| Our life and health is impacted every | | | | throwing out the fact you are supposed |
| day by the food we eat. Your body needs | | | | to keep your fat intake down to around |
| a constant supply of energy to fuel your | | | | 35%. You are also told to limit the |
| heartbeat, breathing, digestion and to | | | | amount of carbohydrates you eat on this |
| help repair body tissue. This energy is | | | | diet, which again throws out the fact |
| measured in calories. To maintain a | | | | that carbohydrates make up half of your |
| healthy balance with calorie intake and | | | | daily energy intake. |
| fat intake in mind, you need to find a | | | | Another diet fad that has grown in |
| balance in the food you choose to eat. | | | | popularity is the liquid diet. Even |
| There are five main food groups which | | | | though medically it is only really safe |
| people should be eating a varied mixture | | | | to go on this diet if you are going to |
| of on a daily in order to maintain | | | | undergo a medical procedure such as a |
| healthy eating. Starchy foods make up | | | | colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy; people are |
| one of these groups. Starchy foods refer | | | | using it as a way of losing weight fast. |
| to bread, potatoes, rice and pasta. | | | | In certain cases of extreme obesity, a |
| These foods are your main source of | | | | liquid diet is used to make the person |
| carbohydrates and make up half of your | | | | lose weight. A liquid diet either |
| daily energy intake. You need a | | | | partially replaces meals or completely |
| sufficient amount of starchy food just | | | | does meaning that your only intake will |
| like you need a strong amount of dairy | | | | be fluids such as teas and juices. |
| products. Dairy products are rich in | | | | A liquid diet could possibly disrupt the |
| protein and your best source of vitamin | | | | natural flow of your body and will not |
| D and Calcium. As well as starchy foods | | | | provide you with enough nutrients, |
| and dairy products you also need some | | | | energy or protein to get you through the |
| intake of fats and sugar. Your fat | | | | day. A liquid diet will also not teach |
| intake should not exceed 35% but you | | | | individuals the requirements of healthy |
| should not cut it out of your diet | | | | eating to maintain weight loss over a |
| completely as fat is the most energy | | | | long period of time. |
| dense nutrient that your body can get. | | | | Diet fads are growing more popular but |
| Probably the most important out of the | | | | these are just quick fixes and will not |
| five food groups however is fruit and | | | | help you in a long term sense. The best |
| vegetables. It is said that you should | | | | way in order to loss weight as well as |
| have at least five portions of fruit and | | | | keeping a good balance of the five food |
| vegetables a day. There is strong | | | | groups is to eat the right foods in the |
| evidence that by doing this you are | | | | right quantity. Cut out sugary snacks |
| reducing the risk of things such as | | | | and replace them with more fruit intake; |
| heart disease. | | | | vary your diet so you aren't eating the |
| There is strong evidence that suggests | | | | same things over and over. |
| by eating healthy you are reducing the | | | | As well as eating the right type of food |
| risk of illness such as diabetes, | | | | you should also start a regular exercise |
| obesity, heart disease and several types | | | | programme which will get you in shape |
| of cancer, including bowel cancer. | | | | faster than any diet fad will. Regular |
| Having a healthy diet is important and | | | | exercise will not only keep you healthy |
| can potentially extend your life. | | | | it could also be the reason as to why |
| Healthy eating can however be overlooked | | | | you live longer as taking regular |
| when it comes to dieting. The image of | | | | exercise will help to prevent against |
| slim women is all that greets us in | | | | things such as diabetes, heart disease |
| fashion magazines, the music industry | | | | and certain types of cancer. |
| and the film industry. These images are | | | | Medical guidelines state that healthy |
| burned into our minds as what we should | | | | adults should be getting at least 30 |
| all look like and women and men across | | | | minutes of intense activity five days a |
| the country are doing anything they can | | | | week. This exercise can be anything from |
| to lose weight, including risking their | | | | walking, mowing the lawn, dancing, |
| health. | | | | cycling, any type of sport, aerobics or |
| Every where we look there are new diet | | | | even weight training. The key to |
| fads appearing, this is especially | | | | exercise is finding one that best suits |
| evident across the internet. The list of | | | | you. |
| these diets seems never ending and most | | | | Exercise combined with a good diet, |
| offer a quick fix to lose weight fast. | | | | which incorporates all of the five food |
| One of these diets is the Atkins diet. | | | | groups is all you need to maintain a |
| On the Atkins diet you are encouraged to | | | | healthy lifestyle and to lose the weight |
| eat all types of meat, cheese, eggs and | | | | that you want. |
| fats (butter or oils); completely | | | | |