Topic: Understanding Nutrition
The importance of nutrition cannot be overstated when it comes to following a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition fuels and repairs our bodies and provides the raw materials that facilitate vital processes required for everyday life. Here are some basic nutrition facts.
Our food can consist of three basic nutrients.
Protein. Protein is an important nutrient that is essential for repairing muscle tissue. Protein is also composed of amino acids that are responsible for various important processes in the body. Protein contains four calories per gram and doesn’t release insulin, a hormone that can store calories as body fat. Some lean sources of protein are low fat dairy products, low fat poultry, and lean red meat.
Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred source of energy. Carbohydrates can be stored in the muscle as glycogen and in the blood stream as blood sugar, and converted to body fat by the hormone insulin. It is important to choose low glycemic, or minimum insulin releasing carbohydrates when possible to lessen body fat storage and to avoid fluctuations in blood sugar which can lead to decreased energy. Carbohydrates are also four calories per gram. Some healthy carbohydrate sources include fruit, green vegetables, and whole grains.
Fat. Dietary fat is important for long term energy, and insulation and cushioning in the body. Healthy fatty acids contained in some fat sources are essential to the production of HDL, or “good” cholesterol which is vital to heart health. Fat is also important to the proper function of certain hormones in the body such as testosterone and estrogen. Fat is nine calories per gram and although it doesn’t cause the release of insulin, it can store as body fat due to its high calorie content. Some healthy sources of fat are fish, almonds, and walnuts, and oils such as flax seed and olive oil.
Understanding nutrition and its various sources and functions is important to staying healthy and is a powerful tool to getting the most benefit from your food choices. A balanced diet consisting of lean protein, low fat carbohydrates, and healthy fat choices will allow your body to function properly and better withstand the demands of daily life.
If you have any questions regarding this or any other topic pertaining to fitness, or suggestions for future newsletters, feel free to contact me.
By Larry Schweer
Certified Personal Trainer
National Level Competative Bodybuilder
Email Larry Questions at: Guru@Paramount-Supplements.com
The importance of nutrition cannot be overstated when it comes to following a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition fuels and repairs our bodies and provides the raw materials that facilitate vital processes required for everyday life. Here are some basic nutrition facts.
Our food can consist of three basic nutrients.
Protein. Protein is an important nutrient that is essential for repairing muscle tissue. Protein is also composed of amino acids that are responsible for various important processes in the body. Protein contains four calories per gram and doesn’t release insulin, a hormone that can store calories as body fat. Some lean sources of protein are low fat dairy products, low fat poultry, and lean red meat.
Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred source of energy. Carbohydrates can be stored in the muscle as glycogen and in the blood stream as blood sugar, and converted to body fat by the hormone insulin. It is important to choose low glycemic, or minimum insulin releasing carbohydrates when possible to lessen body fat storage and to avoid fluctuations in blood sugar which can lead to decreased energy. Carbohydrates are also four calories per gram. Some healthy carbohydrate sources include fruit, green vegetables, and whole grains.
Fat. Dietary fat is important for long term energy, and insulation and cushioning in the body. Healthy fatty acids contained in some fat sources are essential to the production of HDL, or “good” cholesterol which is vital to heart health. Fat is also important to the proper function of certain hormones in the body such as testosterone and estrogen. Fat is nine calories per gram and although it doesn’t cause the release of insulin, it can store as body fat due to its high calorie content. Some healthy sources of fat are fish, almonds, and walnuts, and oils such as flax seed and olive oil.
Understanding nutrition and its various sources and functions is important to staying healthy and is a powerful tool to getting the most benefit from your food choices. A balanced diet consisting of lean protein, low fat carbohydrates, and healthy fat choices will allow your body to function properly and better withstand the demands of daily life.
If you have any questions regarding this or any other topic pertaining to fitness, or suggestions for future newsletters, feel free to contact me.
By Larry Schweer
Certified Personal Trainer
National Level Competative Bodybuilder
Email Larry Questions at: Guru@Paramount-Supplements.com
