Five Best And Worst Foods

Food is a basic part of our existence and is something that nourishes our body. It has been used as an expression of love, friendship and social acceptance. We all eat food without even thinking about it. However, there are so many foods, which you might eat regularly and they could prove harmful in the long run. So how do you decide what to eat and what to skip? To solve this dilemma our expert's have come up with a list of the must haves and easily avoidable foods for you.

Best foods

Banana: One of the most valued fruits, the banana is considered to be the tastiest also. The high energy content of banana coupled with its extremely filling abilities makes it a must have. It's a good source of Vitamin B, calcium, iron and potassium. Also it is a fairly good source of fibre making it one of the most useful foods for kids and adult alike.

Beans: Beans -- red kidney, white gram and black beans -- are considered to be very beneficial. They are also the richest source of fibre, which plays a very important role in curtailing heart diseases and diabetes. At the same time they are a very good source of protein and folic acid.

Broccoli: Florets of broccoli are one of the best nutrition bets around. Broccoli is rich in vitamin A and C. Both of these nutrients play a major role in the prevention of cancer. Apart from these nutrients, broccoli is also a very rich source of fibre. In addition it contains a healthy amount of folic acid, calcium and magnesium. The excellent nutrient composition makes it one of the best foods to be consumed.

Skimmed Milk: Milk is the richest source of calcium and vitamin D, which is must for proper development of bones and teeth. According to a latest research, vitamin D also helps in preventing colon cancer. Milk is an excellent source of good quality proteins and also is low fat.

Whole grain cereals: Cereals provide you with most of your complex carbohydrates. Also, they are a rich source of fibre, which plays an important role in cancer prevention. Fibre also has an added advantage. If you are on weight losing spree, then consumption of high fibre foods at breakfast helps you to lose weight by curbing your appetite at lunch. Cereals also provide you proteins and other important vitamins and minerals.

Worst foods

Saturated animal fats: This includes fatty meats such as pork, beef and poultry skin. It also includes full fat dairy foods such as whole milk, cheese and cream. Though these foods provide you with nourishment, the same nutrients can be obtained from other sources. Besides, intake of saturated fats should be avoided as they make you prone to heart diseases.

Soda: Drinking soda is full of sugar and artificial sweeteners and often contains caffeine, artificial colours and flavours which in the long run give rise two diseases like tooth decay, obesity and allergies. If you are thirsty, then opt for fresh lime juice in clear water as compared to aerated beverages. Drinking soda is a poor choice to quench your thirst.

High fat snacks/chips: Even though they are made using vegetable oils, these should be avoided. Excess of these oils can lead to heart diseases, and also lead to weight gain. Such snacks are rich only in fat and provide no other nutrient. Snacking on fruits and non-fat whole grains is a better choice.

Nitrates: Many foods, especially bacon and hot dogs, use nitrates to preserve colour and to maintain microbial safety. Nitrate by itself is harmless but it gets converted to nitrite, which can form a cancer-causing chemical in your body. Hence if buying preserved meats, look for nitrate free variety. If this isn't possible, then always have a glass of orange juice along with your meal as vitamin C is known to inhibit the conversion of nitrate to a cancer-causing chemical.

Alcohol: Liquor is something that can cause more problems than all the rest of the foods put together. Consuming alcohol wisely and safely may not cause much harm but being an addict is surely bound to shorten your life considerably.

Certain level of awareness about what you should eat can help you select foods wisely and hence enjoy a meal that takes care of your health.