Nutrition is possibly the most important aspect of staying healthy and leading a productive life. Every day, we make choices about the food we put in our bodies and are forced to think critically about a very simple process: eating. This article provides some tips on proper nutrition to help you get the most out of your diet.
Carbs are not the enemy. Your body needs carbs to survive and by cutting them out, you can cause your organs damage or even cause them to fail. That said, there are good and bad carbohydrates. The good ones tend to be complex carbs like whole-grain and other fiber-rich foods.
Many people don’t like to bother with breakfast. One reason to focus on good nutrition in the morning is that your brain has literally been fasting all night: You need that boost of energy and protein in the morning to get your brain and body working quickly for the day. A good protein-and-fruit-based breakfast smoothie will provide a quick way to improve your nutrition profile from the time you wake up in the morning.
Did you know that for every 8 ounces of sugary soft drink that you consume, you need to drink 16 ounces of water to get it out of your system? Think about how many soft drinks you currently consume on a daily basis. Doesn’t matter if it’s diet or regular. Start eliminating the soda out of your life. If you have to have one to get your day started, leave it to that one. Have your water on hand at the same time.
Avoid using hydrogenated oils for cooking, and watch out for them in packaged foods. These oils provide no nourishment for your skin or your body. In fact, they actually interfere with “good” oils (olive oil, sunflower oil, flax seed oil, fish oil) ability to nourish your skin, hair, nails and entire body!
You might want to consider an inulin supplement. This nutrient is found in leeks, garlic and artichokes. This carb prevents issues with digestive systems and help you lose weight. Garlic is also a great immune booster. Blanch the garlic to reduce the odor or take a supplement.
To improve the function of your liver, include plenty of tryptophan in your diet. Tryptophan is an amino acid that helps your body synthesize various proteins. It is essential to the production of niacin, which boosts liver health. Foods rich in tryptophan include salmon, turkey, and watercress. Tryptophan can also reduce anxiety levels.
When looking to add more nutritious vegetables to your diet, make it easy by chopping a batch of vegetables to keep on hand for when time is short. Choose vegetables that are rich in color to maximize vitamins and minerals. Having the vegetables ready to add to soups and salads will make it more likely that you will actually eat them.
Substitute slices of fresh raw vegetables for potato chips. Sometimes, when you have the munchies, nothing will do except something crunchy. Potato chips are not a healthy choice! Slice up some celery, squash, zucchini, cucumber or whatever other crunchy vegetables you can find. Add some low calorie salad dressing and munch away!
Eating spicy food is an excellent choice. Hot foods that are made with curry or chilies help to trigger endorphins. That is what makes people feel good and balanced. A release of these hormones will give you a little pick me up if you are feeling sad or depressed.
Most people consume more protein than they really need for proper bodily maintenance. In fact, the average person really only needs about 50 grams of protein, and the rest should come mostly from carbohydrate and some fat. It is important to eat more fruits and vegetables, and that is what should replace most meat in the normal American diet.
Avoid foods that contain monosodium glutamate. Commonly known as “MSG”, this is a food additive used by many restaurants and food manufacturers to enhance the flavor of food. It adds no nutritional value. Many people experience adverse symptoms like headaches, nausea, and heart palpitations after consuming foods with MSG. To avoid possible reaction, you should avoid foods containing MSG altogether.
Apples are great sources of nutrition. They are full of fiber, including pectins, which help make you full, pleasantly sweet, contain lots of antioxidants, and in general fill you up without too many calories. Their portability also makes them great for having as a snack between meals or taking to the office.
As you can see, nutrition is a vital aspect not only to survival but to your well being also. Proper nutrition leads to less illness, lower obesity rates, and happier, healthier people. Hopefully the tips in this article will help you in achieving healthy eating habits for years to come.
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