We all
need to ensure we get the right balance of a good diet and some form of regular
exercise. With Change4Life, an initiative by the Department of Health, we can
keep our personal fitness and nutrition in check.
This
isn’t about becoming obsessed with super foods or taking a rigorous fitness
regime. It’s difficult to strike the right balance, especially for families
trying to get the best for their children. Instead, the idea is to help make
the small adjustments which make the big differences to your health.
We all
know that eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day is important for
our health, but you might be surprised how easy it can be. You don't need to
radically change your diet or do without the things you enjoy. Try small changes like adding a handful of baby tomatoes to your lunchbox or having a piece of fruit as a snack – and you'll hit your five
before you know it.
NHS Southampton
City actively supports Change 4 Life and we are working with our partners to promote Change 4 Life within the city.
Fat, Sugar and Salt
We all know that too much fat, sugar or salt isn't good for us. The question is, how much is too much? But that can be difficult to decide; one way to to look is at the nutritional label or front-of-pack label on food and drink items. As a guide:
-
High fat is more than 20g per
100g
-
Low fat is 3g or less per
100g
-
High sugar is more than 15g
per 100g
-
Low sugar is 5g or less per
100g
-
High salt is more than 1.5g
per 100g
-
Low salt is 0.3g or less per
100g
Different Dietary Needs
There are a range of reasons why
certain people may need to follow a slightly different diet. For example, people
with certain medical conditions may need to follow a slightly different diet
e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, those with high cholesterol levels etc. Some
may need to follow a certain diet while they are recovering from specific
conditions such as a stroke.
Others may need to consider what they
are eating during specific times of their lives, such as pregnant women who need to
avoid eating certain foods, such as liver and some types of fish. Dietary
advice for people over 60 and for children of various ages may also be
different. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the British
Nutrition Foundation
provide further advice and information about alternative diets. However, if
your unsure or need some extra help or advice with a specific diet, contact
your health professional (GP, practice nurse, health visitor or midwife) who will be able to guide you.
