The Diet Problem
The average Western diet is getting worse:
- We eat too much saturated fat. (eg. in fried or fast-food)
- We eat too much refined sugar. (eg. in regular soft drinks and processed foods)
- We eat too many white-flour foods (eg. in breads and bread snacks)
- We eat too little fiber. (eg. by eating too few fruits, vegetables and too much refined food)
In addition, our diet is heavily influenced by fast-food or quick-serve menus.
Nearly 50 cents of every dollar spent on food in America is spent in restaurants fast-food or quick-serve restaurants or on take-outs.
Result? Obesity is becoming a major problem throughout the USA and the developed world.
- 1 in every 2 Americans is estimated to be overweight
- 1 in every 3 Americans is estimated to be obese
- 40 per cent of UK adults are overweight
- 18 per cent of UK adults are obese.
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Diet Basics
It's time to get back to the basics of healthy eating and dieting.
1. Balanced Diet
A healthy diet is a balanced diet. It should contain foods from ALL the food groups.
2. Low in Saturated Fat and Low in Refined Sugar
Although we need fat and carbohydrates, we don't need saturated fat or refined sugar. These are causing our diet and weight problems.
3. We Need Good Diet Nutrition
GOOD CARBS
Whether we are 10 pounds or 100 pounds overweight, we need a nutritious diet rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. Good carbs, like vegetables, fruit, potatoes, whole wheat bread, pasta, rice, oats, beans, soy and whole grain cereals, provide good nutrition. Vegetables and fruit, in particular, contain a range of phytochemicals, enzymes and other micronutrients that are essential for efficient metabolism and a healthy diet.
GOOD FATS (But in reduced amounts)
These should come mainly from monounsaturated or polyunsaturated food sources, rather than animal fats. However, since fat contains more than twice the calories of other foods, it should be eaten in reduced quantities if you want to lose weight. When eating animal foods, choose lean lower fat foods.
GOOD FOOD SHOPPING AND COOKING HABITS
We need to learn good shopping and cooking habits. Otherwise, how will we learn to eat healthily?
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