But the truth is often complex and confusing.
Should we eat butter? How much fish should we eat now that toxic heavy metals are polluting the world's oceans? Do we have to drink 8 glasses of water a day? Here are my simple tips for a healthy diet - tips for tip-top nutrition without the tears (or eyestrain!) These dietary choices also happen to be very green, concerning as they do fresh local produce and organic farming practices.
Eat a good mixed diet of mainly fresh food, either lightly cooked or raw.
Eat at least five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables per day - better, make it eight, or even nine portions.
Eat as fresh as possible (and yes, that means local!) and include organic food whenever possible.
Drink as much as you like as long as your health is good but make sure that you drink the purest water and fruit juices.
If you are having other beverages, use filtered water and buy the very best products (such as tea and coffee) that you can afford.
If you are healthy and you drink when you are thirsty you should get plenty of fluids, especially if you are also having lots of fresh fruit and salads.
Go easy on alcoholic drinks and team them up with plenty of fresh filtered water if you are having more than a few.
Eat from the main food groups: proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fibre.
The best proportion is around 20 - 30% protein, less than 30% fat and the rest carbs and fibre.
Too much protein puts a strain on your kidneys and we all know the consequences of too much fat! If you get the proportions right and you are concentrating on good quality, whole foods, you should not have to diet to stay at the right weight - provided that you exercise, of course.
Butter is fine in moderation.
Many margarines are high in hydrogenated fats and trans-fatty acids.
If you are doing physically active work you will need more protein than if you are an office worker.
Eat meat and fish fairly frugally.
Most fish is now contaminated with heavy metals, so it is best to limit it to once or twice a week at most.
Fishonline.
com gives a good insight into which fish are not endangered.
Eat lots of fresh, raw fruit.
Many fruits are full of anti-oxidants and other vitamins and minerals which combat ageing and help your body fight off diseases.
Red fruits and vegetables are often rich in Anthocyanins.
Yellow fruit and veg are good sources of caratenoids which help your body produce vitamin A.
Both of these nutrients are anti-oxidants which help prevent cell damage.
If you eat a diet high in raw and unprocessed fruit and vegetables you will feel lighter and fitter and brimming with natural energy.
Eat when you are hungry and don't when you are not.
The human body is designed to run a bit hungry.
How else could we have made it through pre-historic times and even the Middle Ages when hunger was common? If you let your appetite build a little you will feel lighter, you will enjoy your food more and you will digest it better.
Stay off the junk food (that's obvious, given the foregoing!) If you abide by all these simple tips for a healthy diet you should enjoy excellent health.
And that's probably the very best wealth in the world!
Should we eat butter? How much fish should we eat now that toxic heavy metals are polluting the world's oceans? Do we have to drink 8 glasses of water a day? Here are my simple tips for a healthy diet - tips for tip-top nutrition without the tears (or eyestrain!) These dietary choices also happen to be very green, concerning as they do fresh local produce and organic farming practices.
Eat a good mixed diet of mainly fresh food, either lightly cooked or raw.
Eat at least five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables per day - better, make it eight, or even nine portions.
Eat as fresh as possible (and yes, that means local!) and include organic food whenever possible.
Drink as much as you like as long as your health is good but make sure that you drink the purest water and fruit juices.
If you are having other beverages, use filtered water and buy the very best products (such as tea and coffee) that you can afford.
If you are healthy and you drink when you are thirsty you should get plenty of fluids, especially if you are also having lots of fresh fruit and salads.
Go easy on alcoholic drinks and team them up with plenty of fresh filtered water if you are having more than a few.
Eat from the main food groups: proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fibre.
The best proportion is around 20 - 30% protein, less than 30% fat and the rest carbs and fibre.
Too much protein puts a strain on your kidneys and we all know the consequences of too much fat! If you get the proportions right and you are concentrating on good quality, whole foods, you should not have to diet to stay at the right weight - provided that you exercise, of course.
Butter is fine in moderation.
Many margarines are high in hydrogenated fats and trans-fatty acids.
If you are doing physically active work you will need more protein than if you are an office worker.
Eat meat and fish fairly frugally.
Most fish is now contaminated with heavy metals, so it is best to limit it to once or twice a week at most.
Fishonline.
com gives a good insight into which fish are not endangered.
Eat lots of fresh, raw fruit.
Many fruits are full of anti-oxidants and other vitamins and minerals which combat ageing and help your body fight off diseases.
Red fruits and vegetables are often rich in Anthocyanins.
Yellow fruit and veg are good sources of caratenoids which help your body produce vitamin A.
Both of these nutrients are anti-oxidants which help prevent cell damage.
If you eat a diet high in raw and unprocessed fruit and vegetables you will feel lighter and fitter and brimming with natural energy.
Eat when you are hungry and don't when you are not.
The human body is designed to run a bit hungry.
How else could we have made it through pre-historic times and even the Middle Ages when hunger was common? If you let your appetite build a little you will feel lighter, you will enjoy your food more and you will digest it better.
Stay off the junk food (that's obvious, given the foregoing!) If you abide by all these simple tips for a healthy diet you should enjoy excellent health.
And that's probably the very best wealth in the world!