Nutritional Foods to Beat Heart Disease
December 18, 2008
Today, the incidence of heart ailments and diabetes is much more common than it was a decade ago. Along with the increase in the number of people suffering from these ailments, it is also seen that the ages of the patients are significantly lower. What is not only alarming, but also saddening is that although people have the knowledge of these conditions, most of these problems are brought on by sheer neglect.
The diet is most crucial in keeping these diseases in check. They are often more effective than medication. Initially, it was believed that having a good, nutritious diet was only beneficial in keeping problems away. What is being noticed today is that a careful diet can also help in reversing healthy conditions. They can help bring sugar levels lower and also help clear blockages in the heart and body. This is commonly called reversal diet.
Good eating habits cannot be inculcated overnight. It is the onus of the mother to guide proper eating habits into children as early as six months of age. Later changes in diet and lifestyle are not only easy to acquire, but also are much less effective than trained habits early in life.
Fats form between thirty and forty percent of the daily intake of foods in normal life, and hence must be used very carefully. Reduce the consumption of all oils. Totally ban fried, tempered foods. If the use of oil cannot be avoided, use those that are low in saturated fats. Olive and sunflower oil are better options to choose.
Other fats are also obtained from foods we eat rather casually without paying much attention to. Coconuts, for instance have about 40 grams of fat in every 100 gram serving, as do peanuts. Dry fruits also have high fat content, and restrained use is advised. These are normally called hidden fats.
Some form and amount of fat is also vital. Take milk products. The common variants are milk, curd, butter and cheese. While butter and cheese have the highest amount of fat and salt, they should be given a skip. Instead, have moderate intake of milk which is high in calcium. Curd is another food source that can be had, buttermilk making the best option.
Fibrous foods are ideal, since they have little fat and aid complete absorption and assimilation of foods. They help reduce cholestorol. Try using uncooked varieties of vegetables and fruits as the fibre ontent is the highest in them.
Papayas, apples, guavas, and spinach are ideal foods and should be consumed regularly and liberally. White foods like sugar, flour, and oils should be avoided completely. Wheat, rice and salt should be eaten in conservative quantities.
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