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