| You should already know that nutrition | | | | There is too often a lot of myth |
| is very important to your quality of | | | | surrounding the nutrients, our bodies |
| life. If you want to have a healthy life | | | | and how we use these nutrients. This is |
| and lifestyle, you will need to have a | | | | why it is very important that you get |
| healthy diet with proper nutrition. You | | | | all the facts when planning to change |
| might hear all the time that your | | | | your lifestyle and diet. Many people are |
| nutrition greatly affects the way you | | | | suffering from malnutrition and may not |
| live and your quality of life but have | | | | even know it. Many overweight |
| you ever really thought about why? Do | | | | individuals may be suffering from |
| you really understand why it is so | | | | malnutrition. Just because you are |
| important? | | | | eating does not mean you are eating the |
| If you really want to take the steps to | | | | right things. |
| live the long life that you deserve and | | | | Micronutrients are the vitamins, |
| to be as healthy as possible and enjoy | | | | minerals and antioxidants that your body |
| those years, than you need to learn all | | | | needs to be healthy. The specific ones |
| you can about the importance of optimal | | | | and amounts of each will depend on your |
| nutrition. What you eat really affects | | | | body, sex, age and other factors. Every |
| your body and health. | | | | person is different so there is not one |
| 1. What is optimal nutrition? | | | | set plan that works for everyone. You |
| 2. What nutrients do you need to be | | | | need to learn what works for you. As you |
| healthy? | | | | change, grow older, etc. this will |
| 3. What foods give you these nutrients? | | | | change again and you will continue to |
| Importance of Optimal Nutrition | | | | have to adjust this. |
| Optimal nutrition is very important to | | | | Macronutrients are the carbs, proteins |
| your overall health and fitness. Studies | | | | and fats that you get from foods. The |
| have shown that people can actually live | | | | amounts of these that you need will vary |
| longer if they have healthy nutrition. | | | | as well. This is where many myths come |
| It is proven that there is a link | | | | in about what you should or should not |
| between optimal nutrition and long life | | | | eat. The facts are that too much of |
| and long term health. | | | | anyone can be bad and not enough can be |
| If you take a look at society, you will | | | | bad. It's all about finding a balance. |
| notice an increasingly large number of | | | | This means those "All-Carb" or "No Carb" |
| people that are overweight and obese. | | | | diets that are so popular on the market |
| You will also see problems such as poor | | | | are really not the best thing for you. |
| teeth and acne, dry, brittle skin, dry | | | | What you choose to ingest in your body |
| hair and other problems. You will find | | | | has a big impact on your overall health |
| many people on medications for headache, | | | | and your general well-being. People now |
| stomach problems, acid reflux, | | | | eat more fast foods and frozen dinners |
| constipation, heart disease, high blood | | | | and other quick meals that are not very |
| pressure and more. What may be more | | | | nutritious at all. Some of these foods |
| alarming than the high amount of | | | | even have additives in them that can |
| medications is the fact that most people | | | | make them addictive so that you want |
| receive very little information about | | | | more and more. People typically eat out |
| what is actually causing their disease | | | | of hunger and many of these foods do not |
| or condition. Instead, they get a pill. | | | | work to satisfy your hunger leaving you |
| What many people never know is that what | | | | wanting more or something else. Yet, |
| they are eating (or not eating) can be | | | | they still have many calories and fat |
| causing these health problems. You also | | | | and other things that your body does not |
| need to understand that you will have to | | | | need. |
| make changes and adjustments to your | | | | Make the Committment |
| intake over the years and stages of your | | | | If you are serious in obtaining optimal |
| life. Just like toddlers need a | | | | health to the best of your ability, then |
| different diet from teenagers, you also | | | | take a look at your lifestyle in |
| need to alter your diet as you continue | | | | general. Are you eating the right foods? |
| through all of life's stages. | | | | Are you exercising? Are you getting |
| Understanding what is best for you | | | | plenty of fresh air on a daily basis? Do |
| through each stage of your life is the | | | | you have positive relationships? If you |
| best way to remain in optimal health. | | | | find yourself answering "no" to these |
| Micro and Macronutrients | | | | questions, then make the commitment to |
| Many people hear that they need proper | | | | change. Talk with your family, friends, |
| nutrition but just what does that mean | | | | or a nutritionist. Check to see if there |
| exactly? What nutrients do you need to | | | | are support groups in your area related |
| be healthy? Optimal nutrition will | | | | to health and lifestyle changes. Look |
| include a variety of different | | | | into joining your local gym. Do your |
| micronutrients and macronutrients. | | | | research and then purchase the right |
| Micronutrients include certain vitamins, | | | | nutritional supplements that will help |
| minerals and antioxidants. | | | | you achieve your goals. |
| Macronutrients include carbohydrates, | | | | If you at least try to make a change in |
| proteins and fats that make up the foods | | | | one area, more are sure to follow! You |
| you eat. | | | | are now on your way to optimal health. |