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You Are What You Eat

Saturday, 20 March 2021 09:00

By Lisa de Silva

Our health and wellbeing are intrinsically linked to what we eat, so this month Lisa de Silva offers guidance on how we can provide our bodies with the perfect balance of nutrition

There is nothing like a global pandemic to focus the mind. This year more than ever we have begun to appreciate that good nutrition and maintaining a healthy weight are not just desirable, but essential for our health and wellbeing.

The foods we eat contain the nutrients, vitamins and minerals we need to fuel our daily activity, repair our physical state, restore our mental health and support our immune system in warding off infections and diseases. So, it’s essential we get it right.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WHOLE FOODS

Unfortunately, it is estimated that 60% of our diet comes from processed foods. These are often full of artificial sweeteners, preservatives, salts and saturated fats, which can be linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol.

To protect our health and boost our ability to fight disease, it is essential that we eat more unrefined, unprocessed and whole foods, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes.

THE BASICS OF GOOD NUTRITION

To get all the nutrients we need for optimum health, it’s important to eat a balanced and varied diet. Cooking from scratch is recommended, as you can select the most nourishing ingredients for your meal and control the amount of good fats, sugar and salt added.

Try to eat three meals a day at regular intervals, using a balance of ingredients from the following food groups:

High Quality Protein

  • Essential for growth, repair and good muscle health
  • Increases satiety levels
  • Beans, pulses, nuts, fish, meat, eggs, shellfish

High Fibre Carbohydrate

  • Slows digestion of food – you stay fuller for longer
  • Steady release of energy – avoids spiking blood sugar levels
  • Whole wheat pasta, brown rice, wholemeal bread, sweet potatoes, oats

Fruit & Vegetables

  • Packed full of vitamins and minerals for general good health
  • Excellent source of fibre and good for gut health
  • Eat at least 5 portions a day

Dairy & Dairy Substitutes

  • Good source of calcium and protein. Improves bone health
  • Milk, non-dairy milk (soya, oat, almond), yoghurt, cheese

Healthy Fats & Oils

  • Unsaturated fats are good for heart health
  • Olive oil, avocado, oily fish, heart-friendly spreads

Fermented Foods & Drinks

  • Vital for gut health to support the immune system
  • Pickles, apple cider vinegar, kombucha, yogurt, kimchi, miso

SNACKS & TREATS?

Whenever you are tempted to snack, ask yourself if you are genuinely hungry or if are you snacking out of boredom, tiredness or stress? Might there be another way to nourish yourself without the use of food?

For those times when you do need a snack or treat, try to be prepared with some healthy options like skinny popcorn, chocolate-coated rice cakes, vegetable sticks and salsa or Greek yoghurt ice cream.

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