Maintaining a healthy diet is key to living a healthy lifestyle. Eating a diet high in saturated fats has been linked to coronary heart disease and is one of the main causes of the obesity epidemic in America.
Summary of Healthy Eating
Eating Healthy with SauerkrautCreated by the Harvard School of Public Health, the Healthy Eating Pyramid provides an updated version of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Guide Pyramid. Among other alterations, it adds in a building block of daily exercise and weight control, since this affects what people eat and how the food they eat affects them. The Harvard School also recommends eating vegetables and fruits, healthy fats and oils and whole grains, as well as nuts, seeds beans, tofu and fish, poultry and eggs. The pyramid indicates that people should have one to two servings of dairy. They should eat red meat, refined grains, salt, sugary drinks and sweets and butter sparingly.
Following the diet of the healthy eating pyramid has great benefits, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Eating a diet that has plenty of whole grains can help prevent heart disease; consuming healthy fats like avocados and salmon can improve cholesterol levels; and the vegetables and fruits can help prevent cataracts and muscle breakdowns later in life. The fish, poultry and eggs portion of the pyramid can reduce the risk of heart disease as well.