Poor nutrition is a significant underlying causative factor in many diseases including mental health problems. We are now officially the most obese nation in Europe with the risk of our children dying before their parents and yet we continue to take no action. There is no concrete clinical evidence or scientific reason to explain why so many children are becoming obese, but lifestyle issues such as diet and exercise are widely considered to be a major factor.
The average person is very confused about the range of different and apparently conflicting dietary messages available to them.
Achieving good nutritional balance is not easy, although many commercial diet producers would have us believe that this is the case. We are all very different and have different lifestyles, and good nutrition has to be based on what is right for us given our gender, age, work and home environment and level of physical activity.
However, there are some basic principles to follow which will help simplify the science behind good nutrition:
- Do not eat any form of processed foods
- Eat at least five portions of seasonal fruits and vegetables every day
- Eat organic produce wherever possible
- Reduce animal fats such as beef, pork, bacon etc.
- Avoid fried foods
- Eat good fats such as those that come from nuts, seeds, avocados and olives
- Use organic butter, but in moderation and avoid processed spreads
- Use organic semi-skimmed or whole milk
- Reduce your sugar intake and especially from cakes, pastries and sweets
- Reduce your reliance on take-away foods
- Organic free-range eggs are fine in moderation
- If you eat bread always eat wholegrain and organic
- Eat potatoes baked or boiled and in moderation - sweet potatoes and yams are good
- Alcohol should be enjoyed in moderation (less than 14 units for women and 21 units for men per week)
- Do not smoke
- Do not take recreational drugs
- Eat 5-6 meals a day, smaller than your regular 3 square a day (take your daily requirements and divide by 5-6)
- Always eat breakfast
- Try to taper the size of your meals over the day so that they become smaller as the day goes on as you need the majority of your energy at the start of the day and we tend to reduce our activities as the day progresses
- Remember the old adage: breakfast like a king, lunch like a peasant, dine like a pauper
Click here to view our Dietary Lifestyle Guide
For a tailored business healthcare solution
Call us today on 0871 200 5060
