HEALTHY EATING FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

This issue we will be focusing on the dairy component of the recommended food group pyramid. The foods in this group provide excellent sources of many essential nutrients which help protect bones, such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, protein and vitamin D. Consuming three servings a day of a low-fat or fat-free version of the foods in this group can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life, and for children and teens, be a great asset in their crucial bone-building years.

It has been found that people who consume a greater amount of low fat and fat free dairy choices have better diets, greater all around nutrient intake, and have improved bone health. Healthy amounts of dairy foods have shown to provide a reduced risk in obesity, colon cancer and metabolic syndrome, which in combination could lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It has also been found that the trio of calcium, potassium and magnesium – nutrients all found in dairy foods – may also play a very important role in maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

Studies have shown that the average American only eats about half (1.5 servings) of the recommended daily serving amount for this food group. Obesity, especially childhood obesity, has become a major health issue for the United States’population, and several studies show that eating the proper amount of dairy products per day plays a very important role in maintaining a healthy weight. Choosing to eat nutrient-rich foods first, such as low fat dairy products rich in calcium, before foods with containing empty calories and excess fat, is a necessity for many overweight and undernourished Americans today.