Choosing the Right Nutritional Foods Is Tough
By Stephen R. Farris
How many of us have been to a fast food restaurant and ordered a combination meal of some variety. Usually it's a burger with fries or onion rings, maybe a super burrito with a taco and a chalupa. The cashier will then ask what you'd like to drink. We look at what the choices they have and decide it's probably best to choose something diet. So we end up with a diet soda. After all, we are trying to cut back on sugar.
But is that what we're really doing? Are we trying to watch our carb and fat intake? With the above scenario, probably not as much as we should. Some foods we consume actually cancel out the nutritional value of other foods. So we end up basically getting nothing as far as the nutrients and minerals we actually need.
Hidden Calories
There are a lot of products out there that may be appealing to us nutritionally, but in reality, they're loaded with hidden calories, higher sodium content, and preservatives that aren't good for a healthy diet. When purchasing a product that might seem too good to be true, read the label to see what it contains. Eating the wrong types of foods can rob us of energy, cause sleepless nights and add more weight gain to our bodies. And if you're like me, that's something you want to avoid entirely.
Healthy Options
The best path for a healthy, nutritious diet is to choose more raw fruits and vegetables, meats such as chicken, turkey and fish, and drink plenty of water. Most fruits and vegetables are high in nutritional content and filled with minerals that our bodies need for sustaining good health. Green vegetables can be cooked a variety of methods. Steaming them is preferred as a way to get the most nutrients and minerals out of them, but you can also boil them. Just use a minimal amount of water when doing so. If fresh raw vegetables are not available where you shop, then choose the ones from your market's frozen food section. They still contain valuable nutrients and minerals. Some vegetables are packaged in a steamable bag that makes cooking them a snap. Simply put the whole bag in the microwave -- follow directions first -- then set the timer, let the bag cool a bit and there you have it. Delicious, nutritious veggies!
You can also pay your local chiropractor a visit too. Not only do they treat back and joint pain, they can also provide you with information on nutrition and exercise tips as well.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in McKinney, Tex.