Good nutrition is extremely important. Eating the right kinds of food can keep you healthy. It is important to get enough vitamins and minerals. Vitamin and mineral supplements are important, but it is necessary to eat a well-balanced diet, too.

There are different food groups. It is important to eat some food from each group daily.

The first group includes bread, cereal, rice, and pasta. You should eat more foods from this group than from any other group. The second group includes vegetables. The third group includes fruit. The fourth group includes milk, yogurt, and cheese. The fifth group includes meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. It is also important to drink a lot of water. Nutritionists recommend eight glasses of water a day.

You should avoid foods that contain a lot of fat, oil, and sugar. Also avoid foods that are high in cholesterol. Cholesterol and large quantities of these foods are not good for you. Foods from plants don´t contain any cholesterol.

As people age, they need to make changes in their diet. People over 50 need to eat less to keep the same body weight. They also need to eat more fiber. Foods which contain fiber are fruits, vegetables, beans, and rice. Women over 50 need more calcium. Foods which contain calcium are milk, yogurt, and cheese.

Good nutrition and exercise help prevent disease and give us longer, healthier lives.
Taken from: ELBAUM, Grammar in Context.Heinle&Heinle. 2001