Let’s
take a minute and look at the most sought after subject in America,
Nutrition. As Americans we have found that the all-powerful marketers
of wellness and weight loss products (and publications) have learned
to tap into emotion and drive impulse. So, let’s put all emotion
aside, and look at some practical guidelines to nutrition.
First
things first: What you put in your body matters. That means everything
from what foods you eat, to what vitamins and supplements you consume.
Simply put, your body is constantly functioning to process what you
put in.
The nutrients
that you need in relatively large quantities each day are called macronutrients.
There are three categories of macronutrients. They are Proteins, Carbohydrates
and Fats. At any one time you can hear arguments about whether or not
you need protein, “carbs” or fat in your diet. After a while
it really becomes confusing! It comes down to something I tell my clients
all the time, “There is one thing missing in all of the information
out there, from books to magazines to TV and radio … that is you!”
Although
the mass marketers of nutrition and weight loss products have some great
information to offer, they don’t know you. They don’t know
your medical or genetic or environmental factors and therefore, all
the information is just that, good information that needs to be taken
into account based on your individual needs.
For example,
depending on your daily activities and exercise level, you could have
a greater need for certain nutrients than someone else. Or, depending
on your digestion, you may or may not be able to absorb nutrients.
Next month
we will explore the concept of nutrient balance in common meal choices.
We will look at the three macronutrients in more depth, but in the meantime
it is best to start to understand that you are unique and you have individual
needs. Should you have questions before next month about your unique
nutritional profile please don’t hesitate to contact me. I am
always happy to talk about nutrition.
