Are These Common Foods Good for You?
By Sara Butler
Keeping all the information about your health and nutrition straight can be a daunting task. Sure, you want to feel better and eat better, but all the information out there can be quite confusing. Here are some of the most common foods that you may have heard contradictory things about concerning your health and wellness -- and what's important for you to really know about them.
Coffee
You've likely heard at different points in time that coffee is good for you, then a few months later you may read a blurb stating that it's bad for you. Which is it?
Coffee actually is full of important nutrients that are beneficial to your body. These include things such as potassium, niacin, magnesium, riboflavin, and manganese. Coffee also has an ingredient you're probably very familiar with, caffeine. This stimulant is what gives you a little jump start to your day, which can have benefits to your brain and body. But if you are already stressed, are sensitive to caffeine, or don't eat a healthy balanced diet, coffee may not be good for you.
The verdict on coffee? If you're healthy, then a cup or two a day is likely good for you. If you're not, then just one cup of coffee can hurt. Talk it over with a trusted health professional such as your chiropractor!
Wheat
Wheat is rich in thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and Vitamin B6. Or, the whole grain is full of those nutrients, at least. Grains are generally not easy for your body to digest, which is why you find them processed. The problem is that this processing strips the grain of nutrients, making it not as good for you as the original version may be. If you eat too many refined and processed grains, you may be setting yourself up for health problems in the future, so try to stick to whole grains in order to reap the benefits of wheat.
Fat
Fats have been debated for decades. What's important to know about fat is that it's an essential building block of your body. Your brain needs fat to function well, as do many of the cells in your body. But the quality of the fat you eat is what makes or breaks a fat as far as your health is concerned.
You should eat natural fats that you can find in things such as dairy, avocado, olive oil, and other omega-3 fatty vegetable oils such as fish oil and flax. Avoid trans and hydrogenated fats to stay healthy.
If you need help deciphering all the nutrition information out there, the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic are an excellent resource!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Aurora, Colo.