| Our life and health is impacted every day by the | | | | this diet, which again throws out the fact that |
| food we eat. Your body needs a constant supply of | | | | carbohydrates make up half of your daily energy |
| energy to fuel your heartbeat, breathing, digestion | | | | intake. |
| and to help repair body tissue. This energy is | | | | Another diet fad that has grown in popularity is the |
| measured in calories. To maintain a healthy balance | | | | liquid diet. Even though medically it is only really safe |
| with calorie intake and fat intake in mind, you need | | | | to go on this diet if you are going to undergo a |
| to find a balance in the food you choose to eat. | | | | medical procedure such as a colonoscopy or |
| There are five main food groups which people should | | | | sigmoidoscopy; people are using it as a way of losing |
| be eating a varied mixture of on a daily in order to | | | | weight fast. In certain cases of extreme obesity, a |
| maintain healthy eating. Starchy foods make up one | | | | liquid diet is used to make the person lose weight. A |
| of these groups. Starchy foods refer to bread, | | | | liquid diet either partially replaces meals or completely |
| potatoes, rice and pasta. These foods are your main | | | | does meaning that your only intake will be fluids such |
| source of carbohydrates and make up half of your | | | | as teas and juices. |
| daily energy intake. You need a sufficient amount of | | | | A liquid diet could possibly disrupt the natural flow of |
| starchy food just like you need a strong amount of | | | | your body and will not provide you with enough |
| dairy products. Dairy products are rich in protein and | | | | nutrients, energy or protein to get you through the |
| your best source of vitamin D and Calcium. As well as | | | | day. A liquid diet will also not teach individuals the |
| starchy foods and dairy products you also need | | | | requirements of healthy eating to maintain weight |
| some intake of fats and sugar. Your fat intake should | | | | loss over a long period of time. |
| not exceed 35% but you should not cut it out of | | | | Diet fads are growing more popular but these are |
| your diet completely as fat is the most energy dense | | | | just quick fixes and will not help you in a long term |
| nutrient that your body can get. | | | | sense. The best way in order to loss weight as well |
| Probably the most important out of the five food | | | | as keeping a good balance of the five food groups is |
| groups however is fruit and vegetables. It is said that | | | | to eat the right foods in the right quantity. Cut out |
| you should have at least five portions of fruit and | | | | sugary snacks and replace them with more fruit |
| vegetables a day. There is strong evidence that by | | | | intake; vary your diet so you aren't eating the same |
| doing this you are reducing the risk of things such as | | | | things over and over. |
| heart disease. | | | | As well as eating the right type of food you should |
| There is strong evidence that suggests by eating | | | | also start a regular exercise programme which will get |
| healthy you are reducing the risk of illness such as | | | | you in shape faster than any diet fad will. Regular |
| diabetes, obesity, heart disease and several types of | | | | exercise will not only keep you healthy it could also |
| cancer, including bowel cancer. Having a healthy diet is | | | | be the reason as to why you live longer as taking |
| important and can potentially extend your life. | | | | regular exercise will help to prevent against things |
| Healthy eating can however be overlooked when it | | | | such as diabetes, heart disease and certain types of |
| comes to dieting. The image of slim women is all that | | | | cancer. |
| greets us in fashion magazines, the music industry | | | | Medical guidelines state that healthy adults should be |
| and the film industry. These images are burned into | | | | getting at least 30 minutes of intense activity five |
| our minds as what we should all look like and women | | | | days a week. This exercise can be anything from |
| and men across the country are doing anything they | | | | walking, mowing the lawn, dancing, cycling, any type |
| can to lose weight, including risking their health. | | | | of sport, aerobics or even weight training. The key |
| Every where we look there are new diet fads | | | | to exercise is finding one that best suits you. |
| appearing, this is especially evident across the | | | | Exercise combined with a good diet, which |
| internet. The list of these diets seems never ending | | | | incorporates all of the five food groups is all you |
| and most offer a quick fix to lose weight fast. One | | | | need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to lose the |
| of these diets is the Atkins diet. On the Atkins diet | | | | weight that you want. Helen Cox is the webmaster |
| you are encouraged to eat all types of meat, | | | | of Article Alley, home of all your Health and Fitness |
| cheese, eggs and fats (butter or oils); completely | | | | article needs. |
| throwing out the fact you are supposed to keep | | | | Please feel free to republish this article providing this |
| your fat intake down to around 35%. You are also | | | | resource box remains intact with a working hyperlink |
| told to limit the amount of carbohydrates you eat on | | | | to our site. |