9 Healthy Nutrition Basics

9 Healthy Nutrition Basics

Advice on proper eating can be confusing. Here are some basic tips for good nutrition:

1. Take a daily multivitamin for your age group. These will compensate for gaps in your nutrition picture. Women over 50 need less iron than younger women.
2. Boost calcium and vitamin D. That means three to four 8-ounce servings of low-fat dairy every day. If you are lactose intolerant, try hard cheese, yogurt, fortified products like orange juice, canned salmon, and legumes. Take 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium daily if you are not getting adequate calcium in your diet.
3. Eat more fruits, veggies, whole grains, and legumes. These will give you plenty of disease-fighting antioxidants, more fiber, and less sodium.
4. Get enough fiber. Whole-wheat pasta, cereals, and breads, oatmeal, brown rice, popcorn, and fresh fruits and vegetables all are high in fiber.
5. Eat the right proteins. Get a balance of lean protein (like skinless chicken), fatty fish like salmon (with omega-3 fats), and vegetable protein.
6. Enjoy a vegetarian meal a few times a week. A plant-based diet is low-calorie and dense in vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting antioxidants.
7. Cut salt intake. Too much salt is linked to high blood pressure.
8. Choose fats wisely. And keep them to a minimum. Avoid trans and saturated fats, like those found in butter, margarine, salad dressing, fried foods, snack foods, and sweets. "Good fats" include many vegetable oils like olive oil, some nuts, and fish, such as salmon and tuna.
9. Curb the sweets. Limit the soft drinks, sugar, and sweets; they can be loaded with calories and have little nutrition.

Want to do your part to keep your body vibrant, strong, and healthy? Make these simple steps for good nutrition a part of your life as you age.



                                                                      Belinda Yeboah