Eat for a Good and Healthful Life
Food
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us alive. It is our sustenance and our pleasure. But recently, research has shown that the eating habits of the average Americans may be dangerous to future health.
The foods Americans now choose are oftentimes too
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in calories and fats, so this article reports a new study: Diet and Health, Implications for Reducing Chronic Disease Risk.
The study, conducted
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the National Research Council"s committee on Diet and Health,
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that balancing nutrition, calories and activity is key
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enjoying a long and healthful life.
The report recommends that most Americans increase
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activity to a moderate level and make changes in food
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and calories intake to maintain ideal weight. Most of us—even those of us at ideal weight—need to eat
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fat so that no more than 30% of our daily calories will come from fat.
That means cutting
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on red meat and whole milk dairy products.
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, eat fish, chicken without skin, lean meats, and low-fat and no-fat dairy products.
The report of the Committee on Diet and Health recommends we eat five or more 1/2-cup servings of vegetables and fruits
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—especially green and yellow vegetables and citrus fruits.
Eating more fruits and vegetables doesn"t have to mean increased calories intake. Many plant foods are nutrient-rich: they provide many vitamins and minerals for very few
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.
Nutrient-rich foods are particularly important for Americans
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50-year-old. As we
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, we need to eat less because our bodies need
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calories to function properly. But we still need full measures of vitamins and minerals to release the energy in our foods and make us feel strong and healthy.