What Makes Up A Healthy Balanced Diet? - Part 2
By Ricardo Forero
The Role of Protein
Eating lean protein is crucial to good health because you need it to build
and maintain lean body mass. Eating good protein can also actually help
you lose weight. That's because eating high-quality protein does several
things. It helps keep your blood sugar level stable so that you don't feel
hungry and, it speeds-up your body·s metabolism by increasing your lean
body mass. The more lean body mass (LBM) you have the higher your
metabolism’ and a higher metabolism stimulates your body to burn fat for
energy!
So, ideally, how much protein should you eat? Nutrition experts recommend
that in average women should eat 100g daily, and men should eat 150g
daily. To help make sure you get both the right amount and right kind of
protein, you may want to consider taking a protein supplement each day.
The Power of Water
The last, but not least, important pillar of good health is to drink lots
of water. The human body is composed of approximately 70% of water. Water
helps keep your body operating at its best because it flushes toxins and
waste materials from your system.
Water also plays an important role in biochemical cell reactions and makes
them more efficient. Water plays a key role in the transportation of
nutrients throughout the body. Having enough water in your body at all
times ensures that all your nerve centers, as well as your body·s organs
and tissues, function at their best.
Proper hydration is vital to good health and to have that, you need to
drink pure water. Tea, coffee and carbonated drinks, or even fruit juices,
are no substitutes for water. You need at least eight glasses of pure
water a day, and more than that won·t hurt you. Did you know that your
body cannot survive without water for longer than 5 days?
Be Wise, Eat Smart
Fortunately, with all the information out there it is easier than ever to
eat smart. First of all, you want to eat three well-balanced meals a day -
and always include plenty of vegetables and fruits. Don·t skip breakfast,
lunch or dinner. You will also want to eat two healthy snacks a day,
between meals. Eating five times a day helps ensure that your blood sugar
remains constant around the clock and your metabolism active.
Now what you eat is as important as when you eat it. A basic rule of thumb
to follow for making sure you are eating the type of balanced diet - vital
to maintain a stable blood sugar, is to eat one part protein for every two
parts of carbohydrates that you eat. Limit your intake of refine
carbohydrates, sweets and alcohol.
By eating balanced meals that include a right portion of healthy
carbohydrates, fat-free protein and a small amount of good fat you can
eliminate sugar rushes and blood sugar swings that can make you irritable
and tired and that prompt your body to store fat.
Written by Ricardo Forero. For more information and practical tips
on health, weight management and nutritional products visit
http://www.herbalife-distributor-products.com. Visit us today to
read part one of this article.
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