Nutrition is defined as the study of all the elements contained in food to satisfy certain needs or requirements, in order to ensure proper growth, repairing and maintenance of the human body.
Our knowledge of nutrition has been increased in the last years, in such a way that it?s is easier now to achieve an adequate nutritional level in order to achieve a better quality of life and increase the average life time of a person or a certain population.
The main goals of an adequate nutrition are:
? Maintaining a normal weight through a perfect combination of a healthy diet and physical exercise.
? Balancing the diet through the whole day instead of balancing every single meal.
? Replacing saturated fat with non-saturated fat.
? Drinking enough water through the whole day.
? Increasing the consumption of fruit, vegetables and legumes to satisfy the needs of vitamins, minerals and fiber.
? Reducing the amount and frequency of consumption of meat, eggs and hard cheese.
? Completely eliminating the consumption of industrially manufactured products
? Dramatically reduce the consumption of sugar.
? Keeping the consumption of sodium below a maximum of 2400 milligrams per day.
? Keeping alcohol consumption at minimum levels.
The essential ?laws? of nutrition are the following:
? Law of quantity: The quantity of food must be enough to satisfy the caloric needs, according to each person?s age, sex, weight, size and activities.
? Law of quality: The food must contain all the needed basic nutrients, like carbohydrates, proteins, fat, vitamins, minerals and water.
? Law of Proportion: Food must keep approximately the following proportions: 55% carbohydrates, 15% proteins, 30% fat.
? Law of Specificity: A diet must be specific to each person?s particular lifestyle, keeping in mind his/her cultural, social, financial and religious profile.
The basic needs for the different types of food are:
? Carbohydrates: 55% to 60%.
? Fat (lipids): No more than 25% to 30% of the total amount of calories consumed.
? Proteins: Must represent the rest of the needed calories, typically 15%.
Zach Thompson is a Glyconutrients Representative. You can get a free Glyconutrients consultation by visiting Glyconutrients. Clinical studies have shown that glyconutrients can help balance your immune system. | |
