By Harold Sconiers 
If today's world runs on information, there's more than enough available on what we should or should not eat. However, with all the data at hand, there are still many commonly accepted misconceptions regarding healthy eating. In the area of food, what seems to be true is not always so. This is one area where what you don't know could, in fact, hurt you.
Just Having a Salad
While a salad full of crisp
greens and healthy vegetables may complement a balanced diet,
adding certain toppings will negate its nutritional value. Much of
what is offered at the salad bar is processed food, packed with
unwholesome preservatives and nitrates. Bacon bits are full of
saturated fats and sodium. Croutons are usually derived from
refined flour, containing little in terms of vitamins or nutrients.
Seasoned nuts may be covered in processed sugars or drenched in
saturated fat. Even the dressing you choose may be replete in
unhealthy ingredients. To keep your salads conducive to good
health, try plain raw nuts instead of seasoned. Keep dressings on
the side and dip the salad in, fork-by-fork. If you like a little
meat on your plate, opt for turkey or chicken instead of ham and
salami. Making these few simple changes will return your salads to
their rightful place on the nutritional hierarchy.
Avoid Red Meat
Although beef does contain some
saturated fat, there are many benefits to having a good steak. Red
meat is an excellent source of iron, a nutrient essential in
transporting oxygen through the blood. Beef is also imbued with
zinc, a mineral necessary in many facets of cellular metabolism.
Add to this the fact that beef is high in protein. When having it
for dinner, simply choose a leaner cut and trim off any visible fat
while preparing. By doing this, you can minimize the perils of
eating beef, while taking full advantage of its
benefits.
Going Vegan
Making deliberate food choices is
important, even in a vegetarian lifestyle. Vital nutrients such as
vitamin D, iron, vitamin B12, calcium and zinc are difficult to
obtain without ingesting animal products. Also,
someveganalternatives
to common meats are high in calories and contain little to no
useful properties. A vegetarian eating plan should be intentionally
structured to provide your body with the nutrients it requires,
while remaining low in fat and
additives.
References
- Arkansas Department of Health Nutrition Facts
- U.S. Department of Health
- NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
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About this Author
Harold Sconiers, is a jack of many trades. As an adolescent, he achieved accolades as an amatuer boxer, subsequently taking his skills into the professional ranks. At the same time, his naturally creative mind allowed him to delve into developing other aspects of his artistic side. He is a community actor, writer, amatuer filmaker, and inventor.
