Breaking Down the Basics of Healthy Eating

A nutritious diet is fundamental to strong health. Food can impact wellness in good and bad ways, so it’s important to create consistently healthy eating habits. The hospitals of HCA West Florida offer several tools, including our H2U program and area classes, to encourage wholesome dietary behaviors. The following tips can also help to reinforce healthy eating activities.

Monitoring Salt, Sugar, and Fat Intake

Many chronic health conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity stem from poor eating habits. Millions of Americans eat foods rich in ingredients that can put their health at risk. In particular, foods that are high in salt, sugar, and fat can increase the propensity for high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and soaring blood glucose. Whether eating out or cooking at home, limiting the intake of these substances can help in maintaining healthy eating habits.

Including Wholesome Proteins and Carbohydrates

Proteins and carbohydrates offer a variety of health advantages ranging from organ regulation to energy production. Yet not all proteins and carbohydrates offer equal benefits. Simple carbohydrates such as those found in cookies and candy can spike blood glucose levels. Some proteins, including beef and pork, can contain ample amounts of unhealthy cholesterol. Whole grain carbohydrates and lean proteins offer the best wellness benefits.

Counting Calories

No matter how healthy the selections a person may make when grocery shopping or dining out, total calorie consumption also factors significantly into a healthy diet. Calories provide energy for all bodily processes from digestion to running a marathon. When the intake of calories exceeds the use of them, weight gain is the result. Watching the number of calories in each meal and expending enough to offset that number can help in preventing weight-related health problems.

What steps are you taking to protect your health? Preventive action is key to enjoying a long and robust future. To schedule a health examination or preventive screening at a HCA West Florida hospital, call (877) 442-2362. Blake Medical Center, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Medical Center of Trinity, and South Bay Hospital are among the many hospitals included in our West Florida region.

More from HCA West Florida: Counting Calories, Basics of Healthy Eating