The Right Ingredients for a Healthy Diet
Another important factor in planning your healthy and nutritionally balanced diet is being aware of the best ingredients to use when you cook. Test your ingredient knowledge with this quick quiz!

1. True or False: Nibbling on chocolate may actually be healthy.

The correct answer is True. Researchers have found that cocoa, an ingredient in chocolate, helps prevent plaque from clogging arteries and reduces the risk of heart disease.

2. Which packs more vitamins and nutrients?
a. A red pepper
b. A green pepper

The correct answer is a. A red pepper actually has more vitamins and nutrients. The level of carotene, an important antioxidant, is nine times higher in a red pepper than a green one. And it has twice the amount of vitamin C.

3. True or False: Butter and margarine have about the same number of calories.

The correct answer is True. There are about 100 calories and 12 grams of fat per tablespoon of stick margarine or butter. Margarine is made from liquid oil that is turned into a solid through a process called hydrogenation. This process adds unhealthy trans fats, which increase the risk of heart disease.

Sources: WebMD.com and Third Age www.thirdage.com

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