Understanding Nutrition
With the release of the new dietary guidelines, in the form of the new food pyramid, I still find that many people don't actually understand what nutrition actually means. Because of this, dietary choices can seem overwhelming. Even greater confusion can be generated by prime time news specials which only strive to educate through clever sound-bites and diet fads which lead some to believe that all of their answers are found in one single "magic food." So what is nutrition and how can you understand it in a way that helps you apply it to your life and to the benefit of those you know and love? Here's an analogy I have found helpful in teaching those who attend my free Sunday Night Wellness Call.
Your body functions in a manner similar to a car assembly plant. At that plant, a steady stream of new parts, the correct parts and parts in the right ratios to each other are absolutely necessary in order to keep that plant open for business and running smoothly.
What would happen if someone in purchasing forgot to provide that plant with steering wheels? The cars would be almost functional. But because of a single part deficiency, that car would not be able to carry out its intended function.
If this only happened to a few cars, it probably wouldn't be a big deal. You wouldn't see any symptoms of a parts deficiency. But what if that plant had no steering wheels for an entire month? How about year? First the plant would probably close, the community would fail. Good people would move away and the "bad elements" would most likely take over the town. The lack of balanced parts would eventually lead to dire conditions.
What happens when the cells of your body are missing parts?
You eat to provide your cells with nourishment. It's not just about calories. That nourishment is the collection of parts every cell in your body needs to function properly. You provide your cells with parts and those parts are assembled according to instructions in your DNA to create a variety of finished products. That could include new cells, of which there are many kinds, anti bodies to fight disease, neurotransmitters to carry signals between nerves, and hormones to regulate your body.
So again, there are beneficial raw materials in foods, which our bodies use, and need, to carry out vital cellular functions.
These functions keep us alive.
These functions combat disease.
These functions allow us to heal.
These functions allow our cells to build new cells and all of the other finished materials that are necessary for normal life and optimal health.
And these raw materials are called nutrients.
We eat to give our body access to nutrients.
Sadly, our food does not contain the nutrients it once had in abundance, so it is necessary to supplement a good diet with quality nutritional supplementation to ensure that our cells do not suffer from a parts deficiency. We should still strive to have a good diet, from as many whole foods as possible, with supplementation being a means to supplement, not substitute, the benefits of a good diet.
Dave Saunders is a certified nutritional educator, wellness coach, member of the American International Association of Nutritional Education (AIANE) and author. He is also the host of a weekly, nation-wide telephone lecture on health and nutrition.
For additional information, please visit http://www.glycoboy.com or http://www.glycowellness.com or email Dave at dave@glycoboy.com>
 Google News Updated : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:45:43 GMT What Should Uncle Sam Do? - Newsweek
Newsweek - NEWSWEEK's Business Roundtable takes stock of the real damage—and offer solutions to the economic crisis. Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link. Freddie Mac Paves Way For Major Stock Sale Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:06:17 GMT Norman ties Choi on blustery day at British Open - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - SOUTHPORT, England (AP) - Tiger Woods and Kenny Perry couldn't have picked a better place to be on Saturday. Anywhere but Royal Birkdale. Video: Greg Norman Surprises at British Open Norman and Duval turn back the clock Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:41:24 GMT Live Press Tour Diary: CW Day One (Shannen's Officially Returning!) - Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly - MIA: Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling, Shannen Doherty, David Silver, Steve Sanders, Brandon Walsh, Dylan McKay, Andrea Zuckerman and Valerie Malone. Shannen Doherty Returns to 90210 Shannen Doherty back in '90210' 'hood this fall Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:11:43 GMT Yahoo proxy may come down to battle of big funds - MarketWatch
MarketWatch - By MarketWatch SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - It looks like the bar room tete-a-tete in Sun Valley, Idaho last week may have helped one of Yahoo Inc.'s biggest institutional shareholders make up his mind. Yahoo takes on Icahn on its web page Major investor sides with Yahoo board Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:02:11 GMT Music, co-op games the dominant trends at E3 - CNET News
CNET News - Among the dominant trends at E3 in Los Angeles this week was music games. Everywhere you looked, publishers were announcing new ones and players were rocking out to them. GameSpot News Blog Postal 3 Heading to PlayStation 3, Slightly Delayed Publ.Date : Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:51:54 GMT McCain paying down primary funds in advance of cap - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - WASHINGTON (AP) - Faced with a spending cap for his fall campaign, Republican presidential candidate John McCain is aggressively spending more money than he is raising during summer months and methodically reducing his cash reserves. A Deputy Dilemma For McCain McCain paying down primary funds in advance of cap Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:51:07 GMT Economy Down, PC Sales Up - New York Times
New York Times - By Eric A. Taub The worldwide economy may be faltering, but PC sales are in growth mode, according to numbers released Tuesday by Gartner and IDC, two information technology research firms. Apple Now Third In US PC Market As HP, Dell Lead Sales Increase PCs Show Double Digit Growth in Q2 Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:55:43 GMT Make Money Online |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... If you are like most people, you are probably confused... Read More It is often taken as a given fact that soy... Read More Lactose is the primary carbohydrate in milk. Cow's milk contains... Read More Many people experience unpleasant reactions to foods they have eaten... Read More Like the Sun, Moon, and Earth, there are three kinds... Read More Approximately 30 years ago, food manufacturers were competing against the... Read More The acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry has been around for thousands of... Read More How well do you know about vitamin K? This vitamin... Read More Cholesterol is present in our bodies by one of two... Read More Spring in New York City is a really magical time.... Read More Quick Overview- I think the most important thing for people... Read More I had finally come to a place in my life... Read More Having spent most of my life living off of junk... Read More All of my life I believed the best way to... Read More Modern life can be stressful. There are so many concerns... Read More Before the thirties, people knew the importance of mineral. Their... Read More When was the last time you consumed soda? Most likely,... Read More There are numerous diets out there that guarantee that they... Read More The total calories that you should be consuming depend on... Read More Whatever diet you choose to live by, the food you... Read More According to the renowned research scientist and inventor of the... Read More Increasing the fiber in your diet has been shown to:... Read More Evidence for the importance of fruit and vegetable intake to... Read More Studies on whey demonstrate it's an even better protein supplement... Read More Following these simple nutrition guidelines will allow you to lose... Read More
Adsense
websites
The Sneak Attack of Trans- Fats
Soytastic ? The Health Benefits of Soy
A Look at Lactose Intolerance
Food Intolerance
Understanding Vegetarianism
Glutamates
The History of the Acai Berry
Things You Should Know about Vitamin K?s Unique Power
Must Have List Of Foods That Lower Cholesterol
Allergy Approaches through Nutrition
How to Pick a Trainer ?
Is Organic Really Better for You?
Organic Food ? The Benefits of Natural and Organic Produce
Blueberries: Healthy and Easy on the Tummy After WLS
Stress and Aging - Human Growth Hormones
Getting More Minerals From Your Fruits and Vegetables
How The Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health
Fiber in a Nutshell?
What is A Balanced Diet For Losing Weight and Good Health?
Is Eating a Raw Food Diet Actually Healthy for You?
Fish Oil Data-some new facts about Fish Oil
An Apple a Day, Does Keep the Doctor Away
Gift Basket Idea for Senior Citizens
Whey Protein Importance
Sports Nutrition Made Simple
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Juice Sensibility
Apart from eating many of the wonderful vegetables and fruits... Read More
Cherries Taste Great and Build Health
You must add some fresh cherries, which are now in... Read More
Redeeming Unsaturated Fat
The most dreaded word in many dieter's vocabulary is 'fat'.... Read More
Eating On the Go: Healthy Choices While You Travel
If you have a business trip tomorrow morning, you've probably... Read More
Do You Know Your Bodys ph And Its Relation To Your Health
Do you know your ph? By getting ph strips at... Read More
Magnesium 101
Magnesium is an important mineral that serves numerous essential functions... Read More
Is Eating a Raw Food Diet Actually Healthy for You?
Whatever diet you choose to live by, the food you... Read More
Unhealthy Foods: How To Become Disgusted By Junk Foods That Make You Fat
With today's time constraints, stressful jobs, and "thin is in"... Read More
Eating Outside Your Box
One way to combat the boredom many people complain accompanies... Read More
Brown Sugar is Not Brown Rice
Question from Jack:A question from Jack, one of the subscribers... Read More
Take Control of Your Health
In large part, you're in control of your health, not... Read More
Adding to Your Level of Health is the Key
Here is a continuation of the light and darkness metaphor:... Read More
Focus On Fiber: How Much Is Enough?
Looking for an easy and natural way increase your vitality... Read More
Stay Healty, Eat more Fish and Seafood
There are a lot of very good reasons to eat... Read More
The Secrets of the Centenarians: How to Live to 100!
When Helen Boardman was still a girlish 99, she fell... Read More
The Fountain of Youth - Right in Front of Us All This Time!
Can we really stop the aging process, slow it down,... Read More
Artificial Sweeteners - Are They Safe?
To research the health risks Sweet 'N Low and other... Read More
Heart Health ? Fish Oils To The Rescue
In a world where heart disorders and diseases are becoming... Read More
Carbohydrates ? Good or Bad?
Carbohydrates have gotten a lot of bad press in the... Read More
An Apple a Day, Does Keep the Doctor Away
Increasing the fiber in your diet has been shown to:... Read More
Vitamins and Minerals for a Healthy Reproductive System
Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the development... Read More
Enzymes and Raw Food ? Can You Cheat Time and Stay Young for Longer?
I'm going to be a bit radical here, but know... Read More
The Minefield Of Eating Out On A Gluten Free Diet
Eating out when you are on a restricted diet always... Read More
Ultra Refined Fish Oil - The New Generation of Fish Oil
Dr. Barry Sears revolutionized nutritional thinking around the world with... Read More
Simple Food and Diet Nutrition Remedies for Your Common Health Ailments
You are what you eat is a simple, time tested... Read More
Nutrition |