eat well, live well: EATING WELL FOR YOUR HEALTH

Transcription

1 eat well, live well: EATING WELL FOR YOUR HEALTH

2 It may seem like information on diet changes daily, BUT THERE IS ACTUALLY A LOT WE KNOW ABOUT HOW TO EAT WELL. Eating well can help you improve your overall health and lower your risk for disease, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and even cancer. Each section of this booklet describes healthy foods that are easy to include in your meals. At the end of each section, there is room for you to write down and plan out what you will do to make healthy changes. Examples are given to help you get started. All recommendations are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and many diet-related research studies, including studies on the Mediterranean diet.

3 healthy CARBOHYDRATES Despite what you may have heard, carbohydrates can be good for you. The key is to choose the right type. The healthiest carbohydrates are those that are not processed, are high in fiber, and are in their whole form or of the whole-grain variety. These include vegetables, fruit, brown rice, quinoa, whole grains, beans, peas, and lentils. Choose these foods more often. It is best to limit processed carbohydrates. These include sugar, candy, regular sodas, sports drinks, fruit drinks, white rice, and foods made out of white flour, such as white bread and white pasta. These carbohydrates are stripped of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients. They are absorbed by your body more quickly and may increase your risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Healthy carbohydrate tips: Choose brown rice, bulgur, quinoa, whole-wheat pasta, whole-grain breads and cereals, beans, peas, and lentils. Aim for 6 to 8 servings a day. One serving is one ounce, one slice of bread, or 1 /2 cup of pasta, rice, or cooked cereal. Eating a lot of vegetables and fruits is a very important part of a healthy diet. Don t eat the same thing every day vary the kinds and colors of fruits and vegetables you eat. Aim for 5 or more servings of vegetables and 2 to 3 servings of fruit a day. One serving is a small piece of fruit, 1 /2 cup of cooked fruits or vegetables, or 1 cup of raw fruits or vegetables. 1

4 Think about these questions, and then fill in the action plan below: How many servings of vegetables and fruits do I eat a day? Do I choose whole grains such as brown rice, whole-grain cereals, or whole-wheat pasta? What can I do to make a change in this important area of my diet? ACTION PLAN List what you are willing to try: Examples: I will choose a whole-grain cereal instead of corn flakes. I will eat 8 servings of vegetables and fruits two days this week.

5 healthy PROTEIN SOURCES You need to eat protein each day to stay healthy, but some protein sources are better than others. Fatty meats, red meat (including beef, pork, and lamb), and whole-fat dairy, milk, and cheese all have saturated fat. This type of fat can increase your cholesterol levels and your risk for heart disease. Red meat and processed meats like hot dogs and bacon may also increase your risk for colon cancer. Limit the amount of red meat that you eat. If you eat red meat, choose the leanest cut you can find. The healthier protein choices are low in saturated fat or come from non-animal sources. Healthy proteins include chicken, turkey, fish, or eggs, and plant sources of protein, such as beans, peas, lentils, tofu, nuts, and seeds. Plant proteins are very healthy because they are low in unhealthy fats and are often high in fiber and other nutrients. When you choose protein foods, make sure to choose these healthier options. Healthy protein tips: Eat less red meat (beef, pork, and lamb). Eating red meat once or twice a month is ideal. If you do eat red meat, choose the leanest cuts, such as round steak, top sirloin, or ham. Choose fish (preferably wild), shellfish, skinless chicken, or turkey instead. Other healthy protein sources include beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, and soy products (tofu, soy milk). Aim for 5 to 6 ounces of protein a day. One ounce is also equal to 1 egg, 1 /2 cup of beans or lentils, or 1 /2 ounce of nuts. 3

6 Choose healthier cooking methods. Broil, grill, or sauté in a small amount of healthy oil (olive or canola). Aim for 2 to 3 servings of fat-free or low-fat 1 percent milk, yogurt, or cheese a day. One serving is 1 cup of milk or yogurt, 1 1 /2 ounces of hard cheese, or 2 ounces of processed cheese. Think about these questions, and then fill in the action plan below: What kind of protein foods do I eat? Do I eat fish and limit red meat? Do I choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products? ACTION PLAN List what you are willing to try: Examples: I will eat fish two times this week. I will eat red meat (beef, pork, or lamb) only one time this week. I will have lentil soup for dinner one night this week. I will switch to 1 percent low-fat milk.

7 healthy FATS All fats are high in calories, but not all fats are created equal. The goal of a healthy diet is to limit the unhealthy fats and choose the healthier types instead. The unhealthy fats are saturated and trans (partially hydrogenated) fats. Limit saturated fats, which are found in fatty meats, whole-fat milk, cheese, cream, and butter. Saturated fats increase your risk for heart disease by raising cholesterol levels. Avoid trans fats as much as possible. Trans fats increase your risk for heart disease by raising bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and decreasing good (HDL) cholesterol. They are also linked to an increased risk for diabetes. Trans fats are found in most margarines, shortening, processed baked goods, regular peanut butter, fried foods (such as fast food apple pie and french fries), and many other packaged foods. Read the ingredients list and look for the words partially hydrogenated oil. If you find them on the ingredients list, the food has trans fat. Also look at the Nutrition Facts label on a package for grams of trans fat. Keep in mind that the legal definition of trans-fat-free is less than half a gram per serving. This means that an item can be labeled trans-fat-free, but still have some trans fat. Note the serving sizes of these foods and limit the amount that you eat. Omega-3 fats and monounsaturated fats are healthier. Omega-3 fats decrease inflammation, which is related to many chronic diseases. They also lower your risk for heart disease. Good food sources include fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds, and canola and flaxseed oils. Monounsaturated fats help lower bad (LDL) 5

8 cholesterol and increase good (HDL) cholesterol. They may also lower your risk for heart disease. Good sources include olive oil, nuts and nut butters, and avocados. Healthy fats tips: Limit saturated fat and avoid trans fat. Choose the healthy fats instead, such as extra virgin olive, canola, or flaxseed oil, and trans-fat-free margarine. Aim for 3 to 7 teaspoons a day. Keep in mind that all fats are high in calories, so cut back on other high-calorie foods to prevent weight gain. ACTION PLAN List what you are willing to try: Examples: Instead of regular margarine, I will use trans-fat-free margarine. Instead of cooking with corn oil, I will use canola oil. I will use extra virgin olive oil on my salads. I will add walnuts or ground flaxseeds to my cereals or salads.

9 sample MENU BREAKFAST Whole-grain cereal Fat-free milk or soy milk Fresh blueberries Slice of whole-grain bread with old-fashioned peanut butter Hot tea or coffee LUNCH Lentil soup Whole-grain bread with trans-fat-free margarine Salad with fresh carrots, tomatoes, walnuts, extra virgin olive oil, and vinegar Slice of watermelon Mineral water with lemon DINNER Grilled salmon Carrots and broccoli Brown rice Salad with fresh vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, and vinegar Strawberries Hot tea or coffee 7

10 final points Start off with a few foods you are willing to change, and then add more when you are ready. If you can, choose organic foods, including fruits, vegetables, milk, and meats. Foods labeled organic meet specific USDA standards for growing, processing, and handling. Choose fresh foods over processed foods. Aim for foods with five ingredients or less. Aim for variety in your food selections. There is no evidence that supplemental vitamins can decrease your risk of heart disease or cancer. It is best to get your vitamins from food. If you need to lose weight, choose the healthy foods listed in this booklet, watch portion sizes, limit your calorie intake, and be physically active for about 60 minutes every day. If you have a special dietary need or would like to lose weight, contact a registered dietitian or your local Kaiser Permanente Health Education Department for more information. You can also call the Healthy Living Helpline at to speak to a lifestyle coach who can help you lose weight. (Available to Kaiser Permanente members only.) Remember, eating a healthy diet can have a huge effect on your health.you are worth it!

11 the healthy plate Use this plate to help you portion your food in a healthy way and make meal planning easier. Portions are based on a small dinner plate. Fill one-quarter of your plate with a healthy protein source. Fill one-quarter of your plate with healthy grains. Fill half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables. resources FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES Your local Kaiser Permanente Health Education Department kp.org/nutrition kp.org/healthylifestyles Healthy Living Helpline ( ) mypyramid.gov healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines

12 2005 Kaiser Permanente. All rights reserved. SCPMG Regional Health Education MH1133 (12/09) kp.org