Information Really Is Power
When it comes to good health, knowledge is power. This is why I spend at least thirty minutes everyday reading something about how to live healthy. Remember Hosea 4:6a says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:…” The enemy wants to destroy you through ignorance so wise up.
We can’t say a lack of information is responsible for the unhealthy and overweight condition in which we, as a nation, find ourselves. The USDA Food Guide, provided online at www.choosemyplate.gov, is a great tool in helping you eat in a healthy manner. The website has many tools for learning how to eat in a healthy manner.
Let’s get into it and talk about what kinds of foods to eat. There are some guidelines that will help you. First and foremost, shop for the “live” foods. Live foods are those found around the outside aisles of the grocery store. That’s where you find the fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, poultry and fish that are so healthy for us. Down the inside of the aisles is where you find processed foods that are “dead” foods, and perhaps they have been on those shelves for months or years. Do you really want to focus on putting that kind of-food often loaded with preservatives-into your body?
Learn to read nutrition labels on the back of food packages. You won’t find nutrition labels on fruits and vegetables but they are on anything humans have processed.
Calories per serving: the first thing to look at when reading a label is the portion size. Many people don’t consider this and think they are taking fewer calories than they really are because instead of eating a half-cup serving of something, they have eaten a cup.
Check out the calories in a single serving. Calories are fuel for the body and we need them to live, but if we have become overweight, it’s an indication we have consistently taken in more calories than we can burn and the excess is being stored as fat. If you’re going to lose weight you have to cut back on caloric intake.
Fats: Next look for fat grams. Fat is dense, and a little fat can pack a lot of calories. There are healthy fats and dangerous trans-fats. Trans-fat is the common name for a type of unsaturated fat with trans-isomer fatty acid. These fats can increase the risk of heart disease by raising LDL (bad cholesterol) and lowering the HDL (good cholesterol). Everyone needs some fat in their diet to maintain healthy cells and a strong nervous system and good skin and hair. However these fats should be mono-unsaturated fats, Omega 3 oils, such as those found in nuts, olive oil and other unsaturated oils.
The healthy kinds of fats are necessary for the ultimate functioning of the body and mind. They promote a healthy heart. They help prevent cancer. They keep down inflammation. They benefit nerve cells in the eyes and promote eye health. Because the brain is 60 percent fat, fat is necessary for healthy communication between the brain and nervous system. The right fats improve your mood and help in weight loss by increasing satisfaction from the foods you eat so that you will eat less.
Fiber: Check out the fiber grams on the label. You want to choose foods with high fiber content, as most Americans don’t eat enough fiber. You need 30 grams of fiber every day to keep the body functioning at its optimum.
Make wise choices with your food purchases. Read those labels and know what you are putting in your mouth. It matters. It makes a difference, and the difference shows up in added weight or loss of weight.
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