Food Talk: You can eat your way to better health

QUESTION: I read your column all the time and your talk about improving your health with food choices. I know I can lose weight and maybe have better teeth and bones, but can I really eat my way to better health?

ANSWER: If I have not motivated you to at least think about the food choices you are making in relation to good health I have failed you. If I did not believe in my heart of hearts that food choices affect your health I truly could not be in this profession. I do have a passion for the field of nutrition but part of the reason is because I know it can make a difference. We can eat our way to better health.

We need the right nutrition for our body to function at its best every day. Consuming a variety of foods gives the body what it needs. Focusing on nutrient-rich foods allows us to meet these needs and maintain a healthy weight. Here are a few of the very basic suggestions that will impact your health. Good nutrition impacts the immune system. A strong immune system is one of the best defenses against infections and disease.

Begin with breakfast. Make healthy choices such as low-fat dairy, 100 percent fruit juice and whole grains. Studies show individuals who eat breakfast have better nutrient intake than those who skip breakfast. Calorie intake for the day actually may be lower than those who skip breakfast.

Many vegetables are trouble-free foods and loaded with nutrients. Color you plate with a variety of vegetables -- red, orange, green, purple and yellow. This is an easy way to assure you are getting necessary nutrients. One of these nutrients is Vitamin C, one of the most powerful antioxidants that help the body maintain a healthy immune system.

Eat protein foods but choose low-fat protein. It would be ideal to make fish a protein choice for a meal or two a week. Try using plant protein such as beans and other legumes.

Maintain a healthy weight. Americans may well be digging an earlier grave with their teeth. Researchers are now telling us our children’s life span will be at least five years shorter than their parents because of their weight and inactivity. So, along with the healthy weight we need to support physical activity.

Two other influences on our health that I am not an expert in but needs mentioning is rest (get plenty of it) and stress (get less of it).

It is easy to get caught up in one nutrient as a cure all and those do not exist. But, together, smart food choices maintain life and maintain it at a higher level of quality.

For more information about any nutrition issues, please call Registered Dietitian Ellen Loftis at (479) 549-2425.