Comprehension: Healthy Diet

Topic Content:

• Title: Healthy Diet
• Text: New Oxford Secondary English Course for SS1 pages 41-43

          Eating well is a matter of common sense and understanding a few simple rules about nutrition. For instance, those who are food fads tend to think of carbohydrates in a negative way – that they make us fat. This is not necessarily so as carbohydrates are needed largely to supply energyEnergy is the ability to do work. Energy exists in several forms such as heat, kinetic or mechanical energy, light, potential energy, and electrical energy. Units of Energy: The SI unit... More to the body. The major thing to note here is which ones are necessary and which ones can be done away with, at least to a minimum.

          There are several kinds of sugar. There is the commonly used white sugar which we use to sweeten our foods and drinks. This is a very concentrated substance and should be taken with caution. This form of sugar is also the same kind used liberally in cakes, biscuits, pastries, confectionery, tinned foods and other processed foods. Although sugar is very necessary to the body, the kind we get from these foods is not only unnecessary but harmful. Apart from causing tooth decay and weight problems, research has indicated they are linked with heart disease, diabetes, hyperactivity in children and a number of other illnesses.

          On the other hand, the kind which occurs naturally in unprocessed food like fruits and vegetables are very useful and in fact, provide enough sugar required by the body. Also, it is very difficult to take too much of sugar if you take it wrapped in the fibre of these foods because you automatically feel too full. Other sources of fibre, which include wholemeal bread, beans, peas and nuts are equally important in maintaining good health. A diet rich in fibre helps to prevent constipation, haemorrhoids, heart problems and a great many other complaints.

          Fats are needed for the body’s warmth and energy. It has been suggested by researchers that plant fats are far more beneficial to the body than animal fats. But you’ll need to watch it as one can easily gain weight by eating too much fatty foods.

          Ideally, do not cook your food for longer than necessary. The reason is that overcooking destroys vital nutrients that are needed by the body. If you are cooking vegetables, use as little water as possible, and try to keep them slightly crisp and underdone. This way, they come out better and are more nourishing. Better still, eat as much as you can raw.

          Also, do not keep your food standing for a long time after cooking before you eat and endeavour to cook only portions that can be eaten at once. Refrigerating and reheating food leads to the loss of nutrients from food.

          Finally, buy the right kinds of food and maintain a healthy diet at all times.

(Source: Saturday “PUNCH” 15th September, 2001)