Feed Your Body What It Needs: Nutrition Tips

By Ernestina Pretzel


Nutrition can imply a lot of different connotations depending upon whom you ask or talk to about it. We all know that food should taste good, but that doesn't mean that it has to be bad for you. Take some time to eat healthier and look your best using the tips below.

One important fact to remember when trying to teach your child good nutritional habits is to listen to your child. If your child tell you that he or she is hungry, offer them a small healthy snack. By learning how to eat small, healthy snacks when hungry between scheduled meals, your child will be lest apt to over-eat at meal time, a habit which can lead to obesity. Offer healthy choices and let your child tell you whether they want an apple or an orange for a snack.

One of the most important fatty acids in your diet are the omega-3 fatty acids. They are very important in preventing inflammation, which is a contributor to the constellation of disorders that result in heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. They can be found in cold water oily fish.

When it comes to good nutrition, a good exercise plan is also important. Make sure that your nutrition matches your exercise goals or you will burn yourself out. Also, make sure you start with goals you can easily attain and slowly work yourself up. Giving yourself unreachable goals will just make your nutrition efforts that much harder, and cause you to feel unmotivated to continue.

A great nutrition tip is to invest in a good juicer. Juicing is an amazing way to get a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables all in one drink. The best part about using a juicer is that you can experiment and make juice out of whatever you want.

Knowing the difference between good and bad carbs is crucial. Good carbs are those that do not drastically raise your insulin levels. Instead, they keep your blood sugar even for a long period of time. These foods include rice, sweet potatoes, and vegetables. Bad carbs are those that drastically increase insulin levels and spike blood sugar at a level that is way too high. Foods that are bad carbs include sweets and white bread.

Avoid starving your body of nutrients by eating a healthy breakfast. Folks who skip breakfast end up going without ingesting nutrients for hours, and that's as unhealthy as it sounds. Without adequate fuel, you're putting both your body and your brain at a disadvantage. Don't try to take on a day by throwing away several good hours that could be more productive.

Avoid pre-packaged and prepared foods whenever possible if you are looking for the healthiest nutrition. In almost every case pretreated foods and pre-cooked meals feature added ingredients for preservation that are extremely bad for you. It is far better to prepare your own food from fresh ingredients than to rely on food prepared in a factory.

If you just can't give up foods rich in cholesterol such as bacon, butter, or egg yolks, many kinds of vegetable foods have fiber, which can reduce your absorption of cholesterol. It is best to eat these at the same time, for example, oatmeal with some bacon, rather than at different times, like bacon for breakfast and broccoli at lunch.

Make an effort to cook your meals instead of eating out. When you are the one preparing your meals you have total control over each and every ingredient that goes into the preparation and you can avoid those that you know are not particularly good for you.

Incorporate more super foods into your diet, especially if you are active as they can help keep muscles from tiring too quickly. For example, soybeans help build lean muscle plus they have properties in them that can help soothe muscle inflammation. Chocolate soy milk is a great choice for a post-workout beverage.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is especially true for those of us who are attempting to lose weight. Go light on the carbohydrates at breakfast for they can cause a blood sugar spike that results in a mid-morning slump. Eat mostly protein and fat at breakfast for lasting energy.

Most people do not eat enough zinc on a daily basis. It is vital for the functioning of many important enzymes in the human body, as well as, being necessary for healthy male reproductive health. It can be found in such foods as wheat, beans, nuts and other seeds. It is better to eat zinc in food rather than using supplements.

As you age alter your diet. With age it is very important to get more iron, fiber, calcium, folic acid and Vitamins A and C. By eating a variety of healthy foods, and concentrating on those that are nutrient-dense, you can enjoy smaller portions and reduce caloric intake. Experiment with new foods and don't forget to reduce your sodium intake!

Be sure that your diet includes adequate levels of vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for healthy eyes and helps in the prevention of cataracts. It strengthens the mucous membranes that protect your soft tissues, which serve as a barrier against infection. Vitamin A is also important in the health of your bones and teeth.

If you are trying to cut down on the amount of soda that you consume and think water is too plain, try flavored water. This tasty alternative comes with the same amount of water that you require, and does not have the high sugar and calorie content as soda.

When eating a salad you should avoid all of the unnecessary accouterments. Egg yolks, croutons, fried tortillas and even bacon bits serve no purpose to a salad other than to make it unhealthy. Egg whites, low fat cheese and citrus juices can give a salad an extra kick without making it unhealthy.

So you see, good nutrition is important and finding what your specific needs are and creating a plan geared toward you specifically, will have the best outcome. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle so you are better able to handle what life throws at you, each and every day.




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