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What is a
bad diet?
Eating too much fat can lead to high cholesterol levels, damaging the
lining of the blood vessels and eventually leading to heart attacks,
strokes and arterial disease, as well as weight gain.
What about salt?
The amount of sodium that we actually need in our diet is about 1.5
grams per day (or about 3/4 of a teaspoon of salt).
This amount is
only too readily accrued from the salt which accrues naturally in a
well balanced diet. It is likely therefore that the addition of salt
during cooking or at the table is rarely necessary.
However, unless
your doctor has told you that you need to be on a very strict diet or
you are a diabetic, occasional treats should not be harmful.
For more
information on salt see: Consensus
Action on Salt and Health
What to do
- Do not add salt to
your food without tasting it first
- Add less salt during
cooking.
- Avoid salty foods and
snacks.
- Avoid convenience
foods.
- Remember everyday
foods for example breakfast cereals and fish fingers can contain a
lot of salt so read food labels.
What is a
Good Diet?
Eating at least five portions a day of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain
bread, rice and pastas as well as oily fish at least twice a week all
help to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Do's and
Don'ts for a health heart
If you are overweight - try to reduce your weight.
Do's
- Eat more oily fish
(eg mackerel, salmon, trout) - 2 portions per week.
- Eat white meat (eg
chicken) more than red meat.
- Change full cream
milk to semi-skimmed or skimmed.
- Change butter to low
fat spread.
- Cut down on cheese
and eggs.
- Eat more fibre, eg,
wholemeal bread, cereals, pasta, and pulses such as peas and
beans.
- Eat more fruit and
vegetables. Everyone should have at least five portions a day. But
potatoes don't count.
Don'ts
- Don't eat more than
you need.
- Don't feel you must
clean your plate.
- Don't fry - grill
instead.
- Restrict foods rich
in sugar and or salt.
- Restrict foods with
visible or hidden fat eg cakes, biscuits, ice-cream and
chocolates.
Want to know more
about cholesterol? ............ click here
To learn more
about salt click here.
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