Facts About Health

Facts About Health

You may have already experienced the effects of an illness; it’s not fun. You may have felt tired, achy and lazy. But did you know, if you don’t eat the proper foods each day, you can still feel all these symptoms? Getting the proper nutrition to keep our bodies healthy is only one of the important things we need to do to stay active and in tip-top shape. Read on to discover more healthy habits that will keep you humming along.

Fuel Up for Fun in the Morning

 

Take a close look at the work “breakfast.” If you divide it into two separate words it spells, “break” and “fast.” This literally means in the morning we are to break the fast, or start out our day by eating.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gives you the “fuel” you need to be active and productive. Whether you are going to school or off to do something fun, your body needs to be fed – just like a car needs gas.

To give your body and mind the “gas” it needs, choose foods that are high in carbohydrates (these give you energy). This can include cereal, toast or oatmeal. Toss in some yogurt and fruit and your body will be ready to take on the morning.

Healthy Habits: Adding protein to your breakfast (like an egg) helps keep you full until lunch and also builds strong muscles.

Green is Good

You may think the vegetables that are dark green in color are kind of yucky, but they are actually very good for you. Leafy greens like spinach and lettuces are filled with vitamins A, C, K and folate – these promote good health. They also have iron to help your body make red blood cells, calcium for strong bones and teeth, plus fiber to keep you from getting constipated.

 

Healthy Habits:Kale can be baked in the oven to make a crispy potato-chip like snack that is super-healthy for you. Plus, it’s yummy!

The Sweet Deal

Everyone likes the sweet-stuff, but too much sugar is bad for your body. It can make you feel tired and lazy, make you gain weight and even give you cavities. So what can we do when we want something sweet? Look to our friend the fruit.

Fruit is naturally sweet and contains many healthy benefits. Citrus fruits (like oranges) and strawberries are loaded with vitamin C – this boosts your immune system. Blueberries contain antioxidants which chases away diseases in the body. Apples have extra fiber so you won’t have tummy-troubles. Eating five servings of fruits (and veggies) each day will give you lots of energy and help your mind stay sharp. Check out some more sweet treats that are super-good for you;

• Acai Berries
• Bananas
• Grapefruit
• Cantaloupe
• Cherries
• Cranberries
• Grapes
• Kiwi

The Imposters – What Are You Really?

There are many foods we eat that are really imposters (pretending to be something they are not). See how many of these disguised fruits and vegetables you have eaten…

 

• strawberries are not a berry. They are actually a “complex fruit” that forms from a flower.
• bananas are a berry and technically a herb.
• tomatoes are a fruit, not a vegetable.
• pumpkins and avocados are also not veggies. They’re fruit
• a pineapple is actually in the berry family.
• eggplants are also classified as a berry.
• cucumbers are a fruit, too.

 

Drink Up!

You may not have known, but our bodies are made up of 83 percent water. When we run around, do sports or just enjoy a hot day at the beach, our bodies expel water. This means it’s important for us to replenish it. When we feel thirsty, our bodies are saying; “hey, I need some liquid!” The most healthy way to give our bodies the fluid it craves is with water. Water is calorie-free, sugar-free and is just plain good. We should drink at least 5 glasses of water everyday. Water also helps flush toxins from our bodies and helps improve our mind and bodies performance. So drink up to stay up!

Get Out and Get Movin’

It’s fun to play video games or spend time on the computer, but our bodies need to be active. Running, biking, swimming or playing a sport each day makes our hearts strong, builds muscle and keeps our bones sturdy. Be sure to find an activity you like to do each day, then go out and make your body work…you will feel great!

Now that you have learned all these healthy facts be sure to treat your body each day with what it needs. By eating good foods, drinking plenty of water and staying active you will be in fit-form and feeling fine.