DIET AND NUTRITION NEEDS TO CONSIDER

No matter where you go, there’s always talk about diet and nutrition or exercise and weightloss. Whether it’s a magazine headline in the store or a conversation in the corner – it’s a very popular topic…and it should be. Our society is at an all time high in obesity and disease and proper nutrition plays a major role in this.

Diet and nutrition effect our mood as well as our health and energy levels. Eating a diet which provides the proper nutrients for the body helps alleviate heart and cholesterol problems, weight gain, vision problems or things like osteoporosis in later years. In today’s society and all the information available, it is easy to get bombarded with information on any topic. So when concerning diet and nutrition, it’s a good idea to get back to the basics.

And the basics do not involve the Standard American Diet (SAD) consisting of enriched flours containing little or no nutrition, lots of meat and or sugars with a few vegetables on the side. Generally a good starting point is the Food Pyramid published by the USDA, however, it is important to know that the quality of foods is very important here; especially the “wheat and grains” section of the food pyramid.

In general, you should make fresh fruits and vegetables the largest part of your daily food intake staying between 7-9 per day. These offer many nutrients, antioxidants and fibers that the human body needs. As far as high calcium dairy products, try to get 2-3 cups per day. Whole grains generally should be between 7-9 servings per day; however, if varies among individuals. lean protein is a very important source of nutrition which should be consumed every day and provide around 15% of your daily caloric intake. This is an overall picture of your daily nutrition needs. Remember to stay away from a lot of sugar or any refined food, as these are primarily empty calories.

Along with proper food intake, if you are looking for help with specific needs, supplements are also very beneficial. I was looking for something to provide me with more energy and found this multivitamin that works well for my entire family. There are many options available depending on each individual.