Good Nutrition

[ Healthy Living ]

BY NIKO HARALAMBOUS

SPONSORED BY CANNON PHARMACY

Nutrition is a very important part of our health that we as Americans do not have a good grasp on. Have you ever thought about how important nutrition can be for your health? As a country, fewer than 1 in 10 children and adults eat enough vegetables and fewer than 1 in 7 adults eat enough fruit. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, recommends that adults consume 1.5-2 cups of fruits and 2-3 cups of vegetables per day. 1 Where do you fall in based on these recommendations?

Poor nutrition contributes to many diseases such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and more. Good nutrition is essential in keeping America healthy and it’s been shown that those who have a healthier diet live longer and are at lower risk for these health conditions. 1 The food pyramid was used to calculate how many servings of each food group one should have per day. Many never used this information to fix their meals. A new way to view nutritional needs at each meal is the “MyPlate Method,” and is being used to help guide eating habits and portions of foods.

The MyPlate method cuts your plate into different sections to get the appropriate amount of each food group for a healthy diet. It divides your plate into four different sections. Half of your plate is fruits (¼ cup) and vegetables (½ cup). A quarter of your plate is grains, specifically whole grains and grains high in fiber (½ cup) and the other quarter is proteins, seafood, eggs, beans, chicken, etc. (¼ cup). 2 Lower fat dairy products are preferred and are a great source of calcium but should be used in moderation and are not a necessity at each meal. Try limiting added sugars, saturated fats and sodium by reading nutrition labels, and remember that fresh produce is always best. For even more help, MyPlate offers an app to help you keep track. Remember that every person is different and thus there are variations to everyone’s plate. We here at Cannon Pharmacy are always here to help with any questions.

REFERENCES 1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- Nutrition: www.cdc.gov 2.My Plate: www.choosemyplate.gov