Top Five Foods That Are Important To Eat

The physiological role of the intestine is to absorb nutrients and break down food particles so that the body can utilize them for growth and maintenance. While the digestive system transports nutrients throughout the body, waste materials left over from the digested food stay in the colon, the last part of the digestive tract. It absorbs vitamins and minerals and stores fat. There are many substances that reach the colon in this way including toxins, bacteria, and sometimes whole grains that have not been fully digested.

As more of the population becomes more health conscious and avoids unhealthy foods, whole foods have become favored dietary options. Increasing numbers of people are choosing vegetarian or vegan diets and replacing meat with beans, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. To eat healthier, it is important to include more whole grains, seeds, nuts and legumes in the diet. Many experts recommend eating at least a quarter to half of your daily calories from whole grains.

People often worry that they are depriving themselves of essential vitamins and minerals. By choosing low-fat, low-sugar, and low-calorie options, they can ensure that they are still getting all the nutrients necessary. To help keep hunger at bay, choose grain-based, unsweetened yogurt, fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, crackers, and other snacks that have a low calorie and fat content. For those who are still hungry, there are also a variety of high fat and high sugar foods that can be eaten occasionally. These include processed meats like bacon, hot dogs, processed poultry (without the skin), and other forms of animal protein, high fat dairy products, and high sugar foods that can be found in refined, packaged, and canned form.

A healthy breakfast includes a glass of water, a bowl of cereal, a cup of fruit juice, or an egg white. A snack can be a piece of cheese, crackers with an olive oil dip, a banana, or a handful of nuts. Snacks should be chosen to maintain healthy eating patterns throughout the day. They do not need to be replacements for other food groups. Instead, they should be a nutritious addition that can be used to replace unhealthy snacks.

The first step to starting a healthy diet is to make a list of your daily food consumption and make a list of your top five food groups. Next, you will want to identify those items that are bad for you and those that you can use as your discretionary choices. Now you can combine your list of bad foods with your list of good foods and eliminate the bad foods from your diet. You can eat your good foods occasionally, and increase your intake of good discretionary choices.

Cereals, breads, potatoes, fruits, and vegetables are among the most important nutrients to eat on a regular basis. Many people find that making a simple change to cereals, whole wheat breads, fresh vegetables, and fruit juices can drastically improve their health. In addition, there are many different types of cereals, breads, and potatoes available today. Choose them according to the package directions and check the nutrition facts panel for the nutrients listed.