March is Nutrition Month – now is the time to learn more about food, nutrition and your health.
Eating is a big part of life. You need to eat every day, but how often do you think about nutrition and how what you’re eating is affecting your health?
What is the difference between food and nutrition?
Well, they are related. Nutrition is the study of how the body maintains and repairs itself using the nutrients included in the food we eat. Nutrients are ingredients in food that help you:
- Grow
- Repair body tissue
- Build new muscle tissue
No single food will provide you with the right amount of nutrients. By combining foods from all the different food groups, you can meet your body’s daily needs.
Did you know that your body can heal itself if you give it the right nutrients?
According to the dictionary, a nutrient is something that provides the nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life. Nutrients include protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Food does not always include nutrients. You can eat food that is almost completely without any nutrients at all. Have you ever heard the phrase “empty calories”?
It means food that is high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, like sugary sodas or snacks like doughnuts.
Your health depends on having a balanced diet rich in nutrients. It ensures that your body gets the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs to feed your cells and perform at its best.
Eating unhealthy foods can lead to a cluster of conditions known as Metabolic Syndrome. The Mayo Clinic describes it as conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Today, an estimated 133 million Americans – nearly half the population – suffer from at least one of these chronic diseases. That figure is 15 million higher than just a decade ago.
Having just one of these conditions doesn’t mean you have metabolic syndrome. But it does mean you have a greater risk of developing a serious disease. Adjusting your nutrition and implementing some lifestyle changes can delay or even prevent the development of serious health problems.
Nutrition and Diet
Unfortunately, most people don’t know much about the impact of nutrition on health and well-being. So, if you are in that category, you are certainly not alone.
The average American eats foods that are unhealthy and loaded with sugar, salt, and bad fats. A nutritious diet means adding fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins to your diet and avoiding sugar, bad fats, and refined carbohydrates. This nutritious diet also enhances mental health.
By educating yourself about the advantages of a healthy diet, you can choose foods wisely and live a healthier life.
Nutrition Education
Making educated judgments when you’re planning your meals and shopping for groceries depends on your knowledge of nutrition. Learn as much as you can and apply that knowledge by reading labels, checking ingredients, and even asking for information about the meal when you’re eating in a restaurant.
Nutrition and Cooking at Home
Learning more about nutrition can help you become a better cook and help keep your frailly healthy too. When you understand the value of various food types, you can easily produce wholesome, delicious meals. Experiment with fresh foods and cooking methods.
Increasing your knowledge of diet can greatly enhance your health and the health of your family. By being aware of the advantages of a healthy diet, you can learn to choose foods wisely.
In addition to lowering the chance of developing chronic diseases, improving your mental health, and honing your culinary abilities, proper nutrition can assist you in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
You can enhance your general health and quality of life by improving your knowledge of nutrition and adjusting your diet so that you include wholesome items in all your meals.
The best way to discover what nutrients your body needs is to get tested by a Nutrition Response Testing(R) practitioner and have them put a personalized nutrition plan together for your specific needs.
