Some Thoughts on Good Foods…
We often heard about certain foods that are good for our body - good food we call them. They contain substances that are deemed useful and beneficial for our body functions. The following are a review of some of them.
1. Energy Bars:
With 150-200 calories and some grams of protein, you can get an energy bar to give you a healthy energy boost. These bars are delicious and contain raw, natural ingredients that taste so real. But there aren’t substitutes for real food, so they can’t replace your normal meals They may be called snack bars or even calorie bars based on the calorie boost your body gets. Most of the bars contain fat, sugar and salt, colorings, flavoring and preservatives. Avoid those that contain trans fat or fructose corn syrup. Bars that contain whole nuts and grains with at least 3 grams of fiber, zero hydrogenated oils or trans fat, moderate sugar of not more than 18 gm, and a low saturated fat of less than 3 gm.
2. Fruit Juice:
Fruit juice comes with fructose or fruit sugar so it is not the best though better than the carbonated drinks. However know the difference with those that are fruit flavored or concentrate which are sugar loaded and also artificially fortified with vitamins – therefore less nutritious than the natural juice. If the label reads something like “100 Percent Natural,” it may contain some form of preservatives too. Eating fresh fruits are a better choice as the fiber contents are often intact besides the vitamins and antioxidants are best obtained direct.
3. Red Meat:
Eating meat is often justified for the protein it gave us. Protein is one of the basic building blocks of the human body as can be seen in the muscles, hair, skin, and tissues in our body. Meat contains saturated fats which are bad for health. The best choice of red meat comes from cows that are fed on grass and not grains and soy. Studies shown that grass cows contain quality meat, high in omega-3s and lower in omega-6 fatty acids. In addition, grass-fed beef also contains much higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a boost for weight loss people. Therefore if you can’t go without them, a small portion of lean sirloin will fit well into any healthy diets. There is also concern that there are many reports of higher risks colon cancer link to meat eating.
4. Sports Drinks:
Sport drinks or sometimes called performance drinks are designed to help athletes rehydrate, as well as replenish electrolytes, sugar, sodium and other nutrients, lost after some vigorous exercise or endurance training. These liquids carry attractive array of colors with strong-looking athletes. The drinks come with carbohydrates such as sugar and other minerals such as potassium, calcium and sodium as well as additives, artificial flavors and even preservatives. Drinking water is better without all the fillers and you should drink enough every 20 minutes of exercise to stay hydrated.
5. Sugar or Sweeteners:
Think of sugar one can come out with hundreds of reasons why it is bad for you. Whatever you may think, sugar is still a component in our diet. White sugar or processed sugars are often link to chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer and many more. Natural sugars like honey, fructose or maple syrup are quite the contrary. These are often used as sweeteners to make food taste better, more flavorful and they contain some amounts of nutrients. Calorie-wise, both are about about 16 to 20 calories per teaspoon. Watch out for high fructose corn syrup, which is blamed for many health problems. Natural sugar substitutes like maltitol and stevia are derived from natural ingredients therefore less harmful compared to aspartame and saccharin.
