Keep your nutrition simple. This is what we tell everyone who asks us for advice. Too often we hear “does this diet work” or “should I be eating carbs”. As a result, we see confusion in regards to eating healthy, which, in our opinion, is a big problem.
In our world, nutrition has become a convenience. From ordering apps, to drive-thru’s, to available items on the shelf in grocery stores, etc. The point here is that we’re eating for convenience and not for our health. And it’s not that hard to eat healthy!
The food market has become really good at consuming us with easy, tasty food. Therefore, these large businesses are trying to make food and drink products to meet a higher demand. As a result, they’re finding cheaper ingredients and using different methods to mass-produce their products. If you’re not following this chain reaction, for the most part, the products we are being influenced to buy have ingredients that are foreign to our body.
So what do you eat? Well, without going into too much detail as this will be covered in future blog posts, you should be thinking about your macro- and micronutrients.
Macronutrients (provide calories and energy):
- Protein: made up of amino acids which help repair and build tissue in the body including bones and muscles.
- Carbohydrates: found in vegetables, fruits and grains and are a main source of energy for your body. Includes sugars, starches and fibres.
- Fat: provide energy, nutrient- absorption, promote cell growth and produce hormones. There are two types: saturated (good) and trans (bad) fat.
Micronutrients (growth and development):
- Vitamins: required for proper body function, growth and nutrient absorption. There’s water and fat-soluble vitamins.
- Minerals: required to grow, function properly and be healthy.
Tip: eat a well-balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, low-fat protein and healthy fats.
The following are some easy things to think about to help you guide your nutrition for healthy success…
Real Food
Stay away from processed and packaged food. Eat your fruits and vegetables to intake your vitamins and minerals. Consume low-fat protein to support tissue repair and growth along with hormone production. Choose whole-grain, complex carbohydrates as your main fuel source. As a result, this will keep simple sugars out of your blood.
Exercise + Nutrition
To gain the most from your exercise program should encourage you to eat a well-balanced diet for success. Think of your food as fuel and to recover from exercise. Choosing the right amount of calories and macronutrients can help you reach your fitness goals faster and improve your overall health.
Activity Level
Take into consideration how active you are on a daily basis. If you have a sit-down job where you don’t burn a lot of calories you therefore shouldn’t eat as much throughout the day. Keep in mind your body does require a minimal amount of calories to function properly. On the other hand, if you exercise regularly, ensure you’re consuming enough calories to support your activity level and allow the body to recover properly.
Limit Your Sugar Intake
If you’re eating a well-balanced diet and consuming your sugar from fruits and complex carbohydrates, you don’t have to worry. If you’re drinking pop, adding sugar to your coffee, eating processed food or have a sweet tooth, keep in mind how much sugar you’re consuming. Simply, the more sugar you consume and the less you burn off, the more your body will store as fat. It’s quite amazing how much sugar (or alternatives) is used in processed foods. All the more reason to eat a well-balanced diet!
Conclusion
The above nutrition guidance will help you achieve healthy success in your daily life. Keep your nutrition simple and think about your macro- and micronutrients. If you’re having trouble finding the right nutrition routine or have underlying health issues, please seek professional help. Your health should be your first priority.
If you have any questions please leave a comment in the box below. Keep your nutrition REAL!
