You don't need to go on a crash diet to lose weight or fight disease. Eating smart will help you beat viruses! The most important rule for proper nutrition and immune-boosting foods is to load yourself up with high-fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables. Dietary fiber is crucial for improving your intestinal health as it helps rid the body of dangerous toxins. High-fiber foods include vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, carrots, turnips and onions; fruits including berries, apples, pears, melons and oranges; and meat such as fish, lamb, turkey and steak.
In order to receive the health benefits from a proper diet, you should avoid foods that are filled with fat, salt, and sugar. Instead, start eating lots of green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, brown foods (such as beans, nuts, legumes, mushrooms and spinach) and natural meats. If you eat meat, make sure it is cooked properly. Brown foods contain important nutrients that are easily lost during cooking. In other words, you get more out of brown foods when they're eaten raw.
The four most common foods to avoid on your regular grocery store diet are processed foods, junk food, fast food, and candy. Processed foods are laden with artificial ingredients and additives, colorants, and preservatives. They also have an annoying texture and little to no nutritional value. Junk food consists of mostly sugar, flour, hydrogenated oils, and high fructose corn syrup. Fast food consists of deep-fried items, canned or frozen products, and snacks.
Fresh fruits and vegetables should be your main source of dietary fiber. Try to eat raw and steamed if you can. A raw vegetable is more nutrient-dense than a cooked one. Vegetables, particularly dark green vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are packed with valuable vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.
Dark green vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are a great source of vitamin K, potassium and calcium. You can find good anti-inflammatory foods by including probiotic-rich cultures in your diet. Probiotic-rich cultures are found in yogurt, but you can also find them in live culture or acidophilus powder at your local health food store.
Fruits, like veggies, are a good source of vitamin C. They have many vitamins and antioxidants that help prevent inflammation and disease. However, they are a poor source of vitamin K, which is necessary for maintaining the strength of your immune system. Vitamin K helps protect your teeth from cavities and improves your skin's appearance. Vitamin C improves your immune function and works to reduce cholesterol levels. Vitamin E improves your skin and helps prevent cancer.
Experts say eating lots of fruits and vegetables is the best way to fight disease. However, experts say you should limit orange juice to one glass a day and stick to low-fat or fat-free products if you don't like drinking milk or butter. Eating whole grains and legumes is also a good idea to keep your diet healthy. Legumes such as lentils and black beans are a good source of protein and fiber and are a good source of iron, zinc, copper, folate (folic acid) and fiber.
There are plenty of foods like garlic and onions that you can eat on a daily basis without worrying about your health. Eating healthy is not difficult. All you have to do is start eating right. It just takes some imagination and willingness to try new foods. With the right mindset, it is possible to have an unhealthy diet and still remain healthy.
Garlic and onions are both great for adding taste and texture to your food. In fact, onions and garlic are excellent spices and make for tasty snacks. If you are having trouble digesting garlic because it makes your mouth feel too dry, you can try eating a cup of yogurt with garlic or some of the other spices in a blender to moisten your mouth and help you get the best digestion possible.
Vegetables and fruits are another excellent way to help you live a healthier life. If you like to eat salads, you can be sure that you are eating a wide variety of healthy greens. You should try to eat leafy greens and purple fruits. Some of the other healthy greens you should add to your diet are spinach and kale.
If you are on a no-salt diet, you may be low on essential vitamins. Try increasing your fiber intake by picking up a few extra vegetables that are high in fiber. Some of these are leafy greens and oranges. The high fiber content in leafy greens can eliminate the need for salt. Also, there is a correlation between increased salt intake and osteoporosis. Since you already have a good diet that is rich in vitamins, increasing your dietary fiber can help you maintain good health even if you do not consume a lot of sodium.