I get asked this all the time – but guess what? There’s no such thing as a healthy diet, only the diet that’s healthy for you!
We are all unique with different genders, ages and activity levels so here are some basic things you do need to know which will help maximise your health.
Please don’t ever make the mistake of ditching fat, protein or carbs because you actually need them. A healthy diet contains sufficient levels of these food types.
Fat
Embrace fat. Yes! Fat is your friend (in moderation) and you need it for your bodily processes. But make sure you get the right fats from oily fish, nuts and seeds, olives and avocados. Avoid excessive saturated fat from red meat and full fat cheese.
Carbs
You need your carbs for energy – they are not as bad as you think. Complex carbs break down slowly and release energy into your body gradually. You can get these from wholegrain bread, pasta and rice.
Protein
Everything in your body is made of protein – your hormones and skin, for example. You can get your protein from lean meat, fish, eggs and dairy. But vegetarians can get their protein from pulses, nuts and seeds.
Fruit and vegetables
Fruit and veggies are important for their fibre, vitamin and mineral content. Try and have at least five multicoloured fruit and veg a day. Try to have more veg than fruit as they have less sugar.
Water
You need 1.5-2 litres of pure water daily to keep you hydrated. Your intake will depend on your activity level but be sure to never let yourself get thirsty.
Do you have a healthy diet?
Links
By Dora Walsh, Head Nutritionist and founder of Nutriheal Nutrition: www.nutriheal.net Twitter: @nutritionguru1.com
