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One of the most practical guides to a healthy diet is the nutrition food pyramid. It talks about what kind of food sources provide the body with the best nutrients to stay healthy and fight sickness and disease. Food nutrition facts are the basis on which healthy diets are formulated. Data is needed which is reliable. The nutrition food pyramid provides all the data which is needed to get the facts straight and formulate perfect and individually customized diet plans.

The food pyramid consists of 4 layers which talks of different food sources and the quantities these food sources should be consumed in.

At the bottom of the pyramid is the group that is made up of breads, grains, cereals and pastas. These sort of foods are able to provide the complex carbohydrates. These complex carbs are a very important source of energy. If an individual is on a low-fat diet, then energy from carbs becomes more vital. An ideal 6 servings of this food source is recommended. Each serving can contain a slice of bread, half cup of rice, cooked cereal or pasta, one cup of ready-to-eat cereal and one flat tortilla.

It is essential to eat whole-grain breads, cereals and also pasta, for most of the servings which are in this food group. Whole-grain food sources which are made with whole wheat flour are not processed too much, and they manage to retain more of the valuable vitamins, minerals and fiber than those food sources made with white flour. When purchasing whole-grain foods, it is advisable to get bread and pasta with “stoneground whole wheat flour” as the prime ingredient. This is because some “wheat” breads could be white breads and have caramel coloring added.

The next level in the pyramid is fruits and vegetables, which are rich in nutrients. Most of them are excellent sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, folate and potassium. Fruits and vegetables are low in fat and also in sodium. They are also high in fiber. The pyramid recommends three to five servings of vegetables and fruits every day.

It is important to remember to count only 100% pure fruit juice as a fruit. The comsumption of fruit juice should be limited. Most bottled juices come in packages that can hold more than 2 servings. This can add a lot of sugar and empty calories to an every day diet. Fruit sodas are simply sugary drinks and should not be counted as fruit.

Going higher up the pyramid, the next level is that of dairy and protein. All kinds of meat, poultry and fish are a great source of protein, iron and zinc. Non-meat foods like dried peas and beans are also an excellent source of these nutrients. Food products which are made with milk can provide a lot of protein, vitamins and minerals, especially calcium.

Those going on a healthy diet should be very careful of the top layer of the food pyramid. Fats and sweets are in the top layer of the pyramid and must comprise the smallest percentage of daily diet. Following these food nutrition facts can lead to a healthy diet.