Health demands certain things called 'vital nutrients'. Life cannot be sustained unless these substances are provided either in the daily diet or by supplementation. Organically-grown, fresh, whole foods provide all essential nutrients, but the full range of foods needs to be enjoyed for optimum health. This is hard to achieve in today's society, so many people use vitamin, mineral, and other nutrient-providing pills. Knowing how to answer the question 'What nutrients does my body need?'is necessary for well-being.
Research shows that food sold in American grocery stores has almost fifty percent less nutrition than the same products had fifty years ago. This is in part because agricultural land farmed by conventional methods - drenched with chemical fertilizers and tainted by pesticides and herbicides - has fewer minerals than soils did in former days. Picking vegetables and fruits before they are fully ripe also diminishes their food value, as does long periods in cold storage.
Basically, the body needs protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as adequate water and exercise. Water is needed to provide the fluids in the body that aid in digestion of food and transportation of nutrients and wastes. Exercise helps the processes of metabolism, such as circulation of blood and lymph. Not all foods are equal in nutritional value, and a plentiful supply of calories does not constitute a good diet.
Fats, for instance, easily turn rancid and are harmed by heat. In fact, high heat can turn good fats into toxic substances. Manufacturers of packaged foods often remove healthful fats to extend the shelf life, replacing them with other forms of fat to mimic the desired taste and texture. This is why many people are deficient in important fatty acids, and why experts counsel supplementation for people of all ages.
Protein is another thing which may be deficient in the daily diet. People who limit the amount of meat, eggs, and dairy products they consume may be getting less than the forty grams that are recommended as a minimum for each day's consumption. Getting less than this amount can cause fatigue, loss of muscle strength, lack of mental alertness, weak hair and nails, and other conditions that affect health and well-being.
Carbohydrates are easy to get, since the store shelves are full of sugary foods, baked goods, candy bars, and breads. However, refined foods usually will not provide quality carbohydrates that the body can process easily and burn for sustained energy. Instead, these white flour and sugar products are hard to digest, cause undue weight gain, contribute to disorders like glucose intolerance and diabetes, and drain energy rather than producing it. Called 'empty calorie' foods, refined carbohydrates should be replaced by whole-grain products, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
Long-standing dietary advice has caused general confusion about fats. Many experts have said that they are unnecessary for health and should be limited. However, some are vital to well-being, while good fats cause less weight gain than an over-indulgence of carbohydrates. There are some elements in fish oil, for instance, that cannot be found in other foods in quantities sufficient for proper development and maintenance of nervous tissue.
Other good fats are found in organic whole milk, unprocessed coconut oil, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh nuts, sardines, and grass-fed meats. Many people avoid fats in a misguided attempt to prevent weight gain. They would do better to cut out refined carbohydrates and sugary drinks.
Research shows that food sold in American grocery stores has almost fifty percent less nutrition than the same products had fifty years ago. This is in part because agricultural land farmed by conventional methods - drenched with chemical fertilizers and tainted by pesticides and herbicides - has fewer minerals than soils did in former days. Picking vegetables and fruits before they are fully ripe also diminishes their food value, as does long periods in cold storage.
Basically, the body needs protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as adequate water and exercise. Water is needed to provide the fluids in the body that aid in digestion of food and transportation of nutrients and wastes. Exercise helps the processes of metabolism, such as circulation of blood and lymph. Not all foods are equal in nutritional value, and a plentiful supply of calories does not constitute a good diet.
Fats, for instance, easily turn rancid and are harmed by heat. In fact, high heat can turn good fats into toxic substances. Manufacturers of packaged foods often remove healthful fats to extend the shelf life, replacing them with other forms of fat to mimic the desired taste and texture. This is why many people are deficient in important fatty acids, and why experts counsel supplementation for people of all ages.
Protein is another thing which may be deficient in the daily diet. People who limit the amount of meat, eggs, and dairy products they consume may be getting less than the forty grams that are recommended as a minimum for each day's consumption. Getting less than this amount can cause fatigue, loss of muscle strength, lack of mental alertness, weak hair and nails, and other conditions that affect health and well-being.
Carbohydrates are easy to get, since the store shelves are full of sugary foods, baked goods, candy bars, and breads. However, refined foods usually will not provide quality carbohydrates that the body can process easily and burn for sustained energy. Instead, these white flour and sugar products are hard to digest, cause undue weight gain, contribute to disorders like glucose intolerance and diabetes, and drain energy rather than producing it. Called 'empty calorie' foods, refined carbohydrates should be replaced by whole-grain products, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
Long-standing dietary advice has caused general confusion about fats. Many experts have said that they are unnecessary for health and should be limited. However, some are vital to well-being, while good fats cause less weight gain than an over-indulgence of carbohydrates. There are some elements in fish oil, for instance, that cannot be found in other foods in quantities sufficient for proper development and maintenance of nervous tissue.
Other good fats are found in organic whole milk, unprocessed coconut oil, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh nuts, sardines, and grass-fed meats. Many people avoid fats in a misguided attempt to prevent weight gain. They would do better to cut out refined carbohydrates and sugary drinks.
About the Author:
If you are asking yourself what nutrients does my body need, we have the answer right here for you. Check out this blog now at http://quantum-connection.net and discover the truth today.
No comments:
Post a Comment