Healthy Food

By Faviano Torres

Eating healthy foods are very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, times have changed and more and more people are prone to eating unhealthy foods because they find easier to eat at restaurants and fast food chains. Choosing foods that are heart-healthy should be everyone's goal. Not-so-fatty foods can actually be tasty.

Here are a few steps to lessen your fat intake:

1. Know your fats and limit them. Saturated fats and trans-fats contribute to your cholesterol levels. Go for unsaturated fats instead.

2. Choose lean meats without the skin and cook them without saturated fats. Most meats have the same cholesterol amount, getting rid of the skin will help lessen the fat content. Grill, bake, or broil meats for a healthier twist.

3. Substitute meat for fish. Fish fat is healthier than meat's. Research also shows that eating fish oil can provide the body with omega-3 fatty acids.

4. Skip partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Replace hard margarine and shortening with vegetable oils and soft margarine instead.

5. Cut back on dietary cholesterol foods like whole eggs, shellfish, organ meats, and whole milk.

6. Cut back on sweet beverages and alcoholic drinks.

7. Prepare and cook your food with little to no salt. Foods rich in sodium can give you a risk of heart problems and high blood pressure.

8. Eat more fiber to help reduce the risk of diabetes and certain cancers like colon cancer.

9. Read labels of the foods you buy from the supermarket. This will help you choose foods more wisely.

10. Shop alone. Leaving your kids at home when shopping can lower the possibilities of you bringing home sweets and preserved foods.