Published on: 21 August 2018
Last Updated on: 25 July 2024
It is an accepted fact that dark chocolates are healthy and nutritious. The availability of many brands and equal claims may sometimes make it very difficult for you to choose the right chocolate. Traditional farming practices and superior processing units make a huge difference to the quality of chocolates manufactured. As a result of the huge demand, many large manufacturers have relied on mass farming which has taken away the unique taste of dark chocolate. Here is how you can go about choosing the right chocolate to enjoy not just the taste, but also eat without health complications.
Difference Between Dark Chocolate And Chocolate
Chocolate is manufactured by mixing sugar and fat with cocoa; this is different from milk chocolate which has a lot of milk content in it, in the form of milk solids. Chocolate that is having more than 70% of cocoa content is regarded as dark chocolate. One of the biggest health advantages of eating dark chocolate chips is its powerful antioxidant qualities. There are studies which prove dark chocolate to have greater antioxidant qualities than some of the more famous sources of antioxidants, including blueberries.
Exceptional Health Benefits
The health benefits of chocolates need no introduction. In addition to the antioxidant quality, dark chocolate offers and answer brain functions in addition to reducing the risk of heart disease in individuals. This potent mix of awful antioxidants and natural ingredients makes chocolates a rich source of healthy intake. The best chocolates are often the ones that do not have too many ingredients to complicate the chocolate. For instance, the addition of two-minute preservatives to prolong the life of the chocolate on how to improve some quality of taste is likely to take away the health benefits.
Higher Cocoa Content
Dark chocolate that has higher cocoa content has direct, indirect benefits. For instance, the higher the concentration of cocoa the more is the power of antioxidants in the chocolate.
And higher cocoa concentration will also bring down the level of sugar in the chocolate which will result in a healthier product. When you opt for dark chocolate with higher cocoa content, it would always be a good idea to choose chocolates that do not have artificial flavors.
Organic Traditional Farming Practices
Specialist chocolate makers rely on cocoa and cacao that are formed through traditional farming practices that are organic. This ensures that the flavors untouched and undisturbed by chemicals or other factors. For instance, plants that grow in the shade have better flavor and taste then cocoa and cacao plants that grow in the sun. Forms that harvest very high volumes of cocoa and cacao typically rely on huge farms that are exposed to the sun.
When you choose any dark chocolate product to ensure that you avoid products that are listed as having ingredients trans fat as an ingredient. This is generally used by manufacturers to give the chocolates more shelf life. However, this takes away the health benefits.
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Vietnamese foods are among the best foods in the world. Besides in Vietnam, these foods are also popular in the UK. Vietnamese people professionally prepare these foods. However, you can enjoy these foods in the UK by visiting a reputable Vietnamese restaurant London offers. These foods are more beneficial than other meals. Here are the great reasons why you should include Vietnamese foods in your diet plan.
It improves digestion:
Rice is very easy to digest. These foods also include other digestible foods such as noodles, fish and chicken meat. A bowl of fresh herbs accompanies every Vietnamese meal. These herbs are essential in the metabolism of food as they relieve indigestion, headache and nausea.
Helps in weight loss:
These foods have a low content of calories and fat. Vietnamese meals consist of a large portion of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. What you eat profoundly influences your body weight. Are you eating healthily?
Regulates blood sugar:
Vietnamese foods are naturally gluten-free. Most of these foods are noodles, rice flour, and rice paupers instead of wheat. People with diabetes are advised to consume foods with less sugar. Vietnamese foods are the best in regulating blood sugar as the ingredients are low in sugar content.
It strengthens your hair:
Most Vietnamese food ingredients are rich in iron and Vitamin C. These nutrients speed up the growth of hair. Iron is also an essential element to strengthen hair.
It boosts your immune system and fights fatigue:
Each bowl of Vietnamese food consists of loads of minerals and vitamins that help enhance your immune system. They include Vitamin C, B6, B3, magnesium, folate, and iron. In each meal, there is a bowl of vegetable salad containing biotin, copper, zinc, potassium, magnesium, vitamins B3, B6, and biotin. These are essential minerals that fight against fatigue.
Keeps you young and beautiful:
Stay young naturally by eating healthy foods. Vietnamese foods contain minerals needed by your body to stay young and beautiful. In every Vietnamese meal, there are herbs, spices and vegetables rich in Vitamin A and E. Research have proved that Vitamin A aids in the healing of scars and scrapes and eliminating wrinkles hence leaving you with smooth skin. Vitamin E is also an essential mineral as it fights free radicals that enhance the ageing process.
Enhances fertility in both men and women:
First, there is little fat used in preparing Vietnamese foods. Secondly, most of the red and green vegetables used in Vietnamese foods contain Vitamin C and E that are essential in boosting sperm count. Broccoli, pumpkin, and squash have B6 and B12 that help in maintaining a healthy reproductive system.
Keeps you strong:
Rice is the Vietnamese staple food. You will realize that every bowl of Vietnamese food contains rice, noodles, and vegetables. These are great as a source of energy for your body.
These are significant health benefits of Vietnamese foods. It is advisable that you take these foods regularly for maximum benefits. You can find these foods in one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the UK.
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If you want a guide to healthy eating habits, the USDA Food Pyramid 2024 is one of the best sources you must refer to. To stay healthy, you need different types of nutrients in your body.
Hence, you must consume a variety of foods from each of the major food groups. Basically, the food pyramid makes healthy eating easier.
In this article, you will learn about the food pyramid and how it works. Here, the article will contain a brief explanation of each shelf in the pyramid. Moreover, you will learn about the major changes in Food Pyramid 2024.
Finally, you will get essential tips to follow the pyramid for a healthy lifestyle. Hence, to learn more, read on to the end of the article.
Food Pyramid 2024: What Is It?
With the help of a food pyramid, healthy eating will be easier for you. Basically, it shows different groups of food and how much food in these food groups you need to have a healthy diet. For instance, if you eat the right amount from each food group, you will have a balanced diet.
It is important to eat well. This has both short-term and long-term benefits. By eating well, you can feel good, look your best, and maintain a healthy weight.
Moreover, in the long term, with the help of a healthy and balanced diet, you can reduce heart risks. Apart from that, eating healthy will also help you deal with diabetes, osteoporosis, and some types of cancers.
The recent food pyramid has equal parts of healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains at the base. However, almost three decades ago, the base had carbohydrates.
Currently, the food pyramid is an improved version and caters to the actual needs and demands of an actual person.
Basically, when you are looking at the food pyramid, use it as a guideline for your diet. Do not use it to follow a strict diet.
Hence, if you want a diet chart as your starting point to lead a healthy lifestyle, the pyramid is a good option. However, you must modify it as per your diet, lifestyle, and eating habits.
Explaining Each Shelf of the Food Pyramid 2024
The food pyramid consists of five main shelves. Basically, there is a shelf for every food group. Here, the most important shelf is at the bottom of the pyramid, while the least important is at the top of the pyramid.
The following are some basic details of each of the shelves on the food pyramid:
Level 1
This level consists of vegetables, fruit, and salad. Basically, you can eat plenty of these food items every day.
Level 2
Here, you have starchy foods. These consist of whole-meal cereals like bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, etc., which you can have with every meal. In fact, having a wholegrain diet is one of the best options to consider for a healthy diet.
Level 3
The next level of diet belongs to dairy. Here, you must focus on consuming milk, yogurt, and cheese. Moreover, to choose the level of fat, you can go with reduced fat or low fat.
Level 4
This level consists of meat, chicken, poultry, eggs, fish, and nuts. Here, you must ensure that you choose lean meat options. Also, make sure to have fish at least twice a week, especially if it is oil. This will help you consume essential fatty acids and protein.
Level 5
The fifth level consists of fats, spreads, and oils. Basically, these are not fully essential, and you must consume them in small amounts. Moreover, choose unsaturated or reduced-fat oils only.
Level 6
These are non-essential foods and have high amounts of salt, sugar, and fat. Hence, this shelf is of the least importance. You must have these foods at least once or twice a week.
Major Changes in the Food Pyramid 2024 from Earlier Ones
The following are some of the major changes you can find in the Food Pyramid 2024 from earlier food pyramids:
1. Plant-Based Proteins
Modern science and nutrition understand the importance of plant protein such as legumes, tofu, and tempeh. These protein sources are not only beneficial for your health, but they also have a lower environmental impact.
2. More Refined Sugars
Sweets, sugary beverages, processed snacks, and desserts are on the top shelf of the pyramid. Hence, it is better to avoid them. However, if you have a sweet tooth, look for natural options like fruits.
3. Less Dairy Products
A few years ago, people considered a glass of milk as a healthy option. However, the Food Pyramid 2024 suggests you cut full-fat dairy products. Rather, it suggests you stick to low-fat dairy products or plant-based dairy alternatives.
4. More Whole Grains
The old days of refined grains are over. Now, the food pyramid suggests you include whole grains as the base of your diet.
For instance, you can include quinoa, buckwheat, brown rice, and whole wheat bread. Basically, these items are rich in fiber and nutrients. Hence, these should be an important part of your diet.
5. A Higher Number of Fruits and Vegetables
The importance of green vegetables and fruits is increasing with time. Hence, you must include veggies that are rich in nutrients. Apart from that, you must also include fruits in your daily diet for better health.
6. More Healthy Oils
Earlier, oil was present on the top shelf of the food pyramid. However, experts now encourage the use of healthy oils. For instance, to include healthy oils in your diet, you must consider virgin oils, nuts, seeds, olive oil, etc. However, you must not overuse them.
7. Inclusion of Supplements
The world of health and nutrition is understanding the importance of food supplements like multivitamins and multi-minerals.
In fact, these supplements help fill up the shortage of nutrients in your body. Moreover, you also need Vitamin D in your body, which you can only get from certain food options.
8. The Importance of Exercise
No matter how much healthy you eat, you must exercise your body. Actually, exercise and diet go hand in hand. Hence, always exercise when you are following the Food Pyramid 2024.
Related: Great Health Benefits You Get From A Protein Coconut Bar
Tips To Follow Food Pyramid 2024
One of the first things you must understand regarding the USDA Food Pyramid 2024 is that you do not need to strictly follow it. Here, all you need to do is integrate it with what your diet already is.
The following are some simple tips you must consider in this case if you want to have a healthier lifestyle:
1. Cook Meals At Home
Of course, you might not have enough time to cook your meals at home. However, to start with, you can cook one meal per day. Moreover, if you cook at home, you can use fresh products and will also have control over portion sizes.
2. Plan Your Meals Beforehand
By planning your meals, you can save a lot of time and money. However, if you consider planning for the week too much, you can start by planning what you need to buy from the grocery store. Here, you can refer to the pyramid. Also, by sticking to the pyramid, you can save yourself from impulsive purchases.
3. Try New Recipes
By trying new recipes, you can include food that you have not tried before. As a result, you can expand your food pyramid. Also, this will give you a chance to include healthy options in your meals. Moreover, you might end up discovering a recipe that you really enjoy.
4. Hydration
Apart from a healthy diet, you also need to drink enough water. Make sure to drink plenty during the day. This will help your body stay hydrated. Moreover, it will support your overall health as well.
Start Following Food Pyramid 2024 Now
The Food Pyramid 2024 offers a nutritious, balanced, and environment-friendly diet. Hence, if you incorporate each level of food into your diet, you can benefit a lot in the long run.
However, you do not need to strictly follow the diet. All you need is to align your current diet with the Food Pyramid and change slowly.
Do you have more suggestions on how to follow the Food Pyramid 2024? Please share your ideas and opinions in the comments section below.
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Imagine a pub setting in the earlier days. Beer served in a pint glass with packets of greasy peanuts and a jukebox playing music in the background.
In recent years, the scene has changed. Now, you have hipster, craft ale, and gastropubs that are dominating the arena.
The common misconception of beer is that it's fairly straightforward. There's nothing sophisticated about the taste since the main goal is to get drunk. However, beer brewing is an art in itself.
Artisan brewers made it their life's mission to change the way beer is viewed and consumed. From simple, large beer pints, beer is now better served in unique beer glassware.
Sampling beer is a big part of beer culture now. One reason for this is the myriad of flavors that are available in the market today. Your grandfather simply didn't have the luxury of options when it came to beer or glassware!
With the pub culture constantly changing, what should you know when it comes to beer drinking etiquette?
Here are seven beer-drinking rules for most modern-day pubs:
Make Sure Everyone Has Their Beer
Before proposing a toast, make sure that everyone has their beer ready. Whether they are holding a can, small unique beer glassware, or bottle, make sure that everybody has a drink in their hand.
Say No to Warm Beer
“Thou shalt not offer warm beer.” The drinker can’t appreciate the aroma and taste if the beer is not served at the right temperature, which is between 3 to 5 degrees Celsius. Make sure to keep the beer chilled before serving.
Be Choosy with The Glass
It’s also discouraged to pour the beer in any glass. Each type of alcohol requires the right glass to enhance the flavor. While some of these glasses may look great, a beer would look out of place in a champagne glass.
Most beer drinkers know what kind of beer glass is appropriate to enjoy the aroma and taste of the beer. Be a gracious host and choose the right glass for the beer.
Keep the Foam
Never scrape the beer foam away. The foam keeps the taste of the beer. And as you chug it down, let the beer head touch your tongue. You can enjoy the flavor better when you do that.
Don’t Order Beer for Someone Else
Beers have different flavors and characteristics. In the same vein, beer drinkers have different tastes. So let others order their beer out of respect for their preferences. Let them decide the flavor they want.
Never Pour Beer in A Frozen Glass
In the same manner, don’t accept beer in a frozen glass. While beers taste best when chilled, it’s the beer that needs chilling not the beer glass. Freezing the glass kills flavor so you or your guest will not enjoy the taste.
Don’t Blindly Follow the Crowd
You drink beer for the aroma, taste, and experience. Don't succumb to peer pressure by blindly ordering what everybody else is drinking. If you want your beer sweet, light, or soft, go for it! Unless, of course, somebody else is picking up the tab.
Keep these rules in mind the next time you drink with your friends or the next time you host a party at your home. Also, if you have been using beer pints, get rid of them and order your beer glasses today at Cheers All. Enjoy shopping with their extensive beer glass collection that will leave you in awe.
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