Slice Food Store

Why is it important to eat fruit? Eating fruit provides health benefits people who eat more fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Fruits provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of your body. Nutrients Most fruits are naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories. None have cholesterol. Fruits are sources of many essential nutrients that are underconsumed, including potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and folate (folic acid). Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain healthy blood pressure. Fruit sources of potassium include bananas, prunes and prune juice, dried peaches and apricots, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and orange juice. Dietary fiber from fruits, as part of an overall healthy diet, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease. Fiber is important for proper bowel function. I t helps reduce constipation and diverticulosis. Fiber-containing foods such as fruits help provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories. Whole or cut-up fruits are sources of dietary fiber~ fruit juices contain lit t le or no fiber. Vitamin C is important for growth and repair of all body t issues, helps heal cuts and wounds, and keeps teeth and gums healthy. Folate (folic acid) helps the body form red blood cells. Women of childbearing age who may become pregnant should consume adequate folate from foods, and in addition 400 mcg of synthetic folic acid from fortified foods or supplements. This reduces the risk of neural tube defects, spina bifida, and anencephaly during fetal development.

Good nutrition, daily exercise and adequate sleep are the foundations of healthy living. A healthy lifestyle keeps you fit, energetic and at reduced risk for disease. ... Health is not just about avoiding a disease or illness. It is about physical, mental and social well-being too.

Cut yourself some slack when it comes to eating healthy. Please know that is not all or nothing. I find that so many people give up on their healthy diet because they eat a cookie (and it turns into 10 cookies) and they throw in the towel. You can have a cookie-even 10 cookies-as part of a healthy diet. Some of the other tips outlined here (like getting your produce and balancing your meals) will help set up a foundation of eating healthy, but allowing room in your diet for treats and for the food that just make you feel good or satisfies a need is important. That might mean you enjoy some pie your grandma baked up, or had a muffin from a coworker or sat on the couch with some ice cream and a good movie. Whatever it is, you should enjoy those guilt free. Because it's the guilty feelings that usually turn that one cookie into a guilt-induced cookie binge.