|
|
Heartline Magazine October - December 2004
Why eat healthily?
A better diet can have a big impact on your health - now and
in the years to come. It can help reduce your risk of coronary heart disease as
well as some cancers. It can also stop you gaining weight, which is great news,
because being overweight means a higher risk of diabetes, arthritis and high
blood pressure. Along with stopping smoking and being more active, eating
healthily really is one of the best opportunities you have to help keep disease
at bay.
Now that we’re in the holiday season, this is a good time to
think eating healthily. This doesn’t necessarily mean merely eating in
moderation, although that helps. What is really important is choosing the right
diet, and avoiding the damaging foods containing high levels of fat, sugar and
salt.
A word about…
Fats
It’s hard to keep pace of the full range of new ‘fat
spreads’ on the market which are intended as alternatives to butter. Remember
that strictly, butter and margarine contain the same amount of fat and calories.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid butter altogether if you can and use whichever
type of alternative you prefer, but spread it very thinly. Choose one which
contains the best type of fat: ‘high in unsaturated fat’, which could be
polyunsaturates or monounsaturates. Both are recommended. Also choose one which
is labelled ‘reduced fat’ or ‘low fat’ - the lower the better. If you really
can’t resist butter have it as a special treat once a week. Despite what you may
have read in the papers, it really is bad news for the heart as well as the
waistline.
Sugar
Sugar can count for a lot of wasted calories , especially if
you have one or two spoons full in every drink. Three teaspoons is one portion
from the ‘fatty and sugary foods’ group so it quickly uses up your limit. Try to
wean yourself off it or if you really need the sweet taste, try artificial
sweeteners instead.
Salt
Too much salt is linked with high blood pressure, heart
disease and strokes. Although salt doesn’t contain any calories, if you’re
concerned about health, you should avoid eating too much salt. Avoid adding salt
in cooking or at the table, and use herbs, spices and ground pepper for flavour
instead. The majority of the salt we eat is hidden within pre-cooked or
pre-prepared meals which, although convenient, are sometimes very salty.
Monosodium glutamate is worth avoiding where possible. Sodium is the chemical
word for salt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
