Today, Monique McMillan came from the MCHD to talk to us about healthy eating and the different types of diets. A diet is the kind of food that a person, animal, or community eats to gain nutrients. There are different nutrients that the body needs to survive. Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy, and the three types are sugars, fibers, and starches. Proteins build muscle and are found throughout the body. Fats are a type of lipid that make up cells and insulate the brain and cell membranes. Vitamins and minerals are other nutrients usually found in fruits, vegetables, meats, and whole grains.
An important thing to know about dieting is portion sizes. Half your plate should be fruits and veggies; a fourth of it should be whole grains; and a fourth should be protein. Staying hydrated is also important. Drinking eight glasses of water is the minimum amount you should be drinking. Limit sugary drinks and dairy products that contain fats and might cause heart disease later in life. Staying active is also a necessity to keep the body healthy. You only need to exercise for thirty minutes daily to meet that goal.
Diets can also be defined as restricting oneself to small amounts of special food or a type of food. Calories are units of energy used to express energy value offered in foods. Many people restrict calories for weight loss by following different diets. One diet is the Mediterranean diet, where foods available at the border countries of the Mediterranean Sea are consumed. These include fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts and legumes, olive oil, fish, and poultry. They eat cheese, yogurt, red meat, and sweets with added sugars in low amounts. Another diet is the vegetarian diet. It consists of a variety of eating patterns that rely heavily on plant foods. This means they don’t eat any meat. Some even go as far as excluding all animal products from their diet. These are called vegans. Vegetarians take extra supplements to make up for lost nutrients, such as protein, iron, calcium, iodine, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamin B-12. Believe it or not, there are different types of vegetarians. Some are raw vegans, who don't cook their food. Some are lacto vegetarians, who eat plants and dairy. Some are ovo vegetarians, who eat plants and eggs. Some are pescatarians, who eat plants and fish. Most vegetarians in the USA are lacto ovo vegetarians, people who eat plants, dairy, and eggs. The vegetarian diet is a popular lifestyle choice, but when it comes to weight loss, most lean toward the keto diet. It consists of low amounts of carbohydrates and high amounts of fat. Most doctors don’t recommend it because it's not as effective at losing weight permanently as others. Before it blew up in the community, it was used for centuries to treat medical conditions, such as epilepsy and diabetes. It is a pretty flexible diet with a ratio of macronutrients specific to each person.
Diets are important to provide the necessary nutrients we need to live and are something that varies around the globe. They allow us to fulfill our daily tasks and live life to the fullest. We need to keep our diets balanced by eating healthy portions of each food group. It all goes back to the circle of life.
Comments