You are what you eat
Every day we are bombarded with information from advertisers or the media and celebrity endorsed fad diets are never far from the news. It can be hard to know who to listen to when it comes to eating the right foods. Eating a healthy
balanced diet is the only solution and is a simple way to reduce your risk of developing
heart disease. Most people can improve their diet by eating more fresh
fruit and
vegetables and cutting down on saturated fat and salt. Make sure you and your family eat a wide variety of foods, choosing the right amounts from each food group.
The five food groups
- Bread, cereals and starchy foods
- Fruit and vegetables
- Milk and dairy foods
- Meat, fish and high protein foods
- Foods containing fats and sugars
It is important to eat a wide range of foods from each group. Starchy foods should make up a third of your diet, fruit and vegetables another third. The remaining third should comprise of moderate amounts of dairy and
protein and a small amount of foods containing
fats and sugars.
Eating for a healthy heart
- Eat lots of starchy foods like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and chapattis. Choose wholemeal or wholegrain options where possible.
- Eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Ideally, choose different types and colours of fruit and veg to get a full range of vitamins and minerals.
- Choose low fat yoghurts, cheese, fromage frais and skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.
- Trim all visible fat from meat and use fat-free cooking methods. This is a simple way to reduce your saturated fat intake.
- Eat oily fish twice a week. Fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, kippers and fresh tuna all contain Omega 3 which is good for your heart.
- Drink lots of water. Keep hydrated and prevent yourself from feeling hungry.
- Write a shopping list before you shop to prevent read more
