NUTRIENTS
Carbohydrates store energy. There are complex carbs and simple carbs. Complex carbs are whole grains, vegetables, peas, and beans. Simple carbs are found in fruits, milk, and milk products. They are also found in processed and refined sugars such as candy, table sugar, syrups, and soft drinks. Both simple and complex carbohydrates turn to glucose (blood sugar) in the body and are used as energy.
Protein helps hair, nails, muscle and tissue throughout the body. Protein comes from a variety of meats, dairy, beans and nuts.
Fats are needed for cushioning, hormone production, vitamin absorption and insulation. There are different kinds of fats. There is saturated (unhealthy) fats, which are common in the American diet. They are solid at room temperature, think cooled bacon grease. YUCK! Common sources of saturated fat include red meat, whole milk and other whole-milk dairy foods, cheese, coconut oil, and many commercially prepared baked goods and other foods. Is saturated fat bad for you? A diet rich in saturated fats can drive up total cholesterol, and tip the balance toward more harmful LDL cholesterol, which prompts blockages to form in arteries in the heart and elsewhere in the body. Another kind of fat is monounsaturated fats (healthy fats). Good sources of monounsaturated fats are olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, avocados, and most nuts, as well as high-oleic safflower and sunflower oils. And, lastly, there are polyunsaturated fats (healthy fats) Corn oil, sunflower oil, and safflower oil are common examples. Polyunsaturated fats are essential fats. That means they're required for normal body functions but your body can't make them. So you must get them from food. Polyunsaturated fats are used to build cell membranes and the covering of nerves. They are needed for blood clotting, muscle movement, and inflammation.
Vitamins and minerals are a supplementation to what you are not receiving from whole foods. If you are not eating enough fruit, vegetables, whole grains and calcium, it is recommended that you take a multivitamin.
Eat to live! Eat a variety of colors! It does your body good!
