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Eat Well, Exercise Well, Be Well: Dietary and Fitness Guidelines

Eat Well, Exercise Well, Be Well: Dietary and Fitness Guidelines

by Marjorie Montemayor-Quellenberg, MA

FD002563_produce shop.jpgWhen it comes to the secrets of living a healthy life, it seems that there are no secrets. From diet gurus to celebrities, everyone seems to have the answers on healthy living. Since the 1980s, the United States government has also thrown in its two cents, with dietary guidelines that it publishes every five years. The intent is to provide research-backed diet and physical activity recommendations to reduce the risk of diseases linked to poor diet and activity, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Here is a round-up of the government’s latest key recommendations from the publication, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010.

Eat Well

Calories, Calories, Calories

In recent years, obesity has been a national concern, since it has been associated with serious conditions like cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Controlling total calorie intake is essential to maintaining ideal body weight. If you are trying to lose weight, you will need to expend more calories than you take in. This means getting plenty of exercise and cutting down on foods high in calories.

So how many calories should you be consuming? This depends on several factors, such as age, gender, height, weight, and physical activity level. To keep calories under control, you want to focus on eating foods full of many nutrients, especially potassium, fiber, vitamin D, and calcium. You may want to talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian about an eating plan that is right for you. In general, try to keep calories in check. Aim to meet calorie needs, but not exceed them. Reducing portion size and eating more meals at home are great ways to avoid exceeding calorie needs. In addition, eating foods high in nutrients but lower in calories can help.

Foods to Enjoy

  • Eat a lot of vegetables and fruits. Fresh fruits and vegetables are lower in calories compared to processed foods. Focus on color when eating fruits and vegetables. Dark green, red, and orange vegetables are especially packed with good-for-you nutrients. When preparing a meal, try and fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables.
  • Eat a lot of whole grains. Examples of whole grains are brown rice, oatmeal, bulgur, and whole-wheat pasta.
  • Drink more milk. Focus on low-fat or fat-free milk, cheese, and yogurt.
  • It is okay to eat certain fats. Some fats are okay to consume in moderation. These are monosaturated or polyunsaturated fats, which are found in foods like nuts and fish.
  • Power up on protein. Seafood, lean meats, poultry, beans, and soy products are good sources of protein. Be sure to choose protein foods that are low in saturated fat and calories.

Food to Eat Less

  • Limit refined grains. Examples of refined grains are white bread, corn flakes, grits, regular pasta, and white rice. These foods tend to be high in calories and sugar but low in fiber.
  • Limit foods containing added sugars. This includes sugar-sweetened drinks.
  • Limit foods high in saturated fats . This includes certain kinds of meat and dairy products (eg, whole milk, cream, and butter). Less than 10% of calories should come from saturated fats.
  • Keep trans fat consumption as low as possible. You can do this by limiting foods containing solid fats and partially hydrogenated oils, such as margarine and baked goods.
  • Limit foods that are high in cholesterol. Guidelines suggest that Americans limit their cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams (mg) a day, 200 mg per day for those at high risk for heart disease.
  • Limit salt intake. Too much of it can increase your risk for high blood pressure, which can lead to kidney damage, heart disease, and stroke. On a daily basis, adults should consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium. The amount is much less—1,500 mg—if you are 51 years older or older; African-American; or have chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
  • If you drink alcohol, try to minimize the amount you drink. Women should consume no more than one alcoholic drink a day, while men should consume no more than two drinks a day. Also, keep track of the calories in each drink. Mixed drinks tend to have higher calories.

Preparing Your Plate

Remembering which foods to limit, and which to eat more of, may be daunting. To help you remember, the United States Department of Agriculture created a simple image of a sectioned plate as a guideline for healthy eating. The MyPlate guidelines emphasize nutrient-dense foods and beverages, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat milk, beans, and nuts. If remembering how much and what to eat is a chore, you can just keep these simple things in mind to ensure that you are eating well when you sit down for a meal:

  • Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables.
  • When eating grains, make sure half your grains are whole grains.
  • Choose fat-free and low-fat (1%) milk products.
  • Avoid oversized portions.
  • Enjoy your food, but be mindful of how much you are eating. Eat less.
  • Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
  • When cooking, limit the amount of salt you add to the recipe. And when sitting down for a meal, limit the amount you sprinkle on your food.

You can find specific information on the http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ website.

Exercise Well    TOP

A nutritious diet and exercise go together for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity each week. Some examples of activities are brisk walking, biking, and swimming. Before starting any kind of exercise program be sure to check with your doctor if you have any health issues that may limit your exercise program.

Be Well    TOP

Guidelines provide the foundation for a healthy lifestyle. But living a healthy lifestyle takes discipline and a positive attitude. Working with your doctor and perhaps other professionals, like a dietitian or fitness trainer, can be helpful in keeping you motivated and on track for reaching your health goals. Also, a healthy lifestyle should not be a chore, but something enjoyable.

Make exercise fun—a weekend hike, a lunch-hour walk with co-workers, or a pick-up game of basketball with your neighbor are just some ideas. And when mealtimes roll around, put on your creative chef hat! Come up with new approaches to breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus that incorporate fresh, nutrient-dense foods, and get friends and family involved in preparing meals. Experiment with herbs and spices to flavor your meals instead of the old salt standby. Armed with guidance, support, and motivation, a healthy lifestyle is within your reach!

RESOURCES:

American Dietetic Association
http://www.eatright.org/default.aspx/
MyPlate.gov
United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canada's Food Guide
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/
Dietitians of Canada
http://www.dietitians.ca/

References:

ChooseMyPlate.gov. United States Department of Agriculture, ChooseMyPlate.gov website. Available at: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/. Updated June 14, 2011. Accessed June 20, 2011.
Dietary guidelines for Americans. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, United States Department of Health and Human Services website. Available at: http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/. Accessed March 23, 2011.
United States Department of Agriculture and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th ed. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office; December 2010.
Last reviewed April 2011 by Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RD
Last Updated: 6/20/2011

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