The Nutrition Pyramid | Nutrition Facts on Popular Foods | Nutritional Values in Foods | FDA Pyramid | Minimum Daily Nutrition Needs
EYE ON NUTRITION
Nutrition is vital to Weight Loss Success!
Nutrition Pyramid, Food Pyramid, Nutrition Facts, Nutrition Requirements
|
|
Nutrition here, fiber there, salt here, cholesterol there,
carbohydrates here – stop! What this is
nutrition thing all about?
Are you currently trying to lose weight and the nutrition
facts keep getting in the way? If so,
you’re not alone. The nutritional values
of food, the caloric values of food, the dietary fat content as well as other
components surrounding the foods that we eat in our daily diet can indeed be
confusing.
The official food pyramid used by Americans as a pattern for
a healthy diet is a prime example of confusion.
While each food group recommends a certain amount of servings, all foods
are not created equal in regards to caloric content, dietary fat content, fiber and so
forth. While 1 cup of strawberries from
the fruit group contains about 50 calories, a banana may contain 100 calories or
more. Both are considered a serving
size.
The same issue applies to the other remaining food groups. While 3 ounces of some fish species may contain 80
calories, a sparerib may contain more than 200 while a fried chicken breast
contains upwards to 500 calories and mega dietary fat content.
When we examine the grain group we find the same issue. While a corn tortilla contains 50 calories, a
large flour tortilla may contain more than 200 calories. Both are considered as one serving from the
grain group.
We hear so much about eating a balanced diet. Yet foods that reside within the same food
groups may differ greatly in caloric content as well as in their nutritional
composites.
In order to achieve and maintain our recommended weight, we
must 'balance our balanced diet' with the energy which the body uses throughout
the day to perform vital functions to support life.
That balance can also be impacted by the activity that we
insert into our day. Some individuals have
jobs that require little activity throughout their day. Others have jobs that are very strenuous. We know that inactivity can contribute to weight
gain as well as negative health issues.
Therefore, for those who have jobs that require little activity,
inserting such at some point during the day should be a top objective.
This is where we can control the balancing of energy. We can input energy from the foods and drinks
that we consume throughout our day into our body. Our bodies
then work to expend energy by breathing, walking, talking, sleeping, sneezing,
eating, as well as performing all of the necessary functions required for survival.
When we physically add activity we are effectively assisting
the body in balancing energy in and energy out.
Other Factors That Influence Weight
While nutritional values in the foods and drinks that we
consume are important and reflect upon our weight, and while activity is also
vital, there are also other factors that influence what we weigh.
We may gain weight during times of great stress, or as we
age and the body slows. Although we may
be physically active, as the body grows older it simply does not function as
proficiently as it did in its younger years.
The metabolic rate naturally slows.
In order to maintain recommended weight an older individual will need to
adjust the nutritional needs or incorporate more activity into their daily
schedule.
Other factors that influence weight other than food calories, activity levels and metabolic rate include muscle mass, height, gender and stress levels.
In Summary
While nutritional issues can be difficult to understand they
can be of great importance to the individual who is trying to lose weight. If you would like to know more about
nutritional subjects then following links at Diet Bites may be of assistance.