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>
bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..The old clich? that you are what you eat is... Read More
Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home... Read More
A lot of people I've talked with about health supplements... Read More
The Benefits of SnackingYou may feel regretful about snacking, but... Read More
Copyright ? 2004 priya shah Glutathione, the body's... Read More
Green tea has been used as for medical remedies in... Read More
The proliferation of fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and vending... Read More
If you have a business trip tomorrow morning, you've probably... Read More
Female and male athletes respond to training in a fairly... Read More
I first learned of Milk Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI) in... Read More
Before the thirties, people knew the importance of mineral. Their... Read More
Toxic metals exist in our environment as pollutants in our... Read More
Endurance Sports are like music concerts. They start at a... Read More
Nuts of all kinds (I am talking peanuts, cashews etc)... Read More
Mannatech's patent-pending glyconutrients complex, Ambrotose, is perhaps the greatest wellness... Read More
Mango is my favorite fruit next to pineapples. They're sweet,... Read More
Although many realize that the liver has its own cleansing... Read More
With the release of the new dietary guidelines, in the... Read More
Eating healthy is fast becoming a way of life. American's... Read More
Your face turns flush and your skin starts to itch.... Read More
In a study review conducted by David A. Geier, B.A.... Read More
I had finally come to a place in my life... Read More
There are a lot of very good reasons to eat... Read More
You're always hungry right? The last thing you have time... Read More
In this fast paced world, good nutrition may sound very... Read More
insured cleaning company Wilmette ..THE RISKThe primary symptom of acid reflux is obvious to... Read More
In this fast paced world, good nutrition may sound very... Read More
All carbohydrates are not the same. Generally it is assumed... Read More
Are there any benefits to be obtained from drinking water... Read More
Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry capsules are a nutritious, all-natural alternative... Read More
Today we're shifting our focus from wealth to health. First... Read More
What is nutrition? We hear so many reports today on... Read More
One of the biggest mistakes many new bodybuilders make is... Read More
Coconut oil is less known compare to olive oil, corn... Read More
Our bodies are truly incredible machines. What makes cells healthy?... Read More
Most recipes end with instructions to "serve immediately." You could... Read More
You would probably think that I was writing a lot... Read More
Whatever diet you choose to live by, the food you... Read More
Because of consumer demand, the food industry focus is on... Read More
The above foods contain high antioxidant capacity. These foods were... Read More
Do you allow pleasure from food? Are your senses throughly... Read More
Whenever possible, we should try to get our antioxidants and... Read More
Tired of having stare-downs with those boxes of Krispy Kremes,... Read More
Are you worried yet about your health? Are you anxious... Read More
Anyone who has spent a day fasting from food, or... Read More
With so much 'diet advice' around today it is little... Read More
At any grocery store in North America right now, there... Read More
All of my life I believed the best way to... Read More
(ARA) - By now you probably think you've heard all... Read More
You say you don't know what glyconutrients are? You are... Read More
Nutrition |