Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
For more than 10 years, millions of readers have trusted the bestselling Everything series for expert advice and important information on health topics ranging from pregnancy and postpartum care to heart health, anxiety, and diabetes. Packed with the most recent, up-to-date data, Everything health guides help you get the right diagnosis, choose the best doctor, and find the treatment options that work for you.
The Everything Healthy Living Series books are concise guides, focusing on only the essential information you need. Whether youre looking for an overview of traditional and alternative migraine treatments, advice on starting a heart-healthy lifestyle, or suggestions for finding the right medical team, theres an Everything Healthy Living Book for you.
Nutrition
Food is everywhere. Every street has a restaurant, every event has a concession stand, and every commercial is dripping with cheese. Billboards, newspapers, and the Internet are constantly trying to sell you food. And you want to buy it. But is whats out there really something you need? Does it do your body any good? Is it making you healthy and strong? And what about the kids? How are they handling being inundated with constant food opportunities? Are they growing up healthy, lean, and fit? If they live in America, theres a good chance they arent.
Poor nutrition is a growing problem in the United States. Its not that we dont have enough to eat. Its that we have too much of the wrong stuff to eat. You probably already know you should lay off the fast food and pick up an apple instead of that doughnut. But have you ever wondered what healthier foods could really do for you?
Did you know that eating the right carbohydrates can give you ongoing energy? Did you know that bright fruits and vegetables can help protect you against cancer? Did you know that eating right at an early age can protect kids from food allergies?
Food is fuel. It can be delicious fuel, but it can also be the wrong fuel. Like putting diesel fuel in a gasoline engine, people often choose the wrong food. Without the proper fuel and regular intervals throughout the day, you sputter and stall and will likely need a tuneup, or worse, a complete overhaul. Getting the right fuel is not mysterious, difficult, expensive, or time-consuming. The Everything Healthy Living Series: Nutrition will show you exactly what, when, and how much you need to eat to get back on the road to good health.
Focusing on lifestyle changes instead of following a specific diet is the ticket to achieving optimal health, decreasing your risk of illness, increasing your energy level, improving your quality of life and well-being, and reducing your medications. In this series, youll find everything you need to know to get your family on the road to life-long good health.
If youd like to learn more about nutrition, check out The Everything Guide to Nutrition, available in print (978-1-4405-1030-4) and eBook (978-1-6055-0536-7) formats.
The Healthy Family
Healthy families are fortunate, but good health isnt just about luck. You have much more control over it than you may think. Attention to a healthy lifestyle is the first step. Nutrition and exercise are two elements that are easy to control, and they produce incredible results.
Nutrition and Happiness
Food is a part of our culture. Its important in our rituals, our religions, and our celebrations. We mark holidays, deaths, births, weddings, and milestones with food. We eat specific foods at specific times: popcorn at the movies, peanuts at the ball park, cake on our birthday. And in our darkest hours, we comfort ourselves with it. Our days revolve around food. We hold important meetings over lunch, rejuvenate ourselves over a coffee break, and relax with family over dinner. Food brings a lot of joy to our lives.
And food is necessary for life itself. Your body requires it. But just any old food wont do. The human body is very picky. For the body, food is not a source of joy but a source of fuel. All too often, people eat the wrong fuel, and thats harmful. Out of balance and lacking in substance, the human body deteriorates, both physically and mentally.
The goal is to get the right kind of fuel to keep yourself and your family running smoothly. A healthy diet meets all nutritional needs. Its not hard, but it does take forethought. Once you understand a few key elements, food can be both a source of joy and a source of energy.
Here it is in a nutshell: Eat plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. These foods should make up the bulk of your diet. Choose lean meats and low-fat dairy foods, and avoid excess sugar. Last, but far from least, get plenty of exercise.
Benefits of a Healthy Diet
Eating well optimizes your bodys ability to perform. It improves physical endurance as well as everyday tasks. Food affects your mental acuity, emotional outlook, personality, and overall sense of well-being. A healthy diet provides energy to function, as well as protection from chronic disease.
Specific Health Benefits
A healthy diet will minimize your risk of acquiring many of the chronic diseases currently plaguing our nation. Cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain cancers can all be connected in part to poor diets and failure to maintain healthy weight. Good nutrition improves the overall function of all aspects of the human body, from the way your blood flows to your ability to sleep.
Fact
If an average overweight adult loses 10 percent of his weight, he can save as much as $5,000 in health care costs over a lifetime. Employers, too, are beginning to recognize the effects of obesity on health, and many are offering cash incentives to lose weight.
Personal Benefits
On a personal level, taking control of your health through diet is empowering. And if you are in control of your familys diet, the undertaking takes on even greater meaning. There is no better gift you can give your family than the gift of a healthy lifestyle. Developing healthy habits gives them an edge that will last a lifetime.
Healthy Variety
A nutritious diet does not have to be a boring diet. In fact, the healthiest diets are constantly evolving, trying and adding new foods with new combinations of nutrients. Once you have a clear understanding of what your body needs, youll find a great deal of pleasure in experimentation and research.
Activity
A good diet is not enough. A healthy lifestyle also must include regular activity. You need activity to offset the calories you consume. Healthy foods give you the energy to be active, and in return, activity gives you an appetite for healthy food. When done properly, it is a beautiful symbiotic symphony of health.
Finding Your Sport
They only way to fit exercise into your life on a daily basis is to find something you enjoy. If you dread it, it cant help you. Joining a gym wont do you any good if you never go. You need to find whats right for you.