Healthy Eating - Nutrients You Need

Healthy Eating - Needed Nutrients

Healthy eating requires that you eat a minimum amount of nutrients every day. In fact, there are 40 different nutrients you need to ingest on a daily basis in order to keep your body healthy. Those are alot of nutrients you need to be aware of! Luckily, you can break down all of these nutrients into small categories so it's easier to keep them organized in your mind, thus assuring that you get all of the food nutrients you need.

Water

Good old H2O! Everyone needs water in order to live a healthy life. Without water, we become dehydrated, and we can eventually die from dehydration. You're biggest water loss happens when you sweat and through daily bodily functions (bathroom breaks!), so you're internal water supply must be replenished. Drinking about 8 glasses of H2O per day is a minimum recommended amount. Of course, water is found in foods as well as in drinks, so even if you don't actually drink 8 glasses per day, part of your intake will be compensated by eating foods like watermelon. However, it's still is a good idea to drink your 8 glasses per day as this also helps reduce any excess eating on your part, water being well known to cut down our appetite. Just think of the chinese buffets you go to, what is the first thing they serve you? On top of that, drinking the minimum amount of water on a daily basis is just a good habit to form, so the more we are consistent in doing this, the more it becomes second hand. Of course, we need much more than water every day to survive.

Proteins

Our next group of nutrients that we can't do without are proteins. Proteins are found in foods such as meats, eggs, and soy products. Proteins provide the amino acids needed to build good muscle tissue and they are a great helper to our natural internal hormone producers. Amongst other things, red blood cells and hair are made from protein.

Carbohydrates and Fats

Along with proteins, our body also needs adequate amounts of carbohydrates and fats. These provide us with the energy we need during the day. Fats are the primary provider of energy used during intense activity, like exercising, while carbohydrates provide the energy used during less intensive activities, such as standing, sitting, and other related activities. Fats and carbohydrates that we eat in a day, when not spent right away through active exercise or activities will be stored for later use, in the form of fat. While it is important to eat enough carbohydrates and fats to provide our systems with the needed energy, it is also very important to regulate our intake as to stay slim and healthy. In the event that you are not eating enough fats and carbohydrates, your body can also provide itself with fuel the proteins you eat.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are also important nutrients in our daily lives. We get these from fruits, vegetables, milk, and most other natural sources of food. Some of our foods, such as bread products, can even be enriched so that we get more vitamins and minerals out of them than regular breads. There are dozens of different minerals and vitamins that you need to eat regularly to maintain good bodily functions. Some of these are iron, thiamine, vitamin C and vitamin D. By consuming good healthy foods, you will most likely get enough vitamins and minerals, however, you can also take vitamin supplements to make sure that you are getting the right amounts you need to maintain these healthy body functions. Available supplements come in all shapes and sizes and can be taken to help you compensate with your lack of certain nutrients, so if you are worried that you are not getting enough of certain vitamins or minerals, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor, pharmacist or natural product specialist on how you can be certain that you are getting you're needed daily amounts of nutrients. A nutritionist can also help you out while providing you with healthy menus.

Omega Supplements

An important nutrient found as a natural product is an Omega supplement, which is basically fish oil. Omega is a wonderful supplement that targets specifically the brain, clearing up your ideas and generally improving cognitive and cerebral functions. It also can help you with your general mood, giving you that happy feeling. What do Omegas do? They thin out the liquid mass found in and around the brain thus improving neural conductivity, making you as sharp as a tack! You want to make sure you choose an Omega product that is high in EPA (70%) and lower in DHA (8%). By choosing this ratio of EPA to DHA, the benefits are targeted specifically to cognitive health and brain functions.

Children and adults with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder should take Omegas on a regular basis as this has been known to improve their general condition, in a naturally harmless way. It can even eventually lead to reduced medication intake, if it doesn't eliminate it altogether.

Cheers,