What is the best diet guide?

First and foremost, a human being will need a definitive amount of nutrients and calories to stay healthy and a balanced diet ensures this. Here is a diet guide that is best for you.

Five food groups that is essential

A balanced and healthy diet has food from five groups that are fruits, vegetables, protein, grains and dairy products.

• Vegetables: This group consists of leafy greens, starchy vegetables, orange and red vegetables, eggplants as well as zucchini, and beans and other legumes. In order to absorb enough nutrients and ward off dietary boredom, go for a variety of vegetables in your diet. Both raw and cooked vegetables are fine but remember that cooked vegetables lose some of their nutritional values.
• Fruits: A lot of fruits have to be incorporated in your diet and besides fruit juices, it is also beneficial to have whole fruits. This is because fruit juice has lesser nutrients and may add to empty calories because of the presence of sugar. Opt for frozen and fresh fruits or those fruits that are water canned.
• Grains: Grains fall into two groups; refined grains and whole grains, both of which are best for a good diet. In whole grains there is bran, endosperm and germ. These are broken down slowly in the body, having a lesser effect on the blood sugar levels. They also have more protein and fiber than grains that are refined. Half of your grain consumption needs to be whole grains. They include oats, barley, quinoa, buckwheat and brown rice.
• Protein: According to nutritional experts, everyone should include protein that is dense in nutrients as an important part of their daily diet. A good measure is that a quarter of your platter should be protein. Some very nutritious choices of protein are lean pork and beef, fish, turkey and chicken, as well as legumes, peas and beans.
• Dairy products: Soy products fortified in nature as well as dairy products are a very rich source of calcium, which is vital for your bones. You should be careful to consume low fat dairy products like low fat milk, soy milk, cottage cheese or ricotta, Kefir, as well as yogurt. If you happen to be intolerant to lactose, which many people are, go for lactose free or low lactose products. You can also opt for soy based products and other nutrient sources.

Most diet guide experts agree on the fact that the best diet for you is one that you can keep up and maintain in the long run. If you have been used and addicted to high fat, high carb fast food products, you should consciously try to wean yourself away from them for the sake of your health and make a gradual switch to a healthy diet plan that incorporates all the above food groups. Sadly, most people are on the lookout for radical, quick and painless diets which are ultimately detrimental because of their low efficacy. Remember that a healthy diet has to be incorporated in a phased manner to have the maximum chances of success.