What is the best way to eat for long-term health and weight maintenance?

No one single food group provides your body with all of the essential nutrients.  Variety is the key to your healthy body and this can be achieved by eating from all of the five food groups.  These 5 groups of food have been classified by dieticians to ensure good health for life.   Dairy, Fats & Oils, Bread, Grains & Cereals, Vegetables and Fruit and Meat, Fish, Cheese and / or Vegetable Proteins

As well as the food groups that you are most likely familiar with, you also need to know more about the other defining characteristics of food

• Fat

Contrary to popular belief, you need to eat fat – it’s just that you need to restrict how much and be careful about what type of fats you eat. 

• Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a white, fatty substance of animal origin which is also produced naturally in the liver and has an important role in many body processes. 

• Fibre

High fibre foods are nutritious, filling and can help to keep you ‘regular’. It is important to be aware of which foods are high in fibre, as the additional roughage in your diet can certainly aid your overall health and well being.

• Sugar & GI

You can actually say that sugar is a natural food – after all, it comes from sugar cane!  But this is one time where we do NOT suggest that natural is necessarily best. Simple sugars are very valuable to the body when eaten in their natural form such as in fruits, milk and other whole, natural foods as they are easily converted into glucose, so provide you with a quick energy source. 

GI (or Glycaemic Index) is a measure of the effect certain carbohydrates can have on your blood sugar.  Avoiding high GI foods is recommended for weight management and your long-term health.

Australians average an intake of 40 kilograms of sugar each year.  This is equivalent to approximately 22 teaspoons per day!

• Salt

An excess of sodium (salt) in your system causes fluid retention, and this is quite dangerous for those with a high blood pressure as it can elevate their levels even higher.

• Water

Water is the most abundant element in the world - water covers 70% of the earth and even your own body is 70% water as well! Every part of your body needs water to work properly, but water is particularly important for keeping the kidneys healthy.

Learn all you'll need to know for a healthy life in The Natural Way's Healthy Living programme. Available NOW from your nearest The Natural Way clinic.