Differentiating between beneficial and harmful foods is the foundation of creating a healthy lifestyle. Good nutrition helps manage weight, increases energy level, improves body composition and decreases disease risk. Good nutrition isn't only for those looking to shed pounds. Everyone, regardless of weight goals, benefits from making healthy food choices. Macronutrients Nutrients...
Eating the proper amount of calories to remain within an appropriate weight range is part of overall health but making smart food choices is also important in improving general wellbeing. Calories from different sources have various effects (both good and bad) on overal health. Maximizing intake of healthy foods while...
Americans' intake of sugar is way too high and it has no real value in the diet. We use sugar for energy which is the extent of what it's good for. Too much sugar leads to very serious health effects including obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Though dietary...
Sugar is addictive, bad for you in large quantities and makes everything it touches delicious. Sugar is a type of carbohydrate found naturally in some foods such as fruits and vegetables, and added to other foods such as candy bars, sodas and cookies. Like all good things, Americans tend to...
Fiber is a special type of carbohydrate which the body lacks the ability to digest. Though we do not absorb any calories from fiber, it is an important nutrient which aids in many bodily functions, specifically those in the digestive system. Fiber has been linked to a decreased risk of...
What we commonly refer to as table salt is made up of two elements (sodium and chlorine) and known as sodium chloride. Though a high sodium intake is associated with adverse health effects, a small amount is required to maintain normal bodily functions. Unfortunately, with an increased reliance on processed...
Myths perpetuated over long periods of time eventually become accepted as fact. One of the most prevalent diet myths says eating fat makes you fat. Fat has plenty of important functions, many of which are essential to life. Drastically reducing or attempting to eliminate your intake of fat can have...
Fat is an essential macronutrient used in the body for energy. Because the word fat is used to describe unsightly weight as well as a nutrient, it is wrongly blamed for weight gain. While eating fat does not necessarily make you fat, there are certain types of unhealthy...
Grocery shopping, when done right, provides one of the best opportunities to clean up your diet and improve your eating habits. Loading your refrigerator and pantry full of healthy choices will go a long way in helping you eat more nutritious foods while making the wrong choices will do just...
