Healthy Diet
If you ask someone today, what makes up a healthy diet, you are likely to get many different answers. This is in part, to be blamed on the numerous fad diets out there that claim that their diet is the most effective and healthiest one on the market. Unfortunately, many of these so called healthy weight loss plans are not healthy at all.

The basics of a healthy diet are simple. However, depending on whether you are a child, teenager, athlete or if you are into your golden years, a healthy balanced diet will include specific foods, vitamins and minerals. We have all seen the healthy diet pyramid, however even this is open for interpretation and scrutiny these days.

There is little debate that fruits and vegetables are good for you. However, just how much is another thing, just ask your high protein diet enthusiasts. This same principle is true when it comes to meat, pasta and grains. About the only food that nobody really debates on is junk food, which could mean donuts and cookies or high fat potato chips and ice cream.

If someone is looking for long-term weight loss success, a healthy diet is essential. The problem is that with so many diet plans trying to win your approval, how do you choose the one that is best for you? The answer is really quite simple. Do not rely on fad diets for long-term weight loss success; what you really need is a healthy lifestyle change.

Here is a simple recipe for success when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet as a lifestyle, not as an overnight weight loss scheme.

• Because our bodies are made up of 70% water, we should as a general rule, consume foods that are approximately 70% water, and that means fruits and vegetables. The other thirty percent should be made up of breads and grains, dairy, meat, beans and so on. Doing this is not just healthy, but it will also cut down on the amount of drinking water you will have to intake on a daily basis. Many people do not like the thought of drinking 8 glasses of water per day, however if they are taking in enough living, high water content foods, it is not necessary to drink near that much water.

• Protein is a very debatable subject these days, particularly animal protein. However, from a holistic standpoint, animal protein should be consumed minimally due to the high uric acid content that all meats have. If you are going to get most of your protein from animal products, nowadays it is advisable to eat organic or kosher products. This will dramatically reduce the number of pesticides, antibiotics and hormones that you are taking in. This is one of the keys to a healthy diet.