A Healthy Diet

Teenagers should know that a diet containing lesser calories and fats than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) is unhealthy and can even be dangerous. A totally fat-free diet is a no-no because every individual needs up to 30 percent of total calories each day. Avoid also diets that restrict certain foods such as bread or pasta because you will eventually find yourself deficient in vitamins and minerals. Right, you may lose weight but experts say you will just gain what you lost when you eat normally once again.

When you’re a teenager, your body continues to develop and controlling your diet will not allow you to get the proper nutrients you need resulting in poor growth and health problems. But if you’re one wishing to lose weight, the best way to do it is to eat healthy foods and exercise. Try to be active as much as possible and you will be surprised at its weight loss benefits without even adjusting your diet. Daily exercise for several minutes will surely make you feel good about yourself.

As to what you eat, the best diet would be one that includes a variety of food. Do eat more vegetables and fruits and lessen your intake of meats that are high in fact such as burgers and hotdogs, fried foods and sweets. Instead of sodas and other sports drinks that are high in sugar, drink lots of water at least eight glasses every day.

Teens should also try to eat lean beef to help maintain their levels of useable iron. A study in the University of Iowa College of Public Health found that lean red meat can benefit teenagers on a low-fat diet. Participants in the study were made to eat a diet with less saturated fat but with high amounts of lean beef or poultry and fish plus fruits and vegetables for three months. Remarkably, those who ate lean beef maintained higher levels of iron (vital for those in sports) and reduced their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The author of the study stressed that good choices of lean cuts of red meat can be beneficial to one’s diet.

Be sure to consult your doctor or perhaps, a dietitian about any problem that bothers you concerning your body and weight. They know what’s the ideal weight for a particular teenage size or if you are overweight, they can recommend the best way to have a healthy body.