| About a century ago, malnutrition was
a problem in our country. The
U.S. Department of Agriculture
worked to educate the public on
the foods to eat in order to combat
the problem. The first food groups
were born, and the number fluctuated
through the years from anywhere
between four to twelve groups.
Around the mid-1970's, obesity
and diet-related illnesses dominated
as a public health concern, and
the USDA switched gears, creating
the Food Guide Pyramid. The food
groups and proportions were based
on what was healthy for a young
adult male, which fit only a portion
of the population. Recently, a
modernized version was released
- MyPyramid. The new version gives
guidelines, but the challenge
is making it applicable to our
lives. In short, what do we require
to stay healthy? The key to nutritional
health is variety. With the body
requiring about 40 essential nutrients
and approximately 2,000 calories
a day, shaking things up a little
in the kitchen is the optimum
way to insure that you cover your
nutritional bases. With the Food
Guide Pyramid, food groups place
a particular food item in one
category. The reality is that
foods don't always fit that neatly
into one slot. Cheese is found
under "Dairy", but protein and
fat are also applicable categories.
Healthy eating requires knowledge
of what makes up a food item,
and then planning meals accordingly.
Protein, fats, and carbohydrates
are considered macronutrients.
Vitamins, minerals, and trace
elements are micronutrients. Nearly
all foods contain a combination
of two to three of the macronutrients
in their whole state. When foods
are overly processed and refined
is when you begin to upset the
balance of good nutrition. Protein
should be approximately 15% of
your total calories. Most people
automatically picture "meat" as
the only choice, but there are
many foods rich in protein. Fish,
dairy products, beans, whole grains,
and other plant foods provide
a healthy alternative. And, fish,
poultry, and dairy products provide
higher percentages of protein
per ounce than meat and eggs.
About 55-60% of your daily diet
should be in the form of carbohydrates.
They are the body's chief source
of energy. A lot of food trends
have taken their turn in the news
through the years. Eat more protein,
eat less protein, stay away from
fats, and on and on it goes. Eating
whole foods has been consistently
the fall-back for all of these
"latest and greatest" ideas, as
it offers balance and consistency.
Following a whole foods eating
plan is the most nutritionally
sound choice and much more simplistic
than trying to figure out what
processed-food combinations will
provide you what, if any, nutrients.
By staying as close to the natural
state of a food as possible, there
are guaranteed to be the maximum
amount of macro and micronutrients
needed for great health that your
food choices can provide. A diet
that is high in fiber and low
in fats also alleviates the need
to count every calorie you eat.
Losing body fat is one of the
best side effects of good nutrition!
Debra Augur has studied holistic
nutrition for years, put that
knowledge into practice, and has
a passion to share that knowledge
with others who are seeking their
own best health. If we are what
we eat, are we denatured, devitalized,
deficient and potentially toxic?
Visit http://www.eat-well-to-be-well.com
to learn more, and begin acquiring
your healthiest self. |
