Health and Nutrition

Caribbean Food Emporium encourages Healthy Eating

You cannot have a healthy body without healthy eating and drinking. Not enough of some foods, or too much of others can lead to illness. Nutrition is the process by which food is consumed, and how it is used by the body. Food is needed to keep the body running smoothly. It provides energy for activity, breathing and for the heart's beating. The building materials for muscles, bones and blood comes from food. 

One of the great pleasures in life is eating delicious food.   Our favourite foods,  however come with hazards if taken in excess.   Basic dairy foods such as milk, cheese, eggs are, we are told,  good for us - because of the protein content.    However we are also told, they are not so good for us because of the fat content.   So we try and go mid-way with semi-skimmed milk, or low fat cheese or low cholesterol margarines, and eat the egg white but not the yolk.      

For the health conscious,  every meal is examined for its dietary consequences.   As with many foods there is some starch, fat, salt and sugars content in Caribbean foods.   These in themselves are vital for energy or  taste but should not be taken excessively.     Moderation is the key. 

Carbohydrates

Most of an individual's energy input should be from carbohydrates.   This can be found in rice, bread, potatoes, yam, green banana, cassava and  pasta.   These foods are usually cooked to an extent where they have a high water content, and are frequently combined with fat to make them more palatable.

Carbohydrates are made of the elements carbon, hydrogeen and oxygen, and coming in the form of sugars and starches.

Proteins

Protiens are the true "body builders". Much of the body, including bones, muscles, nerves and skin is largely protein. As protein is eaten, it is broken down in to amino acid building blocks, absorbed into the body and then reassembled into proteeins of our own tissues.

Proteins can be found in animal products, and plant foods. Animal proteins include eggs, meat, poultry, fish, cheese, milk and butter. Plant proteins include potatoes, nuts, peas, beans and lentils.

Fats

On average, we eat about 100g of fat each day which is about 40% of our total energy intake.     The main sources of fat are: meat, milk, butter, cheese, vegetable oil, cream.    Fat intake should be limited.

To lower cholesterol levels:

Good news! Some Fats are good for you   Read more......

Fibre

Fibre or "roughage" is not strictly a nutrient, since it is indigestible and so not absorbed by the body. Its selling point is that it does add bulk to the diet and enables the inestines to grip the food as it passes through. Fibre helps to protect against a number of digestive complaints like constipation, diabetes, gallstones etc.

High fibre, starchy foods include: whole meal bread, potatoes, pasta, brown rice, beans, peas, leafy green vegetables, sweet-corn, pulses, wholegrain cereals such as bran, oats or wholewheat and fruit.

Vitamins

These are subtances vital for health.

Minerals

Minerals are elements that the body needs for healthy functioning. Examples of these are:

Calcium - required for strong bones and teeth; found in milk and milk products.

Iron, required for healthy red blood cells and to help prevent anaemia; found in red meat,especially liver, eggs, pulses (lentils, chickpeas), green leafy vegetables.

Required in small amounts are: copper, zinc, manganise and iodine.

Sugar 

Sugar is an empty calorie food, providing energy but no other nutrients.  It causes tooth decay.   Prolonged excessive use of sugar is to be avoided.    A sweet dish should be counter balanced by drinking lots of water.

All about negative Sugars?   Read more.......

What about Good Sugars?    Read more......

Salt

The body requires very little salt to maintain its body chemistry, however most people eat considerable amounts of it, both in cooking and at the table.  It is added to a variety of foods by manufacturers.  Sometimes it is used as a preservative, but more often for taste.  It is present in bread, butter, margarine, while monosodium glutamate, a form of salt is added to most convenience foods, to enhance the taste.    There is a relationship between a high level of salt in the diet and high blood pressure.   

Have less Salt. Read more.....