways to make salmon and other seafood tasty. When I first started working with this recipe, she was leery about the combination of orange juice and Dijon mustard, but it tastes better than it sounds.

The original recipe calls for salt-free citrus-herb seasoning, but she couldn't find any of that at the grocery store, so she substituted lemon pepper instead. She also use sugar-free marmalade, but choosing regular marmalade is fine here — just keep in mind that you'll be adding about 40 calories to each serving.

I found that freshly squeezed orange juice works much better in this marinade than orange juice from concentrate. One medium orange will give you the juice you need for this recipe.

One serving of this Orange Glazed Salmon contains 161 calories and 4 grams of fat.

Orange Glazed Salmon

1 pound salmon fillet

1/4 cup sugar-free orange marmalade

1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon lemon pepper or salt-free citrus-herb seasoning

Rinse salmon fillet under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.

Cut into 4 equal portions and place salmon pieces in a large zip-top bag. Set aside.

In a small bowl, stir together remaining ingredients. Pour into zip-top bag. Squeeze air from bag and seal. Marinate in refrigerator one hour. Line a baking sheet with foil and turn on your oven's broiler. Remove salmon from marinade, place on baking sheet.

Discard marinade. Broil salmon 6 to 8 inches from heat source for 6 to 8 minutes or until cooked through. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

Per serving: 161 calories, 4 fat grams, 60mg cholesterol, 167mg sodium, 24 protein grams, 6 carb grams, no fiber

Food Pyramid Showdown

Above about showdown at Food Pyramid.

There’s trouble afoot at the Food Pyramid: Strange new junk food like “candy bar” and “hot dog” are kicking off all the healthy food to have their own party. Even poor Granny Smith apple gets the boot! As the fruits and vegetables try to regroup, the junk keeps the party going. But no pyramid can support all that junk for long-when it comes time to rebuild, will the healthy foods be able to find the right balance?

With different diets receiving so much attention in recent years, nutrition can be a confusing topic for young readers, so Rex Barron uses a simple story and animated edibles to present an easy introduction to the basic concepts of healthy eating as recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture.

PreSchool-Grade 2–In this dynamic picture book, personified foods fight a battle over good nutrition. Following the wisdom of the Great Food Guide tacked on the wall, the various edibles that form the pyramid have always tried to remain in balance. Then, dangerous interlopers overrun them and take over the top level (”They had strange names like Hot Dog, Candy Bar and Donut, and they liked to cause trouble”). The healthy foods almost give up trying to make things right again, but the problem is resolved when the pyramid is destroyed by its own excess; with all of that fattening stuff on top, it collapses “under its own weight.” The foods then rebuild the structure, a process shown in a literal and amusing way, with sturdy starches supporting bright fruits and vegetables, and finally, way up on top, a few sweets and fats, which are allowed to return. The message is up front, but the humorous tone keeps the story from becoming overwhelmingly didactic. The pictures are great, with vivid colors and lots of drama and personality.

Eating a healthy food pyramid

Here's about eating a healthy food pyramid.

The food pyramid outlines various food groups and food pyramid choices that are the foundation of a healthy food pyramid diet. This is true when the correct size is used. Food pyramid places in the categories of foods such as dairy products or meat and beans, to guide you through food choices. According to the food pyramid that you should try to eat the number of people from five food pyramid group in the food pyramid.

The food pyramid is a way for people to understand how to eat healthy. The food pyramid is based on guidelines published by USDA. A healthy food pyramid diet is a little easier if the base of your choice in the food pyramid. The basic principle of the food pyramid is to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and wholegrain cereals.

The food pyramid invited to eat a variety of foods for nutrients they need and the amount of calories to maintain a normal weight. It helps people to see how much food from each group should eat to maintain your health. It easy to follow for many people. The key to healthy food pyramid eating is to enjoy a wide range of high quality foods, including fruit and vegetables.

This pyramid is designed to provide good nutrition advice is the latest scientific research. According to federal regulations, the group that wrote the dietary guidelines must include nutrition experts who are leaders in pediatrics, obesity, cardiovascular disease and public health.

Weight loss program

Above about how to loss your weight.

The race to fitness is on and a lot of people are getting into the band wagon. Some people do it to achieve a sexy body, some people just do it because they are embarrassed with the body they have now, while others do it simply to remain fit and heatlthy. As such, many fitness programs are out in the internet, in gyms, spas and fitness centers all over. Some are too expensive to afford that one may even lose weight just by trying to work out the money needed to pursue these fitness programs.

One may not have to go to the gym or the spa or any fitness center and spend much just to slim down to obtain that longed for sexy body. There are many books available in the bookstore which offer weight loss programs which are convenient and for free, of course the books are not though. These weight loss programs, or diet plans are gaining immense popularity with so much publicity, testimonials and reviews that one may be confused which exactly to follow. So before choosing which weight loss plan to follow, try reading these summaries about the most popular diet programs out today.

Atkins’ New Diet Revolution by Dr. Atkins. This weight loss program encourages high protein diet and a trim down on the carbs. One can feast on vegetables and meat but should fast on bread and pasta. One is also not restricted against fat intake so it is okay to pour in the salad dressing and freely spread on the butter. However, after the diet, one may find himself lacking on fiber and calcium yet high in fat. Intake of grains and fruits are also limited. Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet by Drs. Heller. This diet plan advocates low carbohyrate eating. Approves on eating meats, vegetables and fruits, dairy and grain products. however, warns against taking in too much carb. “Reward” meal can be too high on fats and saturated fats. Choose to Lose by Dr. Goor. Restrains fat intake. One is given a “fat” budget and he is given the liberty on how to spend it. It does not pressure the individual to watch his carbohydrate intake. Eating meat and poultry as well as low-fat dairy and seafoods is okay. A go signal is also given on eating vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread and pasta. This weight loss plan is fairly healthy, good amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as saturated fats.

Watch triglyceride levels though; if high, trim down the carbohydrates and tuck in more of the unsaturated fats. The DASH Diet. Advocates moderate amounts of fat and protein intake and high on carbs. Primarily designed to lower blood pressure, the diet plan follows the pyramid food guide and encourages high intake of whole wheat grains as well as fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy. Some dieters think it advocates too much eating to procure significant weight loss. Eat More, Weigh Less by Dr. Ornish. Primarily vegetarian fare and strictly low-fat. Gives the go signal on the “glow” foods but warns to watch it on non-fat dairy and egg whites. This diet is poor in calcium and retricts consumption of healthy foods like seafoods and lean poultry. Eat Right for Your Type. Interesting because it is based on the person’s blood type. recommends plenty of mest for people with the blood type O. Diet plans for some blood types are nutritionally imbalanced and too low in calories. And for the record, there is even no proof that blood type affects dietary needs. The Pritkin Principle. Focused on trimming the calorie density in eating by suggesting watery foods that make one feel full. Eating vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, pasta, soups, salads and low-fat dairy is okay. Although limits protein sources to lean meat, pseafood and poultry.

Although it is healthy by providing low amounts of saturated fats and rich amounts of vegetables and fruits, it is also low on calcium and limits lean protein sources. Volumetrics. For low-density calorie eating. Recommends the same foodstuff as Pritkin but restricts fatty or dry foods like popcorn, pretzels and crackers. This plan is reasonably healthy given the high amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as being low in calorie density and saturated fats. The Zone. Moderately low on the carbs yet moderately high on the proteins. Encourages low-fat protein foods like fish and chicken plus veggies, fruits and grains. It is also healthy but lacking in grains and calcium. Weight Watchers. High carbohydrates, moderate on fats and proteins. A very healthy diet plan and very flexible too. it allows the dieter to plan his own meal rather than give him a set to follow.

Treat your body to better health

These are about food pyramid.

The food pyramid is not a new concept. However, for the first time in more than a decade, the USDA has updated the food pyramid based on the latest scientific findings on how to treat your body to better health. Awareness of the benefits of healthy food choices, like high fiber foods, has been more and more prevalent in our proactive American quest for wise nutrition.

Fiberlady has continually emphasized a fruitful (one must learn to appreciate the pun) diet for her high fiber imperative. The undeniable truth is that vegetables, fruits and whole grains are needed for daily vitamins, minerals and fiber.

The first step (orange) of the new food pyramid recommends eating 5-8 ounces of grains per day depending on age and gender. Whole grains breads, cereals and brown rice are among the healthy choices. One step up (green) on the pyramid are the vegetables and fiber-rich plants. It is recommended 2 cups of vegetables per day to include a variety of legumes, leafy greens and orange colored vegetables such as butternut or acorn squash. Next, the red step represents fruits. Eating two cups of fruit a day is the standard guideline.

Overall, here are the daily recommendations: 3 to 5 servings of vegetables 2 to 4 servings of fruits 2 to 3 servings of milk, yogurt & cheese 6 to 11 servings of bread, cereal, rice, & pasta 2 to 3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs & nuts Use fats, oils & sweets sparingly

The new food pyramid recognizes the essential role of dietary fiber every day. A high fiber diet helps to lower high cholesterol levels, aids in weight loss, controls diabetes, reduces the risk of colon cancer, lowers blood pressure and helps to curb heart disease.

In cultures where the foods are high in fiber and the fiber remains intact, there is a much lower rate of cancer. High fiber foods sweep out the colon, helping to prevent high concentrations of carcinogens from sticking around. Foods that are highly processed and overly refined (way too much of this stuff dominates our grocery shelves) attribute to the growing rate of cancer and other chronic diseases in our society.

Create and adapt your own nutritional plan based upon MyPyramid; choose wisely, and get plenty of exercise. The important lesson is that every change you make towards a healthier you is a positive step. Fiberlady asks you to learn an important new mantra. “Every little step counts.”

Coconut good for people with thyroid

Here's about the good of coconut.

Not all fats are bad fats. This may sound strange to most people, but even though coconut oil is a saturated fat, it is an excellent food choice for people who are suffering from hypothyroidism. People who want to lose weight can benefit from using coconut oil in their diets.

All fats have been unfairly lumped together and we are taught that they are all bad for us. This couldn't be further from the truth. There are good fats to eat, like olive oil and coconut oil. These two oils are especially good for your thyroid gland.

Over time, restrictive diets that try to drastically cut down your fat intake will only lead to weight gain. Your thyroid gland needs the proper nutrients to work efficiently. In fact even though the food pyramid we have all been taught about has done nothing but result in more overweight fat Americans. The truth is, humans need certain fats in their diets to stay healthy.

Having hypothyroidism is no picnic. You feel fat, tired and sluggish. It has been proven that if hypothyroid suffers add at least 4 tablespoons of coconut oil a day to their diet they can begin to lose weight. Adding this excellent food choice to your diet can benefit other health problems as well. It is all natural and made from coconuts. You can bake brownies and cookies with it or use it on toast. It is just an all around excellent food product for people with thyroid problems who want to lose weight.

Talks about good food

Above about good food.

Many foods get overlooked that should be included in your daily diet. Foods like coconuts, cherries, blueberries and grass-fed beef all have very powerful health properties.

Many Americans are trying to follow food pyramid, which is a pyramid-shaped depiction of nutrition guidelines, updated every five years, that tells Americans what to eat according to food groups. Unfortunately it despises the fat group and explicitly points out how bad it is for your health. The problem with this is, the fat is a an essential building block for many important compounds in the body. There are different types of fat and it should be stated as such. Foods like grass-fed beef, wild salmon, coconuts, should be at the top of your foods to eat list.

Salmon is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which are associated with heart and brain health as well as bringing down blood pressure and triglycerides, a risk factor for heart disease.

Another food packed with nutritional value that’s is in every grocery store, is kale. A member of the cabbage family, kale contains indoles, a compound found to fight cancer. Kale is also rich in antioxidants, which also help prevent cancer.

Coconuts contain fat that is good for you. It’s called Medium-Chain Triglycerides. The body doesn’t store MCT as fat, but rather uses it as energy.

You should try and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, and lots of olive and nut oils. This might sound too healthy for you, but how about some dark chocolate? It is rich with a phytochemical called flavanol, found by a 2005 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology to improve cardiovascular health. Particularly chocolate with at least 60% cocoa content should be consumed daily 9in moderations of course).

Would you like to have some chocolate and coconut now? No problem, but first you should finish your rice and salmon!

Talks about healthy diet

Above about a healthy diet.

Today's world is becoming dirtier and unhealthier by the minute. It is an everyday challenge to live a healthy life. Our everyday needs of air, food, and water are usually of the "contaminated" form -- the air we breathe is no longer pure oxygen but a cocktail of oxygen and pollutants, our food is laced with extra fat and preservatives, and our water is likewise pumped with treating agents to make it "clean." Nearly nothing is ever what it should be.

After we have exerted everything we could in helping keep our environment clean, keeping the air and water clean is a matter best left to the regulatory bodies to take care of. Food is a different story. There are things we can do to make sure the food we take into our bodies are clean and free of "contaminants." Eating a healthy diet makes for longer and better quality lives.

Eating a healthy diet means not only looking at what we eat but also looking closely at how we eat, where we eat, when we eat and why we eat. The measure of successful integration of healthy eating in our daily lives is measured not by looking at the weigh scale but by looking at what is served on our tables meal-by-meal, day-by-day. A healthy diet is a way of life, it should not be done for temporary reasons or because of fads and crazes. By improving the way we eat through a healthy diet, we also improve the kind of body we have and imbibe a mental disposition that comes with feeling good physically.

What constitutes a healthy diet? Experts say that a nutritional balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat would make for a healthy diet. Follow the food pyramid: eat more amounts of carbohydrates, moderate amounts of protein and little amounts of fat. Put more grains and complex carbohydrates in your diet and lower your fat intake. Add in moderation meat trimmed of any visible fat. Omega-3 rich food like fish are contribute to a health diet.

Protein, carbohydrates, and fat provide our bodies with calories. Calories are units of measurement for the amount of energy that is created when our bodies break down the food we eat. More calories mean more energy. The ordinary person needs anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 calories depending on his energy needs. Those who use extraordinary amounts of energy like athletes need more. When we take in more calories than our body really needs, the excess calories are stored in our body as fat stores.

Calorie counting can be a tedious task and is best done by someone who is systematic and detail-oriented - one who does not mind including a calculator and a food scale to his food preparation materials. For those of us who would rather not have mathematics involved in our gustatory activities, there are several practical and more convenient means to ensure that we are eating a healthy diet. It would suffice to stick to the most basic of all rules of eating: the closer the way the food looks to the way it actually looked fresh, the better it is for your body.