Do you find yourself eating the same foods over and over again; well you’re not alone. According to new research most British people do not vary their diet’s enough, and it mostly boils down to convenience. But what does that mean; do we just conveniently grab the same food time after time from the supermarket shelves? Surprisingly yes. We have become so consumed by our hectic lifestyles, that we fail to even notice the wide range of food, that’s so easily available to us in this country.
But are there any benefits from varying your diet? When you routinely eat the same food every day, you not only miss out on all the different flavours and textures that so many foods have to offer, but you also deprive yourself of important nutrients, that your body needs to be healthy and strong.
The following was taken from www.femalefirst.co.uk
What Are The Benefits From Varying Your Diet?
Variety Of Fruit
The monotony of eating the same range of foods could be taking its toll on the UK’s nutritional intake.
According to new research, the majority of British people eat the same foods at breakfast and lunch every day, and nearly half rely on a small bank of evening meals such as spaghetti bolognaise and chicken tikka masala. In fact, 68 per cent of people routinely buy the same foods from the supermarket each week, supporting the stereotype that the British really are creatures of habit.
The survey of 3,000 adults conducted for PAGB, the UK trade association for over the counter medicines and food supplements, has revealed a distinct lack of variety in British diets and a marked preference for a ‘beige palette’.
“Eating the same type of food every day is not only boring but could lead to deficiencies in certain nutrients if the foods are lacking in key nutrients,” comments Helen Bond, State Registered Dietitian and member of the British Dietetics Association (BDA). “Not eating a variety of food groups, including lots of fruit and vegetables can also compromise the immune and digestive systems and, ultimately, long term health.”
Cereal, toast and tea were voted the most popular breakfast options, while sandwiches came out on top for lunch, making up over half of all British lunches. For dinner, nearly half of participants consumed pasta at least once a week, followed by chips and pizza. A quarter of respondents also indulged in fish and chips or other takeaways on a weekly basis. The findings suggest that despite the wide variety of foods available in the UK, the vast majority of people regularly eat meals dominated by the colour beige.
Helen remarks: “Often the first area to be compromised when we are busy, watching our wallets or feeling stressed is our diet. Hectic lifestyles can lead to a reliance on convenience foods such as mass produced and beige coloured white pasta and pizza, which often lack essential vitamins and minerals. The combination of a stressful modern lifestyle and often a nutrient poor diet makes the inclusion of a food supplement to support our nutritional needs a welcome addition to our daily routine.”
Helen adds: “During times of stress, many people crave an instant feel good boost from stimulants such as sugar, caffeine, nicotine or alcohol. While these may provide some immediate relief they actually mask our symptoms which can lead to bigger problems. Feeling stressed makes it more difficult for our bodies to absorb vital nutrients found in the food we do eat, particularly the B vitamins and vitamin C, which support our bodies in times of stress.”
The average British evening meal normally includes two vegetables – carrots, broccoli and onions top the chart. However, 1 in 20 do not eat any and 1 in 5 only manage one. Whilst the most popular vegetables all contain valuable nutrients, eating local and seasonal options at their peak will mean they have the most flavour and nutritional value.
Similarly, when it comes to fruit, the most popular are bananas followed by apples and grapes. Helen says: “Traditional selections all provide a good source of vitamins and minerals that keep the body healthy but selecting more exotic varieties such as pineapple and mango can revitalise your taste buds and deliver a host of different nutrients at the same time.” Read the rest of the original article here.
I hope from reading this, you can see there are benefits from varying your diet; your health relies on it.
I’ve always love my food, so whenever I get the chance to try something new, I usually do. However, of lately I have been really mixing and spicing things up in the kitchen, to encourage my weight loss. By trying new dishes I don’t get bored, and my digestive system is always on alert, because it doesn’t know what’s coming next. Well that’s my theory anyway.
Not only am I trying new dishes, but also because of the diet I’m doing (Slimming World) I try to make sure that every meal I have, has at least 1/3 fruit or veg on my plate. I’m feeling healthier and I’m weighing lighter, so something is certainly working.
What about you, do you add variety to your diet, if not are you going to start now? Let me know where you stand on this, feel free to add your say in the comments area below. And did you find the article interesting, if so why not give it a “Like”.
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