Committing to healthier eating habits is difficult. Knowing how to implement this commitment can be even more difficult. Where do you start? What foods should you eat and which should you stay away from? These are all questions you should answer before heading out to the grocery store.
We need nutrients to survive. We need vitamins, minerals and calories every day. There are two types of nutrients. Micronutrients are our vitamins and minerals and macronutrients where our calories come from. The three types of macronutrients are fats, carbohydrates and proteins.
Many people think that all fats are bad and have recently started to think that all carbs are bad too. That leaves us with just protein. If that were the case, our food would not be very pleasant. Luckily, not all fats are bad and the same goes for carbohydrates.
With all the negative publicity lately, you might be afraid to eat carbs. Carbohydrates are our main source of fuel. Our brain can't use anything else to fuel itself and our muscles will work best. Do not deprive yourself of it. The carbs you should stay away from are simple sugars found in candies, sodas, and many snacks. Good carbs such as whole wheats and fruits will keep you energized throughout the day and avoid sugar highs and lows.
Fats are also very important. Without fat, our body would not be able to use some of the vitamins we consume. Fat is found in our cell walls and makes up a large part of hormones. The fats you need to avoid are saturated fats which come in meat, milk and dairy products. Everyone should consume good (unsaturated fats) that come from plant sources such as nuts and olives.
