Marilou Wacay

Healthy eating is a topic that is important to many people. We often hear that Americans are not eating a healthy diet. In recent decades our average weight has risen substantially while our fruit and vegetable consumption has decreased. One of the most important things we can do for our waistlines and our general health, is to increase our intake of fruits and vegetables daily. By incorporating a few simple lifestyle changes, you can do just that!

Fruits and vegetables help prevent diseases

Fruits and vegetables have many important vitamins and minerals as well as fiber. Studies have shown that people who eat greater amounts of fruits and vegetables have lower rates of heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer. Choose vegetables in a wide range of colors to ensure that you get many of the important vitamins and minerals. The deeper the color of the fruit or vegetable, the more nutrients it contains. Choose the deeply colored sweet potatoes over white potatoes, for example.

Fruits and vegetables help with weight loss

Increasing your fruit and vegetable intake can be helpful in a weight loss program as well. The water and fiber content in fruits and vegetables helps you to feel fuller, quicker and they are often low in calories. The more of the right foods that you eat, the less room you will have for the unhealthy foods. As you eat more of the healthy foods, your appetite for them will increase as well. Remember that the fruits and vegetables are a substitute for the higher calorie foods, not in addition to them. If you only add fruits and vegetables to your current diet then you will be increasing your calorie intake, not reducing it.

Tips for adding more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet

Look for ways to increase the fruits and vegetables in dishes you already eat, and add extra fruits and vegetables to dishes that already include them. In the morning, try adding more vegetables to a morning omelet and more fruit to breakfasts cereals for example. Add extra vegetables to stir fry dishes and soups and decrease the rice and pasta. Buy pre-washed and cut vegetables and fruits in the produce section at the grocery store, to provide convenient alternatives to high-fat snack foods. If healthy alternatives are as convenient as the unhealthy snacks, you will be more likely to make wise choices.>/p>

Fill half your plate with fruit or vegetables at mealtime. Keep fresh fruit handy at home. Take small bags of cut fruit and a small container of vanilla yogurt for dipping or small bag of cut vegetables and a container of low calorie dip, to work as an mid-day snack. That should keep you away from the vending machine. You can also keep a variety of dried fruits in your desk drawer for snacking emergencies.

Getting kids to eat more fruits and vegetables

Many fast food restaurants are adding healthy alternatives to their menus. Order apple slices or a fruit bowls in place of French fries or a chicken fillet sandwich or wrap in place of a burger. Try the smoothie shop instead of the ice cream parlor for a healthier treat that also incorporates a serving of fruit.

Fruits and vegetables are necessary for a healthy diet. By incorporating more of them into your daily routine at home and at the office, you can do wonders for your general health and you can also shed a few pounds in the process.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.com/

About the Author

Kevin Kielty lives in North Carolina and writes articles on health insurance. If you are looking for rate quotes on health insurance in North Carolina, visit BCBSNC, also known as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

People work hard during the day, and head home tired, looking forward to some rest and relaxation. A good night’s sleep is sufficient to recharge and refresh people for another day’s work. Those who manage to get restful and adequate sleep manage their work well as they are rested.

To ensure that you get proper rest at night you should invest in a suitable bed and a comfortable mattress. The kind of mattress you have has a high impact on kind of relaxation and sleep you get. If your mattress is perfect for you, then you must be getting adequate rest and getting up refreshed in the morning, looking forward to another day’s work. There are various kinds of mattresses available in the market and buyers are spoilt for choice.

Before selecting the perfect mattress, a person should check what benefits are offered by different kinds of mattresses. There are orthopedic beds and mattresses to help people with severe health problems. People suffering from back and spine problems benefit a lot from the use of these mattresses. Apart from them old people tend to gain from use of these mattresses. Before finalizing and buying a mattress, a person should check whether it provides proper comfort and support to your body. A good mattress should provide proper support to the neck and body and be comfortable to sleep in. You should not get tempted by good looking designs and new products which are launched in the market.

A person should determine whether a hard mattress would be suitable to him/her or a soft mattress and depending on that should make the purchase decision. One good option is the memory foam mattress which provides lot of benefits to its user. It is said to adjust to a person’s weight and when a couple is sleeping in the same bed it adjusts well so that one person is not disturbed by the movement of other. Memory foam mattress is also known to adjust temperature and absorb heat from the body. People who are bed ridden with some injury benefit from the use of this mattress as it will provide relief to the injured area. When using other kinds of mattresses, you do not feel comfortable or rested after a night’s sleep. But memory foam mattress has the ability to provide total support to the body by adjusting to the body contours. It also gives perfect support to the neck and spine, thus providing restful sleep.

Some people even use magnetic mattresses to benefit from magnetic therapy. Magnetic mattress has strategically placed magnets which help people suffering from chronic pain, by improving the blood circulation to the problematic area. This kind of mattress helps to relieve pain, restore energy and provide a deep and restful sleep. So before buying a mattress, check and verify the benefits they offer and what kind will suit you best.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.com/

About the Author

Laura Brown has witnessed first hand the importance of quality new beds -- after redecorating her house -- bedstar.co.uk were the webs number one supplier, one which she will use again!