With the release of the new dietary guidelines, in the form of the new food pyramid, I still find that many people don't actually understand what nutrition actually means. Because of this, dietary choices can seem overwhelming. Even greater confusion can be generated by prime time news specials which only strive to educate through clever sound-bites and diet fads which lead some to believe that all of their answers are found in one single "magic food." So what is nutrition and how can you understand it in a way that helps you apply it to your life and to the benefit of those you know and love? Here's an analogy I have found helpful in teaching those who attend my free Sunday Night Wellness Call.
Your body functions in a manner similar to a car assembly plant. At that plant, a steady stream of new parts, the correct parts and parts in the right ratios to each other are absolutely necessary in order to keep that plant open for business and running smoothly.
What would happen if someone in purchasing forgot to provide that plant with steering wheels? The cars would be almost functional. But because of a single part deficiency, that car would not be able to carry out its intended function.
If this only happened to a few cars, it probably wouldn't be a big deal. You wouldn't see any symptoms of a parts deficiency. But what if that plant had no steering wheels for an entire month? How about year? First the plant would probably close, the community would fail. Good people would move away and the "bad elements" would most likely take over the town. The lack of balanced parts would eventually lead to dire conditions.
What happens when the cells of your body are missing parts?
You eat to provide your cells with nourishment. It's not just about calories. That nourishment is the collection of parts every cell in your body needs to function properly. You provide your cells with parts and those parts are assembled according to instructions in your DNA to create a variety of finished products. That could include new cells, of which there are many kinds, anti bodies to fight disease, neurotransmitters to carry signals between nerves, and hormones to regulate your body.
So again, there are beneficial raw materials in foods, which our bodies use, and need, to carry out vital cellular functions.
These functions keep us alive.
These functions combat disease.
These functions allow us to heal.
These functions allow our cells to build new cells and all of the other finished materials that are necessary for normal life and optimal health.
And these raw materials are called nutrients.
We eat to give our body access to nutrients.
Sadly, our food does not contain the nutrients it once had in abundance, so it is necessary to supplement a good diet with quality nutritional supplementation to ensure that our cells do not suffer from a parts deficiency. We should still strive to have a good diet, from as many whole foods as possible, with supplementation being a means to supplement, not substitute, the benefits of a good diet.
Dave Saunders is a certified nutritional educator, wellness coach, member of the American International Association of Nutritional Education (AIANE) and author. He is also the host of a weekly, nation-wide telephone lecture on health and nutrition.
For additional information, please visit http://www.glycoboy.com or http://www.glycoboy.com or email Dave at http://www.glycoboy.com>
residential cleaning services Winnetka ..Established in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, "Foundation for Innovation in... Read More
Carbohydrates - found in grains, breads, pasta, and sugar, as... Read More
Do you know the risks to daily intakes of Starbucks... Read More
Unfortunately, the words "diet" and "cheating" go hand in hand.... Read More
Eating right to suit your blood type" is a subject... Read More
Weight loss plans are almost always trying to get you... Read More
Have you seen those "fat free" foods in supermarkets? Have... Read More
In the last twenty years, a huge and growing body... Read More
The benefits from eating healthy are endless. And, according to... Read More
Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of... Read More
Can the colors on your plate tell you what health... Read More
Do we really need a home water filter? Can't we... Read More
Images of "protein powder" containers with accomplished bodybuilders on their... Read More
It is often taken as a given fact that soy... Read More
Our bodies are truly incredible machines. What makes cells healthy?... Read More
"What exercises can I do to ?? As fitness professional... Read More
Eating orange mean absorbing vitamin C to our body, is... Read More
Omega-3 appear to reduce the risk of heart attack. A... Read More
Are You Half The Man Your Father Was?It is a... Read More
Fire ElementAccording to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are five... Read More
1. Water. If you're thirsty you're already dehydrated. The majority... Read More
Each and every person living in the UK is... Read More
East Meets WestAsian cultures have realized the medical benefits of... Read More
Step 1: Eat five to ten servings per day of... Read More
Fat burning compatible foods seem to be a popular topic... Read More
high-end home cleaning Highland Park ..What is your brain made ofOver 50% of your brain... Read More
Images of "protein powder" containers with accomplished bodybuilders on their... Read More
Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and... Read More
If you do not take time to stand back at... Read More
How many times have you tried to diet/lose weight in... Read More
Are You Half The Man Your Father Was?It is a... Read More
Herbal teas have long been known to have medicinal benefits... Read More
One of the biggest mistakes many new bodybuilders make is... Read More
Apple cider vinegar is a product of apple juice fermentation.... Read More
Diets concern especially Americans as they do have a "national... Read More
Nuts of all kinds (I am talking peanuts, cashews etc)... Read More
I'll preface this article by saying that it will help... Read More
People are obsessed with dieting and weight loss! Don't believe... Read More
The first place that we cut corners when we are... Read More
We sometimes hear about ways that we can take care... Read More
BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNINGAs a basis for meals and... Read More
The fact that diet directly affects behaviour is no news,... Read More
"You are what you eat."Does it sound familiar? You probably... Read More
With today's time constraints, stressful jobs, and "thin is in"... Read More
Constipation is the passing of dry, hard faeces fewer than... Read More
Glowing skin comes free of charge to you. Our simple... Read More
Secretly we all want just a few things in life,... Read More
Cholesterol. What images come to mind when you see this... Read More
The body is a marvelous creation, a carbon, oxygen combustion... Read More
Our bodies need cholesterol. We use cholesterol to produce vitamin... Read More
Nutrition |