The Healthy Junkies – Interview – January 2014

ating healthy, wholesome foods is crucial for your health. Choosing foods and beverages that provide sustainable energy (no crashes!) and nutrients fuels a healthy body, including improving oral health. You can improve your physical and oral health by knowing what kinds of healthy foods to eat, what foods to avoid, and learning healthy eating habits.

What is a nutritious diet?

A nutritious diet includes a balanced mix of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Have you heard the saying ‘everything in moderation?’ Even healthy foods can become unhealthy if eaten too often in big servings.

To figure out proper serving sizes and food groups, the U.S. Department of Agriculture created MyPlate. MyPlate provides education and examples of food groups, including fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. It is easy to get overwhelmed in the grocery store when faced with dozens of options of fresh, canned, frozen, and dried foods. You can learn how to read a nutrition label from the CDC so you can track the number of carbohydrates, fats, and other nutritional data.

Why is eating healthy important?

A poor diet can lead to your body, not replenishing its energy stores. You feel fatigued and tired, and a poor diet can deplete your immune system, so you are more at risk for illness. You may not know that diet can also affect your oral health. By eating unhealthy foods such as candy, processed fatty foods, or acidic beverages, you are at a higher risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

How does eating healthy affect your teeth?

Certain foods can harm your oral health. Sugary and starchy foods like candy, bread, and chips can stick to your teeth and provide the naturally occurring bacteria there a huge meal—encouraging the bacteria to grow. Also, acidic foods can start to erode the enamel. So, it’s crucial to brush your teeth at least twice a day and remove that sugar and acid from your teeth. You can brush after meals or snacks, floss, or even using mouthwash to clean your teeth after eating. It is important to clean the mouth after eating or drinking to prevent oral health issues. If you aren’t able to brush your teeth, chewing sugar-free gum can promote saliva production, helping your body rinse the remaining food away.

Beyond your daily oral care routine, keeping your bi-yearly dental cleaning appointments will help your teeth stay healthy over the long-term, preventing gingivitis and other dental problems.

How to choose healthy beverages

What you drink is just as vital to your health as what you eat. Drinking enough water is crucial for your health. Water helps digest and absorb the nutrients in your food, supply needed hydration to your organs, and help moisten your mouth to flush plaque and bacteria from your teeth.

Soda, alcoholic cocktails, sports drinks, and energy drinks often contain sugar, artificial colors, flavors, and acids that can damage your teeth. These ingredients can erode tooth enamel, contributing to tooth decay. Limit soda and other sugary drinks to mealtimes and drink water afterward to help wash away those harmful ingredients from your teeth and stay hydrated. Check out these hangover patch reviews.

How to eat healthily

Our bodies are not able to create all the nutrients we need without help. That’s why we have to ensure we eat food or supplements that contain those nutrients. The U.S. Department of Agriculture advises eating the following each day for a 2,000-calorie diet:

  • 6 ounces of grains, including whole grains and refined grains
  • 2-1/2 cups of vegetables
  • 2 cups of fruits
  • 3 cups or equivalent of dairy products like milk or yogurt
  • 5-1/2 ounces of protein from meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, or nuts
  • Limiting calories from other sources to 270 kcal per day

A balanced diet consists of the following nutrients:

  • Some carbohydrates
  • Essential fatty acids found in fish and nuts
  • Essential amino acids (found in proteins)
  • Vitamins from vegetables and fruit
  • Water

You can learn more about these essential nutrients from MyPlate or speak with a dietician for a unique diet customized for you!

About Louise Swift

I first went to a gig in 1981, Gillan at Leeds University. I've been a regular gig goer ever since. I haven't kept count of how many gigs I've been to over the intervening years, but it's a lot! My favourite bands are AC/DC then, in no particular order, Anti-Nowhere League, Slaughter and the Dogs, Towers of London and Dirt Box Disco. I tend to like Glam/Punk and rude offensive lyrics, not sure what that says about me but as Animal would say 'So What!' The question was recently put to me - did I write for any online publications? My reply - No, but I'd like to! Planetmosh was suggested and I found myself offering to review Aces High Festival. Easy peasy I thought! Well not quite, if a jobs worth doing it's worth doing well! I had sixteen bands to research. I found I actually enjoyed that and it kept me too busy to be making lunatic comments on Facebook! ;) Then I felt a bit inadequately qualified. I mean, who am I to comment on others, when my musical expertise extends to being able to play a mean Greensleeves on the recorder and a passable Annie's song on the flute! Haven't picked up either instrument for years! What I do have, however, is over 30 years of experience as a gig goer, so I can comment on what I like and what I don't! It's only my opinion and, if I don't like a band it doesn't mean they are bad, just not to my own liking. I admire anyone who has the guts to get up on that stage and have a go!