Healthy Nutrition

Why Have Healthy Nutrition?
Executive summary by John Gibb

Why have healthy nutrition? The benefits are many. The human body needs various nutrients and minerals to keep it functioning in tip-top shape, and the only way this can be accomplished is by maintaining a healthy diet including vitamins and minerals. These nutrients are necessary to the body for many different reasons; they are crucial for obtaining energy, helping your body grow, and repairing worn out tissues. If your diet lacks certain necessary vitamins, your health may suffer. Therefore, the primary benefits of healthy nutrition are mainly that it keeps your health up.

A sound nutritional schedule is recommended by doctors when a patient is inflicted with any of a number of diseases. Keeping your nutrition up when afflicted with such diseases as cancer or aids can be key to your survival. These are just a few of the benefits of a healthy nutrition.

A Balanced Diet - The Basics of Healthy Nutrition
Executive summary by Asaf Atiya

Basically, food consists of elements that belong to four major classes, three of which are Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats.

Carbohydrates are simple organic compounds, composed of a combination of starches, sugar, and fiber. The best sources of carbohydrates-whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans-promote good health by delivering vitamins, minerals, fiber, and a host of important phytonutrients.

Fiber - When you eat a healthy diet rich in whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits, you usually get most of the fiber you'll need. Fiber helps support a healthy diet by:

Protein - Our bodies need protein to maintain our cells, tissues, and organs. A lack of protein in our diets can result in slow growth, reduced muscle mass, lower immunity, and weaken the heart and respiratory system.
Complete proteins, such as meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, and cheese, provide all of the essential amino acids. Eating a variety of foods will ensure that you get all of the amino acids you need.

Animal protein and vegetable protein probably have the same effects on health. When choosing protein-rich foods, pay attention to what comes along with the protein (the amount of fat, especially saturated). Vegetable sources of protein, such as beans, nuts, and whole grains, are excellent choices, and they offer healthy fiber, vitamins and minerals. The best animal protein choices are fish and poultry

Fats - The type of fat you choose is just as important as how much fat you consume.

The Bad Fats - Saturated and Trans - increase the risk for certain diseases. Saturated fats, primarily found in animal (red meat and whole milk dairy products), raise the bad cholesterol. Choose lean meats, such as skinless poultry, and nonfat or low-fat or nonfat dairy products, as well as fish, and nuts. Tans fats raise bad cholesterol levels and lower good cholesterol. Primary sources of trans fat are certain margarines, crackers, candies, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, baked goods, and other processed foods. Look for trans free foods.

The Good Fats - Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated - actually lower disease risk according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Primary sources of

Monounsaturated fats are plant oils like canola oil, peanut oil, and olive oil.
Polyunsaturated fats include Omega-3 fatty acids which your body can't make and are found primarily in cold water fatty fish and fish oils, as well as sunflower, corn, soybean, and flax seed oils, and walnuts

healthy nutrition