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Proper nutrition is crucial in maintaining a healthy body and ideal weight. A well-balanced diet is one that provides all of the nutrients required by your body everyday. If you want to make sure that you are obtaining the necessary nutrients in your diet, read this article for some advice.

Water.

Water is the most simple but most important substance to your body. Your body cells are made mostly of water. To keep your body properly hydrated, you need to drink between six to eight cups of water everyday. Eating foods that have high water content also helps in keeping your body hydrated. Dehydration causes your cells to weaken and break down, so make sure you are drinking enough water to maintain proper health.

Leafy, green vegetables.

Leafy, green vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals. They are an excellent source of vitamins C, E and B complex. They also contain a high level of calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. They are rich in fiber, which is beneficial in maintaining regularity in your digestive system.

Avoid processed grains.

Avoid highly processed grains and choose foods made from whole grain. Grains have an outer layer that is rich in fiber, and the inner part, the germ, that is high in nutrients. Processed grains have the outer and inner parts removed, which means the nutrients have been stripped. Whole grains foods use the grain in its entirety, so nothing is stripped away. This leaves the nutrients intact, which makes whole grain food items a healthier choice.

Protein.

Protein is important in building muscle and repairing cells. High quality proteins can be found in meats. However, you should choose cuts of meats that are lean to avoid the high level of saturated fats, which can clog arteries. Lean meat choices include fish, white chicken meat and turkey, and red meat that has little marbling.

Restaurants tend to prepare their meals with a lot of fat and salt. This is a quick way to make dishes taste better, but it is not the healthy way. You should cook more at home because you can control how your food is prepared. You can choose healthy ingredients and low-fat cooking methods. Cooking at home is much healthier for you, and it is also less expensive.

Test out new recipes to make your meals more interesting. There is an abundance of recipes that are healthy, low in fat and high in nutrients. There is something for all kinds of palates. Try recipes from other parts of the world. Mediterranean recipes are known for their health benefits because their common ingredients include fish, olive oil, legumes and whole grains, all of which provide health benefits.

Do not forget to consult with a nutritionist in determining the best diet for you. He can give you a health assessment and give you ideas on how to improve your eating habits and set you on the right track.

Eating a healthy diet is the foundation of achieving optimal health. It is not difficult to do if you know the right approach. If you are mindful of what you eat, and make healthy choices, you will feel better and look better.